American Association for Affirmative Action Commends the Obama Administration for Supporting Equal Opportunity and Diversity
American Association for Affirmative Action Commends the Obama Administration for Supporting Equal Opportunity and Diversity in Education Programs
Association of Equal Opportunity Professionals Applauds the Departments of Education and Justice for Issuing Guidance that Supports Educational Opportunities for All Students
For Immediate Release
December 5, 2011
Contact:
Shirley J. Wilcher, Executive Director
202-349-9855; 240-893-9475
Washington, DC, December 5, 2011 – The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of more than one thousand equal opportunity, affirmative action and diversity professionals and institutions highly commends the Obama Administration for issuing guidance that recognizes the “benefits that flow from achieving a diverse student body.” Citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2003 decisions in Gratz and Grutter v. Bollinger the US Departments of Education and Justice issued a joint guidance document that explains what colleges and universities can lawfully do to promote a diverse student body. In so doing, the Obama Administration has stated unequivocally that educational institutions can voluntarily consider race among other factors to promote student body diversity.
“What the Departments of Education and Justice have done is to correctly interpret the Supreme Court’s decisions and to allay any concerns that colleges and universities may have had that their efforts to achieve a diverse student body were inconsistent with the law,” said AAAA President Gregory T. Chambers. “The Administration rightly acknowledged that programs to promote access, equity and diversity benefit all students and assist those who have been historically disadvantaged to compete in the global marketplace,” Chambers added.
OCR and Justice acknowledged the legal necessity of seeking race-neutral alternatives unless they are unworkable and of using a holistic and individual assessment of the student, with race as one of many factors. Institutions can also use socio-economic status, geography, a history of hardships, or percentage plans as in the State of Texas, as additional considerations. What is significant is that the Administration has encouraged recruitment to broaden the pool of qualified applicants, partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUS) and “feeder schools” that are identifiable based on their demographics. This expands upon the range of schools that selective colleges and universities may currently use in their admissions considerations; schools that heretofore (e.g. college prep schools) may have benefited only students who were economically or racially advantaged.
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. We assist our members to be more successful and productive in their careers. We also promote understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access, equity and diversity in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
Affirmative Action Association Announces Nominees for Civil Rights and Diversity Awards
American Association for Affirmative Action will present the awards at its annual Access, Equity and Diversity Summit, June 30, 2011 in Atlantic City
For Immediate Release: June 13, 2011
Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher
202-349-9855
240-893-9475
Washington, D.C., June 13, 2011 – Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez, Edward M. Kennedy and Arthur Fletcher are among the civil rights luminaries being remembered by the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) when it awards individuals and organizations whose work has helped to advance the rights of all. On June 30, 2011 the awards ceremony will take place at the Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Blvd., Atlantic City, New Jersey. This year, AAAA will co-host the program with the New Jersey Affirmative Action Officers' Council. The theme of this year's conference is "EEO and Diversity: A Strong and Prosperous Nation Secured through a Fair and Inclusive Workplace."
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA assists its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
Nominees for the prestigious awards include: William H. Brown, III, Esq., attorney and former Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, for the Arthur A. Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award; Service Members Legal Defense Network, the Ivy Planning Group and Luke Visconti, President and Founder, DiversityInc., for the Champion of Diversity Award; Nadine Vogel, Founder and President of Springboard Consulting, and LGBT Rights Advocate Dan Savage and “The It Gets Better Project,” for the Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award; Dr. Lisa McBride, Special Assistant to the President for EEO/University Ombudsperson at California University of Pennsylvania , and Wanda E. Sloan, M.S., Diversity and Staff Development Specialist, Blackhawk Technical College, for the Rosa Parks Award; and Jose D. Alcántara, president of the NAACP of Pleasantville, N.J., for the Cesar Estrada Chavez Award. Flonzie Brown Wright has been nominated to receive the Drum Major for Justice Award in honor of her years of service and to acknowledge the “She-roes” of the Civil Rights Movement, including the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Rides.
“We are pleased to honor these nominees for their hard work and sustained commitment to equal opportunity and inclusion,” said AAAA President Gregory T. Chambers. “We wish to thank all of the individuals who nominated this impressive group of champions for access, equity and diversity,” added ReNeé S. Dunman, Immediate Past President and Awards Committee Chairperson. At the Awards Luncheon the New Jersey Affirmative Action Officers’ Council will confer the Paul Morris Smith Scholarship, an annual award for a deserving student.
The Awards Ceremony will take place at the Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Boulevard, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 08401, on June 30, 2011, at noon. The press is invited. For more information about the AAAA Awards, go to: http://www.affirmativeaction.org/awards.html
To register for the Summit or to obtain tickets to the Awards luncheon, go to: http://www.regonline.com/builder/site/default.aspx?EventID=927781
American Association for Affirmative Action AnnouncesAccess, Equity and Diversity Summit and Annual Meeting 2011
Atlantic City, New Jersey
June 28 – 30, 2011
U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Chair Jacqueline Berrien * U.S. Department of Labor OFCCP Director Patricia A. Shiu * TV and Radio Host Armstrong Williams * Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford * Mississippi Freedom 50th Manager Flonzie Brown Wright * DiversityInc Founder Luke Visconti * Dr. Paul Winkler, Commission on Holocaust Education and other National, State and Local officials will participate
“EEO and Diversity: A Strong and Prosperous Nation Secured Through a Fair and Inclusive Workplace”
For Immediate Release: June 8, 2011
Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher
202-349-9855
240-893-9475
Washington, DC, June 2, 2011 – The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals, announced its Access, Equity and Diversity Summit and Annual Meeting themed “EEO and Diversity: A Strong and Prosperous Nation Secured Through a Fair and Inclusive Workplace.” The Summit is being held at the Atlantic City Convention Center, One Convention Blvd, Atlantic City, N.J. 08401, on June 28 – 30, 2011. The Summit theme is derived from the vision statement of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This year’s summit will be co-hosted by the New Jersey Affirmative Action Officers’ Council.
Featured speakers include Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford; Jacqueline Berrien, Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Patricia A. Shiu, Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, U.S. Department of Labor; and Flonzie Brown Wright, Manager of the Mississippi Freedom 50th. Ernest Hicks of Xerox Corp. will introduce Chair Berrien and Luke Visconti, founder and publisher of DiversityInc, will preside at the AAAA Awards Luncheon on June 30th.
The Summit will also feature a Diversity Showcase Seminar on June 29th and panelists will include: Armstrong Williams, TV and Radio show host; Steve O. Michael, Arcadia University and the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE); Robin Parker, Beyond Diversity Resource Center; Anjali Thakur-Mittal, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; Veronica Villalobos, Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, U.S. Office of Personnel Management; and from France (via Skype), Professor Marie-Christine Pauwels-Borel, University of Paris Ouest, Nanterre la Défense. Ms. Jeannine LaRue will moderate the panel. Panelists will explore the relationship between affirmative action and diversity.
The Summit will also explore the issue of “Equity in Education” at the elementary/secondary level. This plenary session will feature Stephanie James Wilson, Amistad Commission (NJ); Dr. Gilda Rorro Baldassari, NJ Italian and Italian American Heritage Commission; Dr. Paul Winkler, Commission on Holocaust Education; and Dr. Paula C. Rodriguez Rust, Spectrum Diversity. Hope R. Blackburn, Esq. will moderate the panel.
The Summit will offer two pre-conference workshops, one on Faculty Recruitment and Retention, and a Boot Camp for EEO practitioners titled “All You Need to Know as an EEO/AA/Diversity Professional.” In addition, there will be twelve workshops. Workshop topics include: “Workplace Bullying: Practical and Legal Issues,” EEOC’s Systemic Program and Equal Pay Efforts,” “Supporting Disability in the Workforce: Not Just a Strategic Advantage, a Business Imperative,” and “Designing Harassment E-Learning in Higher Education: Challenges and Opportunities.” Another workshop will present the results of a survey on “Academic Institutions as Federal Contractors: Exploring Challenges in Compliance.”
“We are excited about the training and educational sessions available,” said AAAA President Gregory T. Chambers. The conferees will also discuss strategies to promote affirmative action and diversity in the face of economic headwinds and legal challenges to end it. “This conference is filled with opportunities to galvanize and design a proactive plan to advance an agenda of more inclusion and opportunity,” said President Chambers.
The AAAA Summit is open to the press. For more information, go to www.affirmativeaction.org. To register for the Summit, go to: http://www.affirmativeaction.org/conference.html
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA assists its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
The New Jersey Affirmative Action Officers’ Council (NJAAOC) is a member-driven organization composed of equal employment opportunity and affirmative action (EEO/AA), diversity, and human resources professionals. The NJAAOC was created through the efforts of EEO/AA practitioners in state government and officials from the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, Division of EEO/AA in 1983.
American Association for Affirmative Action
THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 10925
THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL ORDER MANDATING
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN EMPLOYMENT
For Immediate Release: March 10, 2011
Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher 202-349-9855
Washington, DC - March 10, 2011 - The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity professionals, acknowledges the first presidential order mandating affirmative action in federal contractor workplaces. Executive Order 10925 was signed by President John F. Kennedy on March 6, 1961.
Executive Order 10925 imposed on all covered contractors a general obligation requiring positive steps designed to overcome obstacles to equal employment opportunity. In the order, the President incorporated two fundamental concepts: nondiscrimination and affirmative action.
SECTION 301. Except in contracts exempted in accordance with section 303 of this order, all government contracting agencies shall include in every government contract hereafter entered into the following provisions:
In connection with the performance of work under this contract, the contractor agrees as follows:
(1) the contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, or national origin. The contractor will take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin. Such action shall include, but not be limited to, the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=58863
In signing the order, President Kennedy implemented the recommendations of President Eisenhower's Committee on Government Contracts, headed by Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The committee wrote:
Overt discrimination, in the sense that an employer actually refuses to hire solely because of race, religion, color, or national origin is not as prevalent as is generally believed. To a greater degree, the indifference of employers to establishing a positive policy of nondiscrimination hinders qualified applicants and employees from being hired and promoted on the basis of equality.
"Affirmative action was, at its inception, a bi-partisan issue, supported by Democrats and Republicans alike. It was also a call to take positive steps in removing the barriers to equal employment opportunity," said Gregory T. Chambers, president of AAAA.
In fifty years there has been much progress for women and minorities in the workforce, higher education and in contracting. In 2011, we have more diversity in all of these sectors and in the White House itself. Much remains to be done, however, as evidenced in the nearly one-hundred thousand charges of discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last year.
Since 1961, affirmative action policies have become law both in the United States and throughout the world. While controversial in some sectors, it remains one of the most effective means of removing barriers in hiring, promotions and pay, from the entry level to the executive suite.
Executive Order 10925 was modified by President Johnson's Executive Order 11246 and subsequent laws that are now enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). "We acknowledge the foresight and courage of President John F. Kennedy in signing Executive Order 10925 in 1961," added Mr. Chambers. "We must continue the legacy of the Kennedy Order and work to achieve the vision of equity and fairness through positive action in employment, education and government contracting."
American Association for Affirmative Action
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800 * Washington, D.C. 20006
*(202)-349-9855 *(800) 252-8952 * Fax: 202-355-1399 *
For information about the AAAA Access, Equity and Diversity Summit
Atlantic City Convention Center, June 28 - 30, 2011
Email: aaaa2011summit@affirmativeaction.org
www.affirmativeaction.org
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American Association for Affirmative Action
Statement on the Passage of Arizona's Proposition 107 to End Affirmative Action Programs
Association of diversity and civil rights professionals denounces the passage of Arizona's Anti-Affirmative Action Initiative
For Immediate Release: November 4, 2010
Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher (617) 298-4156
We, members of the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), regret that the people of the Great State of Arizona chose to limit the opportunities of those who have suffered discrimination by virtue of their race, gender, ethnicity, national origin and color. Proposition 107 purports to bar discrimination and so-called preferences, but laws against discrimination have existed since 1964. Federal laws and regulations prohibit quotas and other forms of preferential treatment. So, why was this initiative necessary? Because the sponsors of this unfortunate legislation misrepresented affirmative action and equal opportunity programs as denying opportunities for some, when these laws are intended to level the playing field that has been uneven for centuries. Affirmative action programs prevent discrimination and remove barriers against those for whom the doors of opportunity have been closed.
This nation will not be as great as it can be if those who have the talent and qualifications find their opportunities limited by race, gender, ethnicity, national origin or color. While much progress has been made since 1964 the glass ceiling still exists, unemployment rates for minorities exceed those of non-minorities and charges of discrimination filed with civil rights agencies number in the thousands. As President Lyndon Baines Johnson said, "It is not enough just to open the gates of opportunity. All our citizens must have the ability to walk through those gates."
The people of Arizona have spoken. Perhaps one day they will comprehend the true impact of their decision. Limiting the opportunities of some will ultimately affect us all.
Gregory T. Chambers
President
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800 * Washington, D.C. 20006
*202-349-9855 ex 1857 * Fax: 202-355-1399 *
www.affirmativeaction.org
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American Association for Affirmative Action
Opposes Arizona's Proposition 107 to End Affirmative Action Programs
Association of diversity and civil rights professionals urges Arizona voters to vote "No"
For Immediate Release: October 29, 2010
Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher (240) 893-9475
Washington, DC, October 29, 2010 - The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an association of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals founded in 1974, calls upon Arizona voters to reject Proposition 107, whose intention is to end state affirmative action programs. On Election Day, the electorate will vote on the so-called Arizona Civil Rights Initiative, which will amend Article II of the state constitution. The language of the Initiative is:
"Discrimination or preferential treatment prohibited
Section 36. This state shall not discriminate against or grant preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education or public contracting."
This is a creature of Ward Connerly, the former University of California Regent who spearheaded Proposition 209 that ended affirmative action in the state. A form of Proposition 209 was passed in Washington State, Michigan and Nebraska.
AAAA President Gregory T. Chambers stated: "Proposition 107, along with others sponsored by Ward Connerly and the American Civil Rights Institute, have only one purpose: to end the advances made by women and minorities in employment, education and contracting." Affirmative action laws were added as a means of promoting equal opportunity and remedying the effects of discrimination. "Affirmative action is necessary and fair, prevents discrimination and gives everyone an opportunity to compete regardless of race, ability or gender" added Mr. Chambers. "It minimizes the preferences that some have enjoyed for centuries."
Discrimination is grounded in prejudice resulting in unjust exclusion of qualified individuals in the workplace, academe and government contracting. There is a well-established history of discrimination against Asians and Hispanics as well as African Americans, women and individuals with disabilities. As demographic changes increase the numbers of those individuals in the USA, it is important to ensure that they have the opportunity and preparation to take their rightful place among today's and tomorrow's leaders. Forty-five years is too soon to end a program that promotes diversity and redresses years of exclusion.
AAAA urges Ward Connerly and interested voters to visit the website (www.affirmativeaction.org) and contact the leadership if they have questions about affirmative action, how it works and what it is intended to accomplish. "If you are truly concerned about equal opportunity for all, have a dialogue with us in order to be properly informed about affirmative action law and policy," said Mr. Chambers.
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800 * Washington, D.C. 20006
*202-349-9855 ex 1857 * Fax: 202-355-1399 *
www.affirmativeaction.org
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Hispanics and Asians
American Association for Affirmative Action
Responds to Senator James Webb's Call to End Affirmative Action for
Hispanics and Asians
Association of diversity and civil rights professionals invites
Virginia Senator to meet and discuss what Affirmative Action is and is not
Washington, D.C. - July 27, 2010 The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an association of equal employment opportunity (EEO), diversity and affirmative action professionals founded in 1974,expressed dismay regarding Senator James Webb's opinion editorial in the Wall Street Journal. In his op-ed titled "Diversity and the Myth of White Privilege," (July 22, 2010), Senator Webb called for the end of Affirmative Action programs, except for those intended for African Americans. The Association wrote a letter to the Senator on July 27, 2010, and stated:
We agree with your assessment that nondiscrimination laws should be applied equally among all citizens. You may not know, however, that anti-discrimination laws, which banned discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in 1964 as well as disability and
veterans' status in 1973 and 1974, protect everyone, including white men and women.
The Association explained that national origin discrimination was among the original covered
categories in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 because of the persistent exclusion of individuals who,
by virtue of their language, ancestry, culture or birthplace were denied access to employment or
educational opportunities. "Affirmative action laws were added as a means of promoting equal
opportunity and remedying the effects of discrimination," said Gregory T. Chambers, AAAA President. "Affirmative action is necessary, fair, prevents discrimination and gives everyone an opportunity to compete regardless of race, ability or gender," he added.
Discrimination is grounded in prejudice resulting in unjust exclusion of qualified individuals in
the workforce, academe and government contracting. There is a well-established history of
discrimination against Asians and Hispanics as well as African Americans, women and individuals with disabilities in the USA.
AAAA urged Senator Webb to meet with its leadership in Washington, DC in September. "We invite the Senator to have a dialogue with us in order to be properly informed about affirmative action law and policy," said Mr. Chambers.
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA helps its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities. For more information about AAAA and Affirmative Action, go to www.affirmativeaction.org.
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800 * Washington, D.C. 20006
*202-349-9855 ex 1857 * Fax: 202-355-1399 *
www.affirmativeaction.org
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American Association for Affirmative Action Announces
Access, Equity and Diversity Summit and Annual Meeting
Raleigh, North Carolina
June 30 ? July 1, 2010
?The Work Goes On, the Cause Endures? and the Dream Shall Never Die?
Outstanding equal opportunity, diversity and civil rights professionals meet in Raleigh, North Carolina to discuss affirmative action and equal opportunity challenges
Three of the ?Greensboro Four? who staged historic demonstration at Woolworth?s will receive a special award
Washington, June 1, 2010 ? The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals, announced its Access, Equity and Diversity Summit themed ?The Work Goes On, the Cause Endures? and the Dream Shall Never Die.? The Summit is being held at the Raleigh Marriott City Center, 500 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, on June 30 ? July 1, 2010. The Summit theme is derived from a speech given by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy and will acknowledge his legacy as a champion of civil rights. Conferees will also address the progress being made to continue the work for equity, opportunity and inclusion since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other laws.
Featured speakers include Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker; Dr. James Johnson, William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of strategy and entrepreneurship and director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center, University of North Carolina; Dr. James Anderson, Chancellor, Fayetteville State University; Pamela Arnold, president, American Institute for Managing Diversity; Motivational Speaker Andres Lara ?The Cuban Guy;? Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor John Beverly; Amy Hirsh, Job Accommodation Network; and lawyers Valerie Hoffman, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, and Mickey Silberman, partner with Jackson Lewis LLP. Federal agency officials Evelyn Teague, Regional Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and Regional Attorney Katherine ?Abby? Coles, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, will provide federal agency updates. Michael Leach, Chair of the Raleigh Human Relations Commission; Benjamin D. Reese, Vice President, Office for Institutional Equity, Duke University; and Tameka Green, Diversity Generalist at Compass Group North America will discuss the critical issue of ?Maintaining Diversity in an Era of Downsizing.? Frank L. Matthews, founder of Diverse Issues in Higher Education, will moderate this panel. To update participants on how to comply with current federal mandates, presenters Julia Mendez Fuentes, Director, Workforce Compliance and Diversity Solutions, Peopleclick Authoria; and David Cohen, President of DCI Consulting Group will join Mickey Silberman.
In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Greensboro Sit-in at Woolworth?s, three of the former students who staged the sit-in will receive a special award: Major General Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain and Jibreel Khazan. AAAA will also confer an award for disability rights in recognition of the contributions of the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy and to acknowledge the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
?We are excited about the training and educational sessions available,? said AAAA President ReNee Dunman. AAAA will offer two preconference workshops this year. One will address harassment prevention and the other will provide instruction on the federal hate crimes legislation and its implications for higher education. Attorneys Robert ?Bob? Gregg, the Boardman Law Firm; and Jacqueline Conforti Barnett, Associate Chief Counsel to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) will provide the training. Presenters have been selected to ensure diverse, cutting edge workshops for attendees who include equal opportunity, affirmative action and diversity professionals representing every imaginable entity in employment, government, education and the private sector. The conferees will also discuss strategies to promote affirmative action and diversity in the face of economic headwinds and legal challenges to end it. ?This conference is filled with opportunities to galvanize and design a proactive plan to advance an agenda of more inclusion and opportunity,? said President Dunman.
The AAAA Summit is open to the press. For more information, go to www.affirmativeaction.org. To register for the Summit, go to: https://www.regonline.com/aaaa_2010_summit.
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800 * Washington, D.C. 20006 *202-349-9855 ex 1857 *
Fax: 202-355-1399 * www.affirmativeaction.org
Join ?Friends of Affirmative Action?
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and Annual Meeting
American Association for Affirmative Action Announces Award Winners at its Access, Equity and Diversity Summit and Annual Meeting
Outstanding leaders in civil rights, access for the disabled and veterans rights will receive association honors at upcoming Summit in Raleigh, NC
Three who staged historic sit-in at Woolworth?s will be celebrated
Washington, D.C. - June 16, 2010 The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals, announced the award recipients who will be honored at its upcoming Access, Equity and Diversity Summit and Annual Meeting, June 30 ? July 1, 2010. The Summit will be held at the Raleigh Marriott City Center, 500 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC. The Summit theme: "The Work goes on, the Cause endures and the Dream shall never die," is based on a speech given by the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and the association will remember the Senator at the Summit. The three living members who staged a sit-in at Woolworth?s in Greensboro, N.C. in 1960 will also be recognized.
This year, the AAAA's awardees are: the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) and Military Missions in Action, Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award; Cheryl Queen and Rick Stone, Compass Group North America, Cesar Estrada Chavez Award; Major General Joseph A. McNeil, Franklin E. McCain, and Jibreel Khazan of the "Greensboro Four," Rosa Parks Award; RiseSmart, Champion of Diversity Award; and Dr. James H. Johnson Jr., the William R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor of strategy and entrepreneurship and director of the Urban Investment Strategies Center, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Drum Major for Justice Award.
AAAA President ReNe? S. Dunman commended the awardees for their contributions to the cause of equal opportunity, access and diversity in their various fields. "All of these award recipients have shown through their good works an outstanding commitment to equal opportunity. They are to be commended for their lives in service to the disadvantaged and are distinguished role models for the next generation," she said.
Cesar Estrada Chavez Award
The Cesar Estrada Chavez Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated leadership in support of workers' rights and humanitarian issues. Under the leadership of Cheryl Queen and Richard Stone, the Compass Group partnered with a South Florida workers' rights organization, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, to increase the wages and improve the working conditions of mainly Latino, Mayan Indian and Haitian immigrants working in low-wage jobs throughout the state of Florida.
Rosa Parks Award
The Rosa Parks Award is presented to an individual who has served as a role model and leader to others through personal achievements, excellence in a chosen field, commitment to human rights, civil rights, and social issues, and contributions to the betterment of society. Major General Joseph McNeil, Franklin E. McCain and Jibreel Khazan are honored for their history-making sit-in at Woolworth's in Greensboro, NC in 1960.
Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award
The Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Award is presented to an individual or organization demonstrating outstanding service to a community based organization or issue. In honor of the late Senator Kennedy, AAAA changed the name of this award in recognition of Kennedy's lifetime of service. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), one of two Kennedy Community Service Award honorees, is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. Working toward practical solutions that benefit both employer and employee, JAN helps individuals with disabilities enhance their employability and shows employers how to capitalize on the value and talent that people with disabilities add to the workplace.
Military Missions in Action (MMIA), located in Fuquay - Varina, NC, provides needed services to veterans who have suffered serious injury resulting in disabilities. The majority of Military Missions in Action's services involve home modifications needed to enable independent living for disabled veterans on their return from service. MMIA is the second Edward M. Kennedy Community Service Awardee.
Champion of Diversity Award
The Champion of Diversity Award is given to an organization or corporation that has demonstrated an outstanding level of dedication to AAAA's mission of fostering equal opportunity as well as exhibiting outstanding commitment to diversity. RiseSmart, the 2010 recipient of the Champion of Diversity Award, is a "next generation" outplacement company headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA, and boasts a very ethnically diverse staff serving those seeking employment opportunities.
Drum Major for Justice Award
The Drum Major for Justice Award was first given in 2008 to recognize two former members of Congress who had contributed a lifetime of work for equal opportunity through affirmative action. The original recipients were Rep. Augustus F. Hawkins (D-CA) and Rep. Parren Mitchell (D-MD). This year, AAAA recognizes Dr. James H. Johnson Jr., the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, for his research and leadership in the areas of community and economic development, the effects of demographic changes on the U.S. workplace, interethnic minority conflict in advanced industrial societies, urban poverty and public policy in urban America, and workforce diversity.
For more information, go to www.affirmativeaction.org. Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA helps its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800 * Washington, D.C. 20006 *202-349-9855 ex 1857 *
Fax: 202-355-1399 * www.affirmativeaction.org
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American Association for Affirmative Action Acknowledges Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens on the Announcement of His Retirement
Association commends the Retiring Justice for his support of Equal Opportunity through Affirmative Action
Washington, D.C. - April 12, 2010The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an association of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals, hailed Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court John Paul Stevens for his record of jurisprudence in support of equal opportunity for all Americans. He will be missed. AAAA?s President, ReNe? S. Dunman stated that, ?Justice Stevens took principled stands in support of minorities and women who seek to take their rightful places in education, employment and business enterprise.? Since his confirmation in 1975, Justice Stevens understood the distinction between racial classifications that were intended to exclude and affirmative action, which is intended to aid those who suffered past discrimination and to promote diversity. As he eloquently wrote, there was a difference between a "No Trespassing" sign and a "welcome mat." Justice Stevens also recognized the authority--
of the US Congress to remedy discrimination against minorities and respected Supreme Court precedent, including Brown v. Board of Education.
AAAA urges the President of the United States to nominate and the Senate to confirm a successor who will continue the judicial record established by Justice Stevens. This is not the time to close the doors of equal opportunity. AAAA looks forward to a justice that will execute his or her Constitutional responsibility fully and fairly in the years to come. Ms. Dunman added: ?We look forward to seeing a Court that represents all Americans on the First Monday in October.?
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA helps its members to become more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
Register for the AAAA Access, Equity and Diversity Summit and Annual Meeting
Raleigh Marriott City Center,
Raleigh, NC
June 30-July 1, 2010
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800 * Washington, D.C. 20006 *202-349-9855 ex 1857 *
Fax: 202-355-1399 * www.affirmativeaction.org
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American Association for Affirmative Action
Announces New Leadership for 2010 - 2012 on
November 5, 2009
Washington, D.C. - November 5, 2009 ? Washington, D.C. - November 5, 2009 - The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an association of equal employment opportunity (EEO), diversity and affirmative action professionals founded in 1974, announced the results of its recent membership election for the leadership whose term begins April 2010 and ends in 2012. "We are delighted to have such outstanding leaders in the field of equal opportunity and affirmative action to take the helm of this organization in the years to come," said current AAAA President ReNe? S. Dunman, Esq.
For president, the association elected Gregory T. Chambers, EEO, Affirmative Action and Diversity Manager, Delaware River and Bay Authority. Mr. Chambers was formerly with the Office of Management and Budget, Human Resource Management, State of Delaware. Chambers currently serves on the AAAA Board as Region III director. For First Vice President, Joni Baker, Ph.D., Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, The Texas A & M University System, was elected. Ms. Baker currently serves as Secretary of the Association. AAAA's new Second Vice President,Willyerd R. Collier, Sr., Esq., is the founding Director of the Office of Affirmative Action at the University of Arkansas located in Fayetteville Arkansas. Attorney Collier is presently a Member-at-Large of the AAAA board.
The new AAAA Secretary is Carmen Suarez, Ph.D., who recently joined the University of Idaho as the Director of Human Rights, Access and Inclusion. Ms. Suarez was formerly Director, Office of Diversity and Equity, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. The AAAA Treasurer is Melvin Williams, the current Director of Diversity and International Affairs in the Human Resources Department, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX. Mr. Williams is currently director of AAAA's Region VI. President Dunman, who is Assistant Vice President, Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, Old Dominion University, will serve on the board as Immediate Past President in 2010.
The new AAAA officers will join a board with a diversity of backgrounds in higher education, government, private industry and law. Among the members of the board are Matthew J. Camardella, Esq., Jackson Lewis, LLP, Long Island, NY; Jo Bennett, Esq., Stevens and Lee, Philadelphia, PA; Julia Fuentes, PHR, CELS, Peopleclick, Inc., Metairie, LA; John D. Gonzales, JDG Associates, San Antonio, TX.; Harry Payne, CUNY- QCC, New York, NY; Huda Melky, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY; Marshall Rose, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH; Francesca Galarraga, Iowa State University, Ames, IA; Charles Batey, Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO; Sandra Lewis, SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY; John Burnett, Ph.D., Texas A&M University, Kingsville, TX; Myron Anderson, Metropolitan State College of Denver, Denver, CO; and Inderdeep Chatrath, Ph.D., Duke University.
The Association recognizes the outstanding service and contributions of the outgoing leadership team including Alvin Bingham, First Vice President, State of Connecticut, Hartford, CT; Deborah Burris, Second Vice President, University of Missouri, St. Louis; and Andreen Neukranz-Butler, Treasurer, Chicago, IL.
##American Association for Affirmative Action
Expresses Disappointment in Supreme Court's New Haven Firefighters Decision on
Tuesday June 30, 2009
Washington, D.C. - June 30, 2009? The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an association of equal employment opportunity (EEO), diversity and affirmative action professionals founded in 1974, expressed disappointment in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Ricci v. DeStefano case, handed down on June 29, 2009. In Ricci, the City of New Haven, CT., administered a test for firefighter promotional opportunities and subsequently chose not to proceed when the results showed "adverse impact", i.e., that none of the African-American candidates would have been eligible for promotion. Ricci, a successful white candidate, filed suit alleging that the city's decision was unconstitutional and violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court found for the white plaintiffs and held that the city violated Title VII because it needed to establish a "strong basis in evidence" that the exams were not job related or that another, less discriminatory test existed.
"This 'strong basis in evidence' test creates a higher burden for employers who discover that their selection processes may have an adverse impact on women or racial groups," said ReNee Dunman, AAAA's president. "Without articulating what the 'strong basis in evidence' standard means, or remanding the case so this issue can be explained, this ruling also places employers between a rock and a hard place: if they find that their selection processes have an adverse effect on some racial groups or women, they have to risk litigation if they use the tests or if they don't." The Court's decision will lead to confusion and to more litigation. The decision also creates an expectation by the successful candidates that they will be hired or promoted based on the results of the test and effectively limits the employer's discretion.
A majority of the Court acknowledged that employment discrimination continues to exist, however. Total discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission increased 15% in one year from 82,792 in FY 2007 and 95,402 in FY 2008. Fire Departments around the country, including in New Haven, have a long history of excluding minorities and women, and that history is often perpetuated today through vestiges of arbitrary selection procedures from a bygone era. As Justice Ginsburg wrote, "Firefighting is a profession in which the legacy of racial discrimination casts an especially long shadow." Employers and governments continue to have an obligation to take proactive measures to end discrimination.
Despite the Court's disappointing ruling, the law continues to require employers to avoid policies that are discriminatory in practice, and there is a range of steps that employers can take to make sure they are providing equal opportunity in the workplace. "We call on the President (and the civil rights agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice) to work with dispatch and issue guidance for employers on their equal opportunity obligations in light of this decision," added Ms. Dunman.
##NEWS RELEASE
American Association for Affirmative Action Announces
35th Annual Conference
?Winning the Fight for Equity, Opportunity and Inclusion?
Outstanding equal opportunity, diversity and civil rights professionals meet in Chicago area to discuss affirmative action challenges
For Immediate Release: March , 2009 Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher
Washington, March , 2009 ? The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals, announced its 35th Annual Conference ?Winning the Fight for Equity, Opportunity and Inclusion,? being held on April 1 -4, 2009, at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lincolnshire, IL, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069. ?Where the challenges to equal opportunity through affirmative action are immense, this is the premier meeting to address these issues,? said ReNee Dunman, president of AAAA. This marks the first conference since the historic election of an African American as president of the United States. The question that arises in this purported ?post-racial? era is, ?What is the future of affirmative action and diversity programs? Have we won the fight for equity, opportunity and inclusion?? Dunman added.
?We are excited about the myriad sessions available this year,? said AAAA President ReNee Dunman. ?Presenters have been selected carefully to ensure diverse, cutting edge workshops for attendees who include equal opportunity, affirmative action and diversity professionals representing every imaginable entity in employment, government, education and the private sector.? The conferees will also discuss strategies to promote affirmative action in the face of legal and legislative challenges to end it. ?AAAA subscribes to the theory that the best defense is a great offense. This conference is filled with opportunities to galvanize and design a proactive plan to counter our opponents,? said the AAAA president.
For more information, go to www.affirmativeaction.org.
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA helps its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
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888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800 * Washington, D.C. 20006 *202-349-9855 ex 1857 *
800-252-8952 * Fax: 202-355-1399 * www.affirmativeaction.org
MEDIA ADVISORY
American Association for Affirmative Action
Hosts
TOWN HALL MEETING ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
?AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN A ?POST ? RACIAL? ERA?
Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lincolnshire, IL
Saturday, April 4, 2009, 9:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
For Immediate Release: March 24, 2009 Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher, AAAA (240)
893-9475
Washington?To culminate its 35th Annual Conference, the American Association
for Affirmative Action (AAAA) is hosting a Town Hall meeting on a topic that
is current and timely: Affirmative Action in a so-called Post-Racial Era. This
year, much has been said about the election of the nation?s first African-American
president. Some have even suggested that his election indicates that America
is no longer challenged with issues of discrimination and inequality. Thus,
they argue, affirmative action is no longer needed. The panelists participating
in AAAA?s Town Hall meeting on Affirmative Action will address the question,
?Is Affirmative Action needed in a presumed ?post-racial?
(and post-gender) era??
AAAA is proud to have outstanding panelists for the AAAA Town Hall on Affirmative
Action: Laura S. Washington, moderator, is the Ida B. Wells-Barnett University
Professor at DePaul University in Chicago and a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times.
Naomi Tutu, daughter of Bishop Desmond Tutu, is founder of the Tutu Foundation
and Associate Director of the newly formed Office of International Programs
at Tennessee State University in Nashville. N. Keith Chambers is Executive Director
of the Illinois Human Rights Commission. Anjali Thakur is Deputy Director for
Field Operations and Director of the Americans for a Fair Chance Project for
the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. Lauren Sugerman, an elevator mechanic,
is co-founder of Chicago Women in Trades and Gregory Cendana is Vice-President
of the United States Student Association. The general public is invited. For
more information, go to www.affirmativeaction.org.
What: Affirmative Action Town Hall Meeting with American Association for Affirmative Action and Leading Experts
Where: Lincolnshire Marriott Resort, Lincolnshire, IL, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069, Toll-Free #: 800-228-9290, Phone: 1-847-634-0100
When: Saturday, April 4, 2009 - 8:30 a.m. ? 9:00 a.m. Press Availability with Panelists;
9:15 a.m. ? 11:15 a.m. Town Hall Discussion
American Association for Affirmative Action Forms Partnership
With
National Diversity Publication
Washington, DC. (December 9, 2008) ? The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), a non-profit association dedicated to the promotion of affirmative action as an instrument to fulfill the nation?s promise of equal opportunity for all under-represented groups has formed a partnership with the Affirmative Action Register (AAR), a leading national equal opportunity employment magazine and website. Established in 1974, AAR has been expanding the publication and website under new ownership, from being solely a resource for employment, to a vehicle that helps job seekers and employers manage human resources, career planning, and all issues surrounding inclusion in today?s work environment. The partnership with the American Association for Affirmative Action is another step toward that goal.
Also founded in 1974, The American Association for Affirmative Action?s mission is to nurture understanding of and offer advice on affirmative action to enhance access and equity in employment, economic and educational opportunities. The Association is composed of individuals and organizations from the public and private sectors, business, social service, legal, government, and education.
?We are pleased to join a publication with a longstanding commitment to equal opportunity and diversity,? said ReNe? S. Dunman, President of AAAA.
?We are proud to partner with such an esteemed organization as AAAA, to reach our common goal of increasing the inclusion of historically excluded groups in employment, education and business,? said Holly Mendelson and Lenore Pearlstein, owners of AAR. ?We know that by working together, we can help to further creation of a society that provides genuine equality of opportunity.?
For further information, please contact Shirley J. Wilcher, Executive Director, AAAA, at 202-349-9855 or email execdir@affirmativeaction.org. Contact Holly Mendelson at Potomac Publishing, Inc. at 314-863-2900 or email hmendelson@aarjobs.com.
About Affirmative Action Register
Since 1974, Affirmative Action Register (AAR) was, and remains today, at the forefront of locating diverse candidates for organizations and businesses that embrace the necessity and understand the importance of creating a workforce that reflects the world around them. Purchased by Potomac Publishing in 2007, the publication and website help connect diverse professionals to diverse careers. Potomac Publishing, Inc. is a WBENC-certified business.
For more information about AAR, please visit www.aarjobs.com.
About American association for affirmative action
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmative Action is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. They help their members to be more successful and productive in their careers. They promote understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
For more information about AAAA, please visit www.affirmativeaction.org.
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AAAA Mourns Passing of Augustus F. Hawkins, Champion of Education and Equal Employment Opportunity
Date: 11-13-2007 06:34:57 PM CST
Message:
The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), a national membership organization of equal employment opportunity (EEO), affirmative action and diversity specialists, mourns the passing of Augustus F. Hawkins, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the California State Legislature. Augustus Gus Hawkins, who served in the legislative branch for more than half a century, was the original Drum Major for Justice, said AAAA President ReNee Dunman. He was a trailblazer, serving as the first African American in the California Legislature and the second African American to chair the important US House Committee on Education and Labor. In the Congress, Hawkins was the co-author of the Humphrey Hawkins bill and co-sponsored the equal employment provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This legislation established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Congressman Hawkins lived a life of leadership and service and advanced the principle of equal opportunity throughout his illustrious career, Ms. Dunman added.
During the 1980s, Rep. Hawkins helped to defend affirmative action when the former Attorney General attempted to end it. When Rep. Hawkins disagreed with an administration, he did so in a manner that was gracious and respectful, said Shirley J. Wilcher, AAAA executive director and former staffer to the Hawkins committee. He knew how to disagree without being disagreeable. Hawkins co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971. When he retired in 1990, he served as director of the Hawkins Family Memorial Foundation of Educational Research and Development. Mr. Hawkins believed in equal education opportunity and dedicated his life to achieve it, added Wilcher. Representative Hawkins understood that the doors of opportunity must be kept open for all. Augustus F. Hawkins was 100 years old when he passed on Saturday, November 10, 2007. AAAA will miss Representative Hawkins' gentlemanly leadership and steadfastness in the face of adversity and prejudice. His was truly a life well-lived, said Ms. Dunman.
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmation Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA helps its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
AAAA Launches Enhanced Professional Development and Training Institute November 4 - 9, 2007
Date: 10-03-2007 08:51:54 AM CDT
Message:
For Immediate Release
October 2, 2007
Contact: Shirley J. Wilcher
617-298-4156
240-893-9475
execdir@affirmativeaction.org
American Association for Affirmative Action
Launches Enhanced Professional Development and Training Institute, November 4 - 9, 2007
Affirmative Action Association Tailors its Training for New Equal Opportunity and Workplace Diversity Demands
The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), a national membership organization of equal employment opportunity (EEO), affirmative action and diversity professionals, is hosting its Professional Development and Training Institute (PDTI) at the National Conference Center, Lansdowne, VA, November 4th through 9th, 2007. PDTI is one of the foremost training programs for affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity specialists in higher education, government and private industry.
Course offerings include Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Law; Affirmative Action Plan Development; Complaint Processing, Counseling and Resolution; Its About Respect: Preventing and Eliminating Harassment; Functional Affirmative Action Program Development (FAAP); Systemic Discrimination: Identifying the Problem and Avoiding the Risk; Mediation; Federal EEO Management; Fundamentals of Diversity Management - Part A and Creating a Best-in-Class Diversity Strategy. "This is the most comprehensive listing of EEO and affirmative action courses that AAAA has ever offered. It is also the most timely, addressing compliance issues and the emergence of diversity management as a profession in today's multicultural workplace," said Marjorie Powell, AAAAs chair of the PDTI Committee. PDTI faculty includes former officials of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, U.S. Department of Labor; college and university professors; civil rights lawyers and outstanding affirmative action and EEO professionals.
Individuals who successfully complete the prescribed PDTI courses receive the Certified Affirmative Action Professional (CAAP) certificate. Courses may qualify for HRCI credit. To register for the November PDTI program, go to: https://www.regonline.com/November. The National Conference Center is located at: 18980 Upper Belmont Place, Lansdowne, VA 20176 - Main Phone: 703.729.8000, Main Fax: 703.729.5382.
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American Association for Affirmative Action
888 16th Street, NW, Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20006
202-349-9855
202-355-1399
www.affirmativeaction.org
AAAA mourns the death of Lady Bird Johnson
Date: 07-13-2007 07:32:56 AM CDT
Message:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Contact: Joyce A. Pratt 609-748-0936
The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) mourns the death of Lady Bird Johnson, supporter of civil rights and women's rights
Washington, D.C. -- The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA) mourns the death of Lady Bird Johnson, supporter of civil rights, women's rights, early childhood learning, and maintaining the country's natural beauty. AAAA extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Johnson. America lost one of the most beneficent women to grace the great State of Texas and, indeed, the entire nation. "Mrs. Lyndon B. (Lady Bird) Johnson's personal strength in speaking out about racism and advancing the cause of equal educational opportunity contributed tremendously to the social reforms of the 1960s from which we have all benefited," said ReNee S. Dunman, president of AAAA.
"In April, we were honored to have met her daughter, Luci Baines Johnson Turpin, during our 33rd Annual Conference in Austin, Texas. Ms. Turpin gave a stirring presentation to our members at the LBJ Library and Museum," stated Ms. Dunman. "It is gratifying to know Lady Bird Johnson's humanity lives on within her family."
AAAA Calls Supreme Court Decision on School Desegregation Cases "A Blow to Equal Opportunity in Education"
Date: 07-02-2007 08:21:35 AM CDT
Message:
For Immediate Release: June 28, 2007
Contact:
Shirley Wilcher (240) 893-9475
Joyce Pratt (609) 748-0936
The Court's decision to strike down the Louisville, KY and Seattle School desegregation plans is a tragic blow to the spirit of Brown v. Board of Education
Washington - The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of equal employment opportunity (EEO), diversity and affirmative action professionals founded in 1974, condemned the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education (Louisville) and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District (Seattle) as "a tragic blow to the spirit of Brown v. Board of Education." "Our nation's school districts must be encouraged to promote integration and equal opportunity for all students. Severely limiting the use of race in school desegregation efforts will have a chilling effect on such efforts," said AAAA president ReNee S. Dunman.
"While we are pleased that the Court specifically distinguished this case from diversity programs in the higher education context, which it addressed in Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), we believe that the school desegregation programs that the Court struck down were consistent with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. This Amendment is intended to bring us together across lines of difference and to provide opportunities, not deny them. The Court's decision, unfortunately, limits the ability of local school districts to tailor programs to the realities on the ground," she added.
"In Grutter v. Bollinger, the University of Michigan decision in 2003, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor suggested that we should not need affirmative action in higher education in 25 years. The only way that that prediction has the remotest chance of becoming reality is if we strengthen our elementary and secondary schools to enable all children to have a quality education. Today's decision may make this prediction less likely," commented Ms. Dunman. In the Bakke decision, Justice Blackmun wrote that in order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. The Court under Alito and Roberts has set back the progress of America's children by ignoring the reality of race in this nation.
Integrated education provides benefits not only to minority students but also to majority students and the population at large. Research shows that the critical thinking skills of all students improve in racially diverse classrooms. Diverse learning opportunities make all students better problem solvers and communicators, and kids in diverse schools are less likely to develop racial stereotypes or prejudice. Without such integration, we face a generation of young adults who will be unprepared in an increasingly diverse global economy and nation.
"In our view, this is a reminder of how important it is that the Senate closely review all nominees to the federal courts, and confirm only those judges that show a commitment to fulfilling the promise of our Constitution - including the Equal Protection Clause. We plan to work with the U.S. Congress which, like the Court, has the authority and the responsibility to fulfill the promise of Brown vs. Board of Education and the 14th Amendment to the Constitution", added Ms. Dunman.
AAAA stands committed to partnering with members of the civil rights community and local leaders in Louisville, Seattle, and other communities around the country. Together we will pursue the crucial goal of diverse, inclusive, quality education for all of our children.
Founded in 1974, the American Association for Affirmation Action (AAAA) is a national not-for-profit association of professionals working in the areas of affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity. AAAA helps its members to be more successful and productive in their careers. It also promotes understanding and advocacy of affirmative action to enhance access and equality in employment, economic and educational opportunities.
AAAA Opposes New Efforts by Right Wing Groups
Date: 06-11-2007 03:40:35 PM CDT
Message:
For Immediate Release
June 8, 2007
Contact:
Shirley Wilcher (240) 893-9475
Joyce Pratt (609) 748-0936
AAAA Opposes New Efforts by Right Wing Groups to Use Immigration Legislation to Undermine Affirmative Action
Efforts to Exclude Immigrants Violates America's Promise of Fairness and Equality
The American Association for Affirmative Action (AAAA), an organization of equal opportunity, diversity and affirmative action professionals, opposes efforts by the American Civil Rights Institute and other right wing groups to severely limit the scope of affirmative action laws by excluding new immigrants. "Affirmative action laws have historically included groups who have suffered discrimination on the basis of national origin," said AAAA President ReNee Dunman. "To eliminate longstanding protections for those who come to this country seeking opportunity, fairness and equality is unconscionable," she added. "This is a bold move to weaken all affirmative action laws that benefit women and persons of color."
"Just as "Knowledge is power," so too is the lack of knowledge when this failing is used to further short-sighted ambitions. Members of opposition groups don't mind exploiting the fact that many Americans are unaware that there are federal and state laws banning discrimination and racial preferences," Dunman added. "Affirmative action is a remedy for past discrimination as well as a means of preventing current and future exclusionary practices. Affirmative action laws also specifically prohibit preferential treatment."
This new anti-affirmative action effort is also aimed at one immigrant population in particular -- Hispanics. It is a fact that Hispanics, many of whom can trace their ancestry to the western territories before the United States existed, have historically suffered discrimination on the basis of national origin and race. Newly-arrived Hispanics, many of whom will confront these national origin-based stereotypes and biases, deserve to benefit from programs designed to remedy the effects of such discrimination. Discrimination, prejudice and bigotry on the basis of race, color or national origin are not simply relics of the past. They are current realities.
"We urge Congress to proceed with its deliberations and ignore this thinly-veiled effort to divide us and foment rancor against immigrant Hispanics and all beneficiaries of affirmative action," added Ms. Dunman.