ALL TOGETHER NOW. The Toward One Wisconsin diversity, equity, and inclusion conference seeks to bring Wisconsinites together, but because of the pandemic they'll be doing so virtually this fall. (Submitted image)

Kao Kalia Yang, Hmong-American writer, filmmaker, teacher, and co-founder of Words Wanted; Dasha Kelly Hamilton, writer, performance artist, and creative change agent; and Jelani Cobb, New Yorker staff writer, and public speaker on race, history, politics, culture in America, will keynote Toward One Wisconsin 2021, a virtual conference on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion on Oct. 12-13.

The conference – themed “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges” – will feature 48 breakout sessions with four tracks: 1) Increasing Opportunities for Inclusion in Wisconsin’s Workforce, 2) Creating Inclusive Communities, 3) Cultivating Equity in Education, and 4) Building Healthy Equity in Wisconsin. It’s intended for individuals on a DEI journey, wherever they may be, and aims to provide best practices, insights, and tools to help you take the next steps toward One Wisconsin. Conference Artist-in-Residence Dorothy Chan, UW-Eau Claire assistant professor of English, will provide inspirational poems and reflections during the conference.

Initially planned as a hybrid event with virtual options and sessions based in Eau Claire, organizers shifted to a fully virtual format amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the state. Last year’s conference, also virtual, drew 800 participants. To register, visit Toward One Wisconsin 2021’s website (inclusivity-wi.org) or its Facebook page (facebook.com/TowardOneWisconsin).