The second annual LLUH Power of Inclusion concluded last month with a number of events and tremendous participation from hundreds of attendees. The conference, with the theme “talent has no boundaries,” highlighted the important contributions that people with disabilities make to society.
The conference kicked off with the inaugural Power of Inclusion 5K Run, Walk, and Roll as a way to celebrate community inclusiveness. More than 300 people—young and old, of different ethnicities, of different physical abilities, and of various religious backgrounds—all participated together.
On March 20, Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin challenged everyone to set the highest goals for themselves as she also proclaimed “talent has no boundaries.”
Matlin, who is hearing impaired and who won Best Actress for her performance in the 1986 film “Children of a Lesser God,” delivered the conference’s keynote speech at Wong Kerlee International Conference Center. Matlin discussed the importance of setting high goals, refusing to give up, and having good mentors.
At the conference the previous day (March 19), Tony Melendez, a renowned guitarist who was born without arms, inspired conference participants with a rousing performance that had the audience clapping and cheering. Melendez, who performed for Pope John Paul II during the pontiff's visit to Los Angeles in 1987, presented on the theme "No Boundaries, No Limits, Never Give Up!"
The event wrapped up March 20 with an International Food Festival at the Drayson Center, with foods from every continent and clothing from nations around the world.
Cari Dominguez, PhD, senior vice president of the office of talent management and diversity, and Charlene Wilson, assistant vice president of human resources, presented the inaugural Power of Inclusion Award.
The award, designed to recognize members of the LLUH community who exhibit the highest level of commitment to diversity and inclusion, was presented to Katya Campos for her unsurpassed commitment to translating to the Spanish-speaking community within and around LLUH.
The office of talent management and diversity expresses thanks to LLUH President Richard Hart, MD, DrPH, LLUH leadership, and management residents for their time, talents, and up-front conference participation, as well as thanking the media relations specialists, technicians, and other technical staff who worked behind the scenes.