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

Washington (PRWEB) March 9, 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 at the Lincolnshire Marriott, Lincolnshire, IL, April 1 - 4, 2009. Conferees will address the progress being made to win the fight for equity, opportunity and inclusion since the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other civil rights laws.

Featured speakers include Naomi Tutu of the Tutu Foundation and daughter of Bishop Desmond Tutu; Shanta Driver, Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, Integration & Immigrant Rights and Fight for Equality By Any Means Necessary (BAMN); John Trasvina, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.; Jim Ward, ADA Watch; Randolph Lowe, California Governors' Committee on the Employment of Individuals with Disabilities; Juan Andrade, United States Hispanic Leadership Institute; Michael Yaki, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Native American Activist William A. Means; Chicago civil rights lawyer Thomas "TNT" Todd, Esq., Julieanna Richardson, "Founder of the HistoryMakers"; Megan O'Malley, National Employment Lawyers Association; Gregory Cendana, U.S. Student Association; Lauren Sugerman, Chicago Women in Trades; Anjali Thakur, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights; and corporate leaders Joyce Tucker of the Boeing Company, Yvette C. Burton of IBM and Chris Marin of Cisco. Representatives from Federal agencies including the Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will also attend.

"We are excited about the myriad training and educational 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 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 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.

###