Event moderator Joyce Searcy with panelists: Yuri Cunza, Ashlee Davis, Joanne Pulles, and Yanika Smith Bartley

Recently, Young Leaders Council (YLC) hosted The Hill We Climb: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Discussion Panel featuring Joyce Searcy, Founder and Principal of Momentum, LLC and Community Relations Director for Belmont University, as moderator.  Guest panelists included: Joanne Pulles, Vice-President for Community Engagement at HCA Healthcare and President of the HCA Healthcare Foundation; Yanika Smith-Bartley, Vice President and Chief Diversity & Talent Strategy Officer for Asurion; Yuri Cunza, President and CEO of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Ashlee Davis, Vice President and Senior Diversity & Inclusion Manager for AllianceBernstein (AB). If you missed the live panel discussion, you can watch the event recording below.    

Event Attendees engaged in virtual networking on platform, iBreakthrough.

Sponsored by diversity consulting firm, people3, the free virtual event welcomed close to 100 attendees and represented a major step for YLC as the organization seeks to create awareness and support systemic change throughout the Middle Tennessee non-profit community.  The panel discussion was part of YLC’s Impact Series, which provides continuing education enrichment for alumni and community partners. Participants left the event with insight, awareness and actionable steps to help them increase opportunity, equity and engagement of diverse voices throughout non-profit organizations and the community.

When asked why this conversation is important for YLC, panel moderator, Joyce Searcy said “the corporate and nonprofit leaders who participated in this important panel discussion are helping to prepare YLC students and alumni for the hill they must climb as board members within the Nashville community.  My hope is that as board leaders, they dare to ask the necessary questions, challenge the status quo, and create the perfect environment to drive change.”

Watch the instant replay.

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