Virginia Inclusion Summit

The 2026 conference will be held in person at The Westin Richmond (6631 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230).

Registration opens on May 1, 2026 and can be completed via this website when available (scroll down).

Hotel Reservations

Stay at The Westin Richmond for a special conference rate of $175 per night, available Wednesday, September 2 and/or Thursday, September 3. The special rate expires on August 13, 2026 or when capacity is reached.

To book the group rate, call 1-888-627-7789 and reference is Virginia Inclusion Summit 2026.

Building Belonging: DEI Practitioners | Jonathan C. Zur

This interactive Learning Lab invites participants into a safe and brave space designed specifically for DEI practitioners to pause, connect, and deepen our shared practice of building belonging. Attendees will exchange real-world experiences, identify best practices, and explore practical frameworks that support belonging at individual, team, and organizational levels. Through facilitated dialogue and peer learning, we will work through common challenges and tensions faced in DEI work today. Expect honest conversation, collective problem-solving, and renewed connection to the community that sustains this work.

Facilitator: 

Jonathan C. Zur is President & CEO of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, business, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. Under Jonathan’s leadership, VCIC has quadrupled the size of the staff, tripled the size of the budget, and the number of programs the organization delivers annually increased by 3,000%. Additionally, VCIC has been recognized locally and nationally for its effectiveness. An experienced facilitator and consultant, Jonathan was appointed by the Governor of Virginia to the Commonwealth Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, formed in the aftermath of the tragedy in Charlottesville in August 2017. In 2016, Jonathan was a speaker at the inaugural White House Summit on Diversity and Inclusion in Government. He earned his B.A. from the University of Richmond and he received a Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University.

Building Belonging: Human Resources Professionals | Charm Bullard

Building belonging requires more than good intentions – It demands thoughtful action. This interactive Learning Lab invites Human Resources professionals to explore their unique role as organizational leaders that foster belonging. Participants will examine how everyday HR practices can either reinforce harm or strengthen belonging. Through real-world scenarios, reflection, and practical tools, this session equips HR leaders to intervene with confidence, support employees, and foster cultures where accountability, dignity, and inclusion are actively practiced.

Facilitator: 

Charm Bullard, M. Ed., serves as the Senior Advisor to the CEO at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC). In her role, Charm designs and facilitates educational programs focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion for institutions across Virginia, with a specialization in workplace and community programs. Since joining VCIC in 2016, Charm has successfully conducted over 1,000 workshops across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Her facilitation is distinguished by her warmth and humor, making complex DEI concepts accessible and engaging. As a certified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Qualified Administrator, Charm guides organizations in assessing and improving their intercultural competence. Charm holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Lander University and a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia.

Building Belonging: Individual Contributors | Meagan Starks

This interactive Learning Lab centers on how individual contributors can help build workplace belonging through everyday actions. Participants will engage in guided reflection, discussion, and practical exercises that explore how belonging shows up in daily work experiences. The session will emphasize shared learning and real-world scenarios. Attendees will leave with practical strategies they can apply immediately to strengthen connection, respect, and inclusion within their teams and broader workplace.

Facilitator: 

Meagan Starks is the Director of Hampton Roads Programs at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC), an organization that works with schools, businesses, and communities to achieve success through inclusion. In her role, Meagan designs, coordinates, and facilitates programs and events on diversity, equity, and inclusion in Hampton Roads (to include the Virginia Peninsula and Tidewater regions). Prior to joining VCIC, Meagan spent over 17 years teaching K-12 Spanish in both public and private institutions. She worked closely with school administrators to promote a culture of belonging and understanding amongst faculty and students. Meagan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Old Dominion University, as well as a Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.

Building Belonging: Supervisors | Jessica Hawthorne

Belonging plays a direct role in team performance, engagement, and retention which in turn contribute directly to organizational success. When employees feel they belong, they are more connected, motivated, and able to perform at their best. In this Learning Lab, managers and supervisors will examine practical, actionable strategies they can apply in their day-to-day leadership – such as inclusive policies, team practices, and workplace programs – to strengthen belonging across their teams. In addition, they will explore ways to motivate their employees to contribute to belonging efforts.

Facilitator: 

Jessica Hawthorne is Vice President of Programs at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, where she designs and facilitates programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion for institutions across Virginia. Jessica first engaged with VCIC as a volunteer for youth forums and as a community facilitator for the Unpacking the Census program. In her time at VCIC, she has delivered over 1,200 programs and events. Currently, she guides the program staff team across sectors and leads VCIC’s program evaluation efforts. In the community, Jessica has served on the faculty of the Koinonia School for Race and Justice at Richmond Hill, and she was a member of both the Juvenile Justice Collaborative Youth Violence Prevention Workgroup. Jessica received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in Religious Studies, concentrating in African Religions and Islam. She also earned a Master of Theological Studies from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Building Neuroinclusive Workplaces: Fix Your Process, Not Your People | Grant Harris

Better Systems. Different Minds. Stronger Performance. How organizations build environments that recognize different thinking styles, reduce drag, and perform better under pressure. This workshop introduces organizations to Fix Your Process, Not Your People, a human-centered approach for workplaces where the same problems keep showing up across teams, roles, and functions. In complex environments, repeated breakdowns are often not talent problems first. They are process problems hiding in plain sight. Using Friction to Flow, Grant shows leaders how work design can create drag, distort performance, and reward comfort over capability.

Facilitator:

Grant Harris is a globally recognized neuroinclusive performance strategist and speaker who shifts organizations from friction to flow by fixing their process, not their people, so they can save time, keep talent, and deliver value by redesigning how work gets done at scale. Grant’s work starts with a simple truth: most performance challenges aren’t people problems; they’re process problems. Through a human-centered performance lens, he shows how everyday systems, meetings, roles, decision-making, and expectations either enable execution or quietly undermine it. His work gives people leaders clarity about what’s breaking down, why it’s happening, and what to fix first. As a late-diagnosed autistic person, author, introvert, and certified diversity executive, Grant brings both lived experience and enterprise-level rigor to his work with clients.

Inclusive Workplaces for All Ages: Managing People, Not Generations | Erica Coffey

This interactive workshop considers the needs of every age group. By shifting the focus from birth years to shared human expectations, we can build more cohesive teams. You will engage in a personal reflection exercise to bridge gaps across different life stages and participate in roundtable discussions to solve real-world friction. Participants will leave with practical strategies to foster an inclusive, age-integrated culture that values the contributions and unique perspectives of every professional.

Facilitator:

Erica Coffey is a seasoned professional and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practitioner with over 20 years of experience in teaching, coaching, and administration. She specializes in fostering inclusive and equitable environments. She is committed to fostering a workplace where people can bring their best selves. Erica believes that meaningful progress starts with thoughtful dialogue and asking the right questions. Committed to listening and facilitating impactful conversations, she partners with organizations including schools, businesses, and nonprofits to cultivate cultures that prioritize equity, inclusion, and lasting change. Her work focuses on creating inclusive spaces where individuals feel valued, heard, and empowered.

Supporting Immigrant Employees in the Workplace | Tanya González

This workshop is designed for employers and supervisors aiming to foster an inclusive workplace for immigrant employees. The facilitator will share her experience having previously led teams of diverse, multilingual staff over the last 20+ years. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore key challenges, practical strategies for communication and inclusion, and tools to help you support immigrant staff, giving you the tools to create a more equitable workplace.

Facilitator:

Tanya González is a Senior Policy Advisor with Richmond Memorial Health Foundation (RMHF), specializing in strategic policy guidance to local governments, community-based organizations, and nonprofit partners working at the intersection of immigration, newcomer services, and health and racial/ethnic equity. Previously, Tanya served as the Executive Director of the Sacred Heart Center for nearly a decade, where she led a team committed to connecting Latino families with the tools they need to thrive and flourish. Before that, she served as the manager of the City of Richmond’s Office of Multicultural Affairs for 12 years. Tanya grew up on the Texas-Mexican border and has lived in Richmond for just over 30 years. She is active in the community and has been appointed or elected to a wide variety of boards and commissions. Ms. González is a graduate of Leadership Metro Richmond and the Connecting Communities Fellowship Program, as well as the Minority Political Leadership Institute. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Latin American Studies from Brown University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Considerations After Incidents of Bias | Tally Botzer

Whether we have personally experienced it or witnessed it from the sidelines, most of us have felt the disruptive ripple effect of a bias incident in the workplace. This session offers a streamlined roadmap for navigating the critical moments following an incident, exploring how to move beyond immediate crisis management to prioritize the psychological safety of impacted employees and the stability of the team. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding for balancing necessary accountability with the intentional care required to maintain an inclusive culture.

Facilitator:

Tally Botzer (she/they) is a lifelong learner and career educator with over a decade of experience in public and nonprofit service in Virginia. Throughout their previous work as a classroom teacher, Civil War museum educator, and VCIC program director, Tally has been steered by her commitment to equity and justice. In their current role at the Virginia Community College System, she works to support faculty and staff across all 23 colleges to ensure they have the skills and expertise to help all students achieve their goals. Tally earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Constructive and Inclusive Dialogue | TBA

This interactive workshop explores how to engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue across differences of perspective, identity, and experience. Participants will learn practical strategies for listening with curiosity, communicating with clarity, and navigating disagreement without defensiveness or harm. Through guided activities and real-world scenarios, the session will identify skills that foster trust, mutual understanding, and shared problem-solving. Attendees will leave with tools they can immediately apply to support more respectful and productive conversations.

Facilitator:

TBA

Exploring VCIC’s Day After Guide for Workplaces | Amanda Hurwitt

In this interactive session, participants will be introduced to VCIC’s Day After Election Guide for Workplaces to explore resources for supporting employees and colleagues after major events. The key message of the Day After Guide is that an institution’s plan for the day after a major event should actually be its plan for the entire year. Participants will explore how ongoing professional development, communication, and institutional plans can clearly establish and reinforce expectations about how to show respect for one another and how to explore controversial or difficult subjects.

Facilitator:

Amanda Hurwitt is Community Programs Coordinator at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC). In her role, Amanda designs, coordinates, delivers, and evaluates diversity and inclusion programs primarily for nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and community coalitions throughout Virginia. Prior to joining VCIC, Amanda worked in public education as an English as a Second Language teacher and Exceptional Education assistant. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Modern Foreign Languages from James Madison University and attended Old Dominion University to receive her Virginia teaching license.

The Closing Conversation brings together distinguished leaders from business, government, and higher education to reflect on the lessons they have learned advancing diversity and inclusion across sectors. Participants will discuss why inclusive leadership matters more than ever, particularly amid social, economic, and political complexity, and how values-driven decision-making can strengthen organizations and communities. Through candid conversation and real-world examples, speakers will explore practical strategies for sustaining inclusion efforts, engaging stakeholders, and leading through resistance and uncertainty. The session will challenge attendees to consider their own leadership roles and leave with actionable insights for advancing inclusion in their work and communities.

Panelists:

John Asbury is Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Union Bank. His career has taken him coast to coast. Before joining Atlantic Union Bank, he served as President and CEO of First National Bank of Santa Fe, a multi-state bank operating in New Mexico and Colorado. Prior to that, he was Senior Executive Vice President and Head of the Business Services Group at Regions Financial Corporation. Mr. Asbury also spent 17 years at Bank of America, ultimately serving as the Pacific Northwest Region Executive for Business Banking in Seattle, WA. Beyond his work at the bank, Mr. Asbury serves as Chair of the American Bankers Association as well as Virginia Learns, and he previously chaired both the Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America and the Virginia Bankers Association. He also sits on several nonprofit boards, including the Virginia Port Authority and the Greater Richmond Partnership. Mr. Asbury earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from Virginia Tech, and an MBA from The College of William and Mary.

Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon is the ninth president of Virginia Peninsula Community College. She has led the college through financial recovery, enrollment growth, major capital projects, and cultural change. Her leadership has been characterized by bold vision, fiscal discipline, and a relentless focus on results. She is equally skilled in navigating policy landscapes, building cross-sector partnerships, and telling the story of impact to unlock new investments. Dr. Brannon’s higher education tenure includes over 25 years in leadership, change management, organizational development, policy design, fundraising, instruction, and the provision of direct support to students at a diverse array of public and private colleges and universities. She previously served in leadership roles at Mitchell Community College, LaGuardia Community College, Berkeley College, among other institutions.  She earned her doctorate degree in Executive Leadership, Administration, and Policy from Fordham University, a master’s degree in education, and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from St. John’s University. She is one of 25 community college leaders in the 2026-27 cohort of the Aspen Presidents Fellowship.

The Honorable Dr. Sesha Joi Moon is the Chief Diversity Officer and Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the Commonwealth of Virginia, serving as a Cabinet Secretary for Governor Abigail Spanberger. Her prior roles include Chief Impact Officer for Girl Scouts USA, Chief Diversity Officer for the National Institute of Standards & Technology at the U.S. Department of Commerce – and most notably, Chief Diversity Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives during the 117th & 118th Congresses. Dr. Moon is Co-Founder of The JXN Project, which has been documented by TIME, The Washington Post, and 2021 Pulitzer Prize winning Richmond Times-Dispatch. In addition to executive education programs at Harvard University, Dr. Moon earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy from Old Dominion University, as well as a B.A. and M.S. from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University – receiving the VCU Black History in the Making Award and VCU Alumni Stars Award while becoming the first Black queer woman to establish an endowed scholarship fund in university history.

Moderator:

Reginald E. Gordon, Esq. is President and Chief Executive Officer of Richmond Memorial Health Foundation. His career has included leadership roles as the first Executive Director of Homeward in 1998, Executive Director of William Byrd Community House, and Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Region of the American Red Cross. In July of 2016, Mr. Gordon became Director of the Office of Community Wealth Building for the City of Richmond. He was promoted to the role of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services in 2018, with a portfolio including the Offices of Community Wealth Building, Immigrant and Refugee Engagement, Older Adults and Disability Services, Children and Families, Equity and Inclusion, and the Departments of Social Services, Justice Services, Parks and Recreation, and Richmond Public Library. He is past chair of the boards of Leadership Metro Richmond and Richmond Memorial Health Foundation and a founding member of the Ujima Legacy Fund. Mr. Gordon received his undergraduate degree in Public Policy from Duke University. He received his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law.

The Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities strives to make the 2026 Virginia Inclusion Summit as accessible and inclusive as possible while acknowledging the existence of external barriers that may prevent 100% accessibility. VCIC leans into our core values of integrity and openness as we work to provide the most accessible experience for all, while welcoming feedback about what we can do better.

We commit to:

• Providing venue layout information to all registrants in advance of the Summit, including closest parking and accessible entrances.
• Arranging for ASL interpretation, Spanish language interpretation, CART, and/or large print programs if requested by August 6, 2026.
• Providing free masks and hand sanitizer throughout the meeting spaces.
• Working with the event venue to minimize scents and fragrances, and requesting the same of all attendees.
• Selecting a menu for the day that is inclusive of dietary restrictions, and clearly labeling all items served. A printed menu will also be made available at the Summit.
• Identifying a single stall bathroom option near the meeting spaces.

Please contact Haley at [email protected] or (804) 515-7950 to let us know if you have any access needs, comments, or questions. Advance notice will allow VCIC to seek out and offer more options.

The use of the official seal confirms that this Program has met HR Certification Institute’s (HRCI) criteria for re-certification credit pre-approval.

Details about HRCI credits will be provided at the Summit.