Gitana Productions, Inc. and the Regional Arts Commission (RAC) are presenting a two-day conference, Cross-Cultural Engagement: Building a Diverse and Dynamic Community,  to help non-profit arts, social services, education and community organizations develop strategies and tools to effectively engage new and underserved communities, develop lasting cross-cultural relationships and improve their own internal diversity.

"RAC considers diversity and cross-cultural engagement very important to the cultural vitality of our region," Jill McGuire, executive director of RAC said.

Howard J. Ross, one of the nation's leading experts on diversity, leadership and organizational change will deliver the key note address.  Ross is also the author of Reinventing Diversity: Transforming Organizational Community to Strengthen People, Purpose, and Performance.

Sessions at the conference include Interpersonal Skills in Cross-Cultural Engagement, How Immigration is Changing the Face of St. Louis and America,  Local Models of Cross Cultural Engagement and a poverty simulation amongst many others.  The poverty simulation will help "participants understand the day-to-day reality of poverty in the lives of low-income families, single parents, people with disabilities, senior citizens on Social Security and others."

The conference will also feature a workshop from the Urban Bush Women Leadership Institute of New York.  The performance ensemble, which uses cultural expression as a catalyst for social change, is presenting its experiential workshop "Entering, Building, and Exiting Community."  The workshop uses theater games, writing and movement exercises as experiential learning tools in order for participants learn how to become aware of the values, leadership and history of a community and much more.

Executive Director of Gitana Productions, Cecilia Nadal said, "Organizations will get the tools they need to go beyond simply meeting diversity goals and learn how to develop true relationships with diverse groups, for long-term results."

The conference will take place October 11 and 12 at Webster University: Community Music School.  The cost for the two-day conference is $45 and scholarships are available.  To register and for more information visit: http://stlcross-culturalengagement.org/.