Rowan-Cabarrus Community College to Host Third Annual Virtual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference

ROWAN COUNTY, NC (WBTV) – Rowan-Cabarrus Community College will host its third annual, “A New Path with GUIDE (Growth, Understanding, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity),” a virtual conference on diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education, November 18, 2022. The event is free, open to the public and will be held virtually via Zoom.

“A New Way Forward with GUIDE” aims to advance issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education, K-12, in communities and in the workplace . The conference will feature renowned experts speaking on topics such as ageism in the workplace, transgender identity, equity and inclusion, addressing implicit biases, advocating for cultural foods in dietary recommendations, why inclusive leadership and gratitude go hand in hand, and so much more.

The College is pleased to announce that this year’s conference will feature new technology via Zoom Events with captioning that will provide a more inclusive environment for those who may need ADA accommodations.

“It’s important that our students, faculty, and staff reflect the communities we serve, and our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion has never been stronger,” said Dr. Carol S. Spalding, president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. “In fact, we are revising the College’s 2023-2025 strategic plan to include targeted efforts to better address each of these areas.

The College’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion has continued to grow over the past few years through the creation of an internal diversity and inclusion committee, three GUIDE conferences with a total of over 3,000 attendees and increased engagement in DEI events and training.

“As a college serving a diverse academic community, the GUIDE conference is an innovative and proactive example of our ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive campus culture. We’re proud of the work we’ve done, but we know there’s still more to do,” said Board Chairman Carl Short, Jr.

The conference will also include a variety of breakout sessions with experts on topics related to diversity, equity and equity.

“I believe this event will help us all learn more about how we can work to be more inclusive in our professional and personal lives,” said Nekita Eubanks, Director of Human Resources and Equity at Rowan Cabarrus Community Middle School. “Over 800 attendees from across the United States have registered to attend this important virtual conference, and we even have one registrant from Australia. We invite anyone interested in personal and professional growth, serving students, and serving our communities to join us.

The GUIDE conference will be held via Zoom from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 18. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.rccc.edu/diversity/conference-2022/. The deadline for registration is November 17. If you need an accommodation to attend this event, please contact the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at [email protected] by November 4.

For more information on Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, please visit www.rccc.edu or call 704-216-RCCC (7222).

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