Schedule & Sessions

You can attend the following sessions during the 2023 G.U.I.D.E. Conference on November 17th. Check back often for updates.

Opening: 8:40-9:50

• Welcome by Dr. Carol Spalding, President of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
• Poem by: Jaki Shelton Green, Ninth Poet Laureate of North Carolina
• Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jane Elliott

Presenter: Cristina Espana
Presentation time: 10-10:50 am
Time: 50 minutes
Title: The Beauty of DEI
Description: This session is about the definition of DEI, the work on a state level, and my particular role in inclusion and belonging for New Americans (Immigrants and Refugees)

Presenter: Larry Davis
Presentation time: 10-10:50 am
Time: 50 minutes
Title: This is My Story
Description: In this enlightening 50-minute conference session, our presenter will take you on a deeply personal journey of growing up in Concord, NC. Titled “This is My Story,” the presentation offers a candid look into the speaker’s upbringing, encounters with diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the profound impact these experiences have had on their life. Through heartfelt storytelling, the speaker will share insights and reflections that resonate universally, demonstrating the power of personal narratives in promoting understanding and fostering a more inclusive society. Join us for this inspiring session that transcends backgrounds and boundaries, reminding us of the value of embracing diversity and championing equity and inclusion.

Presenter: Anne Little
Presentation time: 10:00-10:50 am
Time: 50 minutes
Topic: Understanding Diversity
Title: Diversity: Beyond the Narratives, Beyond the Surface
Description: “Diversity, generally understood and embraced, is not casual liberal tolerance of anything and everything not yourself. It is not polite accommodation. Instead, diversity is, in action, the sometimes-painful awareness that other people, other races, other voices, other habits of mind, [other experiences, other thoughts, other statuses, other backgrounds and other beliefs] have as much integrity of being, as much claim upon the world, as you do. William M. Chance in the Language of Action (Wesleyan LXII, #2, Fall 1989, p.36), This session will move beyond circulated soundbites, promoted narratives and check box mentalities to explore deeper dimensions of diversity.
Interactivity: Moderate: includes some polls and/or use of the chat feature
Learning Outcome:
Participants will engage in diversity in action and be challenged to reach a greater understanding that the things that make us different, are also the things we have in common.
Session Benefit:
Understanding Diversity and Diversity in Action

Presenter: Yvonne Dixon
Presentation time: 10:00-11:30 am
Time: 90 minutes
Topic: Tell Your Story
Title: Health Equity: The Nexus of Life.
Description: The need for health justice is clear and the last several years have highlighted the importance of ensuring that health equity is for all.  This presentation surfaces my story and the evidence of the deepening body of historic and societal disrupters of health justice and the importance of dismantling their existence.
Interactivity: High, includes discussions in large group or breakout rooms
Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this presentation, the participants should be able to:

• Recognize race as a biological proxy.
• Identify inequities embedded in healthcare
• Define the pathway for moving from race- base to race-conscious healthcare.

Session Benefit:
Participants will benefit by recognizing structures responsible for perpetuating systemic societal inequalities in healthcare.

Presenter: Leah Kyaio
Presentation time: 10:00-11:30 pm
Time: 90 minutes
Title: Why DEI fails and what needs to change
Description: Only 6-8% of DEI initiatives in organizations actually succeed. When we look at the history of 70 years of DEI work, the progress made does not correlate to the time invested. Even the forward movement that has been made legislatively can be a target for change (think Affirmative Action, Roe vs Wade, LGBTQ rights, etc.). What is it that has prevented real change? What needs to be addressed and altered to ensure success? Join me as we tackle these questions and learn how to put our work back on track.

Presenter: Calista Phair
Presentation time: 10:00-11:30 am
Time: 90 minutes
Topic: Implicit and Unconscious Bias
Title: The Art of Recruitment Branding & Retention of Black Talent
Description: Studies are just one way our nation and local communities have found results for issues of institutionalization, wage gaps, preference of white applicants to blacks is something that has bled into a gap of cultural competency with employers. There is a need for better workforce opportunities for Blacks and people of color tackling entering the workforce within the cities across the country. How can we execute a Solution to a problem that needs to addressed past statistics, and research?
Interactivity: High, includes discussions in large group or breakout rooms
Learning Outcomes:

• How to alleviate gaps within job descriptions that are outdated and job requirements that don’t allow for diversifying your candidate pool.
• Inspect your pipeline developing a strategic ongoing out of the box thinking on how to track and manage candidate pools. You should always have people on your Bench waiting to jump into the game for your open roles.
• How to create change management for Black potential hires and new employees to increase retention within the company

Session Benefit:
Provide individuals with tools to impact the way they diversify their talent and retention within their schools, organizations and also the way they recruit students, teachers and staff.

Name: Dr. Timogi Jackson
Presentation time: 11:00-11:50 am
Time: 50 minutes
Topic: Identity and Belonging
Title: Listening: The Art and Heart of Crucial Conversations
Description: This highly interactive presentation on “Listening: The Art and Heart of Crucial Conversations” will enhance your listening skills and foster better relationships through compassion based listening. The session will cover cross-cultural communication, the art of listening, and the heart of the listener with a focus on DEI conversations. Don’t miss this opportunity to become a more engaged listener and create authentic connections with all.
Interactivity: High: includes discussions in large group or breakout rooms
Learning Outcome:
Attendees of our upcoming session will gain a deeper understanding of the different types of listening, strengthen their communication skills, and increase their compassion through active listening.
Session Benefit:
The key to success in DEI lies in compassion. Listening to understand, rather than to agree, fosters compassion. Compassion-based listening allows for diverse ideologies and personal beliefs to coexist, creating a more inclusive environment for all. Let’s widen the door of compassion and make it large enough for everyone to walk through feeling safe and valued.

Presenter: Steve Maynor
Presentation time: 11:00-11:50 am
Time: 50 minutes
Topic: Identity and Belonging
Title: How we can help students become more comfortable with their identity.
Description: “Who am I?” is a question I ask students talk about on the first day of class because it gives them an opportunity to share some small details about themselves with the class. My presentation will be focused on how instructors can facilitate students’ deep thinking about what makes each of us who we are and the ways we are often times defined by others and the larger society in which we live.
Learning Outcomes:

• Explain the complexity of identity.
• Better understand identity through a critical and ethical lens (dual perspective).
• Have a better understanding of our civic duty to be an advocate for students who may struggle with identity & belonging.

Session Benefits:
Participants will be given practical tools to get a better understanding of who their students are and how to make them feel comfortable in the classroom, on campus and in their daily lives. By sharing my own personal experiences as a communications instructor and my 23 plus years of military leadership, attendees will also understand how important identity & belonging are our larger society.

Presenter: Dr. Paula Roberson
Co-Presenter: Jay Darden
Presentation time: 11:00-11:50 am
Time: 50 minutes
Topic: Community Diversity and Governance, Social Justice
Title: An Exploration of DEI in Art
Description: In part one of this virtual exhibit, the participant will view six contemporary artists and their work and examine how each artist manifests a concrete statement of social, historical, and contemporary inequities in various artistic mediums. These works of art range from personal statements, and social movements through world timelines in history. By the end of this presentation, the participants will be able to evaluate and identify artists through their signature style of expression and artistic language as they relate to contemporary and historical inequities and justice.
In the second portion of this presentation, participants will be introduced to the ways in which people create art in carceral spaces and what they use to improvise when traditional art materials are not available. A portraiture of six artists will be explored with a focus on how they use art to create a sense of place in a space made to confine, punish, and ultimately make invisible, a population of people whose humanity needs to be recognized.  Participants will gain a more nuanced view of overall gatekeeping in the art world and the ways in which it impacts artists who have been through the carceral system.

Presenter: Jonathan Hoffman and P.J. Ricks
Presentation time: 11:30-11:55 am
Time: 25 minutes
Title: This is My Story
Description: In this enlightening 25-minute conference session, our presenter will take you on a deeply personal journey. Titled “This is My Story,” the presentation offers a candid look into the speaker’s upbringing, their encounters with diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the profound impact these experiences have had on their life. Through heartfelt storytelling, the speaker will share insights and reflections that resonate universally, demonstrating the power of personal narratives in promoting understanding and fostering a more inclusive society. Join us for this inspiring session that transcends backgrounds and boundaries, reminding us all of the value of embracing diversity and championing equity and inclusion.

Panel Discussion: Breaking Barriers and Leading Change: Perspectives from Women Presidents in Higher Education
Discussion time: 12:00-12:50 pm

Join us for an engaging panel discussion that delves into the inspiring journeys and invaluable insights of prominent women leaders in higher education. Titled “Breaking Barriers and Leading Change: Perspectives from Women Presidents in Higher Education,” this session promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of leadership, diversity, equity, and the transformation of educational institutions in today’s dynamic world.
Panel Moderator: Nekita Eubanks Chief Human Resources and Equity Officer at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College

Panelists:

• Dr. Carol Spalding – President of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
• Dr. Karrie G. Dixon – Chancellor of Elizabeth City State University
• Dr. Traci Mancini – President of Carteret Community College
• Dr. Cathy Sandeen – President of California State University East Bay
• Dr. Pamela G. Senegal – President of Piedmont Community College
• Melissa Singler – President of Robeson Community College

Key Discussion Questions:

• How do you approach leadership and decision-making in times of crisis, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic or social and political unrest?
• How do you balance your personal and professional life, and what strategies have you found most effective in managing both?
• How do you ensure that your institution remains relevant and responsive to the changing needs of students and society while staying true to its mission and values?
• How do you prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at your institution, and what progress have you seen in this area?
• How do you think higher education can better support and promote women and underrepresented groups in leadership positions?
• What advice would you give to women who aspire to become university presidents or hold other high-level positions in higher education?
• What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a woman president in higher education, and how have you overcome them?
• What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
• What strategies have you used to build strong relationships with key stakeholders, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community leaders?
• What words of wisdom would you give your younger self if you could return in time?

This panel discussion promises to provide a platform for deep insights and powerful anecdotes from these accomplished leaders in the realm of higher education. Their experiences and perspectives are sure to inspire and inform, making this a can’t-miss session of the G.U.I.D.E. Conference. Join us in this enriching conversation and be part of the change-making dialogue in higher education.

Presenter: Cindy Fink
Co-Presenters: Dione Adkins and Hunter Fisher
Presentation time: 1:00-1:50 pm
Time: 50 minutes
Title: Continuing our Rotary Club DEI Journey
Description: Dive into the world of the Rotary Club and discover how we’re embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) like never before! In this engaging conference session, the Salisbury Rotary Club invites you to explore our journey and gain valuable insights. We propose to answer the following questions:

1. How did the Salisbury Rotary Club solidify our DEI programming?
2. What did the Club do to become intentional about DEI in membership?
3. What advice do you give to others who experience pushback concerning DEI?

Presenter: Ken Stern
Presentation time: 1:00-1:50 pm
Time: 50 minutes
Title: Antisemitism as a form of hate
Description: What are the best ways to think about antisemitism and what to do about it? Is antisemitism just a matter of what people say and think about Jews? Is it unique, or a subset of the human capacity for hatred? How is it related to other hatreds, and how does the Israeli/Palestinian conflict implicate how we think about antisemitism?

Presenter: Dr. Greg Wiggan
Presentation time: 1:00-1:50 pm
Time: 50 minutes
Title: Unbleaching the curriculum: Understanding neglected and suppressed contributions in schools and beyond
Description: This presentation seeks to innovatively apply a fresh, new perspective to curriculum development in U.S. public schools and higher education. Introducing the framework of unbleaching, the presentation explores curricular omissions and falsifications for the purpose of advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in school processes and practices. As case study, the presentation introduces thinkers to often omitted contributions such as The Teachings of PtahHotep, the oldest book in the world, and The Ahmes Papyrus, the oldest mathematical document in the world, and provides their curricular implications. The tenets and processes of unbleaching provide the context for how the curriculum might address notable omissions and suppressed historical contributions and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in U.S. K-12 and higher education.

Presenter: Alice Dolbow
Co-Presenter: Mirella Cisneros Perez
Presentation time: 1:10-2:40 pm
Time: 90 minutes
Topic: Social Justice
Title: Introduction to UndocuAllyship: Supporting Students Impacted by Undocumentation
Description: Each year, an estimated 3,000 undocumented students graduate from NC high schools. Additionally, 8% of all children in NC are U.S. Citizens with undocumented parents. How can our institutions of higher education address the needs of students impacted by undocumentation? In order to increase postsecondary access, enrollment, and success for these students, it is essential to understand the challenges they face. This session will provide practical tips for working with students while learning about affirming language, deconstructing harmful narratives, common barriers and undocu-friendly options. Participants will also engage in small group discussions to share the challenges they have faced and best practices they have learned when working with those impacted by undocumentation.
Learning Outcomes:

• Participants will build understanding and empathy for those most closely impacted by restrictive immigration policies.
• Participants will deconstruct harmful narratives about undocumented communities in favor of immigrant-friendly language and framing.
• Participants will leave with at least one way to better serve the needs of students whose lives are impacted by undocumentation.

Session Benefits:
This session will equip participants with a foundational understanding of the barriers faced by students who are impacted by undocumentation. By understanding these barriers, participants can begin to strategize both short-term and long-term solutions for addressing the needs of these students. The presenters will provide participants with practical steps to take as well as questions to consider in order to reduce barriers thereby boosting post-secondary enrollment and retention for these students.

Presenter: Keisha Jones
Presentation time: 1:10-2:40 pm
Time: 90 minutes
Title: Igniting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by Simply Starting Your DEI Journey Session
Description: Embark on a transformative journey of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at your community college campus. Join us for an empowering workshop led by Keisha Jones, Director of Equity at the NC Student Success Center (NCSSC). Designed for community college educators, administrators, and staff, this workshop equips you with practical insights and strategies to initiate meaningful DEI efforts and foster an inclusive campus environment.
Learning Outcomes

• Define Core DEIB Concepts – Articulate clear understanding of key diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) principles and their relevance to community college campuses
• Actionable Steps: Acquire practical steps to initiate DEIB efforts tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities at your community college

Session Benefits

• Foundational Knowledge: Participants will leave the session equipped with fundamental DEIB knowledge that serves as the basis for the journey
• Practical Starting Points: Participants will identify specific areas or actions where they can initiate DEIB efforts within their respective roles and responsibilities

Presenter: Judge Aretha Blake
Presentation time: 2:00-2:50 pm
Time: 50 minutes
Title: Fostering Hope, Inclusion, and Excellence: Engaging and Supporting Court-Involved Youth in Educational Environments.
Description: Each year, educators and administrators arrive on school campuses prepared to teach excited and eager students. But what happens when your student is not excited or eager? How do you support a student who has experienced, or is in the midst of experiencing, complex trauma? How do you create an educational environment where the student does not feel isolated? How can you engage community or governmental resources to create an environment where the student can thrive to the best of their ability? This session will explore the experiences of children in foster care and delinquency Court and the connection between the traumatic experiences leading to or resulting from Court involvement and educational outcomes. The discussion will provide a basic overview of the Juvenile Court – child welfare and juvenile delinquency – and the stakeholders involved in the lives of children as a result of Court involvement. Participants will learn about the various traumas experienced by Court-involved youth in the educational process and develop tools to promote inclusion and understanding in the classroom environment. The presentation will include examples from real experiences to demonstrate the benefits of partnerships between educators, parents, students, community agencies, and governmental institutions to support student success.
Learning Outcomes:
Participants will gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of community and governmental stakeholders making decisions for and about youth in foster care or otherwise Court-involved youth. Participants will be able to understand the impacts of trauma and how a child’s traumatic experiences can manifest in the classroom. In addition, each participant will leave the session with concrete tools to support Court-involved youth to feel included and welcomed into an academic environment where they can thrive.
Session Benefits:
Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in the number of children who are Court-involved. For some of these children, many of whom have experienced or are experiencing trauma, only their schools and educators are consistent factors in their lives. Through this session, participants will understand the important roles they play in the lives of students who are Court-involved and gain tools to leverage their role to access services and stakeholder support for student success.

Presenter: Jaime Brown
Presentation time: 2:00-2:50 pm
Time: 50 minutes
Title: 50 Ways to Fight (Gender) Bias
Description: We will focus on gender bias, empowering all employees to identify and challenge bias head on.

Presenter: Mary Williams Stover
Presentation time: 2:00-2:50 pm
Time: 50 minutes
Topic: Tell Your Story
Title: Achieving Health Equity: Impossible Dream or A Fight Worthy of Your Time
Description: This session will engage participants in discussions about the benefits and opportunities for students to align their professional interests with volunteer passions to become advocates for equity in their communities.
Learning Outcomes:

• Identify state and nonprofit organization resources highlighting the current status of health and equity in NC
• Seek networks that expand your knowledge and experiences as advocates.
• Pursue interests that align your time, talents and passion to promote health equity.

Session Benefit:
The session introduces students to my experience of aligning my professional career and my volunteer passion for health equity and inclusion. Is it possible to work within an organization and promote systemic change to expand inclusion focused strategies that result in increased involvement of new and existing members, expanded programming, and ultimately more impact? This session will introduce students to my experience in creating alignment and encourage them to create their best life and fully utilize their time and talents to promote health equity for all.

Presenters: Jean Dixon and Mayor Karen Alexander
Presentation time: 2:00-2:25 pm
Time: 25 minutes
Title: This is My Story
Description: In this enlightening 25-minute conference session, our presenter will take you on a deeply personal journey. Titled “This is My Story,” the presentation offers a candid look into the speaker’s upbringing, their encounters with diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the profound impact these experiences have had on their life. Through heartfelt storytelling, the speaker will share insights and reflections that resonate universally, demonstrating the power of personal narratives in promoting understanding and fostering a more inclusive society. Join us for this inspiring session that transcends backgrounds and boundaries, reminding us all of the value of embracing diversity and championing equity and inclusion.

Presenter: Jairo (Hi-rrow) McMican
Session time: 2:30-4:00 pm
Time: 90 minutes
Topic: Community Diversity and Governance, Social Justice
Title: Cracking the Distractions: How to better handle opposition to equity
Description: To achieve anything worthwhile, opposition must be anticipated, acknowledged, honored, and planned for. In this interactive presentation, participants will be exposed to common fallacies used in opposition to advancing equity. Using instances from various mediums, participants will sift through and decide how to combat bad arguments and loaded language. For example, “If we make our classes more culturally responsive, we will have to reduce rigor.” This is an example of the ‘Appeal to Ignorance’ fallacy. A resource will be shared at the conclusion to assist and further equip co-conspirators when expanding equity.
Learning Outcomes:

• Assist participants to better recognize language patterns adverse to equity initiatives
• Empower participants to confront common distractions to equity initiatives
• Train participants on how to teach others some of these techniques

Session Benefit:
Empower participants to respond better when confronted with resistance to equity.

Presenter: Jacquie Abrams
Session time: 3:00-3:50 pm
Time: 50 minutes
Topic: Social Justice, Tell Your Story
Title: From Unconscious to Unconscionable: Understanding and Combatting Covert Racism in the Workplace
Description: In this thought-provoking presentation, “From Unconscious to Unconscionable: Understanding and Combatting Covert Racism in the Workplace,” Jacquie Abram delves into the insidious nature of covert racism that persists within organizational structures. Racism has evolved beyond overt acts of discrimination, with subtle biases and microaggressions infiltrating workplaces, hindering diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Through this presentation, Jacquie Abram raises awareness and understanding of covert racism, shedding light on the hidden ways it operates within the workplace. Participants will gain insights into how seemingly innocuous actions and behaviors can perpetuate racial inequities and create hostile environments for marginalized individuals.
Drawing upon her lived experiences working in higher education, she explores strategies and best practices for identifying and combating covert racism in the workplace. Attendees will learn to recognize the signs of covert racism, foster cultural competence, and implement actionable steps to cultivate an inclusive and anti-racist work environment.
From unconscious biases to the unconscionable consequences of covert racism, this presentation provides a roadmap for organizations and individuals to navigate the complex dynamics of racial inequality and transform their workplaces into bastions of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Join Jacquie as she works towards dismantling covert racism and fostering a more just and inclusive future for all.
Learning Outcomes:

• Increased Awareness and Recognition: Participants will be able to recognize covert racism in the workplace and identify subtle acts and behaviors that perpetuate racism, even when they may not be overtly malicious.
• Understanding the Impact: Participants will be able to understand the psychological and emotional toll that covert racism can have on individuals who experience it, develop empathy and a deeper understanding of the negative consequences of covert racism, and how such behaviors erode trust, hinder collaboration, and limit the potential of diverse teams.
• Strategies for Combating Covert Racism: Participants will be equipped with practical strategies and tools to combat covert racism in the workplace including actionable steps they can take to create an inclusive and anti-racist work environment and learn about the importance of allyship and bystander intervention in addressing covert racism.

Session Benefits:
By shedding light on covert racism, this presentation benefits participants by providing a deeper understanding of the subtle, insidious forms of discrimination that persist in professional environments. Attendees will gain crucial insights, tools, and strategies to recognize and combat covert racism, fostering a more inclusive and equitable workplace culture. This knowledge empowers participants to advocate for diversity, challenge discriminatory practices, and create an environment that fosters success for all students, irrespective of their backgrounds, thus enhancing overall student achievement and well-being.

Presenter: Duane Butler
Presentation time: 3:00-3:50 pm
Time: 50 minutes
Topic: Identity and Belonging, Mental Health, Tell Your Story
Title: Suicide Loss and the Benefit of Community
Description: Personal story about suicide loss, survivorship in faith, and communities of color.
Interactivity: Moderate: includes some polls and/or use of the chat feature
Learning Outcomes:

• Connect with the trauma of suicide loss survivors
• Gain awareness regarding suicide reality in faith AA communities
• Understand the power and healing effect of community

Session Benefit:
Both suicide and mental health are under-discussed in AA and faith-based communities, which has led to great stigma in facilitating prevention and recovery programs. My presentation will serve to provide insight into the humanity of statistics.