DRT SUMMIT AIMS FOR RESPECTUFL COMMUNICATION, UNDERSTANDING & CONNECTIONS

BY GREG LINDBERG

For more than a decade now, the DRT Summit has brought together community members, organizations and civic and business leaders to explore issues of diversity, inclusion and connections.

“The DRT Summit is now in its 12th year and has been a biennial tradition since 2003,” says Steph Rambo, Summit Committee co-chair. “The theme of each Summit differs from year to year but traditionally brings in a speaker that has enriched the community’s knowledge and offered an opportunity for community networking and skill-building.”

The theme of this year’s event is a spotlight on the empathetic traits in harnessing a strong culture of inclusion. Guest speaker Kwame Christian, Esq., M.A., will incorporate this message and lead the discussion on how various conflicts can confidently be challenged and embraced through compassion.

The DRT Summit in Lafayette is dedicated to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion within the community. Launched in 2003 following a community visioning project called Vision 2020, the first Summit was held in April of that year. This led to the establishment of the DRT Summit. Since then, the DRT has met monthly, and organizers have held the Summit every two years, marking its 10th Summit in 2021.

The DRT operates as a committee under Greater Lafayette Commerce, providing leadership and promoting strategies to achieve a culture that values diversity. Its mission focuses on encouraging access, equity and respect for all, addressing conditions of prejudice and discrimination within the community.

This year’s committee consists of Steph Rambo; Katy Travis, Summit Committee co-chair; and Ebony Barrett, DRT Steering Committee Liaison. Every team member works to provide an engaging and impactful event full of problem solving techniques to better enhance communication between all constituents throughout Greater Lafayette.

Barrett says, “Every Summit has had a different flavor to it. This is what makes the DRT Summit so special. We truly are inviting people from all walks of life to lead, participate and discuss what is most important when we think about cultivating a culture of inclusion in the Greater Lafayette community.”

She continues, “The main takeaway is connection. Attendees can meet others to connect their passion and work. There is information and resource sharing ultimately resulting in collaboration. We have seen spinoffs of groups that continue their conversations and move into action.”

This year’s DRT Summit is scheduled for Thursday, April 24. The event aims to bring together business leaders, nonprofit leaders, community volunteers and advocates to create spaces where every voice is heard, respected and valued. Featured speaker Kwame Christian will set the tone by inspiring attendees to embrace compassionate curiosity and engage in meaningful conversations about diversity and inclusion.

Christian is a renowned author, business lawyer and the CEO of the American Negotiation Institute (ANI). His TEDx-Dayton talk gained viral attention, paving the way for the release of his best-selling book, “Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life,” in 2018. In addition to his writing, Kwame contributes regularly to Forbes and hosts the globally popular podcast Negotiate Anything, which has surpassed five million downloads. Under his leadership, ANI has helped numerous Fortune 500 companies master negotiation techniques to drive corporate success.

Christian’s accomplishments have been widely recognized. He received the John Glenn College of Public Affairs Young Alumni Achievement Award in 2020 and the Moritz College of Law Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award in 2021 — making him the only person in The Ohio State University’s history to earn consecutive alumni awards from both the law school and the Master of Public Affairs program. Rambo says of the Summit, “We are fortunate to live in a community where our leaders appreciate the rich diversity of Greater Lafayette and actively engage in meaningful conversations to create a stronger, more inclusive future.”

When looking at future summits, Rambo says the committee would like to see, “the meaningful connections and initiatives made at the 2025 Summit build, and for future summits to support those gains.”

Learning objectives for the 2025 Summit include developing skills for respectful communication, gaining practical tools to foster inclusive environments, understanding the importance of compassionate curiosity, overcoming the fear of misspeaking and empowering leaders to inspire positive change. The event also offers donation options to make it more accessible, supporting student-priced tickets and providing financial assistance to those in need.

Rambo says this year’s Summit will draw in community partners, such as the United Way, that will be able to use the Summit to build on initiatives and conversations those organizations are already having. Through these summits and ongoing initiatives, the DRT and Greater Lafayette Commerce continue to work toward inclusion by encouraging access, equity and respect for all members of the Greater Lafayette community.

For more information, go to greaterlafayettecommerce.com. ★