Atlanta Hosts Shirley Sherrod At Diversity Dialogue

ATLANTA - The American Institute for Managing Diversity will host a distinguished dialogue with Mrs. Shirley Sherrod and Dr. R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr. The situation with Mrs. Shirley Sherrod and the United states Department of Agriculture which occurred earlier this year shows that there is much “unfinished business” that has yet to be resolved on our diversity journey. There is a need for more productive and illuminating dialogue of these sensitive, critical issues in our society. Managing diversity (i.e., making a quality decision in the midst of differences and similarities and their accompanying tensions and complexities) is an ongoing effort that requires awareness, skill and practice.

Thomas, president of Roosevelt Thomas Consulting and Training and Sherrod, the former USDA executive who was fired from her post when an edited video depicting her with negative racial views was distributed to media outlets, will have moderators Jovita Moore from WSB-TV, Channel 2, and Denis O'Hayer from National Public Radio (NPR) explore beyond the headlines and expose guests to the insights and lessons individuals, companies, federal agencies and countries can learn from Sherrod’s eggshell situation.

The evening dialog will be held Wednesday, December 8, 2010 with a pre-event private reception from 6:00 – 7:00 pm and the general dialogue from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Emory University Law School, Tull Auditorium. The event will include a private reception with Shirley Sherrod and book signing by AIMD founder, Dr. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., a noted diversity management pioneer and author of seven books, of which his latest is, “World Class Diversity Management: A Strategic Approach”. 

Honorary Host Committee Chairs:
The Honorable Kasim Reed, Mayor of Atlanta
Xernona Clayton, Founder, President, CEO, Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. and Executive Producer of the Foundation's Trumpet Awards
John Lewis, US Congressman, Georgia
Dr. Gerald L. Durley, Sr. Pastor, Providence Missionary Baptist Church, Diversity Leadership Academy of Atlanta, Class of 2002
Ken Lee, National President of the Organization for Chinese Americans (OCA), Washington, DC

About AIMD:
The American Institute for Managing Diversity, Inc. is one of the nation’s foremost leading nonprofit think tanks dedicated to the advancement of diversity management. Through research, education and public outreach, AIMD advances diversity thought leadership. Founded in 1984 by Dr. R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., AIMD has educated both the public and the business community about the power and the potential of diversity management for over two decades. AIMD launched the Diversity Leadership Academy®, a community-based leadership development program in diversity management, in 2001 to help strengthen communities. DLA programs are currently being replicated in communities across the country.