Representation Matters: Salesforce’s Annual Racial Equality Summit Set for July 22

Editor’s Note: Representation Matters has already taken place. Watch the full event here or in the embedded video below:

Salesforce is hosting its fourth annual Racial Equality Summit, Representation Matters, presented by Deloitte Digital, on Thursday, July 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT virtually.

The summit seeks to inspire, empower, and elevate tech’s most underrepresented communities — Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ — and will be joined by trailblazers from these communities. The summit will also include representation from Salesforce partners, customers, and luminaries from a wide range of industries.

Over the past year, we have endured a global pandemic that revealed some of society’s deepest inequalities, and faced a reckoning of racial justice, violence and hate. Our company and our industry have been called to act and this year’s event is one piece of our larger commitment to racial equality. Last year we formed the Racial Equality and Justice Task Force to drive systemic change across four P’s — people, purchasing, philanthropy and policy — and since then, we’ve set new goals and metrics, stood up new programs and processes, and empowered leaders to drive change across our workplace and community.

We know conversation alone will not solve racism or underrepresentation. But now more than ever, it’s critical that we elevate and amplify the voices of Black, Latinx, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ community members in an effort to not only make space, but to change the space to be more inclusive for the generations that follow.

Last year, in front of a virtual audience of over one million viewers and featuring keynote speaker (writer, producer, and director Ava DuVernay), the summit covered topics such as advocating for voter access, the power of inclusive storytelling, representation in the c-suite, media, and more.

Here’s a preview of some of our speakers, more to come:

Representation Matters speakers from left to right: Anthony Ramos, Grammy award winning actor, singer and star of the film “In The Heights,” Arlan Hamilton, author, venture catalyst and founder of Backstage Capital, Xiuhezcatl Martinez, advocate, leader, activist and hip hop artist, and Morgan DeBaun, founder and CEO of Blavity Inc.

Click here to register.

Here’s a look at the agenda:

Closing The Racial Wealth Gap (9:00 a.m. PT)

From 2015 to 2020, minority founders received only 2.4% of the $87.3 billion dollars in VC funding that was raised by U.S. companies. We have the ability to build the wealth and power that were taken from our communities, but it requires action. This session will discuss ways to reach a more equitable world by bridging the gap and empowering minority business owners, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

Aligning Your Career with Your Purpose (10:00 a.m. PT)

Finding a way to align passion with your career takes a lot of courage and creativity. This session hears from purpose-driven professionals who have created careers that not only keep them inspired, but also make an impact for their communities.

Mental Health Matters (10:40 a.m. PT)

With the ongoing racial reckoning, taking care of our mental health and wellbeing is more important now than ever. This session includes a conversation on how to prioritize and protect your peace, and an exploration on the importance of destigmatizing mental health in communities of color.

Using Your Platform For Change (11:30 a.m. PT)

We all have the power to create social change and have a positive impact. This portion of the event will explore the intersection of social platforms and social change. We’ll hear from activists, executives, and leaders who are using their platforms to create racial equality and justice.

Black Women Excellence Panel (12:00 p.m. PT)

A conversation with trailblazing Black women leaders who have excelled in forging their own paths while showing up as their authentic selves.

Click here to sign up for the event and save the date. More speakers will be announced soon.

At Salesforce, equality is a core value and we are committed to driving equality for all — that includes equal opportunities and creating a workplace that reflects our society. There is still work to be done on this path toward equality, and using our platform for these important discussions is only one step along this path. In 2020, we established the Racial Equality and Justice Taskforce to help drive systemic change in our workplace and community, and we will continue to provide updates on our equality efforts. Learn more at Salesforce.com/Equality.