New York, N.Y. - July 18, 2005 - Colgate-Palmolive & GlaxoSmithKline are sponsoring diversity forums at the National Urban League Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The discussions will focus on the future of African Americans in the corporate sector. The panel will outline the steps that career minded African Americans should take in order to guarantee an equal opportunity in the ever changing environment of the American workplace. The discussion will touch on such sensitive topics as affirmative action, the definition of diversity, and equality in the workplace.

The first diversity forum titled; How to Rate the Best Companies for African Americans is scheduled for July 28 at 10:45 a.m. The second forum entitled; The Diffusion of Diversity: Implications for African Americans in the Corporate Sector will begin at 3:30p.m. Both sessions are part of the National Urban League Annual Conference, which takes place July 27th - 31st at the Washington Convention Center.

Diversity Forum I panelists include Philip Berry, Vice President & Corporate Officer, Global Workplace Initiatives, Colgate Palmolive; Kimberly B. Davis, President, J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation; Milton J. Perkins, Regional Director, Member Services, North Central Region Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Peggy M. Anson, Senior Vice President, Property & Casualty Human Resources, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., BEEP Advisory Board Member will preside.

Diversity Forum II panelists Aileen Clarke Hern?ndez, Urban Consultant & CEO, Aileen C. Hern?ndez Associates, Member, UPS Corporate Diversity Council; Dr. R. Roosevelt Thomas, Jr., President & Chief Executive Officer, Roosevelt Thomas Consulting & Training, Inc., and President, The American Institute for Managing Diversity (AIMD). Dr. Katherine Giscombe, Senior Director of Research, Catalyst; J. T. (Ted) Childs, Jr., Vice President, Global Workforce Diversity, IBM Corporation will preside.

Highlights of the 2005 conference include a wellness walk, empowerment exhibits, strategic vision sessions and activities targeted to young professionals between the ages of 21 to 40 as part of a special agenda called the Influencer Summit, designed to recognize and empower the emerging leaders of the future.

In addition, strategic forums will address diversity, closing the achievement gap, sports panels, international affairs, small business development, health roundtable, community policing, civil rights and civic engagement, homeownership, franchise ownership, education and black mayors.

Admission to the Empowerment Exhibits Zones is free. The empowerment exhibits zones will feature employment, health, technology, homeownership and fun zones. This year's employment zone will feature the participation of more than 100 Fortune 500 and high-tech companies, as well as non-profit and government agencies with both local and national job opportunities. Job seekers can have face-to-face discussions and interviews with recruiters.

More information about the National Urban League's 2005 Annual Conference registration, exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities is available on the League's website at www.nul.org or by calling (800-263-9926).

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