The Jacksonville Chapter of the E3 Business Group, Inc. (http://jaxfl.e3businessgroup.us) is proud to present this unique community oriented dialogue event. E3 is a national non-profit organization dedicated to building aspiring entrepreneurs into leaders of business and supporting them as advocates within the neighborhoods and communities where they live and work. The event will bring together for one night local and national authorities to discuss the mindset, perceptions, and racial climate of NE Florida as evidenced in Jacksonville, FL. Building upon the model developed in 2009, Real Talk… Real Change is designed as an in-teractive event which seeks to raise awareness and advocacy.
Real Change
E3 entrepreneurs will work with organizations and each other to create meaningful follow up action to RTRC II. Real Talk... Real Change II: Are YOU Living COLOR's goal is to see increased participation in existing initiatives, galvanizing of people around common causes, and more collaborations between organizations working towards similar goals. We feel that much more can be accomplished when groups come out of their "silos" and fully engage one another to share resources, personnel and vision. Only then will we make a meaningful change within our neighborhoods and communities.
Our Sponsors
Real Talk... Real Change II would not be possible without the strong support of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. BCBSF was the first organization to recognize the importance of the work E3 does in the community, supporting the first Real Talk... Real Change in July 2009. They have a strong history for engaging the community and supporting initiatives and programs which foster a better quality of life. Their Office of Diversity and Cultural Compentency has led the way and has allowed E3 to partner with progressive groups of employees within BCBSF including their Employee Resource Groups like Gen Y. Through their quality health programs and care of community, BCBSF is leading the way as a partner with the Jacksonville, FL chapter of the E3 Business Group, Inc. Find out more about BlueCross BlueShield of Florida by visiting www.bcbsf.com.
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is a leading transportaion company providing rail, intermodal and rail-t-truck transload services. CSX is also a leader in the community and has been at the forefront of diversity and inclusion efforts. The company was received distinction in 2009 as one of the top 50 Diversity companies as voted in Diversity Inc. CSX and E3 have partnered in the facilitating of lectures in its CSX/EWC Leadership Program for the past two years. We are pleased to have them join in their first year of sponsorship for Real Talk... Real Change. Find out more about CSX by visiting www.csx.com.
Jacksonville Community Council Inc. (JCCI) is a nonpartisan civic organization that engages diverse citizens in open dialogue, research, consensus building, advocacy and leadership development to improve the quality of life and build a better community in Northeast Florida and beyond.
JCCI has been called Jacksonville's "citizen think tank." This is the place where community-minded people get together to explore issues of community importance, identify problems, discover solutions, and advocate for positive change. E3 has selected JCCI as a partner and source for the topics of Real Talk... Real Change events because of their impeccable research, reputation for accuracy, and attention to developing trends. We are honored to work with this forward thinking organization. For more information on JCCI visit www.jcci.org.
The official hotel of Real Talk...Real Change II. The Crowne Plaza at Jacksonville Riverfront offers an opportunity to indulge in the beautiful environment of downtown Jacksonville's fine dining and magnificent views. Located on the South Bank of the St. John's River the hotel provides its guests with VIP service and accommodations. Special rates are available for participants, guests, and attendees of Real Talk...Real Change. Simply mention RTR as your event code when making reservations.
Panelist - Rafael Alvarez
Rafael Alvarez is a Network Manager in the Provider Contracting
department within Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, a position he has held
for the past two years.Rafael has
experience with a variety of roles within the health care industry over the
past 20 years such as Billing Supervisor, Business Office Manager, Financial
Analyst, Department Manager and Provider Contractor. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and raised in Puerto Rico, he
has gained an appreciation for the cultural differences in both countries. He
is passionate about the value of respect and acceptance of all and he makes
sure to spread these values to people around him. Rafael is an active participant
of the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and The Puerto Rican Chamber of
North East Florida.
Ms. Marita Golden, noted author, brings a wealth of experience and an outside perspective as a writer, leader, and national speaker. Her best-selling books include the memoirs Migrations of the
Heart, Saving Our Sons and Don’t Play in the Sun: One Woman’s Journey through the Color Complex and most recently After, which won the Fiction Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. As a literary institution builder she co-founded both the African American Writers Guild and the Hurston/Wright Foundation. She has taught writing at George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University and most recently served as Writer in Residence at the University of the District of Columbia.Find out more about this dynamic woman by visiting www.maritagolden.com.
Susan Hamilton has been a leader in diversity and inclusion helping build CSX into one of the country’s top corporations. Her dedication and commitment is evident in the company’s diversity program and was recognized in 2009 by Diversity Inc. when CSX was listed as one of the top 40 firms to address diversity. E3 Executive Director Anthony Butler commented “Susan brings a unique set of experiences to the panel having led not only the diversity efforts of CSX, but also working in the Labor Relations division.” When asked “How does your life experience relate to your participation in this event?” Hamilton shared, “I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in the midst of the Civil Rights epicenter. I was meant to do this work.”
Tri Vu, President of TTV Architects, Inc. is an astute
businessman, an architect, an interior designer, an artist, and a lecturer.
Born in Vietnam,
he came to the United States in
1975 as a refugee.He left Vietnam
on the last day before the fall of Saigon
carrying one small bag.He worked to
support himself in college while learning English at the same time.At the age of 30, Tri Vu was one of the
youngest architects who oversaw a high-rise office building from its design
inception to the completion of the project. Jacksonville
Florida
has been home to Tri Vu since 1981.He
is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2005 and Regional Leadership
Academy Class of 2007.Both as an
architect and as a citizen, Tri constantly is looking for ways to help his
community become a better place in which to live and work; always seeking to
incorporate diversity in what he does.
"The people of Florida are entitled by law to work and seek employment without being discriminated against based on their race, national origin, color, sex, disability, religion, age or marital status." (Florida Commission on Human Relations - http://fchr.state.fl.us/complaints__1/employment) This is a right afforded to people in all states but how many companies are making this a part of their workplace culture. From the treatment of migratory workers, immigrants, and those less educated to the unspoken discrimination based on biases, fears, and misconceptions. Real Talk...Real Change will touch upon this and hear how companies are passing and failing in their attempt to make the workplace a fair and equitable environment for all.
Colorism is the treatment of people, normally by others within the same ethnicity or culture, differently based on the shading of their skin. This perception of "difference" can and does become amplified by others who buy into the prejudice. Although assumed to be an issue primarily among African Americans, Colorism is a major issue throughout the world in many areas including Asian, South American, Middle Eastern, Carribean, and African cultures.
Colorism tends to be a topic which is shied away from or deflected because of the strong emotions associated with it. Yet, the actions of those influenced by it and the affects on those who are impacted are worthy of dialogue. It manifests itself in the media, workplace, education, and general society. Is it diminishing? Is it growing? Can it be addressed? Join the dialogue at RTRC II.
Ms. Marita Golden, noted author, brings a wealth of experience and an outside perspective as a writer, leader, and national speaker. Her best-selling books include the memoirs Migrations of the
Susan Hamilton has been a leader in diversity and inclusion helping build CSX into one of the country’s top corporations. Her dedication and commitment is evident in the company’s diversity program and was recognized in 2009 by Diversity Inc. when CSX was listed as one of the top 40 firms to address diversity. E3 Executive Director Anthony Butler commented “Susan brings a unique set of experiences to the panel having led not only the diversity efforts of CSX, but also working in the Labor Relations division.” When asked “How does your life experience relate to your participation in this event?” Hamilton shared, “I was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up in the midst of the Civil Rights epicenter. I was meant to do this work.”
"The people of Florida are entitled by law to work and seek employment without being discriminated against based on their race, national origin, color, sex, 
