This fall, a teachable moment reminded us that we must remain diligent to make diversity and inclusion a conscious decision in order to create a welcoming campus climate. Our brave and outspoken students keep us honest on our progress toward the goals we've set and values we espouse. Our goal is to do better, and we'll keep pushing the many ways we've begun that journey until the outcome measures up to the intent.

One of those ways is our 2019 Diversity Forum on November 5 and 6 at Union South, where keynote speaker John Quiñones, ABC News veteran and host of the news series 'What Would You Do?' will discuss education, access and success. Quiñones will talk about his journey from being a migrant family worker to opportunities through education - being an Upward Bound student, going into journalism - to achieving the American dream in the keynote address "A 20/20 Vision for America: Building Bridges, Not Walls." 

Along with his own experience as an American of Mexican heritage, the focus of Quiñones television series, which features unsuspecting subjects' public reaction to staged ethical situations, will set the tone for our discussion, workshops and panels. We're going to examine ethics and diversity in contemporary times both on campus and in America. Register today, or find out more about what this year's Diversity Forum will offer on our events page. Diversity Forum 2019 is free and open to the public

We received more than 50 nominations for the 2019 cohort of Outstanding Women of Color Awards. This year's awardees will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the annual Diversity Forum. 

Nearly 250 participants took part in the annual Leadership In the New Economy (LINE) event, where we bring alumni and community leaders to meet and mentor DDEEA Scholars through exposure to post-graduation opportunities during homecoming week. Business expert and entrepreneur Thomas K.R. Stovall led a Think Tank-style workshop "Igniting an Entrepreneurial Mindset," rapid-fire exercises on how to turn intention into action when starting a business.

We were delighted to see so many alumni of color return to campus for homecoming activities of all types, including the 50th anniversary of Delta Sigma Theta , the 50th anniversary of Omega Psi Phi and the 40th anniversary of Phi Beta Sigma. We are Wisconsin, and that's not new.

In community,

Sofía Snow, a member of the 2007 inaugural cohort of UW–Madison’s groundbreaking First Wave Hip Hop and Urban Arts scholarship program, is returning to campus to lead the program she says changed her life.

Snow was appointed the new director of the  Office of Multicultural Arts Initiatives , which administers the First Wave scholarship program, on Oct. 15. She is returning to Madison after serving as executive director of Urban Word NYC.

“I want to take everything I’ve learned over the last few years and apply it to a community that gave me so much.” - Sof í a Snow