Women of Color Leadership Conference will take place April 28-29 and May 12

2011 conference expands to include segment for college students

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Division of Diversity, Access and Equity (DDAE) and the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management will take on a different look for its 6th Annual Women of Color Leadership Conference (WOCLC).

WOCLC – previously known as the Black Women Leaders Conference – has grown from a conference initially serving adult Black women to one empowering Women of Color, with an additional segment of the conference devoted to high school girls of color. Now, the Conference also will include a day for college students of color.

“We are invested in providing a network to improve the participation and involvement of Women of Color in all communities by providing programs that improve communication, collaboration and action,” said Karen Dace, Ph.D., deputy chancellor of the DDAE. “Our efforts focus on wealth development and accumulation, career planning and development, health and wellness, leadership skills and educational access.”

The conference for college students will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, featuring Kristi Ryujin, assistant vice chancellor for Diversity Initiatives, as keynote speaker. Ryujin’s topic is “Finding Your Voice”.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 29, the high school girls segment of the Conference will take place. Daisy Hernandez will address the students at 12:45 p.m. Hernandez is co-editor of the book “Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today’s Feminism.” Hernandez recently served as editor of ColorLines a newsmagazine on race and politics.

Melissa Harris-Perry – author, professor and MSNBC News contributor – will be the keynote speaker for the WOCLC for adults at 6 p.m. on May 12, with a book signing to follow. Workshops begin at 8:15 a.m.; registration starts at 7:30 a.m.

Harris-Perry is author of “Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought.” She is working on a new book – “Sister Citizen: A Text For Colored Girls Who’ve Considered Politics When Being Strong Wasn’t Enough” – with an expected 2011 release.

Jane Chu, President and CEO of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, will give the lunchtime lecture. She will speak at 12:15 p.m.

All events will be held at Pierson Auditorium, UMKC University Center, 5000 Holmes. For a schedule of conference events, click here.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.


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