We invite all members of the George Washington University to join us in the fall and spring semesters for the two-part 9th Annual Diversity Summit, Defining Revolutionary: A Call for Justice, Liberation & Empathy. This year’s theme challenges us to turn inward to define ourselves together as GW, in space that allows for both a pouring into our community and sharing out from our community in accordance with our intended learning goals.
We call on the engagement of our community in the face of threats that are antithetical to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, including the grim rise of book bans, anti-LGBTQIA+ policies, the erasure of Black history from K-12 pedagogy, and the elimination of DEI offices and race-conscious admissions in higher education. Gun violence, climate change, and ongoing acts of hate directed at particular communities continue to plague our nation.
In this moment, we need to grow our capacity to empathize, work toward liberation for all, and fight for justice. These acts are in fact revolutionary. Indigenous scholar, activist, and artist Lilla Watson said, “If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Activists, scholars, and changemakers strategically work in coalition, with the understanding that our inequities and oppressions are intrinsically tied. GW, let us work together during dedicated space and time at the Diversity Summit, as one university.
Part I of the Diversity Summit will take place from October 25 - 27, 2023. Part II will take place from February 20 - 22, 2024.
Part I will include a series of panel discussions and keynote sessions, covering topics such as the recent SCOTUS decision on race-based admissions, threats against DEI in the US, gender and sexuality bans, campus safety and policing, and the goals for inclusive excellence at GW. There will be opportunities to learn from President Granberg and other national scholars and members of the GW community. Please stay tuned for additional schedule information in the near future.
We invite you to register for Part I of the 9th Annual Diversity Summit by clicking below. Registration closes Friday, October 20 at 5:00pm ET.