The Coca-Cola Company

Company Sponsors National Urban League Conference In Atlanta

August 4, 2006 edition

Chairman and CEO Neville Isdell co-chaired the 96th annual National Urban League (NUL) conference in Atlanta on July 27th, continuing our Company’s 30-year partnership with the pioneering organization. The four-day event carried the theme "Building Economic Power for Black Americans."

The Coca-Cola Company shares the National Urban League’s commitment to empowering African-Americans and helping them enter the economic and social mainstreams, and is a title sponsor of the NUL conference, which returned to Atlanta for the first time in 15 years.

Ingrid Saunders Jones, senior vice president of Corporate External Affairs and chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation, joined a distinguished list of honorees at the conference’s "Women of Power Awards" luncheon on July 29.

Speaking at the conference luncheon on July 27, Mr. Isdell cited Atlanta’s multicultural business environment, referring to the host city as an "object lesson in building lasting economic power."

"Atlanta is about welcoming individuals and ideas, wherever they’re from," said Mr. Isdell, who co-chaired the conference with UPS chairman and CEO Michael Eskew. "It’s about being local and international... and about accepting the opportunities and risks presented by a diverse global economy."

Between 1990 and 2005, the number of what the Census Bureau classifies as "blacks and other races" in metro Atlanta more than doubled -- from nearly 785,000 to more than 1.6 million -- representing an increase from 30.7 percent to 43.4 percent of the population.

This growth has had a positive impact on governments and businesses. For example, the number of minority-owned businesses in metro Atlanta has increased more than 72 percent in the past five years. Added Mr. Isdell, "The movement endures in Atlanta... and it endures for all Atlantans."

The significance of Atlanta’s rich cultural history cannot be overemphasized, our chairman added.

"Other cities have world-class transportation systems and research universities and arts facilities and all the other things Atlanta is so justifiably proud of," said Mr. Isdell, who also spoke on July 26 at Ebenezer Baptist Church. "However, no other city can claim our civil rights heritage. And no one who understands Atlanta can fail to appreciate how profoundly this history continues to resonate."

The Company and the entire private sector play an essential role in the creation of economic and social value by supporting institutions like the National Urban League, and by "making connections" through everyday operations, Mr. Isdell said. He referred to the NUL as a "custodian of idealism" that continues to fuel empowerment and progress.

"This annual conference has been another indication to me that idealism survives, and I find that heartening," Mr. Isdell said. "I thank you for all you have done over the decades to protect idealism and to summon the better angels of our nature."

Founded in 1910, the National Urban League implements its mission through advocacy, research program services and promoting communication and understanding between the races.

The NUL conference is the premier networking, recruiting and issues conference for African-American professionals nationwide. Participants include representatives from Fortune 500 businesses, government agencies, foundations, non-profit organizations, civic and community organizations, and institutions of higher learning.

Read the entire Isdell speech, go there »