The National PACE Association (NPA) recently opened registration for our annual conference to be held Sept. 18-21 in Miami Beach, FL. A few members have questioned holding the conference in Florida due to the political climate in the state. We want to assure our members that NPA remains fully committed to advancing principles of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in all that we do.

This message provides a brief background on our conference site selection process, explains why we have decided to proceed with the conference, and identifies the proactive steps NPA will take to ensure DEI principles remain top-of-mind as we develop educational content, select conference locations, and strive to provide a welcoming and safe environment for all events going forward.

Conference Site Selection Process

We want to explain briefly our conference site selection process. It is important to note that we contract with hotels in host cities several years before the event. The standard criteria we use to select a hotel include venue size, cost to members, ease of access, and availability. Going forward, we will add DEI criteria to our site selection process.

In the case of this year’s conference in Miami, we contracted with the hotel in 2019 to host the annual conference there in October 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we rescheduled our contract to 2023. In the four years since we contracted with the hotel, the political climate shifted, which is very difficult to anticipate. If we were to try to change locations now, not only would we incur substantial financial penalties, it is extremely unlikely that we could find a venue to accommodate a conference of our size on short notice.

Our Decision to Proceed

Our decision to proceed with the conference in Miami was based on numerous factors:

• Amplify DEI Content: The conference will have a DEI focus, including six DEI sessions and a keynote speaker whose message will focus on building bridges between cultures.
• Promote Cultural Diversity: Diversity will be reflected throughout the conference, with a variety of cultural performances and food reflecting the strong Latin-inspired influence in Miami.
• Support PACE Education and Networking: The conference provides valuable PACE-specific educational content and networking opportunities to the more than 800 attendees.
• Honor Local PACE Programs: There are three PACE programs in the Miami area and a total of six in the state, with two more programs expected to open soon. The programs serve diverse participants – including Latino, African American and Haitian – and are prepared to host 300 attendees during site visits.
• Support Local Communities: The conference supports local communities. We encourage attendees to patronize minority-owned businesses, which rely heavily on the travel and hospitality industry.
• Recognize Bipartisan Support: PACE has enjoyed bipartisan support throughout its history, and that remains true today.