Jesse Wente “Diversity & Inclusion Is Not A Choice” | NSB Engage Virtual Webinar

At a time when a reckoning around racial justice is occurring around the world, many organizations, corporations, institutions and governments are grappling with their own histories and lack of diversity and inclusion. In this exclusive talk, Jesse Wente discusses why diversity and inclusion is not a choice, but a necessity. He also outlines some of the barriers to success and suggest directions for action.

Key takeaways from this presentation include:

Listen, Learn…and Act!
Relationships must come first.
None of it matters without power.

Jesse Wente is an Anishinaabe writer, broadcaster, speaker and arts leader. Born and raised in Toronto, he is a member of the Serpent River First Nation. Jesse is best known for his 24 years as a columnist for CBC Radio’s Metro Morning, Jesse spent 11 years with the Toronto International Film Festival, the last seven as the director of film programmes at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Jesse recently co-produced the award-winning screen adaptation of Thomas King’s best-selling book, The Inconvenient Indian. An outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights and First Nations, Metis and Inuit art, he has spoken at the International Forum of Indigenous Peoples, Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, the Canadian Arts Summit, the Cultural Summit of the Americas, and numerous Universities and Colleges. Jesse has served on the board of directors of the Toronto Arts Council, The ImagineNative Film and Media Festival and Native Earth Performing Arts. He was recently appointed to Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts, the only First Nations person to ever hold that position. Jesse is currently working on his first book for Penguin Random House Canada. Jesse was named the first Executive Director of the Indigenous Screen Office in February 2018.

View Jesse Wente’s profile or request more information about hosting him as a speaker.

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