New York, N.Y. July 20, 2004 – Donna Brazile, Democratic Party Strategist and the Reverend Al Sharpton, Hip Hop Legend Doug E. Fresh, author Michael Eric Dyson will highlight a special empowerment rally and voter registration drive in conjunction with Unity ’04, Rock the Vote and The Hip Hop Summit Action Network on Saturday, July 24, at 9:30 a.m., National Urban League President & CEO Marc H. Morial announced today.

This year’s conference theme is Empowerment: Building on the Civil Rights Movement and is expected to draw some 15,000 attendees from across the nation and the region. The conference will convene Wednesday, July 21 through Sunday, July 25. Registration is available via website at www.nul.org and by telephone (800-263-9926).

The National Urban League is the nation’s largest civil rights and community based organization. With over 100 affiliates in 35 states, the National Urban League serves 2 million people in the African American and urban communities nationwide through direct services, advocacy and research.

The panel discussion, sponsored by Sprint, will be moderated by Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League will take place on Saturday, July 24 at 9:30 a.m. at Cobo Center. Panelists include: Donna Brazile, Author and Managing Director, Brazile Strategies and Democratic Party Strategist; Rev. Al Sharpton, 2004 Democratic Presidential Candidate; Doug E. Fresh, Hip Hop legend, Diallo Brooks, Co-Chair, Black Youth Vote and National Coalition of Black Civic Participation; Loon, Hip Hop artist, Jehmu Greene, Executive Director, Rock the Vote; Felicia Davis, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; B. Michael Young, President, National Urban League Young Professionals; and Professor Michael Eric Dyson, Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities, University of Pennsylvania.

Empowerment Zones in Health, Employment, Technology, Homeownership and Fun (Education & Learning), feature over 400 booths, Fortune 500 businesses, leading national, state and government agencies and nonprofits, among others, along with an Entertainment Stage where talented local artists will perform throughout the day. The Employment Zone’s career fair will allow prospective job seekers to have face-to-face discussions and interviews with recruiters from 100-plus top corporations, nonprofits and government agencies.

Other conference highlights include the Keynote address by National Urban League President Marc H. Morial, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 21; and an appearance by President George Bush, Friday, July 23 at 10.00 a.m. and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee Senator John Kerry, Thursday, July 22 at 10:00 a.m.

Other speakers and guest appearances include, Rosa Parks, mother of the modern-day civil rights movement; the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr, President & Founder, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; Dave Bing, NBA legend, Chairman & CEO, The Bing Group; Earl G. Graves, Sr., Chairman and CEO, Earl G. Graves, Ltd.; Ann Fudge, Chairman and CEO, Young & Rubicam Inc; Roderick D. Gillum, VP/Corporate Diversity, General Motors Corporation; Congressman John Conyers, Jr., Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick; the Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder, National Action Network; Cathy L. Hughes, Founder Radio and Chairperson, Radio One, Inc; Linda Johnson-Rice, President & CEO, Johnson Publishing Company; syndicated radio personality Tom Joyner of the Tom Joyner Show; Ted Shaw, Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; the Honorable Dennis W. Archer, President, American Bar Association; Dr. Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; and Dr. Charles Adams, Pastor, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, Detroit, among others.

Plenary sessions and activities include a National Education Summit: Brown v. Board of Ed: How Far Have We Come? How Far Do We Have to Go?; a workshop on America’s Workforce Crisis: Can We Continue Outsourcing Highly Skilled Jobs and Meet the Country’s Urgent Need for Job Growth; Succeeding: The African-American Corporate Executive’s and Entrepreneur’s Perspectives; a Benefit Concert with music icon and ten-time Grammy winner Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds; the NUL Cultural Night: a Salute to Motown with legendary Motown artists; The Tom Joyner Sky Show; the Women of Power Luncheon; the NULYP Training Ground: A Next Generation Leadership Development Institute targeting young African-American professionals between the ages of 21-35; the NULITES Youth Leadership Summit for youth between the ages of 14-19; the Family Session: Urban League Sunday; and the Annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Conference Gala: A Tribute to Legends.

The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN), the largest non-profit, nonpartisan national coalition of hip-hop artists and recording industry executives, was founded in 2001 by Russell Simmons. The organization is dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of hip-hop music while serving as a catalyst for education advocacy and other societal concerns fundamental to the well being of ³at-risk² youth throughout the United States.

More information about the National Urban League’s 2004 Annual Conference registration, exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities is available on the League’s website at www.nul.org, or by calling (800-263-9926).