Alliance for Community and Equity (ACE) Summit

Summit Information

1. Overview

   The University of Mount Union will host the Alliance for Community and Equity (ACE) Summit. This Summit focuses on building an inclusive community by overcoming inequities. The Summit provides an opportunity to discuss strategies, frameworks, and programs that can be implemented into action to enhance the climate and culture of institutions and organizations.

   The ACE Summit is open to any institution or organization that is striving to be an inclusive community – one  that is culturally aware, confronts bias, and critically reflects on practices, procedures, and policies toward identifying and changing existing inequities.  The ACE Summit will provide institutions and organizations with sessions that are grounded in equity and inclusion and provide learning strategies and tools that address the compelling issues we face as a democracy and as a global community.  Participants in the ACE Summit will leave with strategies for developing an environment that recognizes, navigates, and bridges gaps of inequities and creates opportunities to enhance diversity toward a more inclusive institution or organization where all constituents can belong.

   The Alliance for Community and Equity Summit will create space for conversations among educators, students, administrators, policymakers, and community members. We invite open dialogues that are civil and respectful and that promote the free exchange of ideas and practices that support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. ACE will inform us of our shared responsibility and commitment to develop systems, structures, and policies that are centered on building inclusive communities.

2. Support the Summit

   If you want to sponsor or support the Alliance for Equity and Community Summit, please click the link below. Please include any sponsorship details in the “additional comments/special instructions” section.

   Sponsor and Support

3. Call for Proposals

   Proposals may be designed for any of the following audiences: faculty, students, administrators, Board members, and/or community members. We invite proposals that explore the following questions and issues or any topics related broadly to the work of building inclusive communities: 

   • How to promote and bring awareness to fostering an inclusive community.
   • Using protocols to identify and discuss the impacts of building a community of inclusivity and equity within and around the educational community.
   • Strategies that can be used to help organizational constituents embrace an inclusive community.
   • How to build and structure systems through which individuals can examine practices, processes, and procedures to guide critical conversations and decision-making around equity and inclusivity.
   • Areas of focus for educational communities to collaborate and build strategic plans for fostering an inclusive community.

   
   Proposals for engaging and interactive sessions may include a range of formats: 

   • Individual presentations (to be organized into panels by the ACE Summit planning committee)
   • Panels (three or four individual presentations that are linked thematically) 
   • Roundtable discussions (interactive, facilitated discussion led by presenter/s)
   • Workshops on pedagogy, skills- and capacity-building, or practices of inclusion 

   
   Proposals are due by October 1, 2024. Submit your proposal using the button below.

   Submit a Proposal

4. Session Tracks

   Sessions selected for the summit will be organized into three concurrent tracks. 

   Student Track: Empowering Action for Inclusive Change in Co-curricular and Extra-curricular Activities (Athletics and Student Organizations)

   Educator Track: Building Inclusive Learning Environments (P-12 and Higher Education)

   Community Track: Focusing on Non-Profit/For Profit, Civic, and Healthcare Organizations Implementing Inclusive Policies, Procedures, and Practices

5. Session Details

   Presentation Options: In Person, Virtual, or Hybrid

   Time: 50 minutes in length

   Presentations: Will utilize the University of Mount Union’s accessible presentation template, which will be sent to presenters following proposal acceptance. All presentations will be submitted two weeks prior to the ACE Summit for review and approval.  When submitting your presentation proposal, please indicate if you are willing to present multiple sessions if needed. (This will be based on number of participants.)

   Note: Any presenter selecting a virtual or hybrid presentation must be comfortable navigating Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and all other technology-required tools.

   Materials and Handouts: The presenter is responsible for providing all electronic and/or hardcopies of supplemental materials including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other links for the presentation. 

   Technology: We will have your presentation loaded to a computer within the room so please make sure you send all materials that you will be using for your presentation.