Engage, Empower & Act 2020 Economic Inclusion Conference

posted on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 in Grow Cedar Valley

Grow Cedar Valley and the University of Northern Iowa is excited to announce the 2020 Economic Inclusion Conference: Engage, Empower & Act.

The conference will be Oct. 8th & 9th in a two-day virtual event. The first day will include a two-hour session with speakers, breakouts, and content that is open to all. The second day will feature a partial day conference featuring talented and engaging speakers.

View Agenda

Attendance is encouraged for community leaders, human resources professionals, recruiters, educators, and anyone invested in developing inclusion strategies for the Cedar Valley. This event will foster the exchange of new ideas and approaches for meaningful and impactful diversity and inclusion.

Attendees are eligible for 8 hours of SHRM & HRCI credit.

The following video outlines Economic Inclusion in the Cedar Valley and the value it can bring. Thank you to AMPERAGE Marketing and Fundraising for putting this video together for the conference.

We want to extend a huge thank you to the University of Northern Iowa for their partnership and the work they did to ensure this event was a success.

We also want to thank the event sponsors. Without their contribution, the event could not be held at the scale that it was held.

Agenda

October 8, 2020

1:00 PM - Introduction

1:20 PM - Let's Be Honest - Video Response Panel

2:15 PM - Break

2:20 PM - Let's Be Honest: The Challenge of Leading

Panelists
- Dr. Kingsley Botchway II, Chief Officer of Human Resources and Equity, Waterloo Community School District
- Dr. Jim Wohlpart, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Northern Iowa
- Dr. Todd Holcomb, President, Hawkeye Community College
- Dr. Nafissa Cisse Egbuonye, Director, Black Hawk County Health Department

October 9, 2020

8:05 AM - Kick-Off Address - Economic Inclusion Overview

Sharina Sallis, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, CUNA Mutual Group
Will Frost, Director of Talent Development, Grow Cedar Valley

8:30 AM - Let's Be Honest...An Emergency of Urgency

Cary Darrah, President & CEO, Grow Cedar Valley
Rob Green, Mayor of Cedar Falls, IA
Quentin Hart, Mayor of Waterloo, IA
Dr. Todd Holcomb, President, Hawkeye Community College
Dr. Mark Nook, President, University of Northern Iowa
Kyle Roed, Human Resources Director, CPM Roskamp

8:55 AM - Break

9:00 AM - Keynote

Rick Coleman, Sports Director, KWWL
Kevin Warren, Commissioner, Big Ten
Dr. Mark Nook, President, University of Northern Iowa

9:55 AM - Break

10:00 AM - Let's Be Honest EE&A Training Sessions (Engage, Empower & Act) for Your Organization

Healthcare Disparities in COVID-19 - Impact on Your Organization
- Moderator: Rob Green, Mayor of Cedar Falls, IA
- Dr. Nafissa Cisse Egbuonye, Director, Black Hawk County Health Department
Black Lives Matter - Activism in Action
- Moderator: Jamie Chidozie
- Joyce Levingston
- Stacey Walker
- Anthony Arrington
Benefits of Being Proactive: Intentional Embracing of LGBTQ Issues, Individuals & Interests
- Moderator: James Hoelscher, Program Manager, University of Northern Iowa Institute for Decision Making
- Dr. Dwight Eisenman
- Gina Weekley, Waterloo Community Schools
- Chris Schwartz, Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors

11:00 AM - Let's Be Honest EE&A Training Sessions (Engage, Empower & Act) for Your Organization Cont.

Lawyer Up? Legality of Diversity
- Moderator: Felicia Smith-Nalls, City of Waterloo, IA
E3 - Ensuring Economic Equity
- Moderator: Joy Briscoe, Waterloo Community School District
- Robert Smith
Colored Lens of White Privilege
- Moderator - Tara Thomas, Communications Director, Waterloo Community School District
- Lisa Speicher Munoz
- Kathy Kratchmer
- Annette Duncan
- Susan Hill
- Brittany Flokstra

12:00 PM - Let's Be Honest EE&A Training Sessions (Engage, Empower & Act) for Your Organization Cont.

Workforce Strategies: Can You See Me? I have a ~~dis~~ABILITY!
- Moderator: Kyle Roed, Human Resources Director, CPM Roskamp
- Moderator: Sherman Wise
- TeriLynn Jorgensen
- Emmanual Smith, Disability Rights Iowa
Workforce Strategies: Just Cedar Valley Nice? Good to Great...Welcoming Immigrants & Refugees
- Moderator: Tavis Hall, Executive Director, Experience Waterloo
- Nilvia Reyes Rodriguez, LULAC and Human Rights Commission
- Mariah Morgan, EMBARC
KEEPING YOUR HEAD: Prioritizing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Midst of a Crisis
- Moderator: Sharina Sallis, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, CUNA Mutual Group
- Jamie Chidozie
- Rhonda McRina, Hawkeye Community College
- Corye Johnson
- Timi Brown-Powers

12:50 PM - Break

1:00 PM - Choose Your Plenary Lab: Engage, Empower & Act Under the Microscope

Hmm.. So you have a Diversity plan... now what?
- Moderator: Dr. Beverly Smith
- Therese Stevens, COO, Braceability
- Amber Youngblut, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Vice President of Human Resources, Geater Machining & Manufacturing, Co.
IMPACTED: Racial Trauma/Mental Health
- Shantila Caston
- Melissa Payne

1:50 PM - Wrap Up