UMD Hosts Summit on Equity, Race, and Ethnicity

The theme of the summit was "The Power of Storytelling: Building Trust, Celebrating Humanity." Nearly 300 people participated in the 20-plus session event. The programs were presented in two formats, in person on the UMD campus as well as remotely through Zoom. 

The UMD Summit featured workshops about current issues on the power of storytelling. The summit also hosted a Social Justice Organization Fair to highlight the work being done in Duluth. This year, local BIPOC business owners in the community were invited to participate in order to encourage participants to engage in concrete action.

Workshops

Workshops on storytelling were the focus of this groundbreaking conference. The sessions ranged from community leaders sharing personal stories, to accounts of events that affect generations, to a video session where participants were invited to tell their stories. Students, faculty, and prominent area professionals presented a wide range of topics that center around creating better understanding through storytelling.

Creativity Exhibition

A video compilation of the “We All Belong Creativity Exhibit” was shown from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the UMD Kirby Student Center Ballroom A. The awards for the student winners of the art show were presented at 12 noon in Kirby Student Center Ballroom A. This all-campus art show included art and poetry focused on the themes of celebrating diversity and inclusion. The Chancellor’s Unit Climate Change Team was the organizer of the exhibit. This is the fourth year the committee has presented an art show with work from students, faculty, and staff.

About the Summit

UMD has hosted a Summit on Equity, Race, & Ethnicity nearly every year since 2003. It is organized by the Commission on Equity, Race and Ethnicity (CERE), and participants include students, faculty, staff and administrators from UMD as well as community members from the Twin Ports.

See the Commission on Equity, Race, and Ethnicity for more information.