T1W 2022 Breakout Sessions

13 Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture

Though often unrecognizable to many of us, dominant cultural norms create harm in the lives of individuals, organizations, and communities. This session will explore 13 characteristics that exist in dominant culture and how they show up within our daily lives and the ways in which we operate. Participants will walk away from this session with tools to recognize, unlearn, and change the dominant way of being.

Presenter: Christina Woods

8000 Miles – Conundrum of Colliding Ideologies

Listen to the story of an international student and community member adjusting to new norms. The struggles, the successes, the relationships cultivated, and the lessons learned through higher education that transcends the college experience. How big of an impact you directly & indirectly have on a student or community member’s life? Build a better understanding and a more formidable commitment towards a more equitable educational experience and join in becoming co-conspirators.

Presenter: Sudarshan Choudhury

Connecting with Intention: Ways to Expand My Networking Community

How do you do network? How are you meeting people where they are when you network? How do you create meaningful relationships? What is your approach to building trust and affinity?

Our communities, our workplaces, and neighborhoods continue to shift. Our needs cause us to shift. As life-long learners, this session will help you hone your skills and uncover new ways to connect and expand your networking community. We explore these questions by examining how Connecting and Networking are fundamental. Let’s look at our connecting skills from another perspective. We will apply our new skills during the session. Come, let’s connect and expand our network!

Presenter: Carole Burton

Considering DEI When Planning for Impacts of Climate Change in the Twin Ports

Climate change is a global issue the requires immediate, equitable planning and solutions. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are key considerations when planning sustainability and mitigation plans. It is important for all voices to be a part of this planning – complex issues like climate change require engaging people from all backgrounds and sectors of society in developing solutions. The negative effects of climate change will have the greatest impact on marginalized communities. Impacts on food sources, housing, energy and the Twin Ports as a destination for climate migration. This session will include the voices of local leaders sharing their views, vision and the planning underway to address the impacts of climate change and engagement with diverse communities.

Presenters: Julie Marckel, Amber Lewis, Ozaawaa Anakwaadookwe|Alicia Kozlowski, Monica Haynes, Madison Rodman, and Bazile Panek

DEI Speed Dating

Want to break the ice with diversity, equity, and inclusion but don’t know where to start? Join us for this session featuring 15-minute micro-learning sessions that will provide ideas to spark action, tools to use, and reflection to bring back to your work & personal lives.

Presenters: Sarah Lyons (Lake Superior College), Roxanne DeLille (Fond du Lac Tribal Community College), Salisa Hochstetler (University of Wisconsin-Superior), Jennifer Niemi (College of St. Scholastica)

Disability Inclusion in the Workforce

Today many businesses are striving to design and implement creative strategies that attract unique talent to their workforce. Disability talent is one of those unique resources that adds value and depth to a company culture and workforce success. Learn more about disability and employment, the disability talent pool, and strategies your company can use to create, implement and sustain successful diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility practices.

Presenter: Patricia Johnson

Diversity Within-Us

Diversity Within-Us is an interactive session that seeks to recognize what diversity a group of participants has. We talk about a broad range of diverse experiences through this activity, exploring both identities that might seem obvious and aspects of diversity that we might not always recognize. Statements will be read and participants will be asked to step-forward as to whether or not the statement applies to them. The activity is done in complete silence, and prompts used will range from less risky/less personal to more risky/more personal. After the activity, participants will have the opportunity to debrief as a group and consider both their own reactions and how this activity applies to our daily lives and experiences.

Presenters: Madison Hale and T Leeper

S.I.S.T.A. Method to Self-Advocacy

Black women and girls have historically experienced barriers to care, inequality and systematic racism leading to disparities especially health care and educational settings. Learn how racial inequality impacts the emotionally intelligent skillset, sense of safety, and how to better navigate relationships with Black women and girls or yourself using the S.I.S.T.A. Method to Self-Advocacy™.

Presenter: Dr. Dominique Pritchett

Racelighting: When Good Intentions Fall Short

Coined by academics Dr. Frank Harris III and Dr. J. Luke Wood, racelighting is the term for a very real, lived experience that many may not be familiar with. This session will define and explain racelighting and how it can impede bridge-building between diverse groups. This session is perfect for anyone looking to further develop their ability to engage in truth-telling, healing, and justice work, whether you are an ally or someone from a racialized people group.

Presenter: Marsha Lue