PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Shonique Banks, Director of Partnership
Phone: (215) 236-4500 (w), (973) 803-2349(c)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.more.oicofamerica.org
Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America Honors General Motors with the
2021 Leon H. Sullivan Social Justice Award
Philadelphia PA: On April 23, 2021, at 1:00 pm, Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America (OICA) presented General Motors (GM) with the 2021 Leon H. Sullivan Social Justice Award, for being a trailblazer for social justice and the first Fortune 500 company to install a Black man on to its board, the late great Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan. The virtual event was a culmination of twenty days of tributes to Rev. Dr. Leon H. Sullivan’s life and legacy.
Dr. Sullivan was a man who rose to national prominence having played a pivotal role in the downfall of apartheid and founded the OICs National Network of Affiliates became the first African American on the Board of Directors at GM. The reunion of GM and OIC of America could not come at a better time says James Haynes President & CEO of OIC of America. “As we pay our respects in remembrance of Rev. Sullivan 20 years after his passing – we acknowledge and appreciate his bold vision for a world without limits for Black people. The connection with GM and OIC goes back several years as they were willing to work with our founder to bring about livable wage employment opportunities for Blacks and other people of color as he served on their Board of Directors. We support GM’s work in inclusion, equity and diversity and are prepared to once again partner with them in putting America back to work and securing livable wage employment opportunities for people of color.”
“We are honored to receive the Leon H. Sullivan Social Justice Award from the Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America, Inc. (OICA) organization,” said Ken Barrett, global chief of diversity at General Motors. “At GM, we are focused on highlighting the creation of skills-based hiring opportunities and are committed to increasing the variety of highly skilled talent at our company. We recognize that there are many pathways to achieve this goal and are proud to work with valued partners like the OIC, to honor Rev. Sullivan’s legacy of education, community and service.”
Background – OIC of America (OICA) is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides leadership, technical assistance, and service alignment across a nationwide network of 31 affiliates in 19 states. OIC’s affiliates serve youth and adults, including currently or formerly incarcerated individuals and those who have been historically underserved in education and training programs. Founded in 1964 by Dr. Leon Sullivan, our mission is to provide high-quality services that will enable economically disadvantaged and unemployed people of all races and backgrounds to become productive, more fulfilled community members. By providing comprehensive services in four key areas: Education, Economic Development, Healthcare, and Community Development, thousands of participants break the cycle of poverty through our efforts and theirs, creating a more just society.
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