Communities Connected at OCPRSA’s First Annual Eye on DE&I Summit
Posted on Nov. 9, 2022 / Event, DEI / Subscribe 0
OCPRSA has formed a new connection point for professional associations and the public, education, business and nonprofit sectors to engage in meaningful discussions about real work applications for diversity, equity and inclusion work. The first annual OCPRSA Eye on DE&I Summit was held on Nov. 3, 2022, at Terrace by Mix Mix, part of a collective of eateries by Fil-Am Michelin-rated chef Ross Pangilinan.
It was a packed house with professional who left with key takeaways a renewed excitement about DE&I work.
Victor Negrete, manager of inclusive economic growth, at event sponsor Southern California Association of Governments, led a discussion aimed at making headway on DE&I issues through access to jobs, housing, transportation and equal pay. He shared a special tool that organizations can use to effectively implement a strong DE&I program with measurable outcomes.
The featured topic was followed by a panel that discussed real-world applications for being an ally in the professional setting. Event sponsor City of Hope Orange County and its director of external communication, Lisa O’Neill Hill, shared how the comprehensive cancer center allied with the diverse communities of Orange County by inviting a cross-section of cultures to weigh in on the design of its newly-constructed City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center in Irvine. A tactic that other organizations can replicate to ensure programs and services are meeting the needs of the melting pot that is Orange County.
While event sponsor Bank of America and Patty Conover, vice president, community relations manager, noted that for companies to make a big impact with diversity work, it needs to be part of a business case. Diversity and business go hand in hand, she noted.
The morning breakfast rounded out a hearty discussion about creating a culture of belonging that bridges the gap between college and the workforce. Dr. Ricardo Valencia, a public relations professor at California State University, Fullerton, described a new program he’s leading aimed at providing Latino communication majors an avenue for mentoring and professional development. The goal Dr. Valencia stated was that for an individual to feel like they belong in the work environment, others need to take the time to help them integrate into the system.
Special thanks all our speakers:
- Todd Harmonson, Senior Editor, The Orange County Register
- Victoria Lim, senior manager, executive and employee communication, Experian
- Jennifer Wang, chief operating officer, Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center
- Payal Avellan Kumar, director, marketing and communication, The Wooden Floor
- Sandra Bernardo, senior manager, public relations, Experian
- Emily Reisberg, account coordinator, The Avana House
- Nicole Suydam, president and CEO, Goodwill Orange County
This event was also made possible by in-kind sponsors:
- The Fashionable Event (Event coordination and experience)
- Full Blown Events (Audio-visual)
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