The Rainbow PUSH Automotive Project, an initiative of the Citizenship Education Fund, will convene its 14th Annual Rainbow PUSH Global Automotive Summit, October 2-3, at the MGM Grand Detroit Meeting & Events Center in Detroit. This year’s theme, “Economic Parity: Driving The Plan For Success,” addresses the release of the Rainbow PUSH Diversity Automotive Scorecard.
The Rainbow PUSH/CEF Global Automotive Summit provides viable solutions in an industry that is still
recovering from significant economic downturns. The Summit’s ultimate goal is to bring inclusive
strategies to the forefront of the global business landscape as an endeavor to identify, sustain and
grow ethnic suppliers, dealers, media outlets, advertising agencies and firms that provide professional
services.
Summit conversations will include community and industry leaders discussing The Assault on Diversity at the Leadership Town Hall Breakfast. As the automotive industry bounces back and reaches
unprecedented growth rates and profitability, African American automotive suppliers and dealers have
dwindled to an alarming rate. Automotive leaders will also Speak on Diversity: The Business Case during the Business & Education Awards Luncheon. The Summit will conclude by recognizing living legends and emerging leaders in the automotive industry.
“We will continue to celebrate diversity within the automotive industry by recognizing companies whose business model embodies inclusion. However, we will also highlight those companies that resist diversity,” said Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., president and founder of Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
“Minority consumers support automotive companies with more than 22 percent of new vehicle purchases, yet some companies’ diversity plans continue to lag woefully. This is unacceptable.”
In January the Rainbow PUSH Automotive Project released an Automotive Diversity Scorecard to provide a snapshot of each manufacturer’s success of building and sustaining diversity and inclusion. The Automotive Diversity Scorecard is the basis for the establishment of unbiased diversity standards that will be presented at this year’s Summit.
The Summit sponsors include (but are not limited to) Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Toyota Motor Sales USA, Chrysler Group, Honda, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Subaru and Volkswagen.
For more information about registration for the 14th Annual Rainbow PUSH/CEF Global Automotive Summit visit www.rainbowpush.org.