2023 Inclusion Summit logo. Sept. 28-29,2023 Kansas City, MO
Collaboration logo's displayed include Center for Disability Inclusion, DI Consortium, NAAAP-KC and KC Chamber
Schedule graphic
September 28
Please Note: Final session titles may change prior to event.
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11:00 - Registration check-in through security
11:30 - Lunch (included in registration) 12:00 - Welcome 12:15 - Opening Keynote - Wesley Hamilton 1:15 - Break 1:30 - "Intersecting DEI & Data" |
2:30 - Break
2:45 - "Gaining Leadership Momentum to Ensure Sustainability" 3:45 - Break 4:00 - Closing Keynote - Karen Mills 5:30 - Networking Social |
Early Registration thru May 31
Venue Information
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2023 Inclusion Summit is hosted by
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City 1 Memorial Drive, Kansas City, Missouri 64108 Surface and covered parking available. Photo ID required for Security check-in, Virtual attendees will participate via Zoom |
Wide angle outside view of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
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Speaker Information
Opening Keynote - Wesley Hamilton |
Closing Keynote - Karen Mills |
Wesley Hamilton
Wesley Hamilton,
ADA & DEI Consultant; Inclusive Training Specialist and Founder of Disabled But Not Really Wesley Hamilton
Wesley Hamilton was born and raised on the east side of Kansas City, Mo., where it was difficult for a young African American male to find opportunity outside of the streets. By the age of 16, he became too much for his mother to handle (which was a common lifestyle for kids in his neighborhood) and moved out to be on his own. By the age of 22, he became a father to his daughter, Nevaeh. Two years later, at only 5-foot-4 and 230-pounds, Wes was non-athletic and vastly overweight as a single father, working full time at an auto finance company and had just won sole custody of his then 2-year-old daughter. But only 5 days after his 24th birthday (January of 2012), everything about Wes’s life changed dramatically. As he was walking back to his car, Wes was shot multiple times, with one bullet slicing through his chest and fracturing a rib. The other entered his abdomen, partially severing his spine and paralyzing him below the waist. The shooter was a guy he’d never met. Wes spent the next three years in recovery, which also included two of those years fighting the severe emotional depression that arose from his belief that his life would forever be bedeviled by medications, surgeries and limitations. But for the overwhelming love he had for his daughter, Wes knew he had to set an example for Nevaeh. He started down a path of taking ownership back in his life. He started a fitness and nutrition regiment, which was completely foreign to him – as he never ate healthy a day in his life, nor had any experience exercising. Wes learned everything he could about nutrition and started cooking (and now is known for his culinary skills). The fitness side of everything also took off, and in the first year lead him to lose 100 pounds – which is incredible, especially for a man who doesn’t have the use of his legs. He became a powerhouse of inspiration and felt his transformation had the potential to help others who are struggling similar battles, so he founded a non-profit called, Disabled But Not Really (DBNR). DBNR has helped so many individuals with disabilities (not just physical) to feel empowered and has helped so many lives overcome any mental limitations they may have – which is the driving force of the organization. The passion Wes has for DBNR is passion for DBNR is evident by its expansion. DBNR joins community events to raise awareness about the role of good mental and physical health in overcoming life’s challenges. It has expanded a scholarship program for disabled individuals who learn ways to improve their nutrition and fitness, as well as support the homeless population in his hometown of Kansas City providing dignity care packages, water, and food. Wes has been recognized many times for his entrepreneurial success, and has been honored with a number of philanthropic awards. Wes has also spent the past four years being recognized role-model in the Crossfit Community, winning a number of bodybuilding competitions, even being featured in Men’s Health Magazine climbing a rope with his wheelchair. He has had the opportunity to speak to many community groups, schools, universities, organizations and associations sharing his story and inspiring so many lives. He has a stack of hero letters from all ages thanking him for sharing his story. Wes transformed yet again when working with the Fab Five on Season 4 of the Netflix hit show, Queer Eye, who taught him how to be true to himself, leaving him humbled by the experience. Wes believes that the highest human act is to inspire – and knows that is his purpose in life. Morning Session - Announced Soon |
Karen Mills
Karen Mills,
Stand Up Comic and Inspirational Speaker Karen Mills
Karen Mills has been in the humor business for over 25 years. As a funny stand up comic, Karen has toured clubs, colleges and theaters across the country and she can be heard regularly on Sirius / XM Laugh USA and Blue Collar Radio. As an inspirational speaker, Karen Mills has been the keynote speaker at survivor events, fundraisers, and sports banquets and she has given commencement addresses. Karen has also been a speaker for TEDx events. Whether she is touring theaters with her comedy show or speaking at conferences, Karen Mills finds the funny in everyday life. That didn’t change when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Karen was determined to take on the disease with hope and humor. Now cancer free, she has been hailed for her ability to bring humor to difficult topics as she recently did when she spoke at the National Alliance for Ovarian Cancer in Washington, D.C. Karen Mills has faced every challenge with determination. For instance, she stands at 5’2” and was told more than once that she was too small to play basketball. Not only did she play, in 1981 she led the nation in assists and became the first, Division 1 first team All-American in UT- Chattanooga’s history. She was the first UTC athlete to earn that distinction in any sport, male or female. Her #12 uniform was retired and Karen became the first female inducted into UTC’s basketball Hall of Fame. Afternoon Session - Announced SoonNetworking Social at KCMBA Skyline PatioNetworking social immediately after closing
We're excited to partner with the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association for a fun Networking Social immediately following at KCMBA Headquarters.
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Skyline Patio
Thank you KCMBA for sponsoring this event!
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association logo
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Networking social immediately following. Stay tuned for details.
September 29
Please Note: Final session titles may change prior to event.
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7:30 - Check-in through security and Breakfast
8:00 - Welcome and opening remarks 8:15 - "Intersectionality and Mental Health" - Opening Keynote 9:15 - Break 9:30 - "Finding Purpose at the Intersection of Becoming & Belonging: A Personal Journey" - David Moore |
10:30 - Break
10:45 - "What Are the Benefits of Elevating Business/Employee Resource Groups Intersectionality? - ERG Consortium Panel 11:45 - Break 12:00 - "Micro-behaviors: Understanding, Harnessing and Leveraging the Power of the Unconscious Mind" - Michael Murray |
Opening Keynote - Announced Soon |
Closing Keynote - Michael Murray |
9:30 am Session
David Moore
David Moore
David moore
David Moore is the Senior Director of Programs for NAAAP, The National Association of Asian American Professionals. He is also a Production Designer at Hallmark Cards and has been with the company for 22 years, where he has held various positions at the Kansas City-based greeting card company, including Production Artist, Process Artist, and Multimedia Designer. David is involved with several Employee Resource Groups at Hallmark and was the 2015 and 2018 Chair of AARCH, Asian American Resource Community at Hallmark. David is also a member of Hallmark's Cultural Sensitivity Consultants, a team brought together to thoroughly consider diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across the business and build a culture of inclusion for employees and consumers. Before Hallmark, he was Operations Manager for Vanguard Airlines Reservations Center and served in the U.S. Army during Desert Storm. In addition to his duties at NAAAP National, David serves as Director of Marketing and Communications for NAAAP Kansas City and was the Program Director for the 2019 Leadership Convention in Kansas City, MO. David is also a founding member and past National Director of NAAAP Pride, a national program for the Asian American LGBTQ+ community, and is co-host of the Pride Talk podcast. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he has lived in various countries, including Spain and Germany. David loves to travel and is obsessed with live theatre. He recently returned to school to study his first passion for fashion design and presented his debut collection at Kansas City Fashion Week's 2022 Spring/Summer Runway Show. 10:45 am SessionERG Consortium Panel
As our socio-economic-cultural contexts shift within the U.S. (especially given the COVID-19 pandemic), and across the globe, organizations have employed different tactics to leverage ERGs/BRGs/affinity groups within their DEI strategies to foster and deepen a greater sense of inclusion and belonging in their workforce. Specifically, one key tenet of successfully leveraging Business and Employee Resource Groups for greater impact is to focus on cultivating these groups' inherently intersectional dimensions of being and programming. This panel is being presented by members of the D&I Consortium’s ERG cohort. The panel is comprised of DEI and B/ERG practitioners and professionals from various industries who will share their insights into the benefits and challenges of leveraging B/ERG intersectionality to elevate their employee's collaborative engagement, as well as the organization's impact in the marketplace and with client/customer and community relationships. |
Michael Murray
Michael Murray,
Disability Inclusion Leader/Consultant michael murray
Michael Murray’s lifelong drive for inclusion is fueled by his experience as a person with a learning disability and ADHD. Michael has a long history of fighting for full inclusion. Michael was the Chief Relationship Officer for GT Independence, a 400-million-dollar company supporting people with disabilities in the community. In his role, Michael managed business development, government relations, marketing, innovation and corporate social responsibility. Michael was also the Director of the Employer Policy at the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. Michael was also pivotal in the creation and implementation of increased regulations under section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requiring federal contractors to engage in affirmative action. Michael’s tenure in the federal Government also included serving as the Deputy Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. In this role, he drove highly successful government-wide workforce initiatives with various diverse communities. Michael was responsible for steering and designing the government-wide policies and programs of 56 federal agencies throughout the country to increase federal employment of individuals with disabilities. By fostering teamwork and collaboration, Michael led the federal government to successfully hire 100,000 people with disabilities over five years. Michael was also pivotal in the creation and implementation of increased regulations under section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, requiring the Federal government to be a model employer of people with disabilities. Before joining OPM, Michael was the Chief Operating Officer for the American Association of People with Disabilities, supporting private sector employers in creating innovative and high-performing teams. On the state level, Michael advocated for the rights of people with disabilities as the executive director of the North Carolina Disability Action Network. His vision for the organization and strength as a grassroots organizer amplified the voice of people with disabilities at the North Carolina General Assembly, producing positive systemic change. Michael also led efforts at Disability Rights N.C., a local center for independent living and as vice-chair of the North Carolina Statewide Independent Living Council. At the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he and his colleagues established Beyond Academics, now our nation’s largest post-secondary education program for people with intellectual disabilities. Michael is fluent in American Sign Language and holds a Bachelor of Science in special education. Michael is a proud husband and has two amazing kids, Isaac and Ellie. |
Early Registration thru May 31
For questions contact Brenda at bperkins@centerfordisabilityinclusion.org
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