(AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSWIRE)BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS (March 2003)- "The Linkage Summit on Leading Diversity, taking place in Atlanta, Georgia from March 24-27th tackles "leveraging diversity from the top down and the bottom up," says Summit director, Robin Pedrelli.

Since businesses are struggling with falling stock prices, the war on terrorism, and low consumer spending , why would CEOs, senior executives, and diversity experts from organizations as eclectic as Coca Cola, Harvard University, Fannie Mae, the FBI, Kodak, Ernst & Young, and Cingular Wireless take the time to attend Linkage's fourth annual Summit on Leading Diversity? Henry Ryan, Harvard University's director of human resources services answers that question: " Retention and upward mobility of our diverse population continues to be our most urgent workforce challenge and this conference will help us to better understand what we must do to remain an employer of choice."

A press conference will be held on Wednesday, March 26th from 9:45-10:30 am at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia, Atlanta, Georgia. It will feature CEOs appearing in a morning panel (see below), leading diversity experts and organizations such as Cingular Wireless, Ernst & Young, Harvard, Kodak, and NASA.

The conference opens with a keynote address by the mother/daughter team of Coretta Scott King and Bernice King, minister/attorney. Susan Taylor of Essence magazine, Maria Hinojosa, CNN correspondent and author and Mark Williams CEO of the Diversity Channel and author of The 10 Lenses: Your Guide to Living and Working in a Multicultural World will also deliver keynote addresses. Attendees will reflect on a sea of diversity challenges plaguing organizations across the country including:

1. CEOs/Visionary Leaders Talk about Diversity
* Edie Fraser, CEO of the Business Women's Network and Diversity Best Practices (an iVillage company) , will moderate a panel featuring Chairman &CEO of AFLAC, Dan Amos, and President & CEO of BMC Software, Bob Beauchamp. They will reveal why diversity registers so high on their radar screen and how it has impacted their bottom line.
* A Wharton Business School study, "Value Creation through Diversity" funded by Pitney Bowes will be presented. The research provides empirical proof that if properly managed, diversity will boost productivity and quality of output.
* The pending Supreme Court case on affirmative action at the University of Michigan and its impact on admissions and recruitment programs in and outside education will be discussed.
* Keeping the executive team walking and talking diversity and not making racially insensitive Trent Lott-like statements will be covered.
* Fannie Mae (ranked #1 on FORTUNE's 50 Best Companies for Minorities) will discuss designing accountability, compensation and incentive systems.

2. How the Economy, the War on Terrorism, and International
Events Impact Diversity in Organizations
*Shell Oil Company's Global Diversity Team will deliver a case study on challenges, benefits and pitfalls of launching a global diversity initiative.
* Despite the Columbia space shuttle tragedy, a team from NASA will present. Pamela Covington, Director of EEO and Diversity at headquarters states: "NASA is diversifying for the future. Participating in this conference is an opportunity to share and to grow as we strive to be one of the best employers."

3. Expansion into New Markets-Asians, Latinos, African Americans, Gay/Lesbian/Bisexuals/Transgender) -are Driving a Strategically Focused Business Case For Diversity
* Asians, Blacks, and Hispanics have a combined disposable income of $1.3 trillion (FORTUNE). Conference attendees will examine how organizations are adapting to meet the needs of these groups as consumers and employees.
* Gays and Lesbians have $450 billion in buying power (www.diversity best practices.com). FleetBoston Financial will present on sexual orientation and gender identity at work.

4. A Look at Emerging Frontiers in Diversity
* White males as diversity partners-Diversity and white men are often viewed as an oxymoron. White male expert, Bill Proudman, will discuss how to get this emotionally charged topic out of the closet.
* BlueCross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (one of Working Mother's 100 Best Companies to Work For) and Bright Horizons (recipient of the 2003 FORTUNE magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For) will co-present on Work/life
Programs that Impact Employee Productivity

5. The Benefits of Strategic Philanthropy and Diversity Outreach-A special networking reception will focus on diversity outreach and strategic philanthropic efforts between corporations and community/non-profit organizations. A panel presentation will include: Janine Fondon -Publisher of UnityFirst.com/African American Newswire, Diane Gingold-writer for FORTUNE and president of DG &A, Juan Johnson, vice president of Coca-Cola Company and George Fraser, author and networking guru.

Martha R.A. Fields, author of Indispensable Employees: How to Hire Them. How to Keep Them and conference co-chair sums up what the conference offers: "Our hope is that every participant will leave the conference armed with an action plan and fresh ideas to broaden their organization's diversity horizons."

Linkage, Inc. is the leading provider of organizational development and corporate education programs, products and services to Fortune 1000 companies, for and non-profit organizations, government entities, and colleges and universities.

Contact: Robin Pedrelli Contact: Ericka Newsome
Phone: (781) 402-5469 Phone: 404-995-4544
Email: rpedrelli@linkage-inc.com Email: enewsome@porternovelli.com

###

NOTE FROM AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWSWIRE: If you run this article, please forward the hard copy news clip or an web address for where the article is posted on the Internet. Send the clips to: African American Newswire, P.O. Box 80837, Springfield, MA 01138 or forward via email, to jfondon@unityfirst.com All participating publishers will be recognized for their great work. Also, to be included on African American Newswire's preferred list for advertisers, we invite you to send your publication to us on a regular basis. Please call Janine Fondon, if you have questons: 800-286-3659.

###