The Multicultural Leadership Summit, scheduled for Feb. 2 in the Ferguson Student Center ballroom, is open to all University students, faculty and staff.
The summit focuses on diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, effective leadership, workplace culture, mental health and more. While the event is free, participants should register, either online prior to the summit or between 8:30-9 a.m. the day of the event.
“I think the summit is an incredible event,” said Price McGiffert, president of the Student Government Association and a member of the organizing committee.
“There are great speakers and people who can relate to those who will be there. There are opportunities to hear about new resources. I’m just excited. It’s really come together.”
Schedule
- 8:30-9 a.m. – Conference registration and complimentary breakfast
- 9-9:15 a.m. – Welcome and poetry
- 9:15-10 a.m. – Keynote speaker Charles Nash, University of Alabama System senior vice chancellor for academic and student affairs
- 10:05-11:05 a.m. – Concurrent Session I on “Leadership, Workplace Culture and Mental Health;” “Identity, Power and Privilege;” “Gender, Race and Political Representation;” and “Know Your Worth: Salary Negotiation During a Job Search”
- 11:05 a.m.-12:05 p.m. – Concurrent Session II on “Effective Leadership;” “Harassment in the Workplace;” and “Improvise Life a Path to Mental Freedom through Jazz”
- 12:10-1:30 p.m. – Complimentary lunch sponsored by Region’s Bank; keynote speaker Dr. Andre Denham, president of the UA Black Faculty and Staff Association and associate professor of instructional technology in the department of educational leadership, policy and technology studies in the UA College of Education
- 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Panel Discussion on “How to be an Advocate for Social Justice”
Gretchen Moore, assistant director of the Center for Service and Leadership, said the purpose of the event is to get people to engage in and dialogue about social justice, diversity, equity and inclusion.
“We have two great keynote speakers in Dr. Nash and Dr. Denham,” Moore said. “Dr. Nash is going to talk about social justice and advocacy through leadership, and Dr. Denham will talk about finding your voice as a leader. Minorities sometimes feel that they don’t have a seat at the table so this will hopefully encourage them to find their voice.
“There will be workshops in the morning and afternoon led by different faculty and staff members. One workshop is on work place culture and mental health and it will discuss microaggressions in the work place, which are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, insults — whether intentional or unintentional — which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group.”
In addition to the complimentary meals, participants receive free T-shirts.
The summit is sponsored by The Source, the Center for Service and Leadership, the Division of Student Life, the Career Center, Ferguson Student Center and University Programs.
Follow the event on Twitter using #HERETOLEAD.