Virginia Inclusion Summit

The 2024 conference will be held in person at The Westin Richmond (6631 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230).

Event Space Layout for Conference

General registration opens on May 1, 2024 and can be completed via this website when available (scroll down).

Hotel Reservations
Stay at The Westin Richmond for a special conference rate of $174 per night, available Wednesday, September 4 and/or Thursday, September 5. A block of rooms has been reserved. The special rate expires on August 16, 2024 or when capacity is reached.

To book the group rate online, use this link

Confirmation | Building Trust within Workplaces | Jacquie Johnson

In the ever-evolving landscape of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), trust-building is foundational in fostering an inclusive workplace culture. This session delves into the nuances of cultivating trust within organizations, providing insights and strategies for professionals to navigate interpersonal dynamics. Participants will explore the essential components of trust building, understanding its significance in creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to engage authentically, voice concerns, and contribute meaningfully to organizational objectives. Through interactive discussions and scenarios, attendees will gain practical skills to build trust, fostering a more inclusive and resilient organizational culture.

Facilitator: 

Jacqueline “Jacquie” Johnson is Director of Professional Development at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. In her role, she designs, coordinates, delivers and evaluates diversity, equity, and inclusion programs conducted for VCIC’s workplace clients across Virginia. Jacquie has a diverse background that includes workplace diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) strategy, instructional design, and underrepresented community outreach and engagement. She is especially interested in how DEI practices, adult learning, and inner self-work build and better workplaces and communities for everyone to thrive. Jacquie currently serves on the board of The Fund for Leadership, Equity, Access, and Diversity (The LEAD Fund). She received her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Old Dominion University and her Master’s degree in Anthropology (International Development concentration) from George Washington University.

Contradiction | Navigating Conflict and Promoting Empathy | Charm Bullard

In this session, participants will have the unique opportunity to delve into the intricacies of the 3 C’s framework, with a specific focus on contradiction as a DEI leader. Conflict is possible in any diverse and inclusive environment. How we navigate and address conflict can profoundly impact the culture and effectiveness of our organizations. This workshop will provide attendees with practical strategies and insights to effectively manage conflict and foster empathy in their workplaces and communities. From active listening techniques to conflict resolution strategies, attendees will leave with actionable tools to implement in their workplaces.

Facilitators: 

Charm Bullard is Senior Advisor to the CEO at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. In her role, she designs and facilitates educational programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion for institutions across Virginia. Since joining the VCIC team in 2016, Charm has had the opportunity to conduct over 400 workshops across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to joining VCIC, Charm spent 11 years working in various student affairs roles on collegiate campuses throughout the Southeast. One accomplishment she is particularly proud of is founding the Connecting Women of Color Conference at the University of Richmond, which was featured in Women in Higher Education and Essence magazines. Charm received her Bachelor’s degree in English from Lander University and her Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.

Continuity | Taking Action to Advance Inclusion | Jonathan Zur

This workshop will help participants explore how to move from awareness to action. They will consider the “continuity” component of the 3 C’s framework, and the importance of ensuring that learning experiences have practical and actionable takeaways. They will also consider barriers to action and strategize about ways to overcome them. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on experiences they have had working for inclusion within their spheres of influence, hear from others, and identify personal action plans to continue raising awareness and promoting inclusion within their organizations.

Facilitators: 

Jonathan Zur is President & CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. Under his leadership, VCIC has more than tripled the size of the budget and staff, and the number of programs delivered annually has increased by 3,000%. Additionally, the organization has been recognized locally and nationally for its effectiveness. An experienced facilitator and consultant, Jonathan was appointed by the Governor to the Commonwealth Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, formed in the aftermath of the tragedy in Charlottesville in August 2017. In 2016, Jonathan was a speaker at the inaugural White House Summit on Diversity and Inclusion in Government. He is currently a Trustee for the Richmond Memorial Health Foundation. Jonathan earned his B.A. from the University of Richmond and he received a Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Creating LGBTQ+ Inclusive Workplaces | Emma Yackso

While society has made progress in the inclusion of LGBTQ+ identities in recent years, there are still overt and subtle ways that individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ may feel excluded or marginalized. Workshop participants will learn the fundamentals of LGBTQ+ identities, including definitions, application and common experiences. Discussions will focus on having informed, inclusive conversations in the workplace, common areas of concern, and initial action steps towards building an LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace culture.

Facilitator:

Emma Yackso is Director of Community Programs at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities. In her role, she designs, coordinates, delivers, and evaluates diversity, equity, and inclusion programs for non-profit organizations, community groups, and government agencies across the Commonwealth. Emma comes to VCIC with a strong background in justice-oriented work, including a decade of experience in LGBTQ+ advocacy and support, community organizing, and southern-focused racial equity work. Most recently the Director of Programs at Side by Side, Emma is a clinical social worker who has worked in communities in Washington, D.C., New Orleans, LA, and Richmond and Charlottesville, VA. Emma received her Masters of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University, and she is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Virginia. She earned her undergraduate degree from George Washington University.

Disability Access, Barriers, and You | Camisha Jones

Communities designed with just one kind of person in mind isolate those of us defying their narrow definition of personhood, writes Haben Girma in The DeafBlind Woman who Conquered Harvard Law. This workshop will focus on the importance of integrating accessibility and disability-centered practices into work culture. Participants will reflect on their individual positionality related to disability and chronic illness, learn about barriers that may exist in their workplace, and imagine ways to make access a standard, rather than the exception..

Facilitator:

Camisha Jones (she/her) is a consultant, facilitator, gathering cultivator, and poet who centers accessibility and disability awareness into her work. She has 30 years’ experience organizing and leading programs, events, discussions, and people at nonprofits and institutions of higher education. In partnership with the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, she co-founded an annual anti-bias retreat for students at the University of Richmond which she co-led for 6 years. For nearly 9 years, she served as Managing Director at the social justice poetry non-profit Split This Rock. She expanded the integration of accessibility and disability-centered practices into the organization’s core programs. She currently cultivates space for disabled artists to gather and connect as Co-Producer of LAB at the internationally-recognized disability arts ensemble Kinetic Light. Camisha is a 2022 Fellow of Disability Futures, a multidisciplinary award supported by United States Artists, the Ford Foundation, and Mellon Foundation. She is co-editor with Travis Chi Wing Lau, Naomi Ortiz, and Michael Northen of the forthcoming anthology Every Place on the Map is Disabled: Poems and Essays on Disability.

Navigating Religious Diversity in the Workplace | Craig Wansink

This interactive workshop begins with quick warm-up exercises that highlight the diversity of religion in the United States. After looking at the First Amendment and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Acts, we focus on different kinds of challenges posed by religious diversity in the workplace. These challenges range from clothes worn to the use of people’s own hands, and from the role that gender plays to drug usage and holiday. Insights from recent court decisions and case studies will help inform our strategies for effectively addressing challenges and leveraging the benefits of religious diversity.

Facilitator:

Dr. Craig Wansink received his Ph.D. in New Testament from Yale University, after having graduated from seminary in Chicago, and having studied at universities in Japan, Jordan, Germany, and Israel. He has been a Fulbright Scholar, a Newcombe Fellow, and a Fellow at Harvard University’s Pluralism Project. Since 1993 he has been a Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Wesleyan University, where he also serves as the chair of the Department of Religious Studies as well as the Joan P. and Macon F. Brock Jr. Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center. In addition, he is the senior pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in Norfolk.

Dual Edges: AI and DEI | Ida Pierce

While AI can enhance DEI efforts by promoting accessibility and fostering equality, it also presents challenges, such as potential biases in algorithms and the need for equitable AI development and usage. We will examine the complexities and subtleties of how AI affects DEI efforts and strategies for addressing them. Great for anyone eager to explore AI’s ethical landscape, this interactive experience equips all participants with practical strategies, nurturing an approach that upholds DEI principles in the evolving AI domain.

Facilitator:

With a profound dedication to the human experience in the workplace, Ida Pierce believes in the power of safety and belonging at work, how it shapes our creativity, productivity, resilience and pride we take in our achievements. She’s driven by a passion for fostering environments where everyone feels they’re thriving and contributing to meaningful outcomes. Ida has navigated leadership roles across diverse environments, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. She’s been at the helm of innovative projects, supporting and leading teams in technology, process improvement, talent management and employee experience. Ida is an advocate for enriching the workplace by focusing on its most valuable asset – its people. As CEO of Pierce Creative & Consulting, LLC, Ida is committed to driving organizational effectiveness for businesses and community organizations. Through tailored consulting services, she applies human-centered design principles to ensure that strategies not only meet organizational goals but authentically resonate with the individuals at the heart of operations. For Ida, the goal hasn’t changed – it’s all about building spaces where people can do their best work and feel good doing it.

Going Beyond the Statement | Alejandro Prince

Belonging is a key component of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Having a sense of belonging helps individuals feel socially connected and makes each person better able to reach their full potential. In this session, participants will engage in reflective and interactive exercises that will help them to understand characteristics for creating a sense of belonging. Participants will also explore tangible strategies to build belonging, including policies, programs, and practices.

Facilitator:

Alejandro Prince is Director of Educational Programs at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC). In his role, Alejandro designs, coordinates, and facilitates programs, events, and conferences on diversity, equity, and inclusion primarily for educators and students across the Commonwealth. Prior to joining VCIC, Alejandro worked with a Community Action Agency delivering programs centered on violence prevention, trauma-informed education, healthy relationships, and college and career readiness for youth. His research and experience with curricula development center on the connections of moral philosophy, racial justice, gender & sexuality, history, and psychology. In the community, Alejandro serves on the Governing Body of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Azusa Pacific University and his Master’s in Theological Studies with a Certificate in African American and Diaspora Studies from Vanderbilt University.

Making the Case for DEI | Tally Botzer

Why is DEI important? How can you incorporate it into the work you already do to make your workplace one where everyone feels welcome? This workshop will invite participants to explore not only how our identities can impact our experiences at work, but also how to navigate common roadblocks in realistic ways.

Facilitator:

Tally Botzer (she/they) is a lifelong learner and career educator with over a decade of experience in public and nonprofit service in Virginia. Throughout their previous work as a classroom teacher, Civil War museum educator, and VCIC program director, Tally has been steered by her commitment to equity and justice. In their current role of DEI Practitioner at Virginia ABC Authority, Tally collaborates with her director (the other half of the DEI Office) and teammates Authority-wide to build DEI into policy and practice—from scratch—for all 400+ stores and nearly 5,000 employees across the Commonwealth. Tally earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and currently resides in Richmond with their spouse and an assortment of cats and dogs.

VCIC is working towards an inclusive conference experience with minimal barriers to participation. In alignment with our mission of promoting inclusion, the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities can provide upon one-month advance notice ASL interpretation, CART, and other support as requested (as possible).

If you have any accessibility needs, comments, or questions, please let us know at [email protected]  or (804) 515-7950. We ask that accommodation requests for the Virginia Inclusion Summit be submitted by August 8 or sooner. Advance notice allows us to seek out and offer more options for accommodation requests.

Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDC) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

The use of the official seal confirms that this Program has met HR Certification Institute’s (HRCI) criteria for re-certification credit pre-approval.

Details about HRCI and SHRM credits will be provided at the Summit.