Coalition Launches Black Women's Roundtable
NEW ORLEANS - - The Black Women's Roundtable (BWR), an initiative of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (The National Coalition or NCBCP), launches its 2010 Healthy Wealthy Wise BWR National Empowerment Tour in New Orleans, LA on October 8 – 12, 2010 at historic Dillard University. The Black Women's Roundtable Empowerment Tour will hit seven (7) states and the District of Columbia over the next 7 months. The BWR Tour will provide over 10,000 Black and underserved women and girls with tools that help them to live healthier, achieve economic security and sustainability, be empowered through educational and training opportunities, and access affordable technology to compete in a global economy. "The National Coalition has a long history in the Gulf Coast Region and has been working to support our state-based affiliates in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi impacted by Katrina-Rita with recovery and rebuilding over the past 5 years," states Melanie L. Campbell, President & CEO, NCBCP & National Convener, BWR. "Now, these same communities are in crisis again due to the recent oil spill. To assist communities impacted, it was imperative that we launch our initiative in the Gulf Coast cities of New Orleans, LA, Mobile, AL, and Gulfport/Biloxi, MS." The NCBCP BWR Empowerment Tour will kick-off with a national press conference on Friday, Oct. 8th at Loews New Orleans Hotel at 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Invited speakers include: Melanie L. Campbell, NCBCP; Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder and Director, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice @ Dillard University; U. S. Senator Mary Landrieu; Lauren R. Darensbourgh, MPH, Manager of Strategic Partnerships for Minority and Underserved Populations, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. BWR Tour highlights include: * Saturday, Oct. 9th: Unity Health Walk to End Diabetes, 8:00 am - 9 am (7 am registration no cost), at Dillard University, led by Kellie Williams who played "Laura Winslow" from the hit sitcom Family Matters and New Orleans native and internationally renowned Jazz Vocalist, Stephanie Jordan. Also, the BWR Healthy Wealthy Wise Mini-Expo, Health & Wellness Fair & Empowerment Workshops, will be hosted at Dent Hall Gym at Dillard University, 9 am – 1 pm. Special guests include: Clayola Brown, President, A. Philip Randolph Institute, Dominique Dawes, Olympic Gold Medalist & Co-Chair, President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition and Kellie Williams, actress. [Free to Public] * Tuesday, October 12th, at 9:00 a.m., Michele Jones, Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense and White House Liaison will lead a roundtable dialogue with Gulf Coast Veteran Women (veteran women only) and at 11:30 a.m. Susan L. Taylor will moderate the BWR Empowerment "Sisters Can We Talk" Intergenerational Luncheon Dialogue: Ending Violence Against Women & Girls. Panelists include: Mirtha Beadle, Deputy Director, Office of Minority Health, U. S. Department of Health & Human Services; Dr. Elsie Scott, President & CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Dr. Cynthia M. A. Butler-McIntyre, 24th National President, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and Robin Faison, Program Coordinator, Family Justice Center (invited) "The BWR Empowerment Tour is a groundbreaking initiative and is very timely." says Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder and President, African American Women of Purpose and Power, "The New Orleans community is happy to partner with local and national organizations in order to address issues that affect Black and underserved women and girls in New Orleans and surrounding communities." BWR Tour National and Local Partners include: African American Women of Purpose and Power, Louisiana Unity Coalition, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - Alpha Beta Omega and Omicron Lambda Omega Chapters, A. Philip Randolph Institute, Black Women's Health Imperative, Churches Supporting Churches, City of New Orleans Health Department, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Crescent City Chapter Links, Daughters of charity, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice at Dillard University, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – New Orleans Alumnae Chapter, EXCELth, Incorporated, House Calls Home Health Care, House of Ruth, Lower 9th Ward Health Clinic, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana Justice Institute, LSU Health Science Center, Maxima Home Health Care, Metro Disposal Services, NAFEO, National Center for Victims of Crime, National Council of Negro Women, National Medical Association, New Orleans Council on Aging, Operation Hope, Peoples Health Medicare Advantage, Voices of the Ex-Offender, The Praxis Project, Urban League of Greater New Orleans, The William Kellibrew Foundation, YMCA. The NCBCP BWR National Empowerment Tour is made possible by the generous support of the W.F. Kellogg Foundation. Established in 1930, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation supports children, families and communities as they strengthen and create conditions that propel vulnerable children to achieve success as individuals and as contributors to the larger society. Grants are concentrated in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, and southern Africa. BWR Gulf Coast Tour sponsors include: AT&T, Verizon Foundation and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. Additional BWR Empowerment Tour cities include: Mobile, AL; Greenville & Gulfport/Biloxi, MS; Daytona Beach & Mims, FL; Atlanta, GA; Pittsburgh/Mon Valley, PA; Greensboro, NC; Detroit & Kalamazoo, MI; and a final national convening in Washington, DC.
African American Women of Purpose and Power will conclude the BWR Tour by hosting a Candidates Forum, Oct. 12th, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. at Dillard University – Professional Schools and Sciences Building.
