University of North Texas: 12th Annual Equity & Diversity Conference

The 12th Annual Equity & Diversity Conference at the University of North Texas is designed to provide a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas for creating and sustaining cross-cultural understanding.

Conference participants include:

  • Student Leaders

  • Community-based agencies and organizations

  • Higher education professionals in areas such as student affairs, academic affairs, enrollment management, and human resources

  • Staff working with Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

  • Anyone looking to expand their knowledge and understanding of social justice issues and their impact on society today


Sponsored by: Equity & Diversity, Multicultural Center, Residence Life and North Texas Community College Consortium

Keynote Speaker:

Dan Savage

Originally known for his syndicated advice column Savage Love, Dan Savage is now a household name thanks to his It Gets Better video project on YouTube. The project, which has gained immense popularity since its creation in mid September, asks people to make and upload short positive videos about their experiences about the LGBT community. Millions have viewed the videos and participated so far, including President Barack Obama and entertainer Janet Jackson. Advertising Age has called It Gets Better one of the top social media campaigns of 2010. His new book, It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying and Creating a Life Worth Living, was released in March. In June, Savage won a Webby Special Achievement Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for the project.

"Dying is easy," says Savage. "Coming out is hard."

John Legend

John Legend is a nine-time Grammy Award winning recording artist, critically-acclaimed concert performer, philanthropist/social activist, and was named one of TIME MAGAZINE’s 100 Most Influential People. In 2007, Legend launched the Show Me Campaign, an initiative that uses education to break the cycle of poverty. John sits on the Boards of The Education Equality Project, Teach for America, Stand for Children and the Harlem Village Academies and co-chairs the Harlem Village Academies’ National Leadership Board. He is the national spokesperson for Management Leadership for Tomorrow, a non-profit organization that assists the next generation of minority business leaders. John was awarded the 2010 BET Humanitarian of the Year award, the CARE Humanitarian Award for Global Change in June 2009 and received the 2009 Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award from Africare. Most recently, John and the band The Roots released Wake Up! (2010), a compilation of music from the 60's and 70's all with an underlying theme of awareness, engagement and social consciousness which won two Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album and Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.