Announcing Virginia Statewide Summit on Racial Equity

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Leadership Center for Excellence (LCE) is hosting a virtual Virginia Statewide Summit on Racial Equity on Tuesday, December 7 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. ET. The event will celebrate and elevate racial equity work across the Commonwealth of Virginia and is sponsored by Amazon. 

The Summit is a unique opportunity to learn from leaders who are creatively inspiring communities to listen, learn, and act in working toward an equitable society. 

Keynote panel speakers include Dr. Janice Underwood, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Donald Cravins, Jr., Esq., Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer for the National Urban League. 

“At Amazon, we’re committed to diversity and inclusion, and our ability to innovate on behalf of our customers relies on the perspectives and knowledge of people from all backgrounds,” said Brian Kenner, Director of Public Policy for Amazon. “We’re glad to support the Leadership Center for Excellence and the Virginia Statewide Summit on Racial Equity as we work together to create more equitable outcomes for all Virginians.”

The Summit will include presentations about successful programs that are working toward racial equity. 

Ridge Schuyler, Dean of the Division of Community Self-Sufficiency Programs at Piedmont Virginia Community College, will share information about the award-winning Network2Work program that uses community-based connectors to identify people being left behind in our economy and provides the training and support needed to find quality employment within their community.

Ebony Walden, the creator of the Richmond Racial Equity Essays, will share information about her project that is capturing voices from all walks of life and sectors in Richmond and exploring what an equitable community looks like and strategies that will help the community get there.

“We want to challenge our community to dream about what racial equity can look like, and how to get there. It’s 2021, and our country is finally recognizing the widespread impact of systemic racism. As we listen and learn from each other, we also commit to take action,” said Krysta Jones, Racial Equity Consultant for the Leadership Center for Excellence. “This Summit is the next step in the process: it will provide a forum for people to share what we are doing in our communities. As we recognize our progress towards equity and ponder where we need to go next, we hope that participants will leave the Summit both inspired and equipped with some new tools to use in their own individual sphere of influence. It is that power of collective action that will get us to an equitable society. ”

For more information and to register for the Virginia Statewide Summit on Racial Equity, visit leadercenter.org/racial-equity. 

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The mission of the Leadership Center for Excellence is to enlighten, inspire, and connect leaders through community building and leadership development. For more information, visit leadercenter.org or call (703) 528-2522.

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(703) 528-2522
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