Diversity, equity, and inclusion have become a crucial part of the business world, as companies seek to make the workplace more welcoming to every employee. 

Businesses can gain valuable insights into many aspects of DEI at Integrated Media Publishing’s second annual Living Color DEI Conference, which will be held April 24 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. 

The event goes on from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will also feature the South Carolina’s Top Workplaces Awards during the lunch portion of the day.

This year’s keynote speaker is John Samuel, co-founder of Ablr and author of “Don’t Ask the Blind Guy for Directions: A 30,000-Mile Journey for Love, Confidence, and a Sense of Belonging.”

Samuel became an accessibility expert after a degenerative eye disease left him with a severe visual disability. In his book, Samuel discusses his struggles to accept his new reality and how he has embraced his disability as an advantage in his life.  

He will speak on “Diversity Inclusion: Putting Untapped Talent to Work.”

Other speakers include:

Jil Littlejohn Bostick, vice president and head of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Winnebago Industries, who will discuss “A Corporation’s DEI Journey: Programs Implemented Creating a Path to Success”

Kizmet Moore, chief diversity and inclusion officer for NFP Corp. and founder of Kulture Beyond the Roots, will speak about “Encompassing All Aspects of Belonging: Importance of Business Resource Groups”

Angela Jenkins, vice president of accountable communities for Prisma Health, who will discuss “Health Equity in South Carolina”

Elvia Pacheco, DEI specialist, who will share “A Personal Journey Toward Inclusiveness & Belonging”

In addition, a panel discussion on “Higher Education: Creating an Inclusive Environment for All Students to Succeed” will feature a conversation with Robert Pickering, chief inclusion excellence officer for The Citadel; Julian Williams, vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion, for University of South Carolina; and Roslyn Clark Artis, Ph.D., president of Benedict College. 

Speaker, entertainer, and entrepreneur JDew will again act as emcee for Living Color.