Commission hears update on DEIB summit scheduled for May 10; organizers seek attendees and sponsors

Staff updated the Lacey Equity Commission on plans for a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) summit proposed for May 10 at the South Puget Sound Community College Lacey campus.

Veronica reported the summit will be free of charge and staff plan to invite municipal representatives, staff, youth councils and community stakeholders. The schedule is proposed as 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a youth presentation to open the summit and 90‑minute afternoon breakout sessions. Veronica said staff expect to invite other regional municipal representatives and staff and to offer multiple morning breakout topics.

Staff described a preliminary budget and sponsorships: the City of Olympia and the YMCA have each committed $2,000, and the League of Women Voters confirmed a roughly $1,000 contribution earmarked for speakers or facilitators. Catering cost estimates provided in the meeting ranged from about $3,500 for 100 attendees to roughly $7,000 for 200 attendees; organizers are considering a primary caterer and a backup food truck option.

The confirmed speaker mentioned in the meeting is Erin Jones (name provided by staff), who will lead the youth presentation segment. Veronica said the event team will invite other Thurston County municipalities and municipal officials and staff, and will coordinate invitations to local youth councils (Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and area youth organizations) to bring youth presenters to the morning session.

Commissioners discussed invitation scope and whether the summit should remain Thurston County‑focused or be open to broader community registration. Staff said the planning approach is to start with internal and Thurston County stakeholders and then expand outreach; they described plans for targeted invitations, a feedback channel on the summit landing page and promotion via city communications (Lacey Life, social media and weekly newsletters) after finalizing details.

Veronica said the summit team will prepare a written statement of expected outcomes and a reporting mechanism; staff also plan to capture a report out after the summit. No final registration or sponsorship sign‑ups were taken at the meeting.

Staff asked commissioners to consider participating in speaker panels or breakout sessions and to help spread word of the event to municipal and partner networks. The summit planning timeline remains subject to change as staff finalize speakers, breakout topics and logistical details.