/PRNewswire/ - The Michigan Diversity Council (MIDC) is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month as one of the first chapters in the nation to form a state council of the National Diversity Council (NDC).

The MIDC complements existing diversity initiatives in Michigan by providing ongoing learning opportunities, discussion and best-practice sharing among leading Michigan companies, universities and diversity professionals.

The mission of the MIDC is to enhance an appreciation for and an understanding of the value of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. MIDC champions diversity as a business imperative and serves as a resource for organizations seeking to develop their diversity and inclusion efforts. MIDC is a unique resource for organizations that both value and seek to effectively manage diversity.

Today over 300 organizations, mostly in the Metro Detroit area, are represented at monthly seminars, workshops and learning events hosted by businesses and university partners. Daimler Financial Services, Michigan First Credit Union, University of Michigan, Wayne State University and the law firm of Butzel Long all support MIDC's efforts as charter members and sponsors. Due to its affiliation with the NDC, some of the most innovative leaders in the diversity conversation are involved in local activities.

"We are expanding the conversation and the awareness of diversity in the workplace through creative methods of learning," said Lora Vinande, Manager of Diversity for Daimler Financial Services, and a founder and President of the MIDC. "These workshops enable businesses to work together to form action plans for real-world work-place issues like generational diversity."

MIDC's programming topics include:

Diversity Best Practices Workshops




The Language of Diversity




Developing Innovative Diversity Experiences




Religious Discrimination & Accommodation




Promoting an LGBT Inclusive Workplace




The Impact of Credit Scores in Hiring




Generations in the Workplace




Women in Leadership




Hiring Persons with Disabilities




Multiculturalism in the Workplace

Visit www.michigandiversitycouncil.org for more information and to become a part of a growing organization that is leading positive change in Michigan.

Daimler Financial Services

Daimler Financial Services

DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas LLC provides brand-specific financing for automotive dealers' inventories and their retail consumers, and conducts business as Chrysler Financial and Mercedes-Benz Financial. As DaimlerChrysler Truck Financial, it also finances commercial vehicles for affiliate products such as Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star. The company serves as the headquarters for operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela, and has approximately 5,600 employees who manage a portfolio of more than $104 billion with nearly five million contracts. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Americas LLC is a company of the DaimlerChrysler Financial Services Group, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, which operates in more than 40 countries with an employee base exceeding 11,000 and a global portfolio of approximately $144 billion. DaimlerChrysler Financial Services is one of the leading financial services organizations worldwide.

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