Be part of the most dynamic Quest yet

Randal Pinkett, the season 4 winner of "The Apprentice" and a self-described "serial entrepreneur" will be the conference's morning keynote speaker.

A reality television star who conquered the boardroom

A student film of youth and hope in post-apartheid South Africa

An internationally acclaimed singer who’s redefining the female musician

All these and more await attendees at the 12th annual Quest for Community: A Call to Action on April 18. Quest is Wright State University’s annual conference on diversity issues in higher education.

This year’s Quest features a wide variety of activities, speakers and entertainment with programming geared toward students as well as faculty and staff.

“We really went back to the drawing board and reimagined the entire conference,” said Jacqueline McMillan, Ph.D., vice president for enrollment management and chair of the Quest planning committee. “We looked at the event with fresh eyes and came up with a day that will not only be thought-provoking, but also entertaining.”

Quest will include opening remarks from John D. Transviña, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Quest will include a lunchtime performance by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and an interactive workshop by DCDC2.

He will be followed by morning keynote speaker Randal Pinkett. Many remember Pinkett as the season 4 winner of NBC’s The Apprentice, but he’s also a scholar, an author and a community servant. As a self-described “serial entrepreneur,” Pinkett has launched several socially responsible business ventures. He was the first African American to receive a Rhodes scholarship at Rutgers University, and his first book, Campus CEO: The Student Entrepreneur’s Guide to Launching a Multimillion-Dollar Business, was released in 2007.

Elizabeth Howard will be the conference’s luncheon speaker. Howard is interim director of Dining for Women, an international organization made up of members who “dine in” together regularly, bringing dishes to share, and use the money they would have spent eating out to empower women living in extreme poverty.

The conference will also feature a number of breakout session on a variety of topics:

• Leaders of the “Big 6” student organizations will lead a panel discussion on giving back to our communities.
• Faculty will learn to develop courses that fulfill the multicultural competency requirement in the new Wright State Core.
• Staff members will learn how to get involved in community service programs with We Serve U.
• Organizations that support gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning students will share how they’ve transformed the campus environment for the GLBTQA community.
• Students will participate in an interactive workshop with professional dancers from the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company 2.
• Welcome Dayton officials will show how the Miami Valley is attracting immigrants to the region.
• Students will screen footage taken during their service-learning trip to South Africa.

Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Magdalen will perform during the conference's closing ceremony.

The conference will also include performances by the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, the Shawn Stanley Trio of jazz musicians and Magdalen, a singer-songwriter and cultural activist who reviewers say is  “smashing the ceiling of the American music industry.”

Although the conference (including lunch) is free and open to the public, pre-registration is required. In lieu of a registration fee, attendees are encouraged to bring donations for the on-campus Friendship Food Pantry.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.wright.edu/quest.