Registration Open, Keynote Presenters Announced for Inclusion Summit on Nov. 10
GREATER DES MOINES, IA (Oct. 6, 2021) – Registration is open for the Greater Des Moines Partnership’s Inclusion Summit scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 10 at the FFA Enrichment Center at the Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Campus. Attendees also have the option to join virtually. The event’s theme is “Equity in Action,” and attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about what equity means and discover tools and resources to build equity-centered practices, systems and organizations.
Keynote speakers for the Summit include James Wright, Kerrien (Kay) Suarez and Kenji Yoshino.
Wright is a dynamic and compelling leader with a demonstrated ability to inspire and catalyze large corporations to develop strategic plans and programs that frequently receive national recognition for their effectiveness in Diversity and Inclusion. With a track record of delivering practical roadmaps for increasing Diversity in global corporations such as Apple Inc., LinkedIn, NBCUniversal, Time Warner (AOL), Verizon / MCI, and respected industry organizations, James has become a sought-after speaker in the field of diversity and inclusion, human resources, and social media. Wright’s presentation will focus on “Rewiring the Workplace Mindset of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.”
Suarez is the Executive Director of Equity in the Center (EiC), a field-wide initiative to influence social sector leaders to shift mindsets, practices and systems to achieve race equity. EiC envisions a future where nonprofit and philanthropic organizations advance race equity internally while also centering it in their work externally. In 2018, EiC published “Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture,” which details management and operational levers that organizations utilize to transform culture.
Yoshino is the Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law and the Director of the Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. A graduate of Harvard (AB summa cum laude), Oxford (MSc as a Rhodes Scholar), and Yale (JD), he specializes in constitutional law, anti-discrimination law, and law and literature. Yoshino is the author of three books and has been published in several major academic journals including The Harvard Law Review, The Stanford Law Review and The Yale Law Journal. His presentation will focus on “Uncovering Talent: A New Model of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.”
“The Inclusion Summit is a great time to hear about some best practices from nationally acclaimed speakers, celebrate our progress on our diversity, equity and inclusion journey while becoming energized and inspired to continue the journey,” said Sanjita Pradhan, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
The Partnership’s Inclusion Award winners will be announced at The Summit.
Learn more, find the latest updates and register on The Partnership’s website.
About the Greater Des Moines Partnership
The Greater Des Moines Partnership is the economic and community development organization that serves Greater Des Moines (DSM), Iowa. Together with 24 Affiliate Chambers of Commerce, more than 6,500 Regional Business Members and more than 365 Investors, The Partnership drives economic growth with one voice, one mission and as one region. Through innovation, strategic planning and global collaboration, The Partnership grows opportunity, helps create jobs and promotes DSM as the best place to build a business, a career and a future. Learn more at DSMpartnership.com.