The Inclusive Impact Conference returns to Michigan State University this July with a powerful message of reflection and renewal. Hosted at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center July 9–10, this year’s theme “Our Legacies: Art, Community and Healing” invites the community to explore what we inherit, what we create and how we heal together.
One participant described the inaugural conference in 2024 as an event that set the standard high for future conferences. Another noted, “The collective of DEIB practitioners in this region of the state have the potential to lead cutting-edge research and to provide service to the community. We could become a national role model.”
Now in its second year, the Inclusive Impact Conference is designed to bring together MSU faculty, staff and students with partners from local, statewide, national and global communities. The program features two days of keynote speakers, breakout sessions and networking that centers the values of equity, inclusion and belonging.
A platform for dialogue, learning and legacy
The 2025 conference kicks off Wednesday, July 9, at 6 p.m. with keynote speaker Matika Wilbur, a celebrated documentarian and enrolled citizen of the Swinomish and Tulalip Tribes. Wilbur is the founder of “Project 562,” an ambitious, years-long effort to photograph and uplift members of more than 500 sovereign Tribal Nations across North America. Her book of the same name debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and received wide acclaim for its powerful visual storytelling. A reception and meet-and-greet will follow Wilbur’s presentation in the Kellogg Auditorium.
On Thursday morning, July 10, Dr. Su’ad Abdul Khabeer will take the stage to open the day’s programming. A Brooklyn-born anthropologist, educator and artist, Abdul Khabeer is the author of “Muslim Cool: Race, Religion and Hip Hop in the United States” and the founder of Sapelo Square, a digital media collective on Black Muslim life. Her work explores the intersections of race, faith and culture, challenging dominant narratives while celebrating identity and resistance.
The closing keynote will feature Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington, a nationally recognized consultant and ordained minister known as “The Engagement Specialist.” As president and founder of the Washington Consulting Group, Washington has spent four decades helping institutions create spaces where people can thrive. His message combines leadership, community-building and radical care.
In addition to keynote sessions, the conference will feature several breakout offerings. Updates on presenters and programming will be shared via the Inclusive Impact Conference LinkedIn event page.Last year’s inaugural event drew nearly 300 participants and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Attendees praised the opportunity to build connections across roles, deepen understanding and reenergize inclusion efforts.
Session highlights
Plenary session: Mental health as a collective practice: Creative paths to healing and belonging
Through personal storytelling, guided reflection and collective witnessing, five speakers share how healing is shaped not only by individual resilience but by the art, relationships and legacies we build together.
Breakout session one: A journey to solidarity-navigating trust, lived experience and collective action
Alicia Edwards and Daniel Surratt invite you into a brave space for a candid conversation. These two professionals are excited to unpack and share their individual and collective journeys in equity work authentically.
Breakout session two: Resilience and empowerment: How the immigrant Latinx community is finding hope and courage in the midst of political trauma
Participants will engage with real stories, clinical insights and community-based strategies to better understand and accompany Latinx individuals and families during this critical time.
Breakout session three: Consciousness is a wound, and a gift
Through the practice of testimonios - spoken, written, visual or embodied - we’ll invite participants to give form to what they carry: truths, grief, resistance and memory.
Breakout session four: Welcoming through listening: Building community with circles of support
Join the Refugee Development Center, or RDC, a Lansing-based nonprofit serving thousands of newcomers each year as they share insights from their work at the RDC Newcomer Center and experience a mini simulated Circle of Support.
Breakout session five: Shaping narratives: Media relations' role in reducing harm
Participants will learn how to utilize the CREED Model, an evidence-based approach to addressing discrimination, to change deep-rooted individual beliefs toward everything ranging from race to criminal justice to mental health and beyond.
Breakout session six: Bettering our communities: A conversation with elected officials on what we can do
This session invites us to reimagine what’s possible when dialogue is grounded in empathy, transparency and a shared commitment to bettering our communities.
Breakout session seven: Catalysts o transformation: Empowering involvement and advocacy in our communities
Through a moderated discussion, this session will explore the power of grassroots involvement, the impact of community-driven advocacy and the practical steps individuals can take to influence policy, systems and social norms.
Registration and participation details
The Inclusive Impact Conference is open to MSU and the broader community. Registration includes access to the July 9 opening reception and keynote, as well as a full day of programming on July 10, including a breakfast buffet, lunch, breakout sessions and two keynote presentations.
- MSU Participant Cost: $100
- Non-MSU Participant Cost: $150
- After July 1: Fees increase to $125 (MSU) and $175 (non-MSU)
Registration closes July 1, or when capacity is reached. Early registration is strongly encouraged.
Register on Eventbrite
Sponsors
The 2025 Inclusive Impact Conference is sponsored by:
Platinum ($5000+)
Inclusive Campus Initiative
Gold ($3000+)
MSU Broad College of Business
MSU Office of the Provost
The Graduate School
MSU University Health & Wellbeing
Silver ($1000+)
MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
MSU College of Natural Sciences
MSU Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion
MSU International Studies & Programs
MSU Native American Institute
MSU Office of the Executive Vice President for Administration
If your unit, department or organization would like to contribute to this important event, please reach out to Inclusive Campus Initiative Director Meaghan Kozar at kozarmea@msu.edu.
