Conference to address issues facing women of color this weekend

The second annual Women of Color Leadership Conference will take place Friday and Saturday at the Godfrey Graduate and Executive Education Center at the Kelley School of Business.

The theme of this year’s conference is “The Progression of Women in the 21st Century: Higher Education, Health and Politics.”

“The goal is to make our community more aware of the issues that go with the theme and give women of color a platform to voice their concerns,” said Patrick Smith, executive director of the Office of Mentoring Services and Leadership Development.
Smith said about 160 people will attend the conference.

Beverly Calender-Anderson, safe and civil city director for the city of Bloomington, said the conference will bring together women of color and people who
support them to discuss issues they face.

She said these issues are not different from those other women face, but when race is added in, they have an extra dimension.Women of color have not always had the political and social freedoms they have now, and students need to remember that progress doesn’t stop, she said.

Smith, who is chairman of the conference, said he thought the theme was appropriate, not only because of the accomplishments of women of color, but also because it allowed for discussion in the areas that need advocacy.

“The keynote speakers are all accomplished and contribute to the community,” Smith said.

Speakers include Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Health Department and associate professor of medicine; Wakisha Malone, coordinator of Academic Advising and Program Services; and Valeri Haughton, Monroe County Circuit
Court Judge.

Freshman Amber Smith, who was involved with planning the conference, said it encourages leadership and finding common ground while meeting new people.

The conference will include 14 different workshops over two days, led by graduate students and professional women from within the community, among others.

Patrick Smith said the workshops on Friday are aimed at high school students, while the Saturday workshops are more for college students and professionals.

Calender-Anderson is leading a workshop about hair, clothing and makeup for women of color in the workplace.

“It’s not going to be a class,” Calender-Anderson said. “It’s a dialogue.”

Her Saturday workshop will feature a panel of four professional women and will show how women of color can focus on their skills in the workplace instead of their appearance.

Additional workshops on Saturday will be job-related and focus on life in college and the workplace.

Calender-Anderson said the conference is also a chance for students and community members to network and connect. Students from local high schools will also attend the conference on Friday.

Workshops include discussions about juggling the roles of being a wife, mother and student while working, as well as health-related topics such as HIV and AIDS.

Another workshop is about women of color in the media and how things have changed now that
Michelle Obama is first lady.

Calender-Anderson said students, faculty, staff and community members planned the conference.

“It’s both the campus and the city, so it’s a broader range and all the voices have an input,” she said