May 4, 2021
WICT, NAMIC and the Walter Kaitz Foundation Will Celebrate DEI with Leadership Development Conferences and Networking Events
Diversity Partners Announce Return to In-Person Activities in New York City for 2022
New York, NY, May 4, 2021 – As the nation continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, industry diversity groups will amplify and celebrate efforts to achieve workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion with 2021 Diversity Week activities this fall. Conferences and events scheduled for the week of October 4, 2021, will be held virtually. Industry diversity partners have locked in plans to resume in-person activities in New York City for October 9-13, 2022.
Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and the National Association for Multiethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) in 2021 will build on the success of 2020’s virtual Diversity Week conferences, strengthening efforts to recruit and retain diverse professionals across the cable, media and entertainment industry while better serving an increasingly diverse group of consumers. Meanwhile the Walter Kaitz Foundation will stage a virtual event to support its fundraising efforts. Here’s the 2021 schedule:
- October 4-5: WICT will kick off Diversity Week with its virtual Leadership Conference.
- October 5-8: NAMIC will host its virtual Annual National Conference, “Removing Barriers. Magnifying Opportunities.”
- October 6: The Walter Kaitz Foundation will stage a virtual convening and celebration to supplant its annual, in-person fundraising dinner.
Through these unified efforts, thousands of industry executives will commemorate Diversity Week 2021 as they have done for nearly 40 years, while enjoying the professional development and networking benefits that virtual collaboration provides.
Conference and event registration, ticket sales, and agendas for 2021 will be announced by each organization shortly, as their plans solidify. For Diversity Week information, visit www.diversityweek.com.
“WICT is excited to usher in Diversity Week 2021 with its Leadership Conference. We plan to feature a mix of live networking activities and seamless presentations, panels and interactive sessions, which proved to be a highly-successful formula last year,” said WICT President & CEO, Maria E. Brennan, CAE. “We look forward to collaborating with our diversity partners at NAMIC and the Walter Kaitz Foundation to provide the industry with a first-rate virtual experience.”
“As people around the world continue to navigate these challenging times, NAMIC is exploring important new ways to build diverse and inclusive workplace communities,” said A. Shuanise Washington, President & CEO of NAMIC, Inc. “Our conference theme, ‘Removing Obstacles. Magnifying Opportunities.’ reflects the urgency of these times and recognizes our collective role in expanding opportunities for diverse professionals. Our theme is bold, intentional, and recognizes the moment we are in societally and the role that all of us collectively can play. I’m confident that Diversity Week 2021 will be educational, engaging, energizing, and entertaining.”
Walter Kaitz Foundation Executive Director Michelle Ray, added, “In the spirit of unity, we are excited to be part of Diversity Week 2021 which renews our industry’s efforts in support of equity and inclusion. Knowing how much we all crave personal interaction, and with an optimistic eye towards global progress, we are thrilled to be planning the return of a spectacular in-person Dinner in New York City on October 12, 2022.”
This year, the Walter Kaitz Foundation will host a virtual event during Diversity Week to celebrate the industry’s collective and future-focused efforts. It will complement a major fundraising campaign to support its commitment to grant-making that bolsters opportunity, representation and equity for cable and entertainment industry
professionals, through the organization’s beneficiaries, the Emma L. Bowen Foundation, T. Howard Foundation, NAMIC, and WICT. Guests will be encouraged to join in the virtual celebration from across the industry and will not be required to register for the NAMIC or WICT conferences to participate.
The virtual WICT and NAMIC conferences that took place last fall generated the largest-ever attendance at Diversity Week, driving optimism for success in 2021. The 2021 activities will demonstrate that the cable and media industry remain fiercely committed to the objectives of diversity, equity and inclusion, and that industry companies are more than ever working to create an inclusive environment for their workforce, viewers, customers, and communities.
WICT, NAMIC, and the Walter Kaitz Foundation look forward to celebrating with a return to in-person Diversity Week activities at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City in 2022. Additional plans for Diversity Week 2022 will be announced early next year.
About
WICT’s mission is to create women leaders who transform our industry. We do this by providing unparalleled professional development programs, commissioning original gender research, and supporting a B2B network that helps advance women. For more than 40 years, WICT has partnered with cable and technology companies to help build a more robust pipeline of women leaders. Founded in 1979, and now over 10,500 members strong, WICT is the largest and oldest professional association serving women in cable media. Charter Communications and Comcast NBCUniversal are WICT’s Strategic Touchstone Partners. Please visit www.wict.org or follow @WICTHQ on Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/Twitter for more information.
NAMIC is the premier organization focusing on cultural diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in the cable and communications industry. More than 4,000 professionals belong to a network of 18 chapters nationwide. Through initiatives that support leadership development, advocacy and empowerment, NAMIC collaborates with industry partners to expand and nurture a workforce that reflects the cultural richness of the American population. For more information, please visit www.namic.com or follow @NAMICNational on Twitter.
The Walter Kaitz Foundation advances diversity, equity and inclusion in media and entertainment. The Foundation provides targeted grants, funds vital industry research that informs workplace practices, and advocates for improving diversity, equity & inclusion in every aspect of the industry from hiring, supplier diversity, and career advancement, through development and distribution of diverse creative content. The Foundation produces unique programs and initiatives designed to educate and facilitate collaboration between partners and benefactors that align with its mission. Since 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $22 Million in grants. Visit walterkaitz.org to learn more.