In Focus
The 5th Annual New Freedom Initiative Awards: Sharing the Vision
This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award, which annually recognizes non-profits, small businesses, corporations and individuals from a cross-section of industries that have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts to enhance the employment of people with disabilities. The event also provides an opportunity for the honorees to share best practices and experiences that will inspire their colleagues and peers to actively recruit and hire the more than 49.7 million Americans with disabilities. This year’s NFI Award ceremony was held on October 26, 2006. The event also marked the first presentation of the Secretary’s Spirit Award.
DOL Hosts Disability Mentoring Day
Assistant Secretary Roy Grizzard and staff from seven additional Department of Labor (DOL) agencies served as mentors to 12 students with disabilities on Disability Mentoring Day (DMD), October 18. Participating agencies included the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Civil Rights Center, Mine Safety and Health Administration, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Office of Disability Employment Policy, Office of Public Affairs, Office of Security and Emergency Management and Veterans Employment and Training Services. Student career interests included computer graphics, law enforcement, data analysis, legal affairs and engineering. Students were matched with DOL staff for one-on-one mentoring to explore the requirements of the fields they are considering for their future.
Assistant Secretary Grizzard Participates in USBLN Conference
Assistant Secretary Roy Grizzard discusses effective leadership development strategies for people with disabilities with bestselling author, educator and businessman, Stedman Graham, during the President’s Dinner that opened the US Business Leadership Network’s (USBLN) annual conference, held October 4 – 6 in Minneapolis, MN. During the conference, Dr. Grizzard addressed business and community leaders during both the National Disability Mentoring Day Breakfast Press Briefing and the Employer Breakfast. He was the keynote speaker for the closing plenary session on ODEP’s Workforce Excellence Initiative, featuring presentations from many of the past recipients of the Secretary of Labor’s New Freedom Initiative Award.
In conjunction with the conference, the first national Career Fair and the 2006 preview of National Disability Mentoring Day attracted over 600 students, job candidates and organization representatives. The conference itself drew nearly 350 business and community leaders who participated in training sessions on disability employment topics. Other plenary sessions featured Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, former Senator Bob Dole, U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary John Hager, AAPD President & CEO Andy Imparato, Stedman Graham, and 2006 Henry B. Betts Award Winner, John Kemp. The Office of Disability Employment Policy was one of the federal sponsors of this year’s annual conference.
