Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Conference - Becoming Agents of Change

Event

Join us for this first annual informational conference on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. A wide variety of experts in the field will speak on how to move the needle on creating a more inclusive Louisville.  This two-day conference will run from 11:30am until 2:00pm on Tuesday & Wednesday, October 13th & 14th.

Learning Objectives:

The Day One learning objectives of the presentation are:

1. Understanding and applying a Critical Whiteness framework
2. Exploring subtle ways Whiteness creates a system of power and privilege, and
3. Review of resources for further study and reflection. 

The Day Two learning objectives of the presentation are:

    1) What is intercultural communication

    2) What makes intercultural communications difficult

    3) What role does D&I play in intercultural communication

Certification Credits:

SHRM: Approved for 2 certification credits

HRCI: Approved for 2 business certification credits

     

The use of this official seal confirms that this Activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®)  criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.

Details

Date: Tuesday & Wednesday, October 13th & 14th, 2020

Time: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM

Where: Two-Day Virtual Conference - Zoom

Price: Members - $25 each day, $40 for both days

           Non-Members - $35 each day; $60 for both days

Sponsored by:

Platinum Sponsor

 

Silver Sponsor

Non-Profit Sponsor

Day One Speakers

Keynote Speaker - Jud Hendrix

Keynote Topic: The Invisible Knapsack of White Power and Privilege

Jud Hendrix is the Executive Director for Interfaith Paths to Peace, cofounder of the Big Table, a coach and consultant with New Possibilities Associates and an adjunct professor at Bellarmine University and JCTC.  Jud has worked in the area of personal and social transformation for 30 years.  He has a Master of Divinity degree from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Samford University and is currently finishing his PhD in Education and Social Change at Bellarmine University.

Moderator - Terrian Barnes

Terrian Barnes is the founder and principal of Fe-smart LLC, providing expert guidance on how to achieve gender-balanced, culturally inclusive leadership excellence that will drive top results. She has spent over three decades helping nonprofit and for-profit entities put equity and inclusion at the heart of their business growth strategies.

Her career roles have included legislative correspondent for the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and VP of the Public Affairs Group for the International Franchise Association (IFA), the largest franchise trade association in the U.S. While at IFA, Terrian was recognized by Black Enterprise Magazine as one of the 25 Most influential Women in Business and appeared as a franchise expert on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Terrian went on to be named Yum Brands' first-ever chief diversity and inclusion officer, launching the global fast food giant’s nationally recognized diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices. 

A well-known champion for racial and gender equity and minority and women’s entrepreneurship, Terrian is a frequently requested public speaker and has filled volunteer leadership roles on multiple boards, including currently serving as board secretary of the Washington, DC-based National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC). NTCIC helps advance transformational historic preservation projects that spur investment and economic growth in low-income urban and rural communities nationwide. 

Panelist - Marta Miranda-Straub

Marta Miranda-Straub is a Latino Afro-Caribbean woman who has spent her life working towards building equity, inclusion and creating sustainable systems change. Her leadership, scholarship and activism has focused on advancing social and economic justice for marginalized communities. She lives and works at the intersection of identities, place, ethnicity, race, gender and sexualities, applying an intersectional feminist lens to all that she does. 

Marta Miranda-Straub was appointed commissioner of Department for Community Based Services by Gov. Andy Beshear July 1, 2020. Miranda-Straub has served families and children through trauma, substance abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault intervention and gender equity and anti-racism activism.

Miranda-Straub is the founder of Catapult Now, LLC. As an executive consultant she provided organizational, leadership and board development, strategic planning, executive coaching, retreats, facilitation and training services to non-profit and for-profit organizations with a focus on equity and inclusion.

Marta has over 40 years of experience in organizational and clinical social work practice during which she has held multiple roles, such as tenured professor, social researcher, executive leader, psychotherapist, community organizer, advocate, activist, coach, trainer, facilitator and public speaker.    

She is the immediate past President/CEO of The Center for Women and Families, a 6 million dollar non-profit, serving survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault and their families in Kentucky.

Before joining The Center she worked at Eastern Kentucky University as an associate professor in the Anthropology, Sociology and Social Work Department for 17 years.  During her tenure she served as the chair of Women and Gender Studies and of Multicultural Student Affairs.

Marta has received numerous awards for her leadership, activism, and program design, such as the KY Martha Layne Collins Women in Leadership award, Equitable Program Design from the National Health Law Practice for her work with EEO office of the cabinet on the Limited English Proficiency Program.  In addition she was awarded the Excellence in Leadership Award by the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, she was named a Muhammad Ali Daughter of Greatness for her gender equity and erasing racism work and honored for her immigration and antiracism work by the Alliance Against Racist and Political Oppression and Jewish Family and Career Center. She was named a compassionate laureate by Mayor Greg Fischer and he declared March 17 Marta Miranda Day. The Center for Women and Families named Marta a 2020 Woman of Distinction.

Marta was inducted into the Affrilachian poets by KY Poet Laureate Frank X Walker in 2009, she is a published scholar and poet and her memoir Cradled by Skeletons - A Life in Poems and Essays was published this fall by Shadeland house Modern Press.

Panelist - Kelley Bright

Kelley Bright is Mercer’s Kentucky Office Leader and a Partner with the firm. She works closely with her team of ~600 professionals locally to drive Mercer’s brand in the Kentuckiana market and manages client relationships.  Kelley is also responsible for developing consulting talent.

With more than 25 years of experience with global professional consulting firms, Kelley serves as a trusted advisor to help her clients best manage their most important asset, their people. Prior to join Mercer, Kelley was a business development leader at EY.

Kelley is passionate about the promotion and advancement of women in the workforce and serves as the executive sponsor for Mercer’s Empowering Women Together and Racial & Ethic Diversity Business Resource Groups. She is an active volunteer serving on the Board for Women Influencing Louisville, Committee Chair for Unbridled Charities, and as Eastern High School’s Volleyball Boosters Treasurer.

Kelley graduated with distinction from Western Kentucky University.  She is married with two kids, Evan and Paige, and two dogs, Taco and JuneBug.

Panelist - Lettie Johnson

Lettie Johnson is the CEO/Founder of Gifted By Design Leadership and Consulting, LLC  (GBD). A wholistic personal and professional development practice in connecting, consulting, counseling, and coaching people and organizations. Lettie holds over 20+ years of experience in transforming organizations and people across sectors. As a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Teacher, Trainer, and Speaker. She offers workshops, seminars, keynote speaking, and coaching, aiding your personal and professional growth.  Also, being a licensed diversity equity and inclusion facilitator she uses her skills in leadership development, strategic planning, and communication methods to assist people and organizations in maximizing their capacity and reaching their full potential. Lettie Johnson, CEO/Founder Gifted By Design Leadership & Consulting, LLC 

Certified Life/Leadership Coach, Consultant, Trainer, & Motivational Speaker John C. Maxwell Team.

Panelist - Rawleigh Richardson, MAHRM, SHRM-CP, PHR

Rawleigh Richardson, Sr. has been part of LSHRM, Louisville Society for Human Resources Management, since 2010 and has served in multiple roles that include Workforce Readiness Chair, Workforce Readiness Director, College and Community Director, Volunteer Engagement Director and 2019 President-Elect. Rawleigh Richardson, Sr. also has served on the Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management, KYSHRM, Board as the Co-Director of Diversity and Co-Director of Professional Development and Certification. Rawleigh Richardson is an active volunteer that has help facilitate HR Certification classes and was a speaker during two KYSHRM Conference. Rawleigh Richardson is currently the 2020 President of LSHRM

Rawleigh Richardson, Sr started his 2^nd career into Human Resources in 2006 after working as a Loss Prevention Manager at a major retailer for over 16 years. Since then Rawleigh has served in multiple Human Resource roles that include HR Manager, HR Coordinator, Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Sr. HR Specialist-ER, Sr. HR Generalist, HR Generalist, and in his current role of a Sr. Associate Relations Professional with Humana.

He was also a Program Facilitator for the Clark County Youth Shelter that facilitate a weekly support group for youth in Southern Indiana, coordinates services, and acts as a community representative of the Anger Management, Shoplifting Prevention, and Curriculum-Based Support Group (CBSG) program.

Rawleigh Richardson, Sr. hold 2 undergraduate degrees from the University of Louisville in Police Administration and Correctional Administration, respectively. He graduated from Webster University with a Master of Arts with honors in Human Resources Management. He served as adjunct faculty at ITT and the University of Phoenix facilitating Professional Development and Human Resource Management. He was recognized in the National SHRM HR Magazine as a Member Spotlight in 2015.

Day Two Speakers

Keynote Speaker - Dr. Timothy Findley, Sr.

Keynote Topic: Intercultural Communication: Why is it so difficult!

Dr. Tim Findley has been the chief diversity and inclusion leader at both Kindred Healthcare and Norton Healthcare. In the position Findley created, implemented, cultivated and communicated the organization’s vision of diversity and cultural inclusion. He develops and manages strategic and tactical initiatives with the goal of enhancing the quality of services provided to patient, improving the quality of work life for employees and ensuring broad-based participation in purchasing of goods and services.

Dr. Findley has a doctoral degree from Spalding University, an MBA from Webster University, and a bachelor degree from the University of Louisville. Dr. Findley is certified as a diversity professional/advanced practitioner by Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he was also a member of the adjunct faculty teaching leadership, diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency. Dr. Findley also is or has been an adjunct instructor at Webster University, Spalding University, Sullivan University, the University of Phoenix, and Jefferson Community College.

Dr. Findley is former chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Father Maloney’s Boy’s Haven and a member of the Board of Trustees at the Lincoln Foundation. Dr. Findley was also chairperson of the Premier Supplier Diversity Committee. Premier is one of the nation’s largest performance improvement alliances of approximately 3,400 U.S. hospitals and 110,000 other providers. They bring together hospitals, health systems, physicians and other healthcare providers with the goal to lead the transformation to coordinated, high-quality, cost-effective care. He is a former board member of the Volunteers of America, the Louisville Central Community Centers, and the Kentucky Industrials for the Blind. Dr. Findley has been a presenter at numerous conferences regionally and nationally, speaking on topics of leadership, diversity and inclusion, cultural competency, and communications.  Dr. Tim Findley currently serves as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Transit Authority of the River City (TARC).

Moderator - Nikki Lanier

Nikki Lanier is senior vice president and regional executive of the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, which covers metro Louisville, southern Indiana and western Kentucky. She is also a member of the Bank’s Management Committee.

 

As leader of the Branch, she connects the public, business leaders, community bankers, community development organizations, and educators—the groups representing Main Street—to the Fed. The Branch hosts various convenings, where information is collected on a variety of industries in consideration of monetary policy deliberations. The two-way exchange of information allows the Branch to disseminate economic data and related information to key audiences, allowing these audiences to make more informed decisions about their organizations. She also oversees the Branch’s community development and economic education initiatives.

 

Prior to joining the St. Louis Fed in 2014, Ms. Lanier served as personnel cabinet secretary for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, chief human resources officer for Charter Schools USA, vice chancellor of human resources for Maricopa Community Colleges, and other positions in both the health care and legal fields. In her positions, she focused on strategic planning, community partnerships, succession planning, recruitment and retention, and labor negotiations. Ms. Lanier earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Hampton University.

 

Ms. Lanier is deeply involved in the Louisville community and serves on the boards of Greater Louisville Inc., the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, and the Board of Advisors of University of Louisville’s College of Business. She is the Chair of the Board of OneWest. Ms. Lanier also serves on the LEAD360 Business Development Team, is a member of the UNCF Louisville Leadership Council and is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

 

 In 2019 she was presented with the Robert C. Burks Distinguished Business and Leadership Award. In 2018 she was selected to a national list of notable financial executives, The Business Journals’ Influencers: top 100 executives having an impact on business in communities. She has also been honored as Louisville Business First’s “Woman of Influence,” one of “20 People to Know in Banking and Finance,” “Forty Under 40” and recognized as one of the “10 Most Influential Women of Louisville.” She has also authored a chapter in the book Rethinking Human Resources.

Panelist - Demetria Miles-McDonald

Demetria Miles-McDonald is the Founder and CEO of Decide Diversity, a company focused on increasing the presence and effectiveness of underrepresented groups in the workplace, specifically in leadership positions. Demetria specializes in bringing the experiences of people who identify with two or more marginalized groups to the forefront, to better understand and utilize the strengths they bring to the workplace. Demetria's experience in industrial and organizational psychology have energized her to take action and lead today's leaders away from stereotypes and biases that prevent qualified people from reaching their highest potential. 

Demetria's powerful presentations and workshops make leaders think outside the box and consider solutions that move organizations forward. As a partner to many leaders around the country, Demetria works side by side with teams to increase diversity and improve inclusionary behavior in an effort to positively impact business results. Demetria's unique perspective as an intersectional employee, leader, and researcher brings clarity, freshness, and focus to issues at work that may otherwise go unnoticed.

Demetria was awarded the 2020 Most Admired Business Woman from Today’s Woman Magazine. Demetria was also recognized as the 2019 Young Leader of Louisville from Louisville Business First and the 2018 Member of the Year from the National Association of Women Business Owners Kentucky chapter. Demetria is a 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award Nominee and a 2018 Trustee of Inclusion and Equity Nominee. These awards were presented due to Demetria’s work in diversity and inclusion in the community. Demetria serves on a number of non-profit boards to help bring a focus to diversity, intersectionality, inclusion, and equity.

Demetria volunteers at various organizations such as her local SHRM state council leading diversity and inclusion efforts, but is most dedicated to the Urban League where she leads a resume writing workshop twice a month to help people from a traditionally underserved area get back into the workforce. Demetria’s passion for demanding equality for the marginalized, oppressed, and underrepresented is her life’s work.

Demetria’s Social Media Handles:

Twitter: @Demetria_Leads

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decidediversity/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/decide-diversity/

Panelist - Delene Taylor