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Rev. Jesse Jackson Opens Detroit Office To Help Minority Auto Dealers and Suppliers Compete

12 January 1998

Rev. Jesse Jackson Opens Detroit Office To Help Minority Auto Dealers and Suppliers Compete

    DETROIT, Jan. 12 -- Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., will announce
at a press conference the opening of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Michigan
office in Detroit, which will focus primarily on automotive issues.  The press
conference will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 13, in the Eurripides
Room on the 2nd floor at the International Center/Atheneum Hotel, 100 Brush
Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.  Following the press conference Jackson will attend
an 11:30 a.m. private reception and speak at a luncheon, both sponsored by the
Economic Club of Detroit.  Rev. Jackson will also speak at a reception at the
Detroit Athletic Club from 5 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. hosted by minority auto
suppliers and dealers.  The remainder of the evening with Jesse Jackson will
include a Music Hall concert fundraiser from 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. featuring
The Knew Temptations and The Floaters.
    According to Rev. Jackson, positioning minority auto dealers and suppliers
to achieve market excellence is a full-time endeavor, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
Michigan's goal is to implement changes that will result in a stronger
business climate for minority auto dealers and suppliers.  This new office,
placed on the auto industry's front line, will enable Rev. Jackson and his
staff to monitor progress of the automotive industry as it relates to
minorities and will give minority entrepreneurs a vehicle to voice their
concerns.  In addition, the Rainbow/PUSH Michigan office will provide
assistance to Ford Motor Company, General Motors and Chrysler by working with
minority dealers and suppliers.
    Rev. Jackson has been consulting closely with auto industry leaders to
explore new markets, new talent and new capital.  This effort comes at an
exciting time, as Detroit undergoes changes and faces new forms of
competition.

    The Rainbow/PUSH Michigan attention will be directed toward:

    -- Providing more business opportunities and awarding more meaningful
         business, contracts and franchises to African Americans
    -- Hiring and promoting African Americans
    -- Increasing African American managerial participation
    -- Increasing African American participation on corporate boards

    Rev. Jackson's initiative comes in response to numerous complaints
received by personnel at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, about the lack of
minority equality within the auto industry.
    In April 1997, Rev. Jackson hosted a luncheon in Chicago.  He heard from
nearly 50 African American auto dealers and suppliers.  Most described a lack
of commitment on the part of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler in creating an
atmosphere of fairness for African American entrepreneurs.
    In May 1997, Rev. Jackson launched a series of meetings with
representatives from The Big Three, minority auto dealers and suppliers.
    General Motors, at the request of Rev. Jackson, began developing a process
through which an independent reviewer could assess the problems facing
minority dealers and suppliers in crisis.  More importantly, General Motors
agreed this review should include its entire minority program.  This
evaluation will determine if systematic problems have lead to the failure of
minority businesses.

SOURCE  Margo E. Williams & Associates, Inc.