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Bradley hosts first Diversity Leadership Conference

The Office of Multicultural Student Services hosted its first Diversity Leadership Conference Saturday. The conference is part four of “The Conversation Continues,” which is designed to provide the Bradley community with an opportunity to engage in open dialogue focused on self-awareness and understanding the meaning of diversity and inclusion, according to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s website.

“The whole mission of the conference was to give Bradley leaders an opportunity to learn how to be more diverse and inclusive in their own organizations and beyond,” junior sociology major Katie Dahlman said.

Dahlman said her friend, senior criminal justice major Judith De La Vega, who was the committee chair for this diversity conference, approached her last year. But, Dahlman said that she would have gone either way. She said that she is interested in leadership, and always looks for opportunities to sharpen her leadership skills.

“No matter where you go, even at Bradley, there’s a huge push for diversity,” Dahlman said. “Leaders need to be able to learn to foster diversity and be able to tap into other peoples’ perspectives.”

The event was five hours long and was split up into two sessions, which had three mini-workshops to choose from. Dahlman and sociology professor Jacqueline Hogan led workshops, and Director of Student Activities Tom Coy led a presentation. Jennifer White, a representative from Caterpillar, and Bradley alumnus Cerilio Hurtado (’86) also hosted workshops.

According to junior actuarial science major Daniela Miranda, the conference was well-planned, especially considering it was the first time it was done.

“I think on campus we need to be more welcoming to people from all diverse backgrounds,” Miranda said. “When most people think of diversity, they think of race, and it’s not just race. It could be physical ability, age or sexual orientation.”

Miranda also said she’s interested in finding out what she can do to help those who are being discriminated against and to learn how to be more diverse.

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