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October 1, 2020
For Immediate Release
Registration for the Fifth Annual Ottawa County Diversity Forum is now open. The forum, to be held virtually this year, is scheduled for October 20 from 8:15AM to 3PM. The online forum is limited to the first 300 registrants and the cost is $25. Visit www.miOttawa.org to register. Registration closes on October 16.
Ottawa County's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office and Cultural Intelligence Committee partnered with the City of Holland to organize the event. Presentations include Advancing Racial Equity, The Role of Government from the Government Alliance for Racial Equity (GARE) and a session on Health Equity in the wake of COVID-19 from the Ottawa County Department of Public Health.
“This year, our planning team had an opportunity to hear from over 200 residents, past diversity forum participants and those following the work of the DEI Office. Their feedback helped inform us of the topics that would be the most valuable right now; especially in the backdrop of all our communities are facing today. After seeing the results, it was clear that we needed to bring in a long standing partner with the County, GARE, and address health equity with our very own experts in the field,” said Robyn Afrik, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The second annual Equity Award will also be presented to a community member. The Equity Award is presented annually to an individual who impacts the public sector field in Ottawa County and focuses on the importance of equity through their practices, programs, policies and decision
making.
The County began its Cultural Intelligence initiative in 2013 with the formation of an internal committee tasked with educating employees, hosting an annual forum and getting more involved in community diversity initiatives. In 2018, Ottawa County established its first official Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office. For more information about diversity and equity projects, visit www.miottawa.org/Departments/Diversity/
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