Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/3106
Brooklyn Bridge, New York, NY. (800) 696-7818 May 21 Black Business Association Black Business Day Awards luncheon Honoring Outstanding Entrepreneurs, Los Angeles, CA. (323) 291-9334 May 22-24 Tampa Bay Travel, Adventure & Culinary Experience, Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL. For more information con- tact Kelly Mullins at (314) 481-8100 ext. 105 or toll-free at (877) 785-TRAVEL (8728) ext. 105. May 23-24 Tampa Bay Travel, Adventure and Culinary Experience, Tampa Convention Center, Tampa, FL.. For info call toll-free 1-877-785-8728 ext. 100 May 25-28 EEI Supplier Diversity Conference, Sheraton Wild Horse, Chandler, AZ. (202) 508-5549 May 27-30 Black Coaches and Administrators, Inc. 2009 BCA National Convention & Expo, Indianapolis, IN. (317) 829-5600 May 27-31 Destined for Branson 2009 Sales & Educational Conference, Branson, MO. (800) 993-3244 May 27-31 National Conference of Black Mayors, Inc. Commemorating 35 years if Black Mayors in America, Las Vegas, NV. (404) 765-6444 June 2-4 Entertainment Software Association's (ESA) Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA. For more information, please visit www.the-ESA.com . June 3-5 National Urban League 40th BEEP Annual Leadership Conference, Atlanta, GA. (212) 558-5300 June 3-7 Urban Financial Services Coalition, Inc. 35th Annual National Conference, Dearborn, MI. (202) 289-8335 June 4-7 Alabama Dental Society Annual State Meeting, Destin, FL. (205) 939-4912 June 6 3rd Annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair, Leimert Park, Los Angeles, CA. (323) 7430-0628 or www.leimertpark- book-fair.com. June 6-9 25th Annual AMAC/FAA Airports Business Diversity Conference, Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, Baltimore, MD. (703) 414-2622 June 8-11, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Conference & Expo, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL. http://www.nfpa.org/conference June 9-11 NXTcomm/Diversity NXT, McCormick Place Center, Chicago, IL. www.diversitynxt.org June 9-11 Women in Business 2009: Sharing the Vision, San Francisco, CA. (202) 872-5515 June 10-11 HSMAI's Affordable Meetings West, San Jose, CA. www.affordablemeetings.com Black Meetings & Tourism February/March 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 34 Start with your human resources department. Most HR pro- fessionals be-long to the Society of Human Resource Management. Many of these trainers are either members themselves or work closely with other HR professionals who work closely with diversity trainers. You might want to try the Association of Diversity Councils. Their website suggests numerous tools available to assist in the development and implementation of the diversity objec- tives. Check credentials. There are many trainers out there whose claim to fame is having attended a few workshops. If these people get into your company they can cause more harm than good. This training is meant to build up a company not tear it down. Here's a word of caution about any diversi- ty-training program. A dear friend of mine gave a presentation to an audience equally mixed with U.S. citizens and citizens from several foreign countries. Her presentation was geared to a U.S. audience where she often used the phrase "minority" referring to African- Americans. She wound up spending her entire presentation dodging questions from what soon turned out to be a rather hostile audience. The moral of the story is simply this, for those organ- izations that have a global presence, make sure you understand the sensibilities of those in attendance at your multicultural training sessions. As my friend learned, the term "minority" didn't sit well with her audience and the term "diversity" is not all that well accepted either. And for those who have avoided this issue for so long, we all know who you are even if you don't think we do, and that leaves us to pon- der is it racism or insensitivity. Continued from page 13 Continued on page 51