DESCRIPTION

The Association will not open until 12:30 to allow for Staff to participate in the Chamber's DIVERSIFY Summit.

We would love to have you join us at this virtual summit! We're excited to explore ways we can support our Diversity Inclusion Committee and the Board of Directors to promote equal opportunity and cultural diversity within the real estate industry and encourage an Association culture that embraces and celebrates our differences. 

SUMMIT SPEAKERS

Keynote: Manuel Pastor, Ph.D. and Distinguished Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California: For the last decade, economic research has been showing that an Achilles’ heel for prosperity was inequality: regions that were more unequal, more racially segregated, and more socially fragmented were unable to maintain employment growth over time. Meanwhile, qualitative work was showing that places that were able to better wed inclusion and growth did so through community, that is, by creating sustained data-driven dialogues between diverse sectors that helped to forge a sense of a common regional destiny. What does that imply for the COVID crisis, a pandemic that has both lifted the veil on persistent inequalities and made it absolutely clear that we cannot protect ourselves if we do not seek to protect all of us? And what does that imply for recent efforts to advance racial justice, a response to the institutional and systemic racism that has plagued our country for centuries? How can regional leaders help metropolitan economies to not just recover but reimagine a more prosperous, more equitable, and more sustainable future?

Linda Wiley, Ph.D., Turning Point Leadership Group, LLC: Organizations low on trust find it difficult to realize and sustain results in the area of diversity and inclusion. In times of crisis and uncertainty like we are navigating now, organizational trust becomes more important than ever. This session covers the definition of trust and the role it plays in sustaining diversity and inclusion. Attendees will be challenged to examine their own level of self-trust and begin to explore the concept of relationship trust. They will identify the role they play in moving these efforts forward and learn behaviors that will help.

Jessica Stollings, ReGenerations: The coronavirus cracked many of the ways we used to do things. Now we have the opportunity to ask: What are we going to build? How can it be better? How can we do it together? COVID-19 is changing generations. And generations are changing history. It's all part of a larger cycle that - with the right understanding - can move your workforce from breakdown to breakthrough! In this insightful and interactive session, national speaker and author Jessica Stollings-Holder will share how a generational lens can help you prepare for a thriving future.

Panel Discussion moderated by Dionne Jenkins, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union: In the past weeks, millions of people across the country have taken to the streets and raised their voices in response to the senseless violence and loss of life that continues to threaten members of the african american community, indeed our community. As well, the impacts of COVID-19 have thrown into high relief the toll that inequality has taken on those of us with diverse backgrounds. In this panel discussion, local leaders will share reflections on our community’s response, discuss the implications of this crisis for diversity and inclusion efforts, and share their ideas on how we can build a more diverse and inclusive economy as we move toward recovery. Panelists include:

• Rae Bond, CEO, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society, the Medical Foundation of Chattanooga and Project Access.
• Ron Harris, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
• Shannon Stephenson, CEO, Cempa Community Care
• Lakwesha Ewing, Professional Business & Educational Consultant: Unlearn Everything and Live

COST

$15

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