Georgia Tech’s Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (IDEI) is proud to present the 15th annual Diversity Symposium, taking place at the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center on Wednesday, September 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The 2023 theme is “This Land before Georgia Tech: Exploration of Indigenous Histories and Knowledge.”  

Throughout history, Georgia has been a state that has profoundly benefitted from the contributions of indigenous peoples. The 2023 Diversity Symposium will include multiple enlightening sessions and bring together leaders, scholars, and activists who will delve into the depths of indigenous knowledge systems. We invite you to join and engage in thought-provoking discussions on the intersectionality of indigenous cultures, sharing their deep-rooted connection to the land and the ongoing struggles they face. 
 

The symposium will feature the following panel discussions and sessions with Georgia Tech-affiliated and external speakers:  

• Reclamation of Gender Variance: Finding Power and Progress in Cyclical Political Climates;  

• Reclaiming Native American Places in Public Spaces; 

• Empathy & Cultural Competency: Building an Intertribal Community in an Academic Environment with remarks from Santee Frazier, M.F.A., Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing at St. Lawrence University. 

• Student project presentations inspired by a field trip to the Etowah Indian Mounds in Bartow County, Georgia. 

The event will conclude with a powerful keynote address from James F. Brooks, Ph.D.: “Reclaiming Athens’ Indigenous Past & Present: Consultation & Collaboration.” Brooks will discuss the recent installation of four interpretive banners in the Historic Athens Visitor Center, and he will describe the consultative and collaborative process his team enjoyed with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians at Quallah Boundary and the Muskogee Nation in Oklahoma. 

A long-standing, significant component of the symposium, the Diversity Champion Awards will honor Georgia Tech community members for advancing principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the Institute.  

To sign up or learn more about the symposium, visit http://diversity.gatech.edu/news-and-events/diversity-symposium.