A Time for Innovation

24th Annual Conference

March 20-22, 2012

The 24th annual conference will feature three keynotes from high-profile global leaders, 64 sessions within eight tracks, a career fair, a resource expo, diversity awards, plus opportunities to network and share best practices. The theme, “A Time for Innovation,” will spark insightful conversation in addition to providing smart, practical, ready-to-use tools for people who believe that advancing diversity and inclusion is not just a moral imperative but a competitive advantage in today’s global economy.

Registration is open!

Why should you be part of the Multicultural Forum?

Watch this video from the 2011 conference.

About the Theme

A Time for Innovation
It is safe to say that nothing in business can be done as usual anymore. The current economic, social, political and technological trends and challenges we are experiencing have brought us to “a new normal.” Budgets and workforces in almost every sector have been reduced. The way we used to do work, the things we could include in our budgets are very different now than they once were. Marshall Goldsmith, a leadership development thought leader, puts it best when he describes what it takes to succeed in a complex, rapidly changing environment: “What got us here, won’t get us there.”

When it comes to the work of diversity and inclusion in today’s climate of survival and change, leaders and practitioners are constantly facing new realities. Demographic changes in the U.S. and the globalization of all business continue to increase, even while attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining diverse talent remains a strategic priority. Just sustaining momentum from year to year is an ongoing challenge, yet the need to integrate diversity into the fabric of our organizations and eliminate barriers to inclusion in how we do business take on added urgency. To succeed, business needs the outcomes that D&I efforts can provide, however, we need to examine our practice, gain a new perspective and retool for what’s next.

The phrase “change or die” comes to mind. We at the Forum see the need to push the envelope and approach D&I in a different way. The call for action and theme for the 2012 Multicultural Forum on Workplace Diversity is “A TIME FOR INNOVATION.” This is a time for intense creativity, for rethinking and perhaps redefining D&I. It is a time to push the envelope, to open up to new possibilities and look at things in a different way. It is a time for boldness.

About the Conference

In 2011, members of more than 400 organizations across the U.S. took part in the Multicultural Forum on Workplace Diversity. They chose the Forum because it provides a venue for discussion about diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In keynote sessions and workshops, you won't hear a sales pitch. Instead, you'll hear from peers about their successes and challenges. As a Forum participant, you won't just listen to definitions of diversity, you will develop tools to bring back to the office, learn from best practices and have the opportunity to be challenged to think in a new way.

The Multicultural Forum is committed to providing high impact sessions that are targeted, relevant and transferable.

Who Should Attend?

The Forum is designed for professionals who manage a diverse workforce, work in a diverse environment or are responsible for diversity within organizations of all sizes. It is also recommended for anyone dealing with a diverse clientele.

HR, diversity and talent acquisition leaders and practitioners
Leaders and managers of diverse workforces
Diversity council and employee resource group members
Government, education and nonprofit leaders and managers
Health care professionals
Lawyers, both firm and corporate

The Multicultural Forum on Workplace Diversity provides a compelling learning experience fostering business and thought leadership in workplace diversity and inclusion.