Conference Expected to Draw Thousands, Stimulate Millions in the Local Economy
BALTIMORE (July 15, 2016) -- Cutting the ribbon to open a FedEx-sponsored College Fair, the National Urban League kicked off a countdown to its 2016 Conference, expected to draw thousands and stimulate millions in the local economy.
"With Baltimore at the epicenter of a renewed focus on civil rights and economic opportunity, the National Urban League is eager to engage with the community ,"said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. "The Youth Leadership Summit that's been taking place this week at Coppin State University and the College Fair that opened today are excellent examples of the empowerment-focused events we'll be bringing to Baltimore next month."
Shannon A. Brown, SVP/Chief HR & Diversity Officer, FedEx Express, cut the ribbon to open the College Fair.
"We are extremely grateful to FedEd for sponsoring the College Fair, and we look forward to a continuing partnership," Morial said.
J. Howard Henderson, CEO of the Greater Baltimore Urban League said, “We are both proud and excited to welcome the nation to Baltimore as we host this important event. The support provided by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and the corporate leadership demonstrated by partners like Calvin Butler of BGE and Kim Horn of Kaiser has enabled the broadest possible cross-section of our community to participate in this event on some level.”
The nation's leading political, business, and community leaders will gather August 3 in Baltimore for four days of community service, live entertainment, intellectual exchange and dynamic dialogue workshops all centered on the Urban League Movement’s agenda to address the challenges of unemployment, educational inequity, and social injustice. With the Conference convening just days after the major-party nominating conventions, the highly-anticipated Presidential Plenary on Thursday morning promises to be a spirited and substantive examination of the candidates' civil rights and social justice agendas
Henderson added, "From author to athletes from statesmen to singers and students, we are prepared to display the talent, tenacity and togetherness that will allow our visitors to discover why we’re called “Charm City” and will make local residents even more proud to call Baltimore home."
Notable speakers, panelists and honorees include:
- Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
- Congressman Elijah E. Cummings
- Senior White House Adviser Valerie Jarrett
- Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards
- BET Chair and CEO Debra Lee
- Former Baltimore Mayor and University of Baltimore President Kurt Schmoke
- U.S. Education Secretary John B. King, Jr.
- Attorneys William H. "Billy" Murphy and Benjamin Crump, representing the families of Freddie Gray and Trayvon Martin
- The Rev. Al Sharpton
- Entertainment executive and songwriter Kevin Liles
Visit the Conference website for more information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Teresa Candori
212-558-5362 | tcandori@nul.org
