Among the ACC’s initiatives during Unity Week:

• Social media
• All league social handle profile pictures will feature the ACC UNITE logo
• The ACC will highlight specific themes of UNITY each day of the week (below)
• The Conference office will produce a video highlighting our institution’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• ACC has provided all student-athletes a UNITE wristband to wear during the week
• UNITE logo will be included in ACCN television broadcasts
• Packer and Durham/ACCN to wear UNITE shirts and wristbands on air
• Virtual roundtable hosted by Dalen Cuff on former ACC Trailblazers (ACC Unite: No Struggle, No Progress) on Monday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. 
• Feature on Duke field hockey student-athlete Darcy Bourne on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 10 p.m.
• Unity Week information and initiatives will be highlighted on the league’s communications platforms

ACC Unity Week Daily Themes – “Leadership Matters”
•  Monday, Feb. 22: “Why Leadership Matters” – the importance of leadership in unifying people for a common, positive goal
•  Tuesday, Feb. 23: “What Leaders Do You Admire?” – celebrating the leaders who inspire us
•  Wednesday, Feb. 24: “Leadership In The Community” – highlighting those who demonstrate leadership by service to their community
•  Thursday, Feb. 25: “I Lead By” – demonstrating leadership in different forms and styles 
•  Friday, Feb. 26: “We Are All Leaders” – everyone is a leader, despite position or title
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For the first time, the Student Leadership Symposium, a program sponsored by the , will be on UofL’s campus. The annual event brings together 75 students from across ACC universities to work together for three days on local issues that advance students’ capacity for global leadership. Student leaders learn through educational sessions, keynote addresses and immersive experiences.

Faculty, staff and students in identified the theme of “Reaching Social Change through Storytelling” for the symposium and developed programming to support it.

“Everyone has a story and it’s so important to listen to one another in order to better understand and even more important to give agency to others that might not have the opportunity or privilege to speak up for themselves,” said Kathy Meyer, assistant director, Student Leadership.  

The event will kick off at the Muhammad Ali Center on Feb. 28 and will feature special guest Graham Shelby, storyteller and speech writer for Metro Mayor Greg Fischer. Additional speakers include Jessica Bellamy, founder of a grassroots-led organization training community members in research and data storytelling; , local writer, activist and spoken word artist; and Darcy Thompson and Joe Manning of the .

Elayne Harrington, a UofL freshman from Independence, Kentucky, said the topic was a huge draw for her and one of the reasons she applied to participate in the symposium.

“Learning how to share stories is especially important in the world right now, as that is a way for people to understand everyone’s different backgrounds, cultures and perspectives in a way that brings people together,” she said.

A highlight of the program will be a special storytelling event on Saturday evening, where 10 students will be chosen to share their personal narratives in front of their peers.

They’ll also do a service project for CASA, court-appointed advocates for abused or neglected children. The students will stuff toy mascots from each ACC university, writing a note with each one that says it was made especially by a student who cares.

“Hopefully it will inspire them to know they have special support from students all over the country,” said Harrington, who is currently interning at CASA.

Harrington, who is a psychology and communications major, said that being involved in things like the symposium is exactly what she hoped for in a college experience.

“I always wanted to go to school in a city that has a warm feeling and values diversity,” she said. “UofL allows you to be whoever you are. You don’t have to change. UofL will accept you. I’ve really gotten involved in a lot and met a lot of passionate individuals.”