FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 11, 2004

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu

DRAKE BUSINESS LINK OFFERS FREE WORKSHOP ON DIVERSITY

The Drake University Business Link will hold a free workshop titled "How to Improve Relationships with our Diverse Co-workers and Customers" from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 19, in Olmsted Center, 29th Street and University Avenue.

There will be a video presentation by Jane Elliott, a national diversity expert noted for her innovative experiment in which she divided her all-white class into blue-eyed and brown-eyed, making each group superior or inferior on successive days. Her research demonstrated the nature and effects of bigotry by showing changes brought about in behavior and learning patterns.

After the video, a panel of local diversity experts will share their own personal experiences with race discrimination and discuss how to improve our relationships with co-workers, bosses and customers.

The panelists are Ruth Ann Gaines, a diversity consultant and trainer; Eric Johnson, assistant professor of education at Drake; Shannon Owens, a sports reporter at The Des Moines Register; and Dolph Pulliam, director of community outreach and development at Drake.
The Drake Business Link, directed by Professor of Management Delaney Kirk, was established in 2000 to foster discussions about issues of interest to local business people.

Tickets are free but seating is limited. Registration, which is required, can be completed online at www.cbpa.drake.edu/businesslink. For more information, call (515) 271-3724.

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