Chrysler Group African American-History Month Celebration Highlighted By a Visit from Dr. Dorothy Height
- Height, author and Chairwoman of the National Council of Negro Women, will be the keynote speaker on February 26
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 10 -- Chrysler Group launched a month-long celebration of African-American History Month last week in conjunction with the DaimlerChrysler African-American Network (DCAAN), one of the Company's six employee resource groups.
To culminate the Company's activities, DCAAN invited Dr. Dorothy Height, noted civil rights leader, author, and Chairwoman of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), to speak at DaimlerChrysler's Auburn Hills headquarters on Thursday, February 26. As the head of the NCNW, Height continued the dream of educator Mary McLeod Bethune and lobbied for the rights of the less fortunate, while tirelessly pushing the importance of quality education for all people.
"This celebration is designed to foster awareness of African American History Month and to display the many contributions of African Americans," said Frank Fountain, Chrysler Group Senior Vice President and Executive Sponsor of DCAAN. "Dr. Height's presence is a wonderful example to everyone of how you can succeed when you continue to strive forward, and you dedicate your life to service for others."
In addition to Dr. Height's visit, the Company also will display several exhibits throughout the Auburn Hills facility during the month of February. "Jazz in Detroit Before Motown," a collection from the Museum of African- American History, will be featured at the Auburn Hills Headquarters, along with a collage featuring DCAAN's Board of Directors. An exhibit that lists several African-American owned dealerships, companies and Chrysler Group suppliers, also will be on display throughout the month.
Other highlights of Chrysler Group activities include a broadcast series of facts about African-American history on the company's internal television network to its worldwide operations, along with broadcasts featuring commentary from Chrysler Group's African-American executives, suppliers about the historical and cultural importance of African-American History Month.
Lisa Wicker, Senior Executive -- Diversity Strategies & Operations, and the Co-Chairs of the Company's Diversity Council, Nancy Rae, Senior Vice President - Human Resources, and Tom LaSorda, Executive Vice President - Manufacturing, will broadcast messages to the employees via the internal television network.
The Origins of Black History Month
Chrysler Group's observation of African American History Month is part of the national celebration that began in 1926 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a black historian and educator, introduced Negro History Week. Woodson chose a week in February because both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas celebrated birthdays during that time. In 1976, the Association for the Study of Afro- American Life and History succeeded in promoting the week of celebration into Black History Month.
Dr. Dorothy Height
Dr. Height joined the NCNW in 1937 under the tutelage of Mary McLeod Bethune. As an internationally renowned speaker and activist, she worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960s and participated in almost every civil and human rights event during that time. She has received awards from former President Ronald Reagan and the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom Award from the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute for humanitarian efforts. Additionally, 24 honorary degrees have been bestowed upon her from institutions such as Spelman College in Atlanta, Princeton University in New Jersey, and Central State University in Ohio.
Dr. Height is a graduate of New York University with a Master's degree in Educational Psychology and a past president of Delta Sigma Theta, one of the oldest African-American sororities. In addition to Chairwomen, she is currently President Emeritus of the NCNW.
Chrysler Group's commitment to diversity is an enterprise-wide initiative that includes its dealers, suppliers, business partners and employee network. Chrysler Group has six Employee Resource Groups - African American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, People of Diversity (GLBT), and Women. The volunteer organizations, which are open to all employees, work in tandem with Chrysler Group's Diversity Office to help create and implement diverse initiatives that embrace the entire employee body.
