Collaborative Diversity Conference addresses past, present scars of racism
BRANSON MO NEWS: Moving forward and taking action while acknowledging the past and present scars of racism was the main focus of this year’s Collaborative Diversity Conference, a signature public affairs event at Missouri State University. The conference included several events that invited speakers from all disciplines to discuss this year’s theme “Facing racism in 2018 and beyond: A changing dynamic.” Damon A. Williams, Plenary SpeakerDamon A. Williams, chief catalyst for the Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership and Social Innovation, was the plenary speaker for the conference.
Williams said that moving from awareness to action to innovation is a concept he had been studying and formulating during his career as a visionary and inspirational leader. “You must be intentional in getting better,” Williams said. “You must stay locked in a continuous learning process about this topic, just as we would encourage our students to be continuous learners about any topic.”Williams said to be an innovator, one must question, search for solutions across boundaries, engage other innovators, experiment with new ideas, take those ideas to scale and lead with courage, but it is not easy.“At times being naked in your aloneness, at times being naked in your solidarity in being the first to say something, the first to act,” Williams said. Finding the courage to speak up and take action usually happens in a time of crisis, Williams said, but he encourages people to find that courage everyday, even without the crisis. Williams described diversity today as “the perfect storm.” Diversity is composed of multiple connected economies that intersect and elevate the discussion, Williams said. Williams said this “perfect storm” interconnectivity does not make the discussion easier though. Williams said social media gives groups the opportunity to be more inclusive or more closed off.“We live in a world that is …
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