Agenda

Despite an all-time high of 10.9 million job openings, nearly 50% of U.S. workers are seeking career changes and the struggles of many employers to fill positions. Black unemployment still rose in August, with twice as many Black Americans looking for work than were hired. This disappointing news is another sign of persistent racial disparities in employment. It’s also a sign of a missed talent opportunity for U.S. companies—and it’s something employers have the power to change. Join this session as business leaders discuss how companies can remove barriers and think differently about their recruiting, hiring, and retention ecosystem to create greater opportunities for expanding their talent pipeline.

Wealth is crucial for households’ economic security, economic opportunities, protection against economic crises, and access to political power. The persistent wealth gap results from a discriminatory economic system that keeps many Black households from achieving the American dream. This system has always made it difficult for Black households to acquire and keep capital. This lack of capital has created a persistently significant racial wealth disparity, as African Americans have had less wealth to pass on to the next generation. Join this panel of business and community leaders as they discuss the importance of generational wealth in the Black community and how to attain it.

Understanding the difference between sponsorship and mentorship is key to ensuring that members of underrepresented communities are fully supported in their careers. Allies need to not only offer the emotional support of mentoring but also be intentional about identifying opportunities for sponsorship and using social capital to lift those who might otherwise go unnoticed. Sponsorship alone isn’t enough to address the deep-seated challenges associated with systemic racism, but it is a personal action that all of us can take to help make the world a more equitable place. This workshop will provide practical tools for building diverse leadership and discovering the impact of mentoring and sponsorship to help create more diverse workplaces, foster belonging, and develop tomorrow’s leaders.

An engaging moderated conversation with representatives from the Detroit Pistons discussing leadership and navigating the industry as Black men while utilizing the game of basketball to Power Humanity. As an organization based in the city with the largest population of Black residents in the US, the Detroit Pistons is the only team in the NBA that is led by a Black Coach, General Manager, and G League President.

The Untold Narrative of Black Men-Many portrayals of black men in the media continue to focus on negative narratives and outcomes. Unfortunately, these outdated stereotypes neglect the breadth and depth of the lives of American black men, who have many roles—including father, husband, mentor, educator, business, and community leader, just to name a few. This panel will discuss the overwhelmingly positive role Black men play in business, their families, and communities. In addition to the momentum, Black Men have gained in politics, education, business, and other indicators of success.

Connection and community building are central to conversations about identity, racial equality, justice, equity, and the prevalent need to fight racism. There is a global outcry against the injustices and revitalized the conversation on personal and corporate responsibility that needs to be undertaken in a visibly progressive manner leading to actionable outputs. Join this panel of business and community leaders as they discuss various ways organizations and individuals own the fight to end systemic racism through bold and concrete actions moving forward.

The phrase “Black Excellence” appears to the masses as a simple form of praise, but for many people in the Black community, “Black Excellence” is seen as an expression of resilience. Resilience is a strategy that enables individuals to survive and even thrive in times of uncertainty and various forms of oppression. Overall, it primarily symbolizes pride in one’s community for overcoming the effects of systemic racism that is unavoidable as a person of color (POC) in the United States. However, there are many ways that organizations can address and counteract these known roadblocks for Black men in various forms of intentional anti-racist practices, policies, and processes. This session will focus on topics of anti-racism, resilience, and intersectionality–by helping us understand the compounding impacts of inequity and exploring various ways to develop more holistic and inclusive workplace and community strategies.

While the experience of being Black in America varies tremendously, mental and spiritual health looks different for everyone. For many Black people in America, the relationship between mental health and spirituality is vital. It provides the foundation to confront the ills of racism, prejudice, police brutality, and the manifestations of white supremacy in all of its micro and macro-aggressive forms. Although some progress has been made toward destigmatizing mental health issues among Black men, more must be done. Join this discussion of experts as they explore the intersections of race, mental and spiritual health, and cultural factors that play a role in helping define and support well-being, resiliency, and healing.

One of the hallmarks of a great leader is their ability to raise up and inspire a new generation of leaders. Sustainability has become synonymous with transformation, and what leaders do today influences our world’s future. Breaking down barriers, finding innovative solutions, and creating pathways to success for underrepresented communities is fundamental to closing the gap we currently have by investing in the next generation of Black leaders. Join this panel discussion led by successful leaders who share defining career moments, lessons, and sustainable practices that can help individuals and organizations use their influence to inspire, cultivate, and elevate the next generation of transformational leaders.

For the Black professional, the road to advancement can seem more of a tightrope than a ladder. The challenge of walking the career tightrope may cause many Black professionals to opt-out of the journey even before they begin.The downward trend of Black executives and growing numbers of Black professionals exiting Corporate America is alarming. Now more than ever, Black men can reshape their narrative and navigate the corporate landscape with more confidence and clarity. During this session, you will learn from business leaders the strategies and skills for navigating today’s complex business landscape and applying them to your career advancement as a means of unlocking innovation and results-driven growth.

This workshop will provide practical tools and best practice reentry efforts to support justice served and impacted participants. In addition, challenge your paradigm and stretch your level of thinking as it relates to reincarcerated populations. For efforts to be supportive, it takes internal and external partnerships to be proactive. Buckle up and come open-minded as we press forward with intentionality for the future of how you can support the reentry population.

When it comes to Black influence and representation in the U.S., most agree there’s still room for improvement. Business and diversity scholars say the executive suite is still one of America’s most exclusive and impenetrable clubs. Black representation is still lagging in business and corporate America, political leadership, law enforcement, and the judiciary. This stark racial divide has a cascading effect, stagnating income levels and helping worsen the race, class, and wealth gap. Join our panel of leaders across multiple sectors as they discuss the importance of diverse representation at the top of the ladder and its role in dismantling racial inequalities.

Technologies from artificial intelligence, blockchain, and quantum computing are rapidly changing our world and defining the lines of wealth and influence. Join this workshop centered around these topics and structural inequities, including educational opportunities, access, development, representation, and advancement, as we create a sustainable blueprint for making a more inclusive and equitable society through leveraging technology.

A longstanding fact in the United States (U.S.) is that inequities, inequalities, and discrimination have been major issues preventing society from fostering harmonious diversity, equity, and inclusion. Several reasons for these persistent outcomes include the prevalence of implicit bias, racism, and multi-level factors (macro-, meso-, and micro-) that also influence the existence and salience of negative organizational cultures and climates, particularly for groups that are underrepresented and marginalized in society. Addressing racism and racial inequality is a societal, moral, and business issue – and a business priority. Leaders must have a clear vision and genuine concern for change by visibly role-modeling behaviors and attitudes from the top to achieve a culture of true equity and inclusiveness. Join this panel discussion of Black business leaders and Allies who offer innovative transformational leadership approaches that incorporate anti-racism strategies committed to sustainable solutions and actions.