7:30 – 8:00am: Check-In & Breakfast 8:00 – 8:45am: Welcome & Featured Speaker Bukata Hayes 8:45 – 9:00am: Final Networking & Closing Remarks
This year’s speaker is…
Bukata Hayes
Vice President, Racial and Health Equity,
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
Biography
Bukata Hayes… The most important thing about Bukata is that he is the son of Dia Damani and Karen Hayes, husband to Lisa and father to Damani, Jalen, Zavier, and Zuri. In addition to this, he recently became the first-ever VP for Racial and Health Equity at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. Prior to that, he served for 15 years as the Executive Director of the Greater Mankato Diversity Council, a non-profit, focused on diversity, inclusion and equity in Southern Minnesota since September, 2006. In March 2020, he co-authored a book titled, WRITE on RACE to be RIGHT on RACE Resource Journaling Guide which is a self-study on race highlighting its many impacts on our communities. He also co-hosts a southern MN based radio show and podcast called DEI: Engaged Exchanges which discusses issues with diversity, equity and inclusion with local and statewide leaders. Bukata received his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. He has membership and/or is on the board of numerous organizations such as the Mankato Chapter of the NAACP (Executive Committee), Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Board (President), Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation Board (Chair) and the Blandin Foundation Board.
Thank you to our 2023 sponsors!
If you are interested in being a sponsor, contact Sarah Lindner, Director of Advancement, at sarah.lindner@darts1.org or 651-234-2229.
About the Breakfast
Every spring, DARTS hosts an inspirational speaker and a chance to give back. The Annual Fundraising Breakfast is a chance to bring together people who believe the aging journey matters. We are all aging. Let’s join together to enrich the aging journey.