The Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting its 5th annual Diversity and Inclusion Conference. It is to take place on Oct. 22 from 9-3 on the second floor of the SUB.
The event is a chance for students on campus and university guests to come and discuss and workshop many of the issues affecting the college and the real world.
Speakers will come and host sessions about topics they have experience in and passion for.
The conference will open with the keynote speaker Rev. Shawn Walker. Walker works in fellowship and wellness at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Wilkes-Barre. He also has experience as a speaker, life coach and consultant.
Other speakers include Heloise Ridley, a counselor at Wilkes, who will be presenting a session on mental health and its impact on people of color in the college community; Dr. Laura Crushing, who will be presenting on embracing transgender language and Dr. Kalen Churcher, an associate professor of communication studies, talking about (mis)representation in the media.
The hosts of BraveSpaceLive will be there as well.
Tychelle Graham-Moskowitz and Melody Stanford Martin are doing a session along with producer and assistant director of ResLife Alica Givens.
The final two speakers will be CEO of Parkmultimedia, Dan Kimbrough, talking about code-breaking, and finally Johnathan Kadjeski, professor at Wilkes and Kings, speaking on breaking down bias.
The speakers are organized into sessions that attendees can pick and choose to attend within three time frames. Two speakers will go on at the same time in different rooms and people can pick which one to attend.
Erica Acosta is the director of Diversity Initiatives on campus and has held the event for many years now.
“Having last year be the first year after the pandemic, it has made this year a lot less stressful,” said Acosta. “It is not us trying to put it together after time of not doing it or people not wanting to attend because of the fear. Now it’s back into the swing. I am truly excited for what we have this year.”
Registration is required for the event and can be done scanning and posters on campus or visiting the Wilkes website.