Summit on Social Consciousness
The Social Consciousness Summit is an annual event at ¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ University designed to focus our attention on important social issues that have special relevance to our students, faculty, staff, and community and provide opportunities to advance awareness, intelligent dialogue, and steps toward change. The previous dialogue included conversations around The Rwanda Genocide, Refugees and Immigration, Poverty, Justice, and COVID-19.
ANNUAL THEMES
2024: will run from February 29 to March 2, 2024. Each of the sessions will feature the screening of a video of individuals sharing their lived experiences at ¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ during the years 1960-1980s and will be followed by a panel discussion of experts that delve into the issues raised, celebrating our progress, while exploring growth opportunities. The Conference was sponsored by ¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ University and the Council of Independent Colleges (NetVUE).
2020: "." The panel discussion explored reasons for the racial and socioeconomic disparities that have come to light in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and what these disparities reveal about the inequities that predated this pandemic; how the pandemic has worsened those inequities; and the policies and practices we can advocate for to begin the process of addressing them. The summit was hosted by the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, Office of the Provost, Office of Research and Creative Scholarship, and Spectrum Lakeland Health.
2018:
2017:
2016: "#IamAU2." A storytelling event for all ethnicities. (AU Agenda Announcement)
2015: "A Conversation on Race and Justice in America." The Summit included a keynote address by Paul Buckley and a documentary screening of "The New Jim Crow." (AU Agenda Announcement; )
2014: "The Poor Next Door: Poverty in America." Rachel Wade, Bonnie Bazata, and Taurus Montgomery were among the featured speakers. Breakout session presenters included Lucy Randall and ¶·Å£ÆåÅÆ University faculty Joel Raveloharimisy, Twyla Smith, Nicholas Miller, and Sarah Kimakwa.
2013: "Human Sex Trafficking: The Sale of Innocence." Featured speakers included Abigail Kuzma, deputy attorney general for the state of Indiana, and Annie Lobert, founder of Hookers for Jesus. ()
2012: "Lessons from Rwanda." The first Summit featured Carl Wilkens, former ADRA director in Rwanda, as the keynote speaker. (AU Agenda Announcement; )