16th Annual Community Intercultural Relations Conference (CIRC) Proposal Submission Form

The Community Intercultural Relations Conference (CIRC) is an annual event held on the shared campus of Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) and The Ohio State University at Newark. The conference features speakers, workshops, and networking and aims to raise awareness of social and cultural similarities and build an inclusive community. Attendees include business, nonprofit, education and community leaders, as well as faculty, staff, students and alumni from K-12 and higher education institutions throughout the region.

New for the 16th annual CIRC in 2025, we are introducing concurrent breakout sessions at the conference and are inviting proposals for breakout session presentations and workshops. Proposals are due by October 15th!

Please see more details on the upcoming conference below: 

16th Annual CIRC Conference

Friday, April 11, 2025 | 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Melissa Warner Bow Grand Hall

John Gilbert Reese Center

1209 University Drive, Newark, Ohio

Central Ohio’s evolving cultural diversity landscape makes this community a special place to live, work, and play. The community and the people and organizations within it are much stronger when we welcome the full array of people and ideas that are here and open ourselves up to learning more. We proudly present the theme for the 16th Annual Community Intercultural Relations Conference (CIRC): “Connecting Cultures, Strengthening Communities.” Join us to participate in breakout sessions featuring speakers from diverse sectors and an astounding keynote that will inspire us all. Leave with action steps to help you shape an organization and community that truly serves and embraces everyone.

Conference Learning Objectives: 

1. Participants will reflect on and define cultural diversity. 
2. Participants will explore how engaging cultural backgrounds and identities of all types strengthens organizations and communities. 
3. Participants will be exposed to strategies for building effective communication and partnerships in a culturally diverse community. 

About Concurrent Breakout Sessions

New for the 16th Annual CIRC in 2025, we are introducing concurrent breakout sessions at the conference and are inviting proposals for breakout session presentations and workshops. Proposals are due by October 15th!

Breakout sessions will last one hour and will include approximately 40-60 people in each session. We hope to receive proposals on a wide variety of topics that connect to our overarching theme for the conference, "Connecting Cultures, Strengthening Communities," and that fit under one or more of the conference learning objectives:

 Conference Learning Objectives: 

1. Participants will reflect on and define cultural diversity. 
2. Participants will explore how engaging cultural backgrounds and identities of all types strengthens organizations and communities. 
3. Participants will be exposed to strategies for building effective communication and partnerships in a culturally diverse community. 

Sample topics for proposals include but are not limited to:

• Defining the elements of culture
• Cultural diversity in the workplace
• Coalition building
• Communcation and engaging people from various cultures
• Demographic data about the people and cultures in Central Ohio
• Community resources and supports
• Defining belonging
• Highlighting lived experiences of people from various cultures
• Cultural diversity in education
• Leadership in a culturally diverse society

Important dates:

Tues., Oct. 15, 2024 - Proposal submissions due

Fri., Nov. 8, 2024 - Proposal decisions shared

Mon., Dec. 2, 2024  - Registration opens

Thurs., Mar. 27, 2025 - Registration closes

Fri., Apr. 11, 2025 - Conference Day

If you have any questions please contact Dr. Brianna Johnson, CIRC committee chair, at johnson.9155@osu.edu or 614-247-7112. You may also visit go.osu.edu/interculturalrelations or go.cotc.edu/interculturalrelations. Thank you!