WATERVILLE, Maine (WABI) – People from across the state gathered today in Waterville for an annual diversity, equity and inclusion conference.

The 3rd Annual Better Maine Conference was an all-day event on the theme of creating equitable workspaces.

The event, organized by various organizations including Dirigo Labs, featured sessions and keynotes throughout the day.

People from different industries and startup levels shared their experiences in hopes of improving working conditions across the state of Maine.

“Being able to bridge the gap not only between the industry but also between experiences and creating these dialogues is very important. Not only for the ability to have placemaking initiatives, but also to build inclusive ecosystems,” responded Sabrina Jandreau, development coordinator for the Central Maine Growth Council.

“I think we often hear, you know, ‘Oh, Maine is one of the whitest states in the country,’ and so people think that diversity and equity and inclusion are not topics important, but I would say they are actually more important,” said Dirigo Labs Deputy Director of Innovation and Partnership Programming Emalee Hall.

The event also concluded with a viewing of the film “Show Her the Money” at the Maine Film Center in downtown Waterville.

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