Editor’s note: How this year’s Innovate Raleigh Summit is different, and why we’re focusing on inclusivity and diversity, according to Allyson Sutton of HQRaleigh. She wrote this blog for ExitEvent.

RALEIGH, N.C. – The fourth annual Innovate Raleigh Summit is on Sept. 10th, and this year, we’re changing things up a bit with a new theme, a new format and some refined goals.

Why did we decide to focus on inclusivity and diversity? For one, our team has a personal interest in the topic. Innovate Raleigh is operated by two women—myself, and our new executive director, Jenny Hwa. We’re familiar with the statistics: only three percent of US companies that receive venture funding are owned by women and only one percent have African-American or Latino founders. Tech giants like Google, Apple, and Facebook recently released some disheartening employee demographic data, especially within their leadership teams. (There’s a great updated graphic here via the Wall Street Journal). 

This transparency, and the commitments many organizations have made to increase diversity, is a step in the right direction. And while it will be a long-term process, we’re aiming to use the Innovate Raleigh Summit as a platform to continue the conversation and build upon the work that groups like e51, SOAR, Triangle Startup Weekend: Trailblazers and others have started locally. 

For two, it’s about community. As we work towards our mission of making Raleigh a top-five center for innovation, we’re constantly reflecting on the elements required for a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem: open community culture, education, resources, capital, and corporate engagement. These elements simply cannot thrive if the faces, backgrounds and perspectives at the table are all the same.

It’s because of this community-centric approach, and because “diversity and inclusivity” are HUGE discussion topics, that we’re focusing on the theme both in terms of organizations and of city development.

You’ll notice that the Summit kicks off with a panel discussion featuring five of Raleigh’s major developers—Kane Realty, Hobby Properties, Holt Brothers, Grubb Ventures, and Tonic Design + Construction—and our former Chief City Planner Mitchell Silver. We’ll explore how their work impacts the cultural identity of Raleigh, and how the built environment can encourage interconnectivity among residents and different communities around Raleigh.

For more details, read the full story at:

http://exitevent.com/article/innovate-raleigh-summit-2015-150826