NCFR's Inclusion and Diversity Committee (IDC) invites you to attend two important sessions at the NCFR Annual Conference in Vancouver!

The first session is an invited panel discussion, entitled "Social Justice Strategies of Family Researchers and Professionals in the Age of Ferguson," and it will take place on Wednesday, November 11, 8:30-9:45 a.m. It is a follow-up to the "I Can't Breathe: A Call for Dialogue and Action" article that appeared in the Spring 2015 NCFR Report.

Recent events in Ferguson, MO; Staten Island, NY; Cleveland, OH; Baltimore, MD, and several other cities and towns in the U.S., in which unarmed Black men and boys were killed by police officers, have sparked international attention and dialogue. This panel discussion aims to further that dialogue by bringing together family scholars and practitioners who have reflected on problems in the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color that have sparked widespread discussion and protests. Panelists will discuss how their work has been affected by these recent events and will suggest strategies for increasing social justice for communities in the U.S. and beyond. The conversation will likely delve into broader issues of institutionalized racism and race relations in general, as our nation grapples with incidents such as the June 2015 shooting deaths of nine African American church members in Charleston, SC. The session will conclude with time for questions and answers, and attendees will be encouraged to join in this critical dialogue.

Confirmed panelists include Dr. Antoinette Landor from the University of Missouri, Dr. Bethany Letiecq from George Mason University, and Dr. Bill Allen from the University of Minnesota (other panelist invitations are pending). The session will be moderated by Dr. Anthony James from Miami University (Ohio). Please come and share and gain ideas for action. We urge all family scientists to consider their scholarship, classroom activities, and/or professional practices in order to take advantage of the "teachable moment" afforded by these frustratingly tragic events:

• What conversations are you having about these topics?
• How do these incidents affect you and your families?
• How have these events influenced your work—in your classrooms, in your research, in your various professional set-tings?
• What role can we play in changing this lived reality for families, for our students, and for ourselves? What can and should we do, both personally and professionally, to make our societies more just and safe for all its members?

This session is sponsored by the Students and New Professionals Section and cosponsored by the IDC, Research and Theory, Feminism and Family Studies, Family Therapy, Ethnic Minorities, Family Policy, Religion and Families, and Advancing Family Science Sections. We hope you'll join us in this important discussion.

The second event is the annual "Continental Breakfast and Active Conversation on Diversity and Inclusion" on Friday, November 13, 7:45-9:15 a.m. This session provides an opportunity for NCFR members and the nationally elected IDC members to come together to discuss issues and concerns and will be facilitated by Dr. Robert Reyes. It includes a "conversation and reflection" activity designed to enhance the inclusion and diversity of NCFR. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or insights for helping to move our organization forward in regard to inclusion and diversity, please come to this breakfast session!

About the Inclusion and Diversity Committee

The Inclusion and Diversity Committee is a Board committee whose duties include (a) making recommendations regarding inclusive and diverse approaches; (b) examining programs, activities, policies, publications, and practices to determine intentional or unintentional exclusiveness; and (c) engaging members in scholarly dialogues.

The IDC members want to work with all of you to make NCFR a preeminent leader in regard to inclusion and diversity as well as a professional home where we all feel welcome and proud of our organization's commitment to inclusion and diversity. Please join us for both of these sessions in Vancouver, or contact us anytime using the IDC webform, where you can share your thoughts, questions, ideas, and suggestions anonymously (if you wish). Alternatively, you can contact any member of the IDC; our names and email addresses are listed below.

Soyoung Lee, Chair
Bill Allen, Board Liaison
Ruben Viramontez Anguiano, Member-at-Large
Shann Abraham Hwang, Member-at-Large
Anthony James, Students and New Professionals Representative
Ambika Krishnakumar, Member-at-Large
Kate Kuvalanka, Member-at-Large
Christi McGeorge, Member-at-Large