Tag: summit

Summit to provide resources, connect nonprofits with socially conscious businesses

The Cause Collaborative will premiere its inaugural COLLABORATE SUMMIT 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, October 14. An in-person collaboration hour will take place at the Jack Rabbit Club the same evening beginning at 5 p.m.

The virtual event is designed to provide resources and to inspire solutions during a time mission-driven organizations need it most, the organization said. COLLABORATE was created to bring nonprofits, socially conscious business owners and mission-driven organizations together to strengthen, motivate and propel communities to new levels of success.

“We recognize that the organizations working tirelessly every day to create a better world are the same organizations that often struggle with finding the right resources to fulfill their mission and achieve their vision,” organizers said in a statement. “Driven by the need to best leverage available resources for nonprofit organizations, COLLABORATE will offer opportunities to learn, grow, connect and optimize.”

COLLABORATE will be offered for FREE to the community, with a pay-what-you-can donation encouraged. All proceeds from the event will go back to a nonprofit organization, nominated by the speakers, with voting for the winning recipient by attendees.

Nearly three dozen speakers are slated for the event, including Andrew Brady, chief evolutionary officer of the XLR8 Team; Dresden Engle, owner of Dresden Public Relations; Joseph Casion, partner at Harter Secrest & Emery; Kevin Schulte, co-founder and CEO of GreenSpark Solar; and Megan Alchowiak, executive director of the Shore Foundation; among others.

A mid-day panel titled “Interrupting Racism” will be led by Seanelle Hawkins, president and CEO of the Urban League Rochester.

The Cause Collaborative is a marketing and social impact firm that was founded in Rochester in 2014. Its mission is to provide resources for mission-driven organizations and nonprofits, enabling them to be effective and successful in their efforts to maintain and grow their programs and services.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
Follow Velvet Spicer on Twitter: @Velvet_Spicer

Eleversity to present Women of Color summit

Women of Color Summit honorees
Women of Color Summit honorees

Eleversity, a community impact program of Heritage Christian Services, will hold a four-session summit beginning Thursday to address diversity, equity and inclusion.

The “Women of Color Virtual Summit: An Educational Series” was created for and by women of color and is open to all supporters and champions of diversity, equity and inclusion. This year’s theme is Courageous Conversations — moving from conversation to implementation by advancing strategies for diversity, equity and inclusion.

The discussion will focus on ways in which individuals, corporate leaders and community stakeholders can address systematic barriers, inequities and health disparities that affect women of color, officials said.

More than two dozen presenters will engage participants in discussions related to COVID-19 and race relations, employment equity, education opportunities and more. The WOC Summit will honor four individuals during the sessions including Essie Calhoun-Mcdavid, a retired Eastman Kodak Co. executive; Valerie Snipe of the United Way of Greater Rochester Inc.; Brenda McDuffie, former president of the Buffalo Urban League Inc.; and Melva Visher, retired Kaleida Health executive.

The Women of Color Summit is an initiative led by Sara Taylor, community liaison and training specialist at Eleversity and Heritage Christian Services. Eleversity partners with businesses and organizations in New York State and across the country to provide professional development opportunities.

The summit will be July 23, 30, Aug. 6 and 13 and will feature the following topics:
• July 23 — Women of Color and Our Realities: What is next for us and our communities – COVID-19 and race relations. Keynote by Helen Lowery, global strategic account manager at DuPont/Chemours Co.
• July 30 — Health and Wellness: Our role in improving individual and community outcomes. Keynote by Ronnie Pollack, executive director of the Native American Cultural Center in Rochester.
• Aug. 6 — Equity: Employment and the Economy. Keynote by Brittany Read, founder of the Barcode College Resource Program.
• Aug. 13 — Education and Training: Successes, challenges and opportunities. Keynote by Melisza Campos, marketing manager at Wegmans.

All sessions will take place between 9:30 a.m. and noon via the Zoom platform. More than 150 individuals have registered for the event.

[email protected] / 585-653-4021
Follow Velvet Spicer on Twitter: @Velvet_Spicer