Premier Leadership Conference to Unite the Best Minds, Best Practices to Address Workplace, Community Challenges and First 100 Days of Barack Obama's Presidency

( BLACK PR WIRE) ATLANTA, Mar. 23, 2009 – LEADS at Spelman College will host the 5th Anniversary Leadership and Women of Color Conference May 13 and 14 in Atlanta to explore how leadership, gender, culture, and economics influence civic engagement for strong communities.

The 2009 Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference, themed “Building a Community for Change,” continues important dialogue on leadership issues in the 21st century. The conference will unite top leaders from the public and private sectors to provide the necessary survival tools to acquire leadership, professional, personal, and community engagement skills to be successful during challenging economic times.

“As a nation undergoing rapid changes and unprecedented difficulties, we are experiencing high anxiety in our workplaces, communities and households,” said Jane E. Smith, Ed.D., executive director, LEADS at Spelman College. “However, the conference will assemble a team of multicultural leaders, both women and men, to offer creative and innovative solutions to help us lead through these turbulent economic challenges and to identify unique opportunities for positive, sustainable change in our professional and personal lives.”

The Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference features workshops, forums and 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. During the conference, Spelman College will honor individuals who demonstrate unmatched leadership in shaping and enhancing the role of multicultural women and others in the United States and around the world.

The two-day conference, sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, will address:
• Culture, Change and the Role of Women
• Leadership Development and Civic Engagement
• Leadership and Community Economic Development
• Civic Responsibility as a Business Proposition

Additionally, the conference will host a media panel discussion, “The First 100 Days: An Analysis of President Obama’s Change Commitment for Building Strong Communities.”

The two-day event will be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre. For registration, schedule and additional details, please visit www.spelmanwomenofcolorconf.com.