Dr. R. Roosevelt Thomas, founder and president of The American Institute for Managing Diversity, will be giving two free seminars Thursday, Sept. 26 on diversity in the work place at American Media Incorporated, 4900 University Avenue, in West Des Moines.

The first seminar, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., is titled “Redefining Diversity.” Lisa Boyd, product manager of American Media Incorporated, said the seminar will define diversity and its implications and discuss the current state of diversity practices and diversity management.

The second seminar, “Diversity for the Non-Manager,” will run from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. This seminar will look at the implications of diversity from the individual’s perspective, Boyd said. It will also include discussion of diversity management process, managerial perspective and the current state of the work force.

“The first is more broad and general about diversity and the second is more geared to the individual,” Boyd said.

Dr. Thomas is author of Beyond Race and Gender: Unleashing the Power of Your Total Workforce by Managing Diversity and Redefining Diversity and Differences Do Make a Difference. He is also a consultant to several Fortune 500 companies.

Those attending the seminars will be part of a live studio audience.

Anyone wishing to attend either of the diversity seminars can register by calling 515-222-2875 to reserve seats. Registration deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 24.

“Diversity applies not merely to a collection of people who are alike in some ways and different in others, but also to intangibles: ideas, procedures, ways of looking at things,” Dr. Thomas said. “Those who develop skills at understanding and dealing with diversity will also know how to understand and deal with the challenges and crises” [faced by today’s corporations].