Thursday, March 21, 2013

Segment I (Opening Plenary) - 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

“Playing Work” presents workplace scenarios featuring a boss, a favored worker and an unfavored worker in scenes that will explore such issues as racism, ageism, sexism and even ableism.   As the actors step into their various roles, body language and vocal inflection will be used to demonstrate how stereotypes and adverse assumptions affect various marginalized populations.  The audience will be invited into a lively discussion that explodes open insidious ways that bias sometimes surfaces.

Segment II (Concurrent Sessions) - 9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

SESSION A
Equity, Opportunity and Diversity: The State of the Law

Presenter: Susan Sharkey, Esq., JD, Assistant Attorney General, State of Ohio
Susan Sharkey, Esq., Assistant Ohio Attorney General, is highly regarded for her expertise and knowledge in civil rights law. In this important session, Ms. Sharkey will provide a comprehensive review of federal and Ohio laws and regulations pertaining to equal employment and equal educational opportunity. This session will explain organizational and managerial legal responsibilities under discrimination and harassment law.

SESSION B
Generational Divides Equal Success

Presenter: Tameka Taylor, Ph.D., CDE, Compass Consulting Services, Beachwood, Ohio
For the first time in history, four distinct generations: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y - are working side by side within the workplace.  Although they are working and learning together because of their differing values, thoughts around leadership, and communication styles, these generations are facing very real conflicts. In this fun and interactive workshop, participants will learn how each generation developed its core values, how that manifests itself in the workplace today, and how these generations can work, learn, and grow together to accomplish great success despite the generational divides.

SESSION C
Train the Champion: The Case Western Model for Inclusive Engagement

Presenters: Melissa Burrows, Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Robynn Strong, B.A., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
This workshop presents the cohort model of diversity training developed through the CWRU Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equal Opportunity (OIDEO).   Participants will not only learn how CWRU is applying research about campus climate into the implementation of its Diversity Strategic Action Plan, but also how this cohort model of diversity training has become a strategy for challenging and interrupting the status quo for faculty searches and interpersonal interactions on campus for faculty, students, and staff.  The presentation offers concrete examples of transformative initiatives attendees might develop and implement on their own campuses and in other workplaces.

SESSION D
Levels of Religious Tolerance in an Changing Society

Presenter: Dale Lanigan, Ed.D., Lourdes University, Sylvania, Ohio
This presentation will examine religious tolerance from several perspectives: specific demographic changes, the impact of demographic changes on society’s willingness to be more accepting of diverse religious beliefs, and the impact of trends in religious affiliation on adherence to religious doctrine and levels of religious tolerance. Religious traditions and faiths in the United States, and the number of people adhering to them, will be investigated and trends in religious affiliation will be analyzed.

SESSION E
Best Practices for Improving Diversity in Procurement Programs: The Dayton Model

Presenter: Marci Wright, B.A., City of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio
This presentation explores the success of the City of Dayton’s supplier procurement program.  Presenters will demonstrate how to implement effective outreach programs to inform and educate stakeholders and how successful procurement outreach programs can result in increased participation by small, minority-owned, woman-owned, and local businesses.  This hands-on, how-to practical session will provide attendees with guidance on how to develop an outreach strategy for internal and external stakeholders, prepare marketing materials, use technology to promote outreach programs, inform and educate the business community about supplier diversity advantages, conduct post-event surveys and track results and publish supplier diversity program results.

SESSION F
Model for a University-Private Sector Talent Pipeline Partnership

Presenters: Francisco-Xavier Gomez-Bellenge, M.A., The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Curtis Austin, Ph.D., The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Joe Reville, M.A., Price, Waterhouse, Coopers, LLP, Columbus, Ohio                                                                                                                  
This session will demonstrate how effective collaboration between an academic college, a pre-collegiate diversity and inclusion program, and private sector employers were able to broaden the career horizons of first-generation students of color.  The objective of the presentation will be to illustrate the key components of this partnership in increasing career choices for first-generation, urban students and how it might be replicated elsewhere.

Segment III (Concurrent Sessions) - 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

SESSION A
Best Practices in Conducting Basic Investigations

Presenter: Donna L. Flynt, M.A., Parker Hannifin Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio
This workshop will provide information on how to conduct an effective internal investigation involving allegations of discrimination and harassment.  The session will include when to investigate; characteristics of a good investigator; and strategies for approaching investigations.  Participants will acquire skills in developing an investigative plan, effectively interviewing witnesses, writing the final report, relaying the results and managing the workplace during and after an investigation.  This workshop will be beneficial to equal opportunity/affirmative action professionals, human resource personnel and others who have responsibility for investigating complaints of harassment and discrimination.  

SESSION B
LGBT Inclusion in the Workplace

Presenters: Liz Roccoforte, M.A., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Gia Adeen, M.A., Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
This workshop will provide conference attendees with realistic and concrete ways to create a space in which lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals not only feel safe to be their authentic selves, but are able to thrive. The interactive, discussion based workshop will approach this topic from both the institutional and interpersonal perspectives.  Participants will learn the current best practices, including 1)  information about the relatively new best practice of “grossing up” in order to create a truly equitable implementation of same-sex benefits, 2)  how to create and sustain LGBT employee resources groups and 3)  best practices and policies to create inclusive space for transgender employees.

SESSION C
The Emerging Market and its Impact on Disability

Presenter: James Clinkscale, M.R.C., Ohio Rehabiliation Services Commission, Columbus, Ohio
This interactive presentation will focus on the legal, social and economic impacts of disability in the US.  The session will explain how an international and national emerging population will impact disability law, challenge and change the workplace, and the new image disability may have in US society. Participants will be guided to embrace disability as diversity, and to be informed about technology advancements along with legal changes that make societal and workplace inclusion for people with disabilities more possible and effective than ever before in US history.

SESSION D
Coming to Terms with Racism—An Interactive Session Demonstrating Tools for Reflection, Engagement and Action

Presenter: Lorna Gonsalves, Ph.D., Human Values for Transformative Action, Maumee, Ohio
Participants will test out a sample of innovative strategies that tap into the cognitive and affective aspects of learning about racism. Each individual will bring to and take away from the sessions a unique set of ideas, questions, and tools for action. Rules for engagement will ensure that all participants have an opportunity to honestly and respectfully share insights.  Participants will be provided with opportunities for following up on ideas raised during the session. CEUs will be offered.

SESSION E
It’s Too Diverse Here: Negotiating Presentation of Self and Student Bias

Presenters: Lindy Bobbitt, B.S., Capital University, Columbus, Ohio
Jazmine Williams B.S., Capital University, Columbus, Ohio
This examines the works of Erving Goffman, Ernest T. Pascarella and Patrick T. Terenzini to explore the professional/personal dichotomy and student learning as they pertain to trending issues of diversity when the professional and student identities conflict.  Participants will be exposed to techniques that can be used during difficult conversations with students in which we meet with the ultimate goal of balancing conserving the authentic self and professionalism while fostering student growth/learning.  The concepts in this session, though based on the findings and experiences at a private institution, are transferrable across occupations and levels of supervision.

Session F
Towards Cultural Competence

Presenter: Laura Di Tullio, M.A., Cross-Cultural Consulting, Cincinnati, Ohio
This highly interactive presentation will analyze some of the deep challenges linked to being effective in a cross-cultural environment by using 2 exercises that have communication as their starting point, but whose implications will open up broader discussion and deeper analysis. Exercise #1 will highlight the learned rules/values we do not know or question: e.g. risk-taking versus risk-avoiding, optimism vs. skepticism. Participants will be led through a short dialog that provides an example of a cross-cultural misunderstanding and aims at creating awareness of different cultural dimensions and values. In Exercise #2, participants will investigate and analyze different communication styles through a role play centered on communication styles.

Segment IV (Luncheon & Keynote) - 12:15 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Tim Wise, Author, Anti-Racist Educator and Activist

Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the United States. Recently named one of “25 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World,” by Utne Reader, Wise has spoken in all 50 states, on over 800 college and high school campuses, and to community groups across the nation. He has also lectured internationally in Canada and Bermuda on issues of comparative racism, race and education, racism and religion, and racism in the labor market.  Wise is the author of six books, contributed essays to twenty-five books, and is one of several persons featured in White Men Challenging Racism: Thirty-Five Personal Stories (Duke University Press). Wise has provided anti-racism training to teachers nationwide, and has conducted trainings with physicians and medical industry professionals on how to combat racial inequities in health care. He has also trained corporate, government, entertainment, military and law enforcement officials on methods for dismantling racism in their institutions, and has served as a consultant for plaintiff’s attorneys in federal discrimination cases in New York and Washington State.

Segment V (Concurrent Sessions) - 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

SESSION A
Best Practices in Enforcement and Compliance

Panelists:  Felicia Godbolt, Equal Opportunity Division, State of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio
G. Michael Payton, J.D.,Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Columbus, Ohio
Cynthia Stankiewicz, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Cleveland, Ohio
Bruce Timberlake, U.S. Department of Labor (OFCCP), Columbus, Ohio
This important panel of Ohio and federal compliance and anti-discrimination agencies, will provide examples of successful and innovative programs that in their view represent “best practices” in enforcement and compliance. Representatives from the EEOC, OFCCP, OCRC, and the EOD will be on hand to answer questions about topics pertaining to their missions.

SESSION B
Exploring the dynamics of gender and sexuality: BGSU’s Safe Zone Inclusion Program

Presenters: Tobias Spears, Bowing Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
This session will explore the dynamics of gender and sexuality using material from BGSU’s Safe Zone Inclusion Program. To talk about this often underrepresented subject, presenters will employ statistical data, emerging vocabulary terms, and visual aids. This session will place particular emphases on trans* and people of color populations. The program will be facilitated by Tobias Spears, Assistant Director for LGBT Programs, Office of Multicultural Affairs; Courtney Robinson, Graduate Assistant, Office of Multicultural Affairs; and Daniel Rivera, Student Assistant, Office of Multicultural Affairs.

SESSION C
Access, Retention, Matriculation, Success: Increasing Retention Rates Among Urban AALANA and First-Generation Students

Presenters: Fashaad Crawford, Ph.D., Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Kaylan Baxter, M.A., Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Participants who attend this session will have the opportunity to apprehend the need for strategic planning to enhance retention rates among underrepresented and underserved students; understand the collaborative role that administrators and staff in both academic and student affairs can have in facilitating success among students with a traditionally high likelihood of attrition; and learn about potential methods and implications to increase academic and social integration among students particularly from urban residential areas.

SESSION D
Restorative Justice – An Inclusive Community Approach to Social Justice

Presenters: Gina Paris, M.A., Lourdes University, Sylvania, Ohio
Sharon Everhardt, Ph.D., Lourdes University, Sylvania, Ohio
This interactive session will address alternative responses to crime and delinquency and the potential benefit to our communities. Participants will explore the concepts and practices of restorative justice and how it is an effective tool in communities. Given persistent racial disparities in the nation, this session will also explore restorative justice's potential to heal and transform both historical harm and present-day inequities in our justice system, schools, and diverse communities.

SESSION E
Micromessaging: It’s in the Small Things

Presenter: Tameka Taylor, Ph.D., CDE, Compass Consulting Services, Beachwood, Ohio
It is said that we give between 2,000-4,000 micromessages daily. How can we utilize those opportunities to ensure that we're being inclusive to all rather than exclusive to some?  In this interactive workshop, participants will discover what micromessages are and the impact that they can have on you, as well as those you interact with.   Participants will practice giving microinequities and microadvantages and discuss how they make us feel and consequently, the impact that has on those around us. Lastly, the presentation will look at 10 things that can be done to help improve our micromessages as we move forward.

SESSION F
When Affirmative Action was White--Setting the Record Straight

Presenter: Hazel Rountree, Ph.D., J.D., Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
This presentation will document how federal "affirmative action" programs that were designed to eradicate poverty among all Americans failed because of a compromise that allowed states to control the federal funds.  Thus, in the southern state where most African Americans lived in the 20th century, legislators systemically excluded most African Americans from participation in "affirmative action" programs that addressed quality of life issues, such as home loans, educational opportunities, and vocational training.  The outcome of these "affirmative action" programs resulted in impoverished Whites gaining middle class status, yet, the majority of impoverished African Americans remained in poverty.

Segment VI (Closing Plenary) - 3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Michelle Alexander, J.D., The Ohio State University
Michelle Alexander is an associate professor at The Ohio State University, where she holds a joint appointment with the Moritz College of Law and the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity. Prior to joining the OSU faculty, she was a member of the Stanford Law School faculty, where she served as Director of the Civil Rights Clinic. Professor Alexander has significant experience in the field of civil rights advocacy and litigation. She has litigated civil rights cases in private practice as well as engaged in innovative litigation and advocacy efforts in the non-profit sector. For several years, Professor Alexander served as the Director of the Racial Justice Project for the ACLU of Northern California, which spearheaded a national campaign against racial profiling by law enforcement. A graduate of Stanford Law School and Vanderbilt University, Professor Alexander is the author of the much acclaimed book, “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness”.