Participant Engagement

Calling all artists! This year’s 34th annual conference provides a platform for artists of all mediums to showcase creative expressions around the theme Solving For X: Tackling Inequities in a World of Unknowns.

Submissions can be made in the form of print, video or audio recording not to exceed seven minutes in duration. The deadline to submit your work is Friday March 11, 2022.

Submissions will be reviewed by committee and selected submissions notified by Monday, March 21, 2022. Artists selected will have the opportunity to attend the entirety of this year’s annual conference and be invited to share and talk about their work in a virtual showcase event Tuesday, April 5, 2022. Click the button below to begin the application process.

Compete in the Solving for X Challenge for a chance to showcase your most inventive thinking in the Day 2 General Session.

To solve for x means finding the value of x that would make the equation you see hold true. For example, solving for x in the equation x +1 =3 is simple. We know that 2 +1 = 3, therefore the value of x would be 2. While this rule works no matter what the equation, the work required to solve for x increases the more complex the equation or expression we are trying to prove.

Consider if you will that we are all solving to prove this expression: EQUITY is the solution to many of our world problems. Consider further in order to solve for x, we must first shift from seeing EQUITY as the problem to solving to EQUITY as the possible solution to many of our problems. By assuming EQUITY as constant, we can begin to examine the other variables in the equation. This is our challenge: solving for x means finding what our equation requires from us to prove EQUITY true.

Calling all Forum Community! What challenges are you most wanting to solve in 2022?

In a world of unforeseeable change, one thing is certain—those of us holding a core value of equity are driven to overcome the greatest barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion in our work and world.

In preparation for this year’s annual conference, we want to know what challenges you are grappling with to reach your DEI workplace goals? In other words, what inequities are you tackling to solve for the true expression of equity in your workplace?

We want to hear from you! Click the button below to begin and describe your greatest personal and/or professional 2022 DEI challenge in 30 words or less.

Selections from submissions received by March 11, 2022 will be shared with the Forum program design team, speakers and presenters and included in real-time Solving for X General Session debate and dialogue.

Leading up to conference week, registered conference participants will be invited to participate in several pre-conference challenges just for them! Once registered, watch your email for these weekly pre-conference challenges. Each challenge completed puts your name in a drawing for prize giveaways during conference week!

• Build Your Participant Profile—Add fun facts to your personal + professional participant profile (ppp). Each addition to your profile earns you points toward Forum prize giveaways during conference week.
  
• Top 5 List—Send us your recommendations of art, books, dance, film, music and plays you find most inspiring in the quest to Solve For X. All submissions will be considered as a potential Forum community offering during conference week.
• Life-Hacks: Digital Fatigue Busting Best Practices—Share your best tips and activities for sustaining wellness in your DEI practice. The most inventive ideas will be featured in the Marketplace Wellness Center—and oh yes, also win a prize!
• X marks the Spot—Post a picture of you holding your Forum “X” wherever you are in the world (“X” comes in hospitality box with registration).
• Tik Tok Challenge—An open invitation to pose Tik Tok Challenges to all registered conference participants. Awards will be given for challenges met with the most interest and engagement over the course of conference week.