DETROIT -

The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the civil rights organization headed by the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr., announced this week the organization’s annual automotive conference will be held in Detroit in October.

The 15th Annual Rainbow PUSH Global Automotive Summit will take place on Oct. 13 at the MGM Grand Detroit Hotel, featuring “over 500 automotive executives, entrepreneurs, suppliers, dealers, consumers, government and elected officials, advertising agencies, automotive manufacturers, media outlets and others,” according to the organization’s press release.

The event is held annually to discuss the opportunities for African-Americans in the automotive industry.

Jackson, who formed the organization in 1996 by merging People United to Serve Humanity and the Rainbow Coalition, believes that, although the automotive industry has made great strides to level the playing field for members of various ethnicities, there is still room for improvement.

“Progress has been made by some automotive companies who know and understand the importance of ethnic consumers and business owners,” Jackson said, “but more can and must be done to yield parity and growth for people of color.”

Ford, GM and Toyota are all three national sponsors for the event.

For more information about the 15th Annual Rainbow PUSH Global Automotive Summit, visit the Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s website here.