Inaugural Poole Pride Conference Focuses on Education, Empowerment

The NC State Poole College of Management is holding its inaugural Poole Pride Conference on Friday, March 1, from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Conference sessions will be held in classrooms on the first floor of Nelson Hall, with a luncheon in the Nelson Hall Student Commons, adjacent to Port City Java on the second floor. There is no charge to attend, but reservations are required? View here for registration and other details. 

“The goal of this conference is to bring together professionals and undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in learning more about and supporting the LGBTQ+ community on campus and in the workplace,” said Tayah Butler, director of diversity and inclusion at Poole College. Paige Patton, an NC State graduate student in higher education administration and a Poole College diversity and inclusion graduate assistant, collaborated with Butler in developing this event.

VF Corporation is the signature sponsor for this conference, and the Raleigh LGBT Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the hospitality room available during the conference. For additional sponsorship opportunities, contact Butler by email at trbutler@ncsu.edu.

The conference has two workshop themes.

• The Path to Empowerment includes a combination of self-empowerment workshops and informal meetings for those individuals who identify on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and will serve as a safe place to discuss various “in group” experiences. Topics of discussion in “meet-ups” may include dressing for enby (non-binary) success and current trends in inclusive LGBTQIA policies and practices in the workplace. VF Corporation is the signature sponsor for this tract.
• The Path to Allyship provides attendees who identify as allies and advocates of the community to delve into more information and tips on how to support the LGBTQIA community.

GENERAL EVENTS

Following is the workshop schedule, with presenters from the Raleigh area, including NC State University, and Georgia College.

12:30 p.m. | Pop-up Lunch: Indulge Catering, Nelson Hall Student Commons, second floor, adjacent to Port City Java

1:45 p.m.   | Welcome: First Floor Graduate Lounge, Nelson Hall. First floor lounge safe space hosted by

5:00 p.m.   | Closing remarks, Nelson Hall Graduate Student Lounge,

View details below for Path to Empowerment and Path to Allyship sessions.

PATH TO EMPOWERMENT

2:05 p.m.   | Meet-up Time: Marie Baker, Edward Jones representative

2:35 p.m.   | Sense of Self: Adrienne Michelle, licensed marriage and family therapist, Raleigh

3:25 p.m.   | Meet-up Time: Jeremie Wade, John Deere representative

4:00 p.m.   | LGBT Legal Issues and Rights: Joanna Schwartz, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing, Georgia College

PATH TO ALLYSHIP

2:05 p.m.   | Safe Zone: NC State GLBT Center

2:50 p.m.   | Break

3:00 p.m.   | Non Binary/Trans Inclusion: Joanna Schwartz, Ph.D., Professor of Marketing, Georgia College

3:45 p.m.   | Break

4:00 p.m.   | Cisgender Privilege: NC State GLBT Center, location

4:45 p.m.   | Break