The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga will celebrate this year's Equal Opportunity Day with a breakfast event on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center. The EOD breakfast will feature special guest Mike Beamish, executive vice president of human resources and member of the management board for Volkswagen Group of America.
"Our theme this year, Inclusion by Design, is about the intentional involvement that reflects the total diversity of the community," said Warren E. Logan, president of the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.
"As Volkswagen becomes a driving force behind our economy we are presented with the opportunity to implement all aspects of our mission - economic empowerment, leadership empowerment and education as well as youth empowerment – in a new way. This will provide us with a starting point for a great partnership with Volkswagen and other industry leaders ensuring we are positioned to fully meet these new challenges. Now is the time for action and that's exactly what we are doing by taking steps to guarantee we have laid the proper foundation for future achievements."
Speaker Mike Beamish will focus on the impact Volkswagen will have on the Chattanooga workforce and community. Over the past 20 years Mr. Beamish has held various positions in the field of human resources, including areas such as learning and development, organizational effectiveness and operations.
The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga will present the following awards at this year's EOD: the Corporate Leadership Award, which the Board of Directors will present to a company whose employment population and practices reflects an appreciation and respect for the city's diverse population; the Humanitarian Award, honoring a local organization whose contributions have impacted not only our local community, but also the global community; and the Whitney M. Young Jr. Premiere Service Award, which recognizes outstanding services by individual(s) for demonstrated leadership and commitment to both social consciousness and civic involvement as reflected in Mr. Young's life.
Co-chairs for this year's affair are Urban League board members Ronald A. Loving, first vice chair, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's Chancellor Roger G. Brown.
Tickets for the EOD breakfast can be purchased by calling the Urban League at 423 756-1762. Individual tickets are on sale for $50 and sponsor tables of eight are available for $1,000 – including recognition on the sponsorship banner.
Businesses and organizations can receive sponsorship recognition and priority reserved seating by purchasing a single table of eight for $1,500, two tables of eight for $2,500 or three tables of eight for $5,000. Each sponsorship level offers additional recognition opportunities.