PROVIDENCE, R.I. -On October 6, executives, entrepreneurs and community leaders from across .S. will convene in Atlanta for a frank conversation about the challenges and opportunities that face diversity and inclusion in the restaurant, foodservice and lodging industries.

The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA) hosts Straight Talk: Lessons Learned and Best Practices, a novel symposium format that engages participants through provocative talk show style sessions. Symposium attendees will break out into content-specific tracks focused on the recruitment of a diverse workforce, sales strategies for multicultural markets, and the challenges and benefits of supplier diversity programs.

MFHA's leading sponsors for the event include Cargill/Sunny Fresh Foods (an international food manufacturer), the Coca-Cola Company, Nation's Restaurant News (the industry's largest trade publication) and the Pepsi-Cola Company.

* What should I call you -- Latino or Hispanic? Black or African-American?
* Can I make money in minority and urban markets?
* Should restaurant managers learn to speak Spanish? Or should we put more funds into English language training?

"These are the kinds of 'Straight Talk' questions you will hear at this important industry gathering," says MFHA President, Gerry Fernandez. "MFHA has historically tackled the toughest issues faced by our industry. Our past conferences have addressed topics such as minority tipping, the role of white men in the diversity paradigm, and the challenge of language barriers. Attendees will be encouraged to ask their toughest questions. Unlike other conferences, we'll answer those questions."

The one-day Symposium will also feature keynote speakers Helen Zia, an Asian American activist and author, and Herman Cain, a restaurant industry pioneer, author and TV personality.

PRE-SYMPOSIUM ACTIVITIES

Preceding "Straight Talk," participants may attend:
"3D": Diversity, Development, Dialogues -- a professional development session geared towards mid-level multicultural managers, with an emphasis on women of color.

Survival Spanish -- an immersion style seminar designed to give hospitality managers an intensive introduction to conversational workplace Spanish.

The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (http://www.mfha.net) is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization committed to raising awareness of the issues of the American foodservice and hospitality industry's increasingly diverse workforce, customers, communities and minority businesses. MFHA has
been hosting educational conferences and event since 1997. They have hosted events in Dallas, San Diego, San Antonio, Washington, DC, and Atlanta. Log on to http://www.mfha.net to learn more about MFHA.