Spelman Leadership And Women Of Color Conference Aims For Civility
ATLANTA, May 2010 – LEADS at Spelman College will host its annual Leadership and Women of Color Conference to create a blueprint for improving civility in America, May 12 and 13 in Atlanta.
The 2010 conference, themed “Building Civil Communities for Change,” will unite top leaders from the public and private sectors to address the critical role that increased civility must play in our dealings with each other. Through critical research, proven strategies and best practices, the conference will provide tactics to build strong communities based on civil interactions.
“At all avenues, we are struck by the unimaginable lack of decorum and respect displayed in society today,” said Jane E. Smith, Ed.D., executive director, LEADS at Spelman College. “This incivility can lead to misinformation, deep discord and ineffective leadership in our workplaces, communities, households and even in our government. However, this timely conference will convene a group of thought leaders to offer their ideas and voices to the most important dialogue of the year.”
The conference will address: the importance of women in building and sustaining civil societies; the influence of civility on public discourse and behaviors of individuals and groups; the role of media in promoting and fostering civility; how to leverage civility to strengthen and elevate the workplace; and case studies demonstrating the power of civility in leadership.
The Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference features a dynamic list of speakers who will lend their powerful voices to the dialogue including:
• Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, president, Spelman College
• Dr. Robert Michael Franklin, Jr., president, Morehouse College
• Dr. Jane E. Smith, executive director, LEADS at Spelman College
• Laurie Robinson, vice president and assistant general counsel, CBS Corporation
• Sara Manzano-Diaz, director, U.S. Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau
• Beverly Wright, former five-term chairperson, Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head/Aquinnah
• Alicia Diaz, director, Legislative Policy & Government Relations, Cuban American National Council
• Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in-chief, Essence Magazine
During the conference, Spelman will also honor individuals and institutions that demonstrate unmatched leadership in shaping and enhancing the role of multicultural women and others in the United States and around the world. Ann Cramer, former director of Citizenship and Corporate Affairs for IBM, will be lauded along with a diverse group of four additional awardees who serve as role models for civility.
The conference offers networking opportunities for multicultural executives, human resources leaders, diversity managers, community and civic leaders, as well as representatives from across a broad range of the public and private sectors.
The two-day event will be held at the Hyatt Regency and the Spelman College campus, respectively. For registration, schedule and additional details, please visit www.spelmanwomenofcolorconf.com. Attendees can also follow the conference on Facebook and Twitter.
About Spelman College:
Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a prestigious, highly selective, liberal arts college that prepares women to change the world. Located in Atlanta, Ga., this historically black college boasts a 79 percent graduation rate, and outstanding alumnae such as Children's Defense Fund Founder Marian Wright Edelman; former U.S. Foreign Service Director General Ruth Davis, authors Tina McElroy Ansa and Pearl Cleage; and actress LaTanya Richardson. More than 83 percent of the full-time faculty members have Ph.D.s or other terminal degrees, and the average faculty to student ratio is 12:1. More than 2,100 students attend Spelman. For more information, visit www.spelman.edu.
About LEADS at Spelman College
LEADS at Spelman College builds on the legacy of the private, historically Black institution by creating and teaching a leadership model based on the historic influences, experiences and achievements of Black women worldwide. Through a variety of campus-based student initiatives, community and public programs, LEADS supports Spelman women’s choice to change the world by preparing them to be effective global leaders. For more information, visit www.spelman.edu.
