October 25-31, 1.987,
oc
onor
DETROIT, MI - At its an­
nual a ards banquet held
recently, Robert T. O'Connell,
vice president and group ex­
ecutive/finance for the
General Motors Corporation,
received the Gold Key award
from the Greater Oppor-
tunities Industrialization
Center of Metropolitan
Detroit (GOIC).
The GOIC is -an affiliate of
the 23-year-old Opportunities
Industrialization Centers of
America -- a nationwide net­
wor of comprehensive
employment training programs
hich founded by Rev.
Leon H. Sullivan.
The Gold Key Award, the
organization's highest honor,
is presented annualy to the
person or group which has
made a significant contribu­
tion to the welfare and
progress of GOIC efforts and
programs. O'Connell's invol­
vement with the GOIC repre-
ents both a personal and
professional commitment.
A GM employee since
1965, he has provided consult­
ing assistance to both the na­
tional and local organizations.
Together, the General
Motors Corporation and its
G
veep
3
OIC AWARD - Robert T. O'Connell (11 r right), Vice president and group ecutive/ftn nc for
the General Moto Corpo tion, received the prestigious Gold Key Award from the Greater Op­
portuniti Industri lization Center of MetropoUtan Detroit (GOIC) t th organization' annu I
cis qu h Id recently t the city's Mercy College. Pictured congratul ting O'Connell on
.ward are (l to r): Rev. Roy A. Allen, Sr., found and board charlman of the GOIC; John
J cob, p ldent of the atio I Urban League and the evening' keynote speaker, nd Prince E.
HoUlday, d.lnn committee chalrpe on.
to "Challenge 150"
Civil Rights se
An official Sesquicenten- more progressive future is the
nial event reflecting on the focus of "Challenge 150," a
past and looking ahead to a three-day conference spon-
sored by the Michigan Civil
Rights Commission to be held
on November 16-18, in Lans­
ing at the Radisson Hotel and
l.ansing Convention Center.
This conference, centering
around the issues of educa­
tion, economic development,
employment, public health, af­
firmative action and public
racism attitudes, is designed
too strengthen a coalition of
Michigan citizens, civil and
human rights leaders, and
state and regional advocacy
groups who will help shape a
"preferred future," for
Michigan.
Featured speakers include,
the Honorable G. Mennen
Williams and Ralph Neas, ex-
Chrysler dona ion establishes fund
for human needs in Highland Park
HIGHLAND PARK -- On
October 21, The Community
Foundation for Southeastern
. chigan received $2SO,OOO
from the Chrysler Corporation
Fund to create a permanent
endowment for educational
d human service projects in
the city of Highland Park, the
home of Chrysler Corpor­
tion's world headquarters.
The projects will be under­
written by the interest from
the permanent endowment.
At check-presentation
ceremony, James L. Trolley,
Chrysler' Vice President of
Public Affairs and President
of the Chrysler Corporation
Fund, called the endowment
part of the Fund's commit­
ment to building long-range
foundation have contributed
$3.5 million to OIC chapters
across the country, and O'Con­
nell presented check for an
additional $25,000 on behalf
of the GM Foundation.
This contribution will aid
the GOIC in its efforts to
raise the reading and math
competencies of participants
eeking preparation for
General Equivalency
Diplomas (G. E. D.) and voca­
tional skills training.
In accepting the award,
O'Connell told the more than
550 dinner ttendees: "GOIC
is above all a team effort and
it has grown d ucceeded
because it had the full
commitment 0 every par­
ticipating individ d com­
pany. Since i incep . on in
1972, the GOIC had provided
recruitment, training. job
placement and employment
services to more than 12,000
of Detroit's unskilled and un­
employed. I am proud of
Ole' track record in creating
business and employment op­
portunities for minorities, and
I know of no organization that
does a better job of providing
entrepreneurial tools and
skills than OIC ... "
programs of lasting values in
communities where Chrysler
facilities are located."
Robert B. Blackwell,
Mayor of Highland Park, com­
mended the Chrysler Fund's
action, saying, -We are
pleased that Chrysler has
heeded the call to help with
the social as ell the
economic needs of the city."
He noted that Chrysler
Corporation previously gave
$2.5 million to help us expand
business and ecnomic growth
opportunities."
In addition, Chrysler has
pledged another $12 million to
the city.
The check was presented to
Jo eph L. Hudson, Jr., Chair­
man of the Community Foun­
dation for Southeastern
Michigan.
He said the Foundation' "is
excited about the potential of
the Chrysler Fund-Highland
Park Endowment to help ad­
dress the needs of the com­
munity, and we look forward
to being a part of this coopera­
tive effort."
Since it was founded in
1953, the Chrysler Corpora­
tion Fund has made grants to
U.S. charitable agencies, civic
and community programs, and
culture and the arts.
The community Foundation
of Southeastern Michigan was
established in 1984 to provide
a means for contributions to
be invested in perpetuity to
. fund grants to activities that
benefit the seven-county
southeastern Michigan area.
G BUS S • Director, Minority Busl Enterprise Dr. E. Delbert Gray, (l-I1), HIgh-
d Community CoD President Comer Heath III, City Connell President Marth Sco
d HPCC DeaD Gordo •
ecutive director, National
Leadership Conference on
Civil Rights. A multi-cultural
event/reception, workshops,
and a Sesquicentennial Civil
Rights Family Reunioon Din­
ner entitled "Renaissance of
the Civil Rights Movement:
will bring together noted civil
rights activists The Honorable
Judge and Mrs. William Bled­
soe, Maxine Johnson Giles,
Federal Judge Damon Keith,
U.S.Senator Carl Levin and
Martha Wylie.
there will be a nominal
registration fee and overnight
accomodations are the respon­
sibility of the individual.
For more information
and/or registration forms con­
tact Mary K. Brown, Michigan
Department of Civil Rights at
(313) 256-2643.
Seminar focus on help
for minority business
By 0 eEmlow
HIGHLAND PK - A
luncheon/seminar was held on
Monday, October 19, at noon,
in Highland Park Community
College's Multi-purpose room.
The meeting was the first
of a series on how to start a
small business, sponsored by
HPCC.
The keynote spe er, E.
Delbert Gray, PhD., Director
of Minority Business
Enterprise, Department of
Commerce, went about the
business of instruction on the
establishment of small busi­
nesses among minorities.
Information was available
on topics such as: which local
lending institutions are more
apt to loan to perspective busi­
nesses, which types of busi-
nesses fair better than others,
how to borrow wisely without
collateral, and initial invest­
ment tactics.
Highland Park Community
College is currently offering
courses pertinent to this field
in the Center for Business and
Industrial Services curriculum.
For more information con­
tact: Charles E. Gordon,
Dean, Evening College/Com­
munity Services Director,
Center for Business and In­
dustrial Services. (313) 252-
0475 ext. 269(270.
There is also a toll-free
number which will connect the
caller to the Lansing Office of
. Minority Business Enterprise
• for information on business
development: 1-800-831-9090.