The Johns Hopkins Diversity Leadership Council (DLC) will host its annual Diversity and Inclusion Conference on Friday, Oct. 20 on Homewood campus. This year's conference, which marks the event's 20th anniversary, will be centered around the theme of "Rooted: Remaining Grounded in a Changing Environment."
"A lot has changed in the past 20 years and the university's commitment to diversity is as strong as ever, but the last few months have taught us that we must continue to increase our efforts to respond to the actions that threaten our progress," said Katrina Caldwell, JHU's vice provost for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer.
The DLC, which is composed of members from all nine Johns Hopkins divisions, advises the university president on matters involving diversity and inclusion, advocating for ways the institution can improve. Their first conference, held in 2004, was just a half-day event with about 250 attendees.
Since then, the DLC's Diversity and Inclusion Conference has grown significantly, offering a full day of learning and workshops that regularly attracts more than 500 participants. Past speakers have included disability rights activist Judith Heumann, Congressman Elijah Cummings, and journalist Maria Hinojosa.
This year's event will be held both virtually and in-person, with separate schedules for each group. Attendees will be able to participate in three workshops each, as well as listen to plenary, keynote, and closing remarks. Workshop topics include building community and allyship in the workplace, creative inclusive environments for students with disabilities, and healing from racial trauma, among other subjects.
"The Johns Hopkins Diversity Leadership Council at its 20th Annual Conference will connect people, and inform and enable idea sharing and practice across Johns Hopkins to further sustain excellence, understanding, and community and transformation," said James Calvin, a professor of practice and associate dean for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School and DLC co-chair.
A livestream broadcast of the event will be available to those who did not register in advance. Registered attendees are encouraged to sign up for the post-conference reception, which begins at 4:30 p.m.
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