Big names on tap for RPC's 41st annual convention

Influential thought leaders are joining with the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. this week for the 41st national dialogue on civil rights sponsored by Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund. Running through Saturday at the Chicago Hilton & Towers

Influential thought leaders are joining with the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. this week for the 41st national dialogue on civil rights sponsored by Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund. Running through Saturday at the Chicago Hilton & Towers Hotel, the confab Is themed A More Perfect Union: Closing the Gap and Expanding the Tent. It will once again bring leaders together in an innovative exchange of ideas.

The convention is focusing in-depth on the challenges facing the shrinking middle class and expanding poor while cultivating real solutions for economic recovery, leading up to the 2012 presidential election. RPC continues to declare the movement for social justice, women’s rights, workers’ rights and civil rights and civil rights legitimate, necessary and worth preserving.

 

Among just some of the prominent folk in an international plenary celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the African National Congress; John R. Rogers, chair and CEO, Ariel Investments, and Diane Swonk, chief economist, Mesirow Financial Services, co-moderating a Wednesday CFO Roundtable; Judge Greg Mathis, PUSH Excel chair, distributing some $250,000 in college scholarships; Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts keynoting Wednesday’s business lunch with remarks by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and His Excellency Dr. Kweli Mkhize of the Republic of South Africa; Bruce Heyman, managing director, Goldman Sachs. Dr. Bill Winston, pastor of Living Word Christian Center, keynotes the ministers’ luncheon, and later on NASCAR’s first and only African American female racecar driver, Tia Norfleet, headlines the athletic banquet that will also honor NBA legend, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe.

 

 

 

 

Friday will focus on health, women’s and education issues; Dr. Julianne Malveaux, former president of Bennett College, an economist, author, liberal social and political commentator and businesswoman who is well known for her left-wing political opinion, and Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, vice president of public affairs and government relations at the Nielsen Co., will moderate a “Women of Power” discussion. The summit ends with the Saturday Morning Broadcast addressing escalating violence in urban communities. Speakers: the Rev. Jackson, Dr. Charles Ogletree, director of the Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School, and

Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, who’ll present an agenda to stem the flow of drugs and guns into minority communities while jobs and job training flow out. To register, visit www.rainbowpush.org or call (773) 255-2700.

Legacy Celebration – Ed and Betty Gardner, beloved co-founders of Soft Sheen Products, Chicago’s business pioneers and philanthropists, will be honored at a Street Sign Dedication Unveiling Ceremony on Thursday, 12:30 p.m., at 8830 S. Dobson, former site of South Sheen Products, to recognize their contributions to the city, especially the founding of Black on Black Love. A Reception at WVON Radio, 1000 E. 87th St., will conclude the festivities.

Making Aware – Grammy nominee Charlie Wilson and author Andrea King Collier (The Black Woman’s Guide to Black Men’s Health) share info on prostate cancer (he’s a survivor) and what we can do to take action against the disease on July 28, 10 a.m.-noon, at Trinity United Church of Christ, 400 W. 95th St. All are welcome! RSVP toll-free to (1) 855 213-9634. Free entry! Light refreshments!

 

Movin’ On! – With over a couple of decades of sales and marketing experience under her belt, via radio, special events, print and building/cultivating client relationships, Leanne Muller Wharton is on to a new chapter in her life – that of sales and marketing manager at Little Black Pearl Art/Design Center. She worked for Monica Haslip, the founder and executive director, as an art teacher in the late 90’s for a couple years.

 

 

 

 

The lesson learned: never burn a bridge because you never know when it will come back around where paths cross again. And now, Leanne says she’s more poised to assist Monica in taking LBP to the next level and she’s so very excited about the possibilities! Plus she’s passionate about the students, the programs, and the events LBP has to offer the community – and the business community as well!

 

 

 

 

 

On Air! – The H30/Art of Life Show, presented by OMNI U. which airs every Friday on CAN-TV (Ch. 19) at 8:30 p.m. and repeats the following Sunday at 3:30 p.m., is hosted and produced by Dr. Gloria Latimore Peace. Friday’s show, An Autobiography of Jazz Unites, features Geraldine Bey DeHass, JU’s founder, and Debra Hand, the producer’s award-winning sculptor and daughter.

 

Newsy Names – Congrats to one of my fav-o-rite “daughters,” Jasmine N. Allgood, who graduates with top honors from Dudley Beauty College/Chicago on Sunday during a Commencement Ceremony at Christ Bible Church Hats off to Patrice Barnes, a senior at King College Prep, who makes her artistic debut this Friday-Saturday, 1–8 p.m., at DuSable Museum’s 38th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival & Marketplace, 57th and Cottage Grove. Fine art! Food vendors! Entertainment! Free admission! Children’s Pavilion! … Happy b’day to Maudlyne Ihejirika, Michael House, Archie Singleton, Robert Williams.

 

 

 

 

Anniversary Annals! – Let’s all reminisce with radio legend Richard Steele as he celebrates 25 years “On Air” on July 18, 5:30-9:30 p.m., amidst an array
of current and past colleagues, good food, tasty beverages and great tunes all set on the beautiful back drop of Lake Michigan and the Chicago Skyline at the WBEZ studios at Navy Pier. RSVP: to BETH@SILVERMANGROUPCHICAGO.COM no later than Friday.

 

 

 

 

Richard is an award-winning producer and radio personality on the Arts & Culture Desk of WBEZ 91.5FM, where he contributes interviews and reports to Eight Forty-Eight, Morning Edition, Worldview, Afternoon Shift, All Things Considered, wbez.org, and special programming. In particular, Steele is a regular voice on Eight Forty-Eight, each Thursday showcasing a variety of music connected to a specific theme (a format launched in February to commemorate Black History Month). Since joining WBEZ as staff announcer/host on July 15, 1987, he has hosted a number of acclaimed programs over the years, including The Richard Steele Show, A Richard Steele Friday, Page Two, Performance Space and most recently, Eight Forty-Eight.

 

 

 

 

Prior to joining WBEZ, Richard hosted many successful Chicago radio programs, including The Morning Connection on WVAZ 102.7 FM and Late Night, a talk and music forum on WGCI 1390 AM. He has hosted popular shows on WBMX 102.7 and WVON 1450 AM, and became “The Real Steele” on WGRT (950 AM) AM, where he progressed to program director shortly after the station’s transition to WJPC 950 AM. Richard is vice president and board member of the local American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and a board member of the Chicago Association of Black Journalists. He attended Harold Washington College in Chicago. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, he resides in South Shore with his wife, Jera. They have two children and four grandchildren. See ya next Wednesday!

 

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