Diversity and Inclusion Conference Coming to A-State
JONESBORO – Professionals in education, community healthcare, business and human resources are especially encouraged to attend an upcoming conference at Arkansas State University.
A-State's Division of Diversity & Community Engagement and St. Bernards Healthcare will sponsor "LEAAPing into Diversity & Inclusion" Friday, Feb. 21. The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Red Wolf Convention Center, 223 Red Wolf Blvd. LEAAP refers to the St. Bernards affinity group, Leading and Emerging African American Professionals.
The conference program will emphasize and promote awareness of implicit bias and tools for mitigating its effects. Participants in the opening group session will be introduced to diversity and inclusion terms and their importance.
The keynote speaker will be Amber Booth-McCoy, senior diversity specialist with the Center for Diversity Affairs at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and CEO of Diversity Booth, Inc. Among her many professional and civic activities, she is a member of the City of Little Rock Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission.
Following the keynote, break-out sessions will focus on implicit bias within specific fields. A-State faculty and staff professionals representing education, healthcare, business and human resources and others from the community will lead several sessions that touch on aspects of implicit bias.
The slate of speakers includes Dr. Lillie Fears, Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, Dr. Kim Wilbanks, Dr. Shane Hunt, Dr. Steve Leslie, Dr. Brook Laurent, Dr. Sara Nehring, Dr. Lisa Matthew-Jones, Stephanie Lott and Catherine Naylor.
The registration fee is $30, which includes breakfast and lunch. Nurses and physicians will be eligible to receive continuing education units. Social workers and educators will receive certificates indicating their attendance. These certificates can be used by attendees to apply for professional development credit through the appropriate granting agency.
Additional details are available at the online registration site.
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