The iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3) will host the first annual BUILD Summit: Building Inclusion, Leadership, & Diversity at the University of Pittsburgh School of Computing and Information on July 13, 2018. The
goal of the BUILD Summit is to bring together representatives from higher education, philanthropic organizations, government, and industry to promote inclusion, leadership, and diversity in the fields of information and computing. Attendees will be able to:
- Connect with members of the philanthropic and government funding communities to discuss strategic goals and priorities
- Discuss research and collaboration opportunities with faculty and researchers
- Network with and recruit students for graduate study, internships, and full-time positions
- Create long-lasting communities of individuals committed to promoting diversity and inclusion
The 2018 BUILD Summit is organized by the iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3) in partnership with:
From “bolted-on” to “built-in”: The BUILD Summit highlights the need to build successful diversity initiatives into organizations. As former UPMC and current Twitter VP of Diversity and Inclusion Candi Castleberry-Singleton points out, “…emerging research suggests, the key to progress is to identify and leave behind practices such as bolt-on diversity training and hiring — which increase tension — and do more with those, such as relationship building and truly integrated inclusion management, that enhance liking and a commitment to change.” A “built-in” approach, however, dismantles diversity efforts that are supplemental or experienced by general employees as something “extra” and instead integrates diversity into the core business practices and very identity of corporate and academic institutions. The BUILD Summit serves as a forum for participants to learn, connect, and collaboratively transition from “bolted-on” to “built-in” approaches to inclusion.
The BUILD Summit transforms what has previously been the i3 closing ceremony where i3 scholars present their year-long research, into a summit inviting multiple stakeholders to the table to address large-scale challenges and opportunities surrounding diversity and inclusion in computing and information. SCI has empirically evaluated successful interventions in this space and this summit provides an opportunity to lead the charge.