Equity conference in Modesto to celebrate Valley’s strengths, examine its needs
Community leaders, educators and advocates from across Stanislaus County will gather later this spring for a one-day conference focused on equity and collaboration in the Central Valley.
The event, titled “Stronger Together, Building a Better Central Valley,” will be May 21 at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Modesto, but a registration deadline is approaching.
The conference is organized by United Way of Stanislaus County and the Stanislaus County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Community of Practice — a regional group made up of professionals working to address disparities in their organizations and communities. It runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with a networking hour scheduled for 5 p.m.
The event’s goal is to celebrate the strengths of the Central Valley while also tackling unmet community needs, such as in healthcare, education and economic mobility.
“We really want this to be more than just another conference people go to. We’re hoping for this to be a catalyst for ongoing sustainable change in our county,” said Denise Fitzgerald, manager of people and culture at Sierra Vista Child & Family Services.
The schedule includes a keynote address, a panel discussion with local changemakers and two rounds of breakout sessions on a variety of equity-related topics. Interpretation in Spanish will be available upon request.
Speakers will come from a mix of public and private sector organizations, including Sierra Vista Child & Family Services, CSU Stanislaus, Community Health Services Agency and the Center for Human Services.
The DEI Community of Practice has been meeting for more than two years, bringing together representatives from businesses, nonprofits and local government to collaborate on addressing systemic issues in Stanislaus County.
“Given the recent shift of local, state and federal resources and the rising community needs, this event aims to promote solutions by sharing innovative strategies, exchanging best practices, and strengthening connections across organizations and industries,” reads a press release.
The event is open to the public. Early-bird admission, which ends April 15, is $65. Regular admission costs $80. Fee waivers are also available by request. More information, including the full schedule and registration form, can be found at eventcreate.com/e/stronger-together.
