About Basic Diversity - Company Leadership
Al is a former Army Captain with a Human Resources background. He has been featured and quoted by media outlets from Atlanta, GA to Nairobi, Kenya; including Forbes, CNN, USA Today, New York Times, NBC, PBS, Atlanta Journal & Constitution, Chicago Sun Times and Business Intelligence Magazine. Al has worked with people from all walks of life; from CEO’s to sanitation workers and every occupation in between. He has provided diversity counsel to civic and religious leaders, political officials, and television news personnel. He learned about managing diversity very early in life via personal interactions with Dr. King’s staff, and later honed his diversity skills in the Army (one of the largest and most diverse organizations in the world) where he held numerous executive positions, including Equal Opportunity Officer (the military equivalent to Diversity Manager).
Al’s memberships include: The Society for Human Resource Management, The American Society for Training and Development, and the Overseer’s Team at The Outlet Community Church. He sits on the boards of Public Broadcasting Atlanta, and the Editorial Advisory Board of Atlanta Magazine. Al’s military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Parachute Badge (Airborne). Al has also served as Advisor to the U.S. Army for Diversity and Cultural Affairs at the Secretariat level at the Pentagon.
Al resides in Atlanta, GA with his wife DeAna Jo. They have two adult sons.
› Was a member of Dr. Martin L. King, Jr′s Executive Staff.
› Recipient of The Presidential Medal of Freedom – The nations highest civilian honor, awarded by The U.S. President (Barack Obama).
› Summoned to provide civil rights counsel to five (5) different Presidential Administrations (Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama).
› Has advised foreign heads of state.
› Was the first member of MLK’s Executive Staff to write a book about the movement — “Black Power and The American Myth” (50th Anniversary Edition released in 2020).
› Regularly highlighted in print and video media. In one year alone he was highlighted in three books, two of which were authored by Pulitzer Prize winners and the other by a U.S. Congressman: The Children, David Habersham; Pillars of Fire, Taylor Branch; and Walking With The Wind, Congressman John Lewis.
› In 2008, Vivian founded the C.T. Vivian Leadership Institute, Inc. to create a model leadership culture for the purpose of training and educating the new generation of grass-roots leaders inspired to mobilize a constituency. The Institute is based out of Atlanta, Georgia.
› Addressed the United Nations.
› Addressed the World Baptist Alliance. Was keynote speaker during their conference on “Racism in the World Community“. Shared the platform with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
› Was Action Director of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called “The best non-violent movement in the nation.”
› Highly respected across the diversity spectrum. His awards include:
› The National Jewish Labor Award, The Martin L. King, Jr. Humanitarian Award, Trumpet Award and The Chicago Allies for a Better Community (Chicano) Award.
› Organized street gangs in Chicago, turning members away from violence, and developing a program that earned them jobs.
› Served on an independent United Nations Committee on Human Rights Education.
› National Deputy Director of Clergy for Jesse Jackson′s 1984 Presidential bid.
› Made several human rights assistance visits to Cuba and has met with President Fidel Castro to assist with their transition towards cooperating with democracies.