Name: Designing for Equity: A Conversation with Omari Souza
Start: 2026-02-24T17:30:00-05:00
End: 2026-02-24T20:30:00-05:00
Location: Grand Rapids African American Museum & Archives (GRAAMA)

Designing for Equity: A Conversation with Omari Souza

Join author, designer, professor, and founder Omari Souza for a rich conversation on his new book, Design Against Racism!
About this Event

Join members of Steelcase and the BeBIG Business Inclusion Group in-person for an inspiring and future-focused conversation with Omari Souza, founder of the conference and thought leader in the intersection of design, culture, and equity. Omari will share stories, strategies, and insights from his newest book— Design Against Racism: Creating Work That Transforms Communities—and unpack how design can be leveraged as a powerful force for justice, belonging, and community transformation. Check out his video,

What to Expect

A keynote conversation with Omari Souza
Insights on actionable strategies for embedding equity into design practice and organizational culture
Opportunities to connect with peers committed to inclusive, justice-centered design
Space for Q&A and audience dialogue
Following the conversation will be hosting an afterglow with a Jamaican-inspired meal and non-alcoholic beverages.

Together with Omari, we’ll dive into themes such as:

Design as a catalyst for equity and systemic change—and how the design industry can evolve to serve more people, more fairly.
Language as both a barrier and a tool for resistance, shaping narratives and power structures within the built environment and cultural systems.
Afrofuturism and Hip-Hop Architecture as frameworks that unlock innovation, community-centered design, and new possibilities for justice-oriented work.
Designing with communities, not just for them, aligning deeply with Steelcase’s mission to create meaningful, human-centered experiences that help all people thrive.

Agenda: