Community Intercultural Relations Conference
The Community Intercultural Relations Conference (CIRC) is an annual event held on the shared campus of Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) and The Ohio State University at Newark. The conference features speakers, workshops, and networking and aims to raise awareness of social and cultural similarities and build an inclusive community. Attendees include business, nonprofit, education and community leaders, as well as faculty, staff, students and alumni from K-12 and higher education institutions throughout the region.
Friday, April 11, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Attend virtually or in person
Melissa Warner Bow Grand Hall
John Gilbert Reese Center
1209 University Drive, Newark, Ohio
Cost
$40 per person
Connecting Cultures, Strengthening Communities
Central Ohio’s evolving cultural diversity landscape makes this community a special place to live, work and play. The community and the people and organizations within it are much stronger when we welcome the full array of people and ideas that are here and open ourselves up to learning more. We proudly present the theme for the 16th Annual Community Intercultural Relations Conference (CIRC): “Connecting Cultures, Strengthening Communities.” Join us to participate in breakout sessions featuring speakers from diverse sectors and an astounding keynote that will inspire us all. Leave with action steps to help you shape an organization and community that truly serves and embraces everyone.
Conference Learning Objectives
- Participants will reflect on and define cultural diversity.
- Participants will explore how engaging cultural backgrounds and identities of all types strengthens organizations and communities.
- Participants will be exposed to strategies for building effective communication and partnerships in a culturally diverse community.
Vorley Taylor Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award
Presented at CIRC, this award recognizes exceptional diversity and inclusion contributions in the community.
About the Community Intercultural Relations Conference and Committee
To complete the mission of raising awareness of social and cultural similarities and building an inclusive community, the Community Intercultural Relations Conference (CIRC) Committee hosts an annual conference on the cost-shared campus of Ohio State Newark and COTC addressing topics around a current theme. The committee brings speakers to Licking County from Ohio and beyond with experience, knowledge, and skills in social, cultural and diverse subjects. The conference sessions include presentations, lectures, workshops and panels. Structured for discussion and personal story sharing and backed by research data, these sessions are designed to educate and enlighten conference attendees about mores, norms and challenges of community members and residents of diverse backgrounds in an engaging way.
Committee Membership
The committee consists of business leaders, educators, students and residents of Licking County. A minimum of seven community members, including at least one staff/faculty member and one student from Ohio State Newark and COTC. While serving on the committee, Ohio State Newark and COTC members give insight into the treatment of college students as they engage with the local community.
If you would like more information about the CIRC committee, please contact Kim Manno, director of advancement, at manno.18@osu.edu or 740-366-9135.