Stephen Pemberton

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, WSU and the MIDC will host a symposium, "From Best Practices to Next Practices: A New Paradigm for Creating and Sustaining Workforce Diversity," at the Wayne State University Law School's Spencer M. Partrich Auditorium, 471 W. Palmer. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Stephen Pemberton, divisional vice president and chief diversity officer for Walgreens and A Chance in the World author, will deliver the keynote address. Pemberton, who became the first-ever chief diversity officer of an Internet company during his tenure at Monster.com, will discuss the current challenges organizations face in attracting diverse talent, and how they can create structures and processes to address those challenges.

"Stephen is a renowned leader on matters of diversity and inclusion who has helped change the way corporations do business," said Victor Green, director of community relations for Wayne State. "We are excited to have him and our panel of experts discuss the challenges facing institutions in sustaining diversity practices, as well as opportunities to maximize the potential of individuals and organizations."

The daylong symposium kicks off with a networking reception and breakfast, followed by panel discussions moderated by WDET's Jerome Vaughn. Panelists include: Stefanie Thornton, director of talent acquisition, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Lynne Sebille-White, senior assistant director of employer relations, the Career Center, University of Michigan; Adam Kaplan, founder of Big Tent Jobs; and Gayle Hamilton, director of the Labor Studies Center, Wayne State University.

For more information or to register for the symposium, visit http://www.michigandiversitycouncil.org/. Tuition is $25 for MIDC members and $75 for nonmembers. The HR Certification Institute has preapproved this activity for 2.5 general recertification credits.

About Michigan Diversity Council
Michigan is among the first states in the country to form a state affiliate of the National Diversity Council. Launched in April 2009, the Michigan Diversity Council complements existing diversity initiatives in Michigan by providing ongoing learning opportunities, discussion and best practice sharing among leading companies and diversity professionals.

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Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.