Colorado State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences is launching a new, interactive event designed to foster a more inclusive community.

As a way to evolve the experience of its students, faculty and staff, the college is hosting “Come to the Table! Building an Inclusive and Equitable College” on Jan. 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lory Student Center.

The event, open to all members of the college, features informative panel discussions and workshops.

Exploring opportunities for growth

Billed as a “collaborative and welcoming learning experience for everyone within the College of Agricultural Sciences,” the event is one of a few new steps the college is taking to foster a more inclusive culture while acknowledging that more work needs to be done.

“The ‘Come to the Table’ event is exciting because we are bringing together both faculty, students, and staff for a full day to both share our vision and direction for the College of Agricultural Science as well as listen on how we can work together,” says Elias Quiñonez, manager of student life and diversity for the college. “We cannot effectively advance our efforts in building a more socially-just, diverse and inclusive community without listening and learning and valuing each other. My hope is that each of us leave this event, inspired, empowered, valued, and invested.”

The event kicks off with the keynote address “Beginning the Journey” by Nita Mosby Tyler, chief catalyst at the Denver-based Equity Projects, a firm specializing in all-things diversity, equity and inclusion.

Following the keynote, a facilitated discussion — led by Shannon Archibeque-Engle, assistant vice president for strategic initiatives and assessment in the Office of the Vice President for Diversity — will focus on how to build a more equitable and inclusive community in the agriculture industry.

The event also will offer a few interactive and intimate opportunities for attendees. The afternoon session features workshops for students and a separate set of workshops for faculty and staff.

Students can participate in a bias awareness workshop, which helps individuals recognize their conscious and unconscious biases, as well as a workshop that deals with communicating across differences. Faculty and staff will have opportunities to participate in workshops dealing with social identities and how contemporary agricultural values and identities shape the industry.

Principles of community and shared values

This event, the first of its kind for the College of Agricultural Sciences, is in the spirit of CSU’s Principles of Community, as well as the college’s shared values. More on the topic can be found at the college’s Diversity and Inclusion webpage.  To find out about more events like this in the future, visit the college’s events page.