What comes after diversity and inclusion? Belonging.

Christopher “CJ” Gross will discuss the power of creating a culture of belonging at St. Bonaventure when the President’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) hosts a webinar at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 29.

To register for the hour-long Zoom webinar, click here.

Gross is a TEDx speaker, change management leader and founder and CEO of Ascension Worldwide. He's also on track to graduate from St. Bonaventure in May with his master's in Strategic Leadership.

“We know when people — students, faculty, and staff — feel isolated or excluded on campus, academic and work performance decrease and well-being suffers,” said Dr. Kimberly DeSimone, co-chair of the DEI Commission.

According to the 2019 Harvard Business Review, U.S. organizations spend nearly 8 billion dollars each year on diversity and inclusion trainings, yet 40% of people in organizations still report feeling isolated. When belonging is a part of campus culture, it becomes infectious and cultivates new levels of engagement and success, DeSimone said.

This engaging research-based workshop aims to uncover the power of belonging. Using a mixture of professional diversity and inclusion experience, personal journey, research, and a whole lot of edutainment, Gross will share with participants the meaning of belonging and how to cultivate it at St. Bonaventure.

Ascension Worldwide is a minority-owned, full-service consulting firm specializing in diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging solutions.  

Click here for more information on Ascension Worldwide and here for more information on Christopher Gross.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. In 2020, St. Bonaventure was named the #2 regional university value in New York and #3 in the North by U.S. News and World Report.