DETROIT — New Detroit, Inc. is currently seeking applicants for its 2012 Multicultural Leadership Series which provides participants an up-close experience to increase their cultural competency by focusing on the culture and history of six communities of color in Southeast Michigan. Sessions begin Thursday, September 20, 2012.

“The Multicultural Leadership Series, now in its 16th year, has a proven track record of empowering individuals to understand our neighbors’ cultures,” said Shirley Stancato, President and CEO of New Detroit, Inc. 

“Raising awareness of our region’s diversity among leaders highly influences and informs their business and civic problem-solving, and helps them understand how to better serve our distinct community.” 

The program is designed to build a strong network of leaders in the metro Detroit area who have the realization and skills needed to improve cross-cultural understanding, dialogue, collaboration and advocacy among metro Detroit’s racial, ethnic and cultural groups. 

Additional intentions of the program are to enhance communications between cultures and to have a greater appreciation of people from varying backgrounds. 

The series highlights the histories, cultures and socioeconomic issues of six communities of color throughout Metropolitan Detroit including the Hispanic and Latino, African American, Arab, Chaldean, Asian and Native American. 

The program consists of a daylong orientation and six eight-hour sessions, hosted by cultural organizations that will provide support for panel discussions, tours and exercises. Some of the locations include the Chaldean Cultural Center in West Bloomfield, Arab American National Museum in Dearborn and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. 

The deadline for applications for the Multicultural Leadership Series is Thursday, September 6, 2012. Online registration and information is available by visiting New Detroit’s website at www.newdetroit.org.  The tuition for the program is $1,000. Candidates should hold key leadership positions within their business or organizations.

Potential participants seeking more information on the program should contact Marshalle Montgomery at 313.664.2036 or mmontgomery@newdetroit.org.