Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Welcome/Keynote Session
National Urban League president Marc H. Morial officially kicks off the 2007 conference during this keynote session. The conference’s theme, “You, Your Money, Your Future,” served as a foundation for Morial’s comments to the almost 3,000 in attendance inside downtown St. Louis’ America’s Center.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Plenary Session I: “Will the Black Vote and Our Issues Be Taken for Granted in the 2008 Presidential Election?”
Several of black America’s most influential leaders, including NUL president Marc H. Morial, National Action Network president Rev. Al Sharpton, USA Today columnist DeWayne Wickham, Republican National Committee chairperson Shannon Reeves and St. Louis county executive The Honorable Charlie Dooley, gather in the Ferrara Theatre to address the many issues facing our nation during the upcoming elections and the strategies to have our community needs met.
Plenary Session II: The State of BlackAmericaTown Hall – Portrait of the Black Male
Syndicated radio talk show host Joe Madison moderates a discussion that can’t be addressed enough – the state of the black male in America. NUL Policy Institute executive director Stephanie Jones, BET host Jeff Johnson, award winning chef and author Jeff Henderson and Whitney M. Young, Jr, School of Social Work dean Rufus Lynch of Clark Atlanta University are the featured speakers.
Benefit Concert
Erykah Badu and Teena Marie, two R&B superstars, brought the house down during the 2007 National Urban League Benefit Concert, which took place inside the Ferrara Theatre.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Plenary Session III: Presidential Forum on Urban Issues
Four of the leading Democratic presidential candidates were on hand for the morning forum, moderated by award-winning journalist George Curry. Representative Dennis Kucinich ( Ohio), former Senator John Edwards ( North Carolina), Senator Hillary Clinton ( New York) and Senator Barack Obama ( Illinois) were each given twenty minutes to speak to issues contained in the National Urban League Opportunity Compact, followed by a Q&A session.
National Council of Urban League Guilds Leadership Luncheon
Essence Magazine editorial director Susan L. Taylor was the featured speaker at the Urban League Guilds Luncheon, where awards were given to guilds across the nation making the most impact on their communities. The National Council of Urban League Guilds, which has been in existence for more than 63 years, is made up of members who donate their time to deliver services that extend public understanding and support of the National Urban League and its programs. Guilders participate in fundraising; and help to develop the leadership skills of ordinary individuals and engage them in local community issues.
R&B and Inspirational Concert
Three of music’s greatest talents gathered inside the Ferrara Theatre Friday night to entertain and inspire. R&B chanteuse Kelly Price and husband-and-wife duo Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore brought the house down with their uplifting odes.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Family Session
This year’s Family Session featured words of inspiration from pastor Dr. Robert C. Scott of St. Louis’ Central Baptist Church. It also served as a forum to introduce new chief executive officers throughout the Urban League affiliate network as well as special recognition to those within the Movement. A special highlight of the morning is the presentation of the Ann Tanneyhill Award to a National Urban League staff member who’s been with the Movement for ten years or more.
Women of Power Awards Luncheon
The honorees for this year’s Women of Power Awards included former Houston Area Urban League president and CEO Sylvia K. Brooks; Frankie Muse Freeman of Montgomery Hollie & Associates and former member, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Morgan Stanley managing director, Global Capital Markets Carla Harris; three-time Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee; CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux; and Representative the Honorable Maxine Waters of California.
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards Gala
The official closing ceremony of this year’s conference is the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards Gala. National Urban League chairman and president of Shell Oil Company John D. Hofmeister presides over the activities, which include the presentation of the Whtney M. Young, Jr. Leadership Award in Race Relations, the Legend Award and closing remarks by both Hofmeister and Marc H. Morial.
