WASHINGTON, D.C. — Media personality Shefik will serve as Moderator at "Equity & Diversity: Community Dialogue", to be held at Friends Meeting of Washington, 2111 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, on Saturday, September 30, 2017, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Free tickets can be obtained online at eventbrite.com/e/equity-and-diversity-community-dialogue-tickets-3671457428. The event is organized by Elihu Eli El, CEO at Progressive Innovation and Carol Mizoguchi, Family Assistance Program Specialist at U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Did you know that:
- 67% of job seekers say that diversity is an important factor when they evaluate companies;
- Ethnically diverse companies are 35% more likely to outperform non-ethnically diverse companies;
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has proposed that minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are pushed out of jobs due to bias, rather than pipeline issues or personal decisions; and
- A typical black household has accumulated less than one-tenth of the wealth of a typical white one. And, it's only getting worse.
These stats can be disheartening for those of us who recognize that equity and diversity are real concerns, but don’t know where to begin.
"We live in an increasingly diverse world," says Shefik. "Therefore, we must equip ourselves to better serve in an inclusive community."
Join Shefik and various renowned panelists for a half-day conversation on equity and diversity. The panelists, which include Lyman Legters (Senior Director, Strategic Consulting at Casey Family Programs), George Farrell (Chairman and Founder at BlakPac), Leon Andrews (Director, Race, Equity and Leadership at National League of Cities), and Stephon Mills (Information System Security Manager at U.S. Department of Health & Human Services) will share experiences, problem-solve solutions, build existing alliances, while discovering new alliances among community members in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The Honorable Arthur L. Burnett, Sr. (National Executive Director at National African American Drug Policy Coalition) will provide the keynote address, and Angela J. Davis, Esq. (Owner at The Davis Law Group) will provide the attorney wrap-up.
The goals of the event are intended to share best practices in achieving diversity in a competitive market, and engage participants in stimulating discussion regarding the impact of globalization on diversity. The community dialogue will serve as a platform to bring together community members to network and exchange ideas that will serve as a platform for participants to take back to their respective communities, to help effect positive changes. Community participants will engage in a discussion with a panel of experts in the field of equity and diversity. This community dialogue will include two breakout sessions that take place in a safe space with expert facilitators to help guide you through difficult conversations.
Each breakout session is designed to provide you with real, actionable takeaways and tangible insights that you will be able to immediately implement in both your personal and professional life. Once you have completed the breakout session, you will be invited to further engage the panelists, where you will be able to ask questions, get advice, and provide your insight on issues concerning equity and diversity in the workplace and your respective community. From the breakout sessions, each attendee will be able to develop their own action plan, as well as compile a list of resources.
Please bring business cards, brochures, publications, or other resources regarding your organization and/or project(s), so that you can share them with others.
About Shefik
Shefik is an accomplished industry insider, who has appeared on MTV, SiriusXM, PBS, network television, and in print media, as well as internationally on TRT World (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, based in Istanbul, Turkey). He has held senior-level positions at many Fortune 500 companies and celebrated brands, including IBM, NBCUniversal, MTV World, Merck, Merriam-Webster, and Wolters Kluwer. A seasoned pro in social media with a career background as a Lead Architect and Senior Web Developer, Shefik is on the cutting edge of new media. As a videographer and producer, his work has been featured in television broadcasts and video productions for TIME Magazine, The Washington Center, "Unsung" (TV One), and Broadway World. Additionally, his photography has been featured in print and online publications, such as Daily Mail (based in United Kingdom), Harvard Kennedy School Magazine, Playbill, and China Press. He is currently the Executive Producer and Host of the nationally-syndicated radio show "Shefik presents Invocation", which is broadcast on 21 terrestrial radio stations and frequencies throughout the United States.
Media Contacts
Elihu Eli El
Progressive Innovation
+1 302-354-8374
info@progressiveinnovation.com
Shefik
All Knight Access
+1 (914) 548-5033
shefik@allknightaccess.com
Toni Knight
All Knight Access
+1 (914) 645-4830
toni.knight@allknightaccess.com
Last Updated: May 30, 2021
