U of O to Host Unity in Diversity Conference March 28

University of the Ozarks will host a one-day Unity in Diversity Conference on Friday, March 28, in the Rogers Conference Center.

The conference is tailored to professionals in the fields of counseling, mental health, rehabilitation, and social work, and is also open to the public. The cost to attend is $50.

Dr. Kaethle D. Hoehling, LPC-S, director of counseling services at U of O, and Dr. Ben Okai, assistant professor of counseling at John Brown University, are co-facilitators of the conference. The University will partner with two professional divisions of the Arkansas Counseling Association to offer the conference, according to Hoehling.

"University of the Ozarks is a master class in the bringing together of transnational, multidimensional, intergenerational, interdisciplinary, and scholarly voices," Hoehling said. "One upcoming special opportunity where people from around the region and the state can come and share together will be March 28 at a one-day conference addressing topics related to mental health, counseling, social and psychological experiences of diverse persons, and diverse contributions to wellness and wellbeing. In a world full of social media spin and breaking news buzz, it is important to hold fervently to your identity and values but to also never lose sight of the big picture, that we are but one voice in the grand symphony of diverse and meaningful choral voices. "

The keynote speakers at the conference will be Amber Booth-McCoy and Arkansas state senator Jamie Scott.

Booth-McCoy is a native of Little Rock and the CEO of The Diversity Booth, Inc. She has dual degrees in psychology and sociology from UALR and has been a contributor to Forbes Magazine and a presenter of a TED talk.

Scott is the executive director for Pulaski County Youth Services and previously served Arkansas for two terms in House District 72. Scott has been the past recipient of the National Legislative Award and the Arkansas Education Association Human and Civil Rights Special Achievement Award.

The Unity in Diversity Conference is currently accepting professional presentation proposals. Anyone interested in presenting at the conference can e-mail [email protected] or visit www.arcounseling.org.

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