NRF to Host Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Showcase

New York—The National Retail Federation will host a diversity, equity, and inclusion showcase as part of its annual conference.

The 112th annual “Retail’s Big Show” will be held in New York City at the recently expanded Javits Center from Jan.16-18.

The show was virtual last year due to COVID-19 but will be in-person once again in 2022.

The NRF DE&I Stage and Showcase will be held on Jan. 17, which is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EST.

The showcase will feature products from more than 40 Black and Latinx/Hispanic brands. 

The program will also include sessions on diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and leadership, which will be open to retailers and press only.

A session titled “The Compelling Why: Listening, Learning and Co-Creation in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion” will dive into how diversity is an asset to both companies and employees.

It will be hosted by Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, Kiera Fernandez, senior vice president of human resources and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Target, and James Rhee, founder of Red Helicopter.

In “The Achievable How—Implementing DE&I Learnings Inside Your Business” session, retail executives will share how they’ve put DE&I lessons to use in their businesses.

Speakers include Jonathan Mayes, senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer at Albertsons Companies, Christiane Pendarvis, co-president and chief merchandising and design officer at Savage x Fenty, Kimberly J. Smith, founder and CEO of Marjani Beauty, and Colleen Taylor, president of merchant services, U.S., at American Express.

The event will also include roundtable discussions and lunch.

For more information about the event or to register for the show, visit the NRF’s website.