Diversity, equity workshops at C.E.A.D. Conference

C.E.A.D. Conference offers on-campus diversity, equity workshops

Feb. 7, 2019 LA GRANDE, Ore. – Now in its ninth year, the Celebrate, Educate & Appreciate Diversity (C.E.A.D.) Conference has become a signature event at Eastern Oregon University.

This one-day conference, to be held Feb. 16, is an opportunity for students, staff, and communities across Eastern Oregon to network and explore important issues around diversity and student leadership. The conference provides a safe space where participants can engage in thoughtful and informative conversations.

This year’s conference features diversity and inclusion workshops with an emphasis on social justice, leadership and empowerment. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the opening keynote speaker at 9 a.m. Two sessions with workshops will be offered, as well as a free lunch and a second keynote speaker. All activities take place in Badgley Hall on EOU’s campus in La Grande. Participants receive a certificate identifying that they have completed five hours of diversity training.

Attendees will hear from plenary speaker, Bill Imada, the Founder and Chief Connectivity Officer of IW Group, a minority-owned and operated communications firm based in Los Angeles. Imada’s extensive knowledge and expertise includes crisis management, ethnic marketing, multicultural media relations, generational marketing, partnership marketing, and trans-cultural training. He is active in several communities and will share his story, values and passion as it influences the work he does and partnerships he establishes.

Temple Jordan, a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant and Inspirational Speaker from Newark, New Jersey, will speak during the lunch session. Jordan has over 10 years of experience leading and facilitating dialogues on topics related to identity development, power, privilege, and social justice. She is committed to identifying cultural, systemic and institutional forces that impact an individual’s understanding of oneself and others as a means to create positive change in their communities.

Workshop topics include: “The Facilitator in You: Leading Discussions around Social Justice,” led by Temple Jordan; “From Whitetopia to Northwest Nice: Power, Privilege, and Racial Diversity in Oregon,” led by Dr. Emily Drew; and “Everyone Can Be a Leader: Exploring Nontraditional Community Leadership,” led by Pepe Moscoso. Workshop presenters are experts in their fields and professions including:

• Mila Buckland serves as the Curriculum & Training Manager at Campus Compact of Oregon, where she supports all of Campus Compact’s Racial Equity Across College and High School (REACH) efforts. REACH is Campus Compact’s strategic initiative to build a statewide coalition and movement for racial justice in higher education across colleges and high schools. Mila’s expertise is in creating healing processes and incorporating an intentional racial justice lens into the planning of all meetings, engagements and interactions.
• Dr. Emily Drew, an Associate Professor of Sociology and Ethnic Studies at Willamette University, teaches courses about racism, white supremacy, immigration, and social change.
• Dr. Gilbert Mireles, Ph.D Yale University, is a professor at Whitman College, where he teaches courses in social stratification, social movements, economic sociology, race and ethnicity, crime and delinquency, and introductory sociology.
• Pepe Moscoso is a Portland-based community arts producer and visual artist. His work explores inclusion, personal narrative, identity, diversity, and storytelling in a variety of forms.
• Joshua Todd is the Executive Director for Campus Compact of Oregon. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Affairs with a concentration in public administration and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. With a background in youth and community development and organizational change related to racial justice and equity, Todd has deepened expertise in equity focused organizational change and transformation as well as collective systems organizing among networks of partners through his work at Campus Compact of Oregon.

Online registration has already closed, but limited space is available on the day of the conference and will be available on a first come, first served basis. Registration fee for the C.E.A.D. Conference is free for EOU students, $15 for students from other institutions or high school and $30 for faculty, staff, and community members.

C.E.A.D. is made possible with support from the Student Council for Multicultural Affairs, Associated Students of Eastern Oregon University Student Fee Committee, the Office of Student Diversity & Inclusion, and the EOU Diversity Committee. Special thanks to Sorbenots Coffee for their annual donations of free coffee at the conference.

Visit eou.edu/mc/programs-services/cead-conference for more information.