Inclusiveness Conference

Inclusiveness Conference
Building Inclusive Organizations: Talk to Action


                                    
This November, over 250 Metro Denver nonprofit leaders came together at the Tivoli Student Union for a day-long Inclusiveness Conference hosted by The Denver Foundation’s Inclusiveness Project.  Attendees were welcomed by Denver Foundation President David Miller who introduced the morning keynote speaker, Dr. María Guajardo.  Dr. Guajardo gave a stirring speech that set an inspirational tone for the day. Her moving comments included personal stories and helpful tips for celebrating and navigating culture, ethnicity, and race.

Up and down stairways and through narrow hallways, conference participants were guided through the historical Tivoli by friendly community volunteers.  Presenters offered sessions about how nonprofits can become more inclusive by effectively engaging the talents and experiences of people of color.  Session topics included “Marketing and Outreach to Communities of Color,” “Philanthropy in Communities of Color,” and “Privilege and Power.”

High school students from Denver School of the Arts and East High School offered a dramatic presentation entitled Breaking Away during lunch.  Researched, written, and directed by the students, Breaking Away dramatizes the 1908 meeting of the National Negro Anti-Taft League (NNATL) which took place in the Turnhalle room of Tivoli over 100 years ago – the very location where the conference lunch was taking place.  After the powerful performance, conference participants and the performers spoke together about historic and present-day race relations and civil rights issues.

Another conference highlight was the Inclusion Café, an opportunity for participants to connect virtually using social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter.  A professional videographer filmed interviews that were then edited and projected during the conference.  Click here to view the video excerpt.  Still photography was quickly made into a slide show, also displayed at the end of the day.  Click here to view the photos.  Nationally-prominent speaker Eddie Moore Jr. closed the conference with a provocative speech that examined issues related to diversity, privilege, power, and leadership across America.

In these challenging times, the work of nonprofits is increasingly essential.  Many organizations are facing unprecedented increases in the demand for services, while simultaneously facing the ongoing challenges of economic uncertainty.  Nonprofit organizations now more than ever need the resources and encouragement to connect directly with all communities to accomplish their missions.  The hundreds of participants at the 2009 Inclusiveness Conference demonstrate the Metro Denver nonprofit sector’s strong commitment to moving from talk to action with regard to inclusiveness and community engagement.