The Forum on Workplace Inclusion, the largest diversity and inclusion conference in the country, is accepting applications for presentations at its 2016 conference.
St. Thomas community members are invited to complete a “call for presentations” application for the conference, which will be March 29-31 at the Minneapolis Convention Center with the theme, “Making All the Difference … Bold Conversations. New Directions.” The conference will be presented by the Opus College of Business.
President Julie Sullivan
St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan encourages people to submit applications for presentations. She told 1,100 participants from 300 companies at last March’s “Making Waves” conference how impressed she was that St. Thomas was collaborating with 60 other sponsors from around the country to make the forum possible.
“It is proof to me that businesses and organizations large and small are doing more than talk about inclusion and diversity,” she said. “They are working together to embrace not only a concept but also a reality – that they must engage people, advance ideas and ignite change.
Sullivan also noted how St. Thomas' leadership of, and strong participation in, the forum reflect the importance of the university's strategic priority of "Embracing Our Differences as One Human Family."
Conference presentation options are 20 minutes, 40 minutes, 90 minutes and 3.5 hours, each with its own format. Applications are welcome on any topics related to diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and especially are encouraged on best practices, challenging issues and controversial topics. Learning levels range from introductory to advanced.
The forum is designed for professionals who manage a diverse workforce, are responsible for diversity within organizations of all sizes or work with multicultural clientele. The forum includes a career fair and career services center, general sessions with keynote speakers, six in-depth seminars, 50 concurrent sessions led by experts in diversity, and receptions and networking opportunities.
For more guidelines and application forms, visit the forum website or contact workplaceforum@stthomas.edu. All applications are due July 10.
