We are thrilled to announce the latest keynote plenary speaker at the Philanthropy Northwest annual conference in Vancouver, coming up Oct. 3-5: Dr. Gail C. Christopher, D.N., N.D. One of the brightest stars in the national conversation on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), Christopher is an award-winning leader and the former Senior Advisor and Vice President of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, one of the world's largest philanthropies. With the rise of hate groups, violence and harrassment seen over the past year, Christopher will share her thoughts about how to heal from the effects of racism, bridge divides in our country and what it will take to sustain societal progress. Christopher is widely celebrated for her work leading the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation enterprise at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The plenary will be holistic, honest and hopeful. We are thrilled to have speakers of this caliber helping us lead through change.

Christopher joins former Deputy Secretary of Labor, Chris Lu, as a conference headliner. Other just-announced closing plenary speakers will include: Maulik Pancholy, best known for his role on NBC's hit show, 30 Rock, and leading the #ActToChange anti-bullying campaign; Becky L. Monroe, Director of the Stop Hate Project, at the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; and Eric K. Ward, incoming Executive Director of Western States Center.  

Many in philanthropy are feeling overwhelmed by the pace of change and mounting turmoil facing our nation and region. From anti-immigrant sentiment to events in Charlottesville, we’ve been hearing concerns about the rise of hate from funders all over the region. This opening plenary should serve as a salve to the barrage of news about challenges facing our communities, and we'll have time to continue the conversations it inspires during Philanthropy Interrupted Talks, new this year and slated for the final day of the conference. 

The full conference agenda is now available. The Hilton Vancouver is now sold out but rooms are still available at the overflow hotel. There are only about 38 seats left so register now to join these colleagues: