Unity Through Diversity

Unity Through Diversity (UTD) is an annual campus-wide event highlighting distinct histories, needs, and priorities shared by student cultural communities of color.

This year's theme is "Interwoven Voices: Connecting Histories and Futures".

The theme "Interwoven Voices: Connecting Histories and Futures" aims to foster a deeper understanding of how the histories and experiences of [student] communities of color/margins are intertwined, while envisioning collective futures shaped by shared struggles and solidarity. It encourages dialogue, cross-community collaboration, and institutional change to address racial and cultural equity, with a focus on unity and mutual support.

Why the shift to a conference format?

1. Enhancing Depth & Impact

The shift to a conference format allows for deeper engagement with the themes of multiculturalism, racial justice, and institutional change. A structured conference provides multiple sessions, workshops, and discussions, giving participants opportunities to explore topics in greater depth compared to a singular event or panel.

2. Expanding Voices & Representation

A conference format enables more student cultural communities, scholars, and leaders to participate, ensuring a broader range of voices and perspectives. This helps to highlight the distinct histories, needs, and priorities of different communities in a more intentional and structured way.

3. Creating Action-Oriented Spaces

The new format allows for interactive breakout sessions, workshops, and strategy discussions that equip students with tangible tools for advocacy, leadership, and institutional engagement. This shift ensures that the event is not just about discussion but also about developing solutions and action plans.

4. Strengthening Institutional Influence

Historically, UTD has served as a catalyst for institutional change. Moving to a conference model strengthens its credibility and impact, allowing it to serve as a recognized annual platform for engaging university leadership, faculty, and students in meaningful dialogue.

5. Building Sustainable & Scalable Engagement

A conference format provides a structured foundation for future growth, ensuring that UTD remains relevant, adaptable to evolving student needs, and able to attract new collaborators, sponsors, and facilitators.

6. Fostering Cross-Community Collaboration

By offering different tracks, panels, and networking spaces, a conference encourages cross-community dialogue, coalition-building, and the strengthening of relationships across cultural student organizations and advocacy groups.

The shift to a conference format is an intentional and strategic evolution aimed at maximizing impact, engagement, and long-term change.