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May 22, 2024
EAST LANSING, MI — The Michigan State University (MSU) Division of Student Life & Engagement (SLE) is proud to announce the inaugural Inclusive Impact Conference, scheduled to take place July 10-11 at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center. This groundbreaking event aims to unite Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practitioners, change agents and allies to foster more diverse, equitable and inclusive environments amidst the ongoing challenges and threats to DEI initiatives.
In the face of anti-DEI legislation and the weaponization of DEI efforts, this conference seeks to create a space where practitioners can decenter fear and continue their critical work. Attendees will explore how to reframe DEI around allyship, solidarity and community empowerment, tackling divisive narratives and reclaiming spaces for strategic alignment.
The Inclusive Campus Initiative, under the Office of the Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement, sponsors the event. This initiative aims to advance DEI education and prepare for an uncertain future by fostering partnerships, sharing knowledge and co-developing solutions with colleagues across Michigan and beyond.
Tim Wise (July 10, 6-7 p.m., Kellogg Auditorium): Renowned anti-racist author and educator, Tim Wise, will kick off the conference. With over 25 years of experience, Wise has spoken in all 50 states on numerous campuses and at various conferences. He is the author of nine books, including "Dispatches from the Race War" and "White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son."
Melissa Isaac (July 11, 9:15 a.m., Big 10 BC): Melissa Isaac, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe and an esteemed educator, will open the full-day conference. Isaac has a rich background in Indigenous education and advocacy, serving as Gizhwaasod – Protector of the Young at the Michigan Department of Education’s Indigenous Education Initiative. She has also been a significant figure in youth mental health awareness and education.
Khalil Gibran Muhammad (July 11, 3:15 p.m., Big 10 BC): Closing the conference will be Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Ford Foundation Professor of History, Race and Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. An award-winning teacher and public engagement advocate, Muhammad has received numerous honors and directed the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Registration includes access to the reception and kick-off speaker, a breakfast buffet, lunch, dynamic speakers, breakout sessions and more. Click here to register.
A hotel block is available at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center. For reservations, visit the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center r contact the front desk at 517-432-4000.
For general conference questions, please contact Meaghan Kozar at kozarmea@msu.edu or 517-449-9148.
We look forward to welcoming you to this important and timely event, where together, we can continue to champion diversity, equity and inclusion at MSU and beyond.