Our aim to create spaces of acceptance and belonging around the globe.
The Festival of the Diaspora is a global nonprofit event that aims to celebrate and connect humanity by encouraging inclusivity.
Next Stop, Brazil
Olá! Next year we will be honoring our global community in the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro.
Whether you've attended before or are a first-time festival-goer, we invite you to register today and experience the joy and diversity of our diasporic community.
Our Convergence
Cultivation
Dive deep into current issues and explore the latest innovations with global experts and industry leaders.
Celebration
Connect with the community and experience an electric atmosphere with nightly galas, receptions, and ceremonies
Connection
Build meaningful connections with the local community to create impact at the grassroots level.
Crossroads
Embrace the richness of the host country’s culture alongside your peers through an exclusive destination adventure
Cordell Carter Esq.
The dedicated visionary who nurtured this dream
Cordell Carter, Esq. created the Festival of the Diaspora in 2020 to establish a secular tent revival for the Americas. His motivation was sparked by a concern that political divisions were receiving excessive attention, while broader issues such as building connections and finding joy were being overlooked.
On top of founding FOTD, Cordell is also the Executive Director for the Aspen Institute Socrates Program - leading a global education forum for leaders learning from leaders and the Founding Director of the Aspen Institute Project on Belonging, which equips leaders to create a society where everyone belongs and enjoys equitable opportunities to thrive. Previous to his current roles, Cordell held leadership roles with TechTown Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Business Roundtable, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the IBM Corporation.
Cordell serves on the Board of Directors of Concordia; and the advisory boards of SkillStorm, for whom he chairs their UpSkill Together Initiative, EVPassport, a manufacturer of EV charging devices, Fvlcrum Fund, a private equity fund focused on scaling Black & Brown-led SMEs and Tulsa Innovation Labs. In June 2021, President Joseph Biden appointed him as Commissioner to the President’s Commission on White House Fellowships.
Sustainable Development Goals
Gender Equality
The Festival of the Diaspora plays an important role in promoting gender equality and empowering women by highlighting the achievements and contributions of women from diverse cultures and communities around the world. Through its emphasis on celebrating diversity, the festival supports efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and to ensure their full and effective participation in all aspects of political, economic, and public life. By showcasing the creativity, innovation, and leadership of women from diverse backgrounds, the festival helps to break down stereotypes and promote positive representations of women in the media and popular culture.
