Presidential Symposium keynote presenter, Dr. Omékongo Dibinga, will share a powerful message about unity, belonging and respect on March 24, at 10 a.m. in the Montco Cultural Center theater, Blue Bell Campus. Photo courtesy of Dr. Omékongo Dibinga
Montgomery County Community College is pleased to host professor, author, rapper and international speaker Dr. Omékongo Dibinga as the keynote presenter for its annual Presidential Symposium on Diversity on Tuesday, March 24, at 10 a.m. in the Montco Cultural Center theater, Science Center building, 1313 Morris Road, Blue Bell.
This year’s Symposium theme, “Lead with Unity, Act with Purpose,” reflects the College’s mission, vision and core values. Members of the MCCC community selected Dr. Dibinga as the keynote speaker. His presentation will explore culture, unity and education, focusing on how to build communities where all people are not only tolerated but celebrated for their uniqueness. He will emphasize the importance of listening to diverse voices, pursuing personal education, using one’s voice, and making the intentional decision to be a leader. The audience will have the opportunity for a Q&A following the speech.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Dibinga to share his powerful message about unity, belonging and respect,” said Dr. Stephanie Allen-Savage, MCCC Director of Equity, Diversity and Belonging. “Through his leadership experience and insights, participants will gain meaningful perspectives on how they can grow and create positive change in their lives and communities.”
Following the keynote, Dr. Dibinga will sign copies of his book, “G.R.O.W. Toward Your Greatness! 10 Steps Toward Living Your Best Life.” A link to purchase the book in advance is available on the Symposium webpage at mc3.edu/symposium.
At 3 p.m. MCCC will host a moderated book discussion about the book in the Montco Cultural Center theater. He also will provide an overview of his soon-to-be-released book, “Trigger Words.”
All of the Symposium events are free and open to the public. To reserve a seat, visit mc3.edu/tickets for free tickets. A livestream of the keynote address and book discussion will be available for those who cannot attend in person.
In conjunction with the Symposium, MCCC is hosting virtual workshops and sessions on March 23 and 25, as well as a student contest. For the contest, students are invited to respond to the prompt: Describe a time when you took the lead or worked as part of a team to achieve a shared goal. How did acting with purpose and fostering unity impact the outcome and what lessons did you learn about effective leadership? More details about the contest can be found at mc3.edu/symposium.
Dr. Omékongo Dibinga is an international speaker, author, rapper, and professor of Intercultural Communication at American University, where he also serves as a faculty affiliate of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center. A four‑time TEDx speaker and John Maxwell Team “Top 30 Speaker,” he has been featured on CNN, NPR, BET, the BBC, O Magazine, and SiriusXM. According to his website, he is “the Upstander,” and his life’s mission is “to inspire all across the globe to take a stand when they witness an injustice, no matter how small or large.”
He has spoken at the United Nations, partnered with the U.S. State Department on global leadership trainings, and worked with corporate, government, and educational organizations nationwide. His award‑winning poetry and music have reached audiences in more than 150 countries, and he has shared stages with Jane Fonda, Martin Sheen, OutKast, Sonia Sanchez, and others.
Dr. Dibinga holds degrees from The Fletcher School and the University of Maryland, where his doctoral research examined global hip-hop and the work of JAY‑Z. He has authored several books, and his newest book, “Trigger Words,” will be released later this year.
About MCCC’s Presidential Symposium on Diversity
In its 16th year, MCCC’s Presidential Symposium on Diversity serves as a capstone event that advances and facilitates ongoing public dialogue on diversity and inclusiveness among students, employees and community members.
Since its inception in 2010, the Symposium has featured an array of distinguished speakers including activist and athlete Roberto Clemente Jr., local media talent Dyana Williams, author Dr. Lorene Cary, immunologist Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, engineer/poet Richard Blanco, author Dr. Tara Westover and Maryland Governor Wes Moore, among others.