2014 Sioux Falls Diversity Conference--November 19, 2014 “Empowering Diversity Today for a Better Tomorrow” Sioux Falls Convention Center 7:30 am – 8:15 am: 8:15 am - 8:30 am: Conference Registration & Sponsor/Vendor Check-in Honor Guard/Presentation of Colors--Gordon Weston Lodge, Flandreau, SD 8:30 am – 8:45 am: Welcome & Introduction (Ballroom A) Juan Bonilla, President of Sioux Falls Diversity Council Evan Nolte, President & CEO, Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce 8:45 am - 10:00 am: Keynote Address—“Diversity and Inclusion through the Eyes of a General” Introduction by: Senior Master Sergeant Michael J. Clauson, SD Air National Guard Keynote Speaker: Major General Timothy A. Reisch – Adjutant General for South Dakota 10:00 am – 10:15 am: Break/Visit Vendor Booths 10:15 am – 11:45 am: Breakout Session One  (Meeting Room 3) Bullying in the Workplace-Melinda Olson, Prevention Resource Center/VOA Champion: Jenneil Watkins  (Meeting Room 6) Welcoming Our Transgender Family & Friends—Opening the Door-Terri Carlson, PFLAG     Champion: Verzella Bauman (Meeting Room 7) Mental Health Issues in the Workplace-Dr. Rajesh Singh, Psychiatrist, Sanford Champion: Carol Knudtson (Meeting Room 8) Did I Really Say That? Unconscious Bias-Diane Maeschen, VA and Mark Blackburn, Augustana College Champion: KaReeBo Adams (Meeting Room 9) Women Empowerment--Panel Champion: Kari Ann Boushee Darla Crown & Nilofar Meyer—Active/ SD National Guard Dr. Julie Ashworth—Augustana College Dr. Valerie Hearns—Sanford Paula Johnson—Retired Army Colonel (Meeting Room 10) Best Practices in a Diverse Community—Panel Champion: Stephanie Altamirano IMPRINT Program--Dr. Daniel Obaka, Sioux Falls Diversity Council Multi-Cultural Center –Christy Nicolaisen, Executive Director LSS Home Liaison Refuge & Immigrant Program—Deb Worth, Assistant Director Disability Issues-Vickie Kerkvliet, Assistant Director, Independent Living Choices Sioux Empire Homeless Coalition—Melanie Bliss, Director Spanish Immersion Program—Tracy Vik, Principal, Sioux Falls School District 11:45 am - 12:45 pm: Lunch & Luncheon Speaker (Ballroom A) “Immigration 101” - An Overview of the U. S. Immigration System in the Light of Core National, Human Rights, and Faith Based Values Introduction by: Rev. Jeanette Clark Presenter: Rev. John Guttermann 12:45 pm – 2:15 pm: Breakout Session Two  (Meeting Room 3) Bullying in the Workplace-Melinda Olson, Prevention Resource Center/VOA      Champion: Jenneil Watkins (Meeting Room 6) Racial, Ethnic and Religious Profiling of Immigrant Communities— Rev. John Guttermann Champion: Rev. Jeanette Clark (Meeting Room 7) Mental Health Issues in the Workplace-Dr. Rajesh Singh, Psychiatrist, Sanford Champion: Carol Knudtson (Meeting Room 8) Dakota Academy of Performing Arts--Plays for Living--Where does it end? Sara Crosby, Facilitator & Founder Champion: Sue Siemonsma (Meeting Room 9) Youth Perspectives on Diversity and Overcoming Adversity—Panel: Nikko McFadden, John Buay Tut, Alek Bol (South Sudan Youth Association) Champion: Moses Tut (Meeting Room 10) Native American Culture –Panel: Joe Circle Bear, Teri St. Pierre, George Eagleman, Stephanie Altamirano Champion: Melissa Buffalo 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm: Break, Visit Vendor Booths 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Breakout Session Three  (Meeting Room 3) Welcoming Our Transgender Family and Friends—Opening the Door-Terri Carlson, PFLAG Champion: Verzella Bauman  (Meeting Room 6) Native American Culture-Joe Circle Bear, Teri St. Pierre, George Eagleman, Stephanie Altamirano Champion: Melissa Buffalo  (Meeting Room 7) Understanding the Crisis in South Sudan—Panel Champion: Moses Tut Dr. Isaac Gang, PhD, Miyong Koun, and The Honorable Reath MouchTang  (Meeting Room 8) Did I Really Say That? Unconscious Bias—Diane Maeschen, VA and Mark Blackburn, Augustana College Champion: KaReeBo Adams  (Meeting Room 9) Women Empowerment--Panel Champion: Kari Ann Boushee Darla Crown & Nilofar Meyer—Active/ SD National Guard Dr. Julie Ashworth—Augustana College Dr. Valerie Hearns—Sanford Paula Johnson—Retired Army Colonel  (Meeting Room 10) Accommodations – Sacred Spaces, Safe Places in the Workplace-Panel Champion: Rev. Henry Scere II Buddhism & Judaism-Jen Wagner, SD Department of Corrections Christian-Dr. Warren Hoffman, First Baptist Church Native American Spirituality—Darryl Knight-Schafer, Sanford One Care Hindu—Dr. Chandradhar Dwivedi, SDSU Muslim-Taneeza Islam, Immigration Attorney 4:00 pm--4:15 pm: Next Steps--Economic Diversity/Calling up the Leader in Each of Us! Presenter: Kim Bartling, Creative Consulting/MESO Champion: Pam Bollinger 4:15 pm--4:30 pm: Complete Evaluations, Door Prizes Awarded (must be present to win) and Transition to Leadership Mixer/Chamber Ribbon Cutting—Sheraton Conference Center 4:30 pm--4:45 pm: Chamber Ribbon Cutting for SF Diversity Council-Sheraton Conference Center 4:45 pm--6:00 pm: Leadership Mixer, Door Prizes (must be present to win), Hors d’oeuvres, Refreshments & Brief Program: “Leadership Priorities--Embrace Diversity and Promote Inclusion” Introduction by: Maddie Gutierrez Presenters: Juan Bonilla, President--SF Diversity Council; Evan Nolte, President & CEO--Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, and Major General Timothy A. Reisch— Adjutant General for South Dakota— Sheraton Conference Center