Rev.
Dr. Leon H. Sullivan
(1922-2001)
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Born in 1922,
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Lived an impoverished life
as a child, but had a rich value system
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Focused much of his life
upon Freedom and Human Rights
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Baptist
Minister
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Pastor �
Rev. Sullivan had what would
be considered a Mega-Church of its day.
The Church included a Day Care Center, Credit Union, Employment Agency,
Community Center for youth and adults, adult education
classes, athletic teams, choral groups and family counseling
centers.
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Received his education at
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Received over 50 Doctorates
form Colleges and Univerisities
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His Autobiography Moving
Mountains: The Principles and Purposes of Leon
Sullivan
Most of Sullivan�s works
were built upon a philosophy of self-help � of which, people need to help
themselves overcome barriers of poverty and oppression.
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Had a Philosophy of
Self-Help � he believed in empower.
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Selective Patronage � Late
1950- early 60�s � Boycott companies that did not offer employment opportunities
to black men and women
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In 1964 � In response to
these new opportunities he founded OIC�s � providing
training and retraining on a massive scale
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In 1969 OIC International
was formed mostly in Africa but also in Europe, Central America and
OIC�s trained properly all races,
ages, and genders. There are now 56
Centers in 27 states.
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In 1971 � General Motors
Board of Directors � which greatly positioned him strategically to meet with top
business and political leaders
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In 1983 IFESH � founded by
Sullivan � serves as President � Another organization that�s non-profit, to
train 100,000 skilled workers and 100,000 newly developed farmers and 5 million
people into literacy.
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Established original
�Sullivan Principles� of in 1977
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Here are the 7 original
Sullivan Principles:
1.
Non-segregation of the races
in all eating, comfort, and work facilities.
2.
Equal and fair employment
practices for all employees.
3.
Equal pay for all employees
doing equal or comparable work for the same period of
time.
4.
Initiation of and
development of training programs that will prepare, in substantial numbers,
blacks and other nonwhites for supervisory, administrative, clerical, and
technical jobs.
5.
Improving the quality of
employees lives outside the work environment in such
areas as housing, transportation, schooling, recreation, and health
facilities.
These principles became the
standard for social responsibility and equal opportunity for companies doing
business in
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The Sullivan Principles were acknowledged as being one of the most effective
efforts to end discrimination against blacks and minorities in the
workplace. This was a major
platform that assisted in ending apartheid
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In 1999 Kofi Annan met with multinational
world and business leaders to formally announce the Global Sullivan
Principles
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The Major difference between
the Original Sullivan Principles and the GSP is that original principals sought
out to destroy something (apartheid) and was non-inclusive of corporate
support. The GSP is constructive in
nature, worldwide in its application and required corporate
participation
The
Global Sullivan Principles which will be expounded upon more explicitly by Mr.
Steven Mason, this year�s Sullivan fellow are as follows:
Defined as a code of conduct created
to support social, economic and political framework for justice by
companies.
Rev. Sullivan believed that
corporate responsibility, regardless of how large or small, we each have a
responsibility to work within our sphere of influence to improve the quality of
life, for the workers, those within the communities and wherever they can reach
out to improve the quality of life. However, don�t be mislead with the term corporate social responsibility. The responsibility hardly lies soley with the corporate leaders but rather is the
responsibility of us all. Employers, consumers, Investors, family, the community and even the
world at large.
Many leaders in the
corporate community are sincerely interested in human rights and wish to conduct
their business affairs in a responsible and ethical
manner.
Established OIC�s � Occupational Industrilization Centers which were designed to train and
educate the poor and under-served people for employment. Training and education
for the poor and needy.
Sullivan purchased a jailhouse that was in very poor
condition and converted it into his first OIC in
At
some point Rev. Sullivan was able to petition for jobs successfully for
thousands of jobs successfully, however, the people had no jobs, skill nor work
habits -- So Sullivan was also
charged with the humungous task of providing specialized training, and job
searching skills so employees won�t get turned back by employers, in some cases
because of their appearance.
Rev. Sullivan valued young
people. He knew they were the
business leaders of tomorrow. He
also understood that a job was key to self-respect for the forgotten
Americans. A job was the key to
fight hunger; a job was the key to help stem homelessness and
helplessness.
A
JOB IS A HAND-UP, NOT A HAND-OUT!
-- one of his sayings.
Sullivan believed that if we
an put people on the moon then we can certainly put poor people on their feet in
America.
Dr.
Sullivan often pleaded with America to alleviate the growing difficulties
identified among the urban underclass which is falling deeper in hopelessness,
despair and poverty.
With all of our influence
and in the great nation there is still the forgotten
American.
Rev. Sullivan had a passion
for the poor and working class, yet he was able to draw and influence presidents
of major companies and
kings.
AWARDS:
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Back in 1963 � Life Magazine
cited Sullivan as one of 100 outstanding young adults in the United States and
acknowledged him as one of the most outstanding people throughout the
world.
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1992 � Presidential Medal of
Freedom by George Bush, honoring him for his voice of reason for over 40 years;
and for helping economically and socially disadvantaged people in the
world.
- 1999 November, Received the prestigious
Notre Dame Award which is conferred annually on a person who has achieved
international recognition for the contribution to the welfare of
humanity
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December 1999 � Received
Eleanor Roosevelt Award from President Bill Clinton � who acknowleged his humanitarian effects around the
world.
February 28, 2000 � �A
Principled Man� premiered in Charleston, WV depicting his life � Documentary
aired on PBS Station
1999 - African American Summit in Ghana � Where
he announced the People Investment Fund for America to address critical need for
grassroots economic development, helping to create jobs and alleviating
poverty.
Rev. Sullivan published
several books over the past 45 years including America is Theirs, Build Brother
Build, Philosophy of an Giant, Alternatives to Despair, and in 1998 � Moving
Mountains -- These books contain
his Life story
Rev. Sullivan succumbed to
Leukemia April 24, 2001