OPEN DOORS: A conversation about the dynamics of difference

The world in which we live and work today is increasingly diverse. We all want to be treated with respect, valued and welcomed in our environment --- be it the neighborhood in which we live or the office in which we work. S.T.A.R., The Spirit of Tolerance and Art in the Region, a subgroup of Creative Connectors, invites you to our first Open Doors event to discuss and examine the broad range of differences that can strengthen a community rather than weaken it. We envision a community under one umbrella that goes beyond tolerance of difference to one of inclusive excellence and community engagement. An area?s success is dependent upon how fully it values, engages, and includes the rich diversity of its citizens. S.T.A.R. is one of four initiatives from the Creative Community Leadership Project (CCLP) in cooperation with the City of Roanoke and the Creative Class Group. The CCLP?s methods and goals were developed around the creative class theory pioneered by Richard Florida, one of the world?s leading public intellectuals on economic competitiveness and the author of the best selling books, The Rise of the Creative Class and Who?s Your City. Our team is made up of a group of citizens from the Roanoke and New River Valleys who have voluntarily come together to increase our community?s knowledge and understanding of our diverse society. Join us for this interactive discussion as we seek a broader and deeper understanding of the nature and impact of difference, gain insight into subtle biases and assumptions in language and behavior, and reflect on our ability to live and communicate effectively with difference. Susanna Rinehart, Director of Education for Diversity and Inclusion in the Office of Equity and Inclusion at Virginia Tech, will facilitate this spirited conversation. Rinehart is responsible for providing leadership, vision, and direction to the development, coordination, and facilitation of a broad range of programs and initiatives designed to expand Virginia Tech?s commitment to being an inclusive, diverse, and engaged learning, living, and working environment --- including the creation of a diversity development institute for faculty and staff. The event is free, open to the public, and the first in a series. The next two conversations are scheduled for Thursday, February 11, 2010, at the Claude Moore Center in Roanoke, and on Thursday, April 29, 2010, at the Blue 5 Restaurant in Roanoke.