Second Diversity Leadership Academy Class Named INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- A diverse group of 58 community leaders have been selected to participate in this year's Diversity Leadership Academy of Greater Indianapolis. This will be the second class chosen from a diverse cross-section of the greater Indianapolis community, including nonprofits, education, business, government, and religion. Once again, more than 100 applications were received. Class participants were chosen based on applications, their interest and their ability to lead and inspire change within their organizations and/or the community and to share information around diversity management. The class gets underway today with an orientation and welcome reception featuring remarks from Julian Bond, long-time civil rights activist and chairman of the NAACP. The Academy is an innovative, hands-on learning program designed to build leadership skills in managing diversity. Over the next four months, class members will participate in five classes featuring hands-on leadership development programs that will better equip them to understand and manage diversity in their organizations and communities. "Response to the Academy continues to be very strong and positive from the community and those who completed the first class. As a result, we have a large, dynamic class that reflects the diversity of our community," said Anthem Chairman, President and CEO Larry Glasscock. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, in partnership with the American Institute for Managing Diversity and with the support of the Indianapolis Urban League and other local leaders, brought the Diversity Leadership Academy to Indianapolis last year. Anthem's commitment of $575,000 allows community leaders to participate at no cost to themselves or their organizations, and funds curriculum development and other program costs. "Our community is extremely fortunate to have the Diversity Leadership Academy and is already benefiting from it," said Indianapolis Deputy Mayor and class graduate Carolyn Coleman. "Every day I use what I learned in the program -- new ways of thinking about diversity that allow me to be a more effective leader. In addition, we're starting to build a new, common understanding within our organizations and our community, which will benefit all of us in our increasingly diverse community." "As more community leaders gain a common framework for addressing diversity, the Urban League's Diversity and Race Relations Institute will continue to help these ideas take root in our community," said Urban League President and CEO Joe Slash. The inaugural Academy class of 38 participants graduated in December 2003. The Diversity Leadership Academy of Greater Indianapolis is a Community Leadership Fellows Program of the Diversity Leadership Academy, an initiative of the American Institute for Managing Diversity, Inc. Over the course of three years, the Academy will conduct three classes and graduate more than 100 leaders from the program. Diversity Leadership Academy of Greater Indianapolis Class List - Fall 2004 Rodney Adkinson FedEx Freight Daniel Baker Indiana Repertory Theatre Bill Brooks Indianapolis Colts Eddy Cabello Cabello Associates Inc. Angela Cain WTHR-TV Carole Casto Cummins, Inc. Tina Cosby WISH-TV Sanford E. Garner A2SO4 Architecture La Veda Denise Howell Brightpoint Inc. Cindy Keitch Huntington National Bank Jan Michelsen Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart, P.C. Alan Mills Barnes and Thornburg Anita Owen Farm Bureau Insurance George Pillow Pillow Express Logistics Maria M. Quintana Bank One Christina Raigosa WIIH Univision Marke Roberts Johnson Controls, Inc. Hamsa Shadakhsharappa Indianapolis Power and Light Company Sherma Wise The Media Wise Communication Group, Inc. Mark Bryson Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis Valerie Davidson Butler University Linda Gabrielson Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library Anila Muhammad Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis Alain Weber International School of Indiana Brenda Burke City of Indianapolis, Dept. of Administration Barbara Collins Marion Superior Court Rufus "Bud" Myers Indianapolis Housing Agency Michael O'Connor City of Indianapolis Juli Paini City of Indianapolis Rep. Greg Porter State of Indiana, Health and Hospital Corporation Joseph Wynns City of Indianapolis, Dept. of Parks and Recreation Donald Dumoulin Roche Diagnostics Anita Harden Community Health Network Sheryl Joyner Community Health Network Priscilla D. Keith Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County Hikmet Kutlu HealthNet Foundation David Lee, M.D. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Randall Lewis Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Cindy Miller Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Yvonne Oropeza Healthnet - A Clarian Partner John Brandon Marion County Commission On Youth, Inc. Jan Clark YMCA of Greater Indianapolis Maurice Cox Indianapolis Museum of Art Roland Dorson Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce Murvin Enders One Hundred Black Men of Indianapolis Ruby Fleming The Hispanic Center, Inc. Nancy Jewell Indiana Minority Health Coalition Joanne Joyce Indianapolis Private Industry Council Ellen Quigley Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee Joyce Rogers Indiana Black Expo, Inc. Deborah Hearn Smith Girl Scouts of Hoosier Capital Tamara Zahn Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. Bob Bedell Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association Umar I. Al-Khattab Indianapolis Muslim Community Association Inc. Yunhan Gwo Chinese Community Church of Indianapolis Barbara Mebane Covenant Community Church David Penalva Vida Nueva United Methodist Church Jayne Thorne St. Luke's UMC / Celebration of Hope DATASOURCE: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield CONTACT: Deborah New of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, +1-317-488-6350

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