Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) is an international day dedicated to recognizing the resilience and accomplishments of the transgender community. Our Chamber celebrates this year's TDOV by holding the Transformation in the Workplace program, set for March 28th 2025, and to be held at Burns and McDonnell, here in Kansas City.
This year’s event will provide four valuable hours of educational programming and registration includes breakfast and lunch, so guests will have plenty of opportunities for networking
Agenda
- 8:15am-8:50am - Registration, breakfast, and networking
- 8:50am-9am Welcome -Tracey DeMarea, Executive Director, Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce
- 9-9:45am Equality in Action - Achieving and Sustaining HRC Healthcare Equality Index Certification
- Dr. Leslie Hardin, Chief Human Resources Officer
Dr. Kristi Cody, Chief of Clinical Operations
- Dr. Leslie Hardin, Chief Human Resources Officer
- 9:45-10am Break
- 10-10:45am ERG Case Study - The Ally Effect: Boosting Your ERG's Impact
- James Maiden, Sr. Internal Comms Specialist McCownGordon
- 10:45-11am Break
- 11-11:45am The Strength of Resilience
- Lea Hopkins
- 11:45am-12:30pm Lunch
- 12:30-1:30pm Building Belonging
- An interactive moderated session, with an opportunity to work alongside your peers to learn from one another and discuss concrete strategies for creating ‘belonging’ in your workplace.
Speaker Details:
James Maiden - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmaiden/
Dr. Leslie Hardin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-hardin-a433ba4/
Zach Rose-Heim - https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachroseheim/
Lea Hopkins -
“For me, it’s not the fight, it’s the battle. I enjoy a battle because I’m not the kind of person who is ever going to back down. It’s just not going to happen.” – Lea Hopkins
At 81 years old, Lea Hopkins, author, activist, and artist, is still fighting the battle—now through her powerful Assemblage Art, which explores empowerment and protest themes reflecting her lifelong activism. She is a trailblazer for LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, and racial equality, Lea’s legacy is monumental:
Breaking Barriers: In the early 1970s, Lea became the first African American Playboy Bunny in Kansas City while proudly living as an out lesbian.
Leading LGBTQ Pride: She helped organize Kansas City’s first Pride Festival in 1975 and its first Pride Parade in 1977.
Making History: She led the UMKC Gay Student Union to a landmark U.S. Supreme Court victory in 1978, securing recognition for LGBTQ student groups nationwide.
Continued Activism: Lea remains a powerful voice through her poetry and letters to the editor.
Sponsors
LEADING
INCLUSION
EQUITY
PATRON
