The South Florida Diversity Alliance will host its annual Diversity Summit on Nov. 14 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Alvin Sherman Library. The event will include various interactive workshops on current issues in our world today including police abuse and racial profiling in Ferguson, Missouri, the NFL’s response to players’ crimes, Emma Watson’s feminist advocacy, the Trayvon Martin case and more.
“The Diversity Summit brings people together to have courageous conversations about topics that are often considered taboo in our culture,” said Allison Brimmer, assistant professor in the Division of Humanities in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences and co-organizer of the summit for several years.
Brimmer said the summit allows attendees the opportunity to be active participants.
“We will be hearing from experts and seeking each other’s perspectives on current events and the experiences of people who are very different from us,” Brimmer said. “Attendees will have in-depth discussions while gaining a new understanding of complex social issues.”
The summit will begin with a welcome introduction and icebreaker segment. Then attendees will be able to choose from six workshops to attend. The day will conclude with a short exercise to reflect on what they have learned.
Laura Finley, co-chair of the South Florida Diversity Alliance and member of the planning team for the past six years, said the workshops offered will help attendees understand diversity.
“The workshops are designed to prompt discussion and inspire action,” she said.
Finley said the summit’s concluding exercise involves attendees to write a letter to themselves describing what they have learned and what they plan to do with that information.
“The letters will be collected and mailed to the attendees at a later date as a reminder to follow through on their ideas of action,” she said.
This year’s summit is centered on the theme “Still I Rise,” in honor of Maya Angelou, who passed away in May.
“Angelou’s inspiring life and work will motivate attendees to get involved with local, state or national organizations to work on the issues that will be presented,” Finley said.
Jonathon May, Assistant Director of Student Affairs in the Health Professions Division and co-chair of the event, said the theme shows NSU’s commitment to accepting diversity in our lives.
“All the prejudice and discrimination in the world has the ability to tear us down, yet we are resilient survivors,” he said.
May said one of the speakers in particular highlights the theme very well.
“This specific speaker will discuss the time he was incarcerated for several years for a crime he didn’t commit, then later was acquitted for all charges,” May said. “After everything this man has been through, he still continues to rise above the hatred and discrimination.”
May said students should attend because the information they learn from the workshops will enable them to have skills they need for their future.
“The summit is an opportunity to raise a person’s level of awareness and consciousness about human differences, multicultural issues, social justice and being open to learning from one another.”
Finley said a resource guide will be available for the educators in attendance so they have some ideas about how to engage their students in further activity and dialogue after the summit has ended.
This will be May’s third year attending the summit.
“At the end of the event, I always hear people say how much they learned and how much they’ve grown as a person. Personally, every time I go, I learn how to move from tolerance and acceptance of diversity to celebration of diversity,” he said.
The event is open to the public and will include a free lunch and giveaway.
“Having a wide range of attendees ensures a variety of perspectives on the issues discussed in workshops, and allows for the college students to begin developing mentorship skills,” Finley said.
The event is only free to students from NSU, Lynn University, Barry University and Broward County schools. For other attendees, the cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. To register, visit southfloridadiversityalliance.org/diversity-summit-registration.
On the day of the event, check in will be from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Miniaci Performing Arts Center.
For more information, contact Finley at lfinley@barry.edu.
