Registration is open and all are welcome to attend the fourth annual Equity Summit, which will take place October 1, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia, Minnesota, and center on the theme of “Inclusion in Action.”
Registration closes September 20, 2024. Lunch is included along with refreshments and snacks!
Hosted by Northspan’s Welcoming Community program, the Equity Summit is a yearly opportunity to engage around themes related to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) and forge a more inclusive future in northeast Minnesota. It provides attendees with opportunities to:
- Engage with inspiring examples of local leaders sharing tools for integrating inclusion into your workplace, local government, community, business, nonprofit, and life!
- Elevate organizations who are making intentional efforts to support community vitality through inclusive practices.
- Ideate new paths forward to enhance economic and social prosperity in our region.
The summit doubled in size from year two to year three, with approximately 180 attendees at last year’s event. Community leaders in business, education, workforce and economic development, government, health care, philanthropy, and many other sectors gathered together to hear from keynote speaker Jonathan Thunder and participate in a range of activities throughout the day focused on inclusion and belonging.
Agenda Overview 2024
- 7:45 a.m. – 8: 15 a.m. Registration & Check-In
- 8:15 a.m. Welcome & Messages from Sponsors
- 8:30 a.m. Setting Our Expectations: Coffee & Breakfast Snacks
- 9:00 a.m. Lyceum Keynote: Elements of Belonging
- 9:30 a.m. Lyceum: Where the Community Comes to Think
- 10:15 a.m. Results of the Inclusion and Belonging Survey
- 10:30 a.m. Break/Visit Resource Tables/Refreshments
- 10:45 a.m. The Wave of Welcoming: Breakout Sessions
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch and Networking
- 1:30 p.m. Inclusion and Belonging Strategic Directions: Workshops
- 3:00 p.m. Break/Visit Resource Tables/Refreshments
- 3:15 p.m. Group Sharing/Presentations from Breakouts
- 3:30 p.m. Closing Conversation
- 4:00 p.m. We Are Adjourned | Thank You for Joining Us
The full agenda for this year features an enhanced focus on interactive sessions and formats such as breakout sessions, experiential workshops, and Lyceums—facilitated small group conversations drawing on an American tradition that goes back 150 years.
Who should attend?
All are welcome! We encourage attendance from residents, newcomers, elected officials, educators, law enforcement, environmental advocates, community leaders, business owners, creatives, workforce and economic development, government, health care, philanthropy, and YOU.
Scholarships Available
There are 25 scholarships available for the 2024 Equity Summit. If you would like to make use of one of our scholarships, please email Welcoming Community Program Manager Amber Lewis directly at alewis@northspan.org.
Sponsorship Information
Interested in sponsoring the summit? View the sponsorship packet and apply using our application form! Please contact Amber Lewis, Welcoming Community Program Manager, at alewis@northspan.org with any questions.
This year’s sponsors include Saint Louis County, Fairview Range, Boundary Waters Connect, Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency, and the Access North Center for Independent Living of Northeastern Minnesota. Thank you to our sponsors and all who are interested in sponsoring this year’s event!
Elevate Sponsor
Nonprofit Sponsors
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“The values of diversity and inclusion are at the core of Access North’s mission. This conference is a vital event, delivering an essential message to northeastern Minnesota: our diversity is our greatest strength.”
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“This aligns with the mission and values of Boundary Waters Connect. I am so pleased that this event is taking place, and want to show my enthusiasm with sponsorship.”
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“We’re interested in sponsoring the 4th Annual Equity Summit because it aligns perfectly with our mission of strengthening communities by supporting those facing social and economic challenges. The Summit offers a vital platform for discussing and addressing equity issues, and by sponsoring, we can contribute to meaningful dialogue and action that furthers our commitment to creating opportunities and fostering inclusive growth.”
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“After attending last year’s summit as a panel member, our non-profit, Above & Beyond With U wanted to continue to support and be a part of this amazing work of inclusion. The Equity Summit and Northspan work towards making our region a more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming space.”
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Learn more about the annual event and explore resources from past years: Annual Equity Summit
The Equity Summit is part of Northspan’s Welcoming Community program with the goal to increase belonging of underrepresented community members and trust between people from different backgrounds and lived experiences in northeast Minnesota. Northspan’s Welcoming Community programming is funded in part by the Northland Foundation.
You can view other news updates on the Northspan blog.
For more information, please contact Northspan Consultant and Welcoming Community Program Manager Amber Lewis at alewis@northspan.org.