National Urban League Centennial Conference

NEW YORK -The National Urban League’s Centennial Conference will honor the past, address the current challenges facing minority communities, sound a wake-up call to a nation struggling to recover from a devastating recession and set a course for the next 100 years.

Conference Schedule:


Tuesday, July 27

6:00 p.m. 
Press preview/Ribbon Cutting of Centennial Empowerment Exhibit, Hall E Concourse
The National Urban League unveils a 4,000 square-foot, interactive, multi-media museum experience that includes high-tech, cutting edge technology with a 16-screen video wall and more. There’s something for everyone including authentic Civil Rights buttons, vintage TV footage, an old-school throwback for Hip Hop fans, and an interactive Graffiti Wall.

Wednesday, July 28 
(Dedicated to the First Century)

8:00am–10:30am
PLENARY SESSION: The State of Black America – Hall E - Keynote speaker, former National Urban League President Vernon E. Jordan Jr., kicks off a distinguished panel that will examine the impact of the recession on minority communities and explore solutions to this crisis. Panelists include: Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., president and founder, The Rainbow Push Coalition, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA). Remarks will be offered by Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele; Democratic National Committee Chairman Governor Tim Kaine, NAACP President Ben Jealous, Maudine Cooper, President and CEO, Greater Washington Urban League, and U. S. Conference of Mayors President Elizabeth B. Kautz. Sponsor: Sprint

11:00 a.m. 
Press Conference – Room 204C - National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial to open Conference, highlight the week’s events
2:45pm–4:45pm
Centennial Town Hall on Education: The Past 100 Years of Achievement in Education – Hall E - Keynote speaker is former National Urban League President Hugh B. Price, and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will make remarks during this important discussion that looks back at the academic achievements of the past 100 years and discuss prospects for moving forward and preparing every child for college, work and life. Confirmed panelists include Marian Wright Edelman, president, Children’s Defense Fund; Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO, Harlem’s Children Zone; Ernest G. Green, one of the Little Rock Nine; Rev. Al Sharpton; Dr. Cornell West and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). Sponsor: Aramark

7:00pm - 9:00pm
State of the Urban League Address- First Baptist Church of Glenarden, MD - President and CEO Marc H. Morial will address the conference. Dr. Maya Angelou and Common will make a special Centennial presentation. Sponsors: Altria and Sodexo

Thursday, July 29
(Dedicated to the Second Century)

8:15am–10:00am
The President of the United States Barack Obama will address the National Urban League’s historic Centennial n education reformoand offer his thoughts on the League’s role in America, past, present and future. Sponsors: Centene Corporation and Pitney Bowes

11:30 a.m. 
Press Conference ¬– Ribbon Cutting to open the N.U.L. Experience Expo Hall in Hall D.

10:30am–5:00pm (every day) 
The N.U.L. Experience Expo Hall: Free to the public, the largest National Urban League expo hall ever will feature more than 300 exhibitor booths with a college fair for high school juniors and seniors as well as: 

o Career Fair: More than 100 recruiters from top companies interviewing job seekers, workshops and career coaching sessions. 
o Centennial Empowerment Exhibit: Take an interactive journey through the history of the National Urban League highlighting landmark programs and progress in the past century, including the League’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.

o Exhibit Hall Zones: The zones provide a great opportunity to gather information and experience three different industries: Technology Zone, Green Zone, Health Zone.

11:15 am – 12:30pm (6 Concurrent Workshops – visit website for details)
Saving Our Sisters: Mastering Your Mind and Body, Empowering Your Future (workshop): Panelists include editor, author and journalist Susan Taylor; Debra Langford, Vice President for Inclusion and Business Diversity, NBC Universal; and Connie Lindsey, president, National Board of Directors, Girl Scouts USA. Sponsor: Nationwide Insurance Company

2:30pm – 4:30pm
PLENARY SESSION: What Will Black America Look Like in 2025? – Hall E - CNN’s Soledad O’Brien and BET’s Jeff Johnson will moderate this session addressing ways to achieve the National Urban League’s Empowerment goals on health, employment, education and housing equality. Panelists include radio host Tom Joyner, actress Vanessa Bell Calloway, Princeton University Professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell, and law professor Dr. Charles J. Ogletree. Scheduled speakers include U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. Sponsor: JCPenney

8:30pm – 10:30pm
Cultural Night Centennial Celebration – Warner Theatre – Black Angels Over Tuskegee theatre performance featuring actor Lamman Rucker (Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?). Sponsors: Exxon Mobil, Comcast, Intel


Friday, July 30
(Dedicated to Public Service)
6:00am-11:00am
Centennial Volunteer Day of Service - For the first time at an annual conference, the National Urban League will host the Centennial Volunteer Day of Service. In partnership with the Greater Washington Urban League and D.C. Cares, conference attendees will participate in one of 10+ community service projects relevant to the organization’s Empowerment Goals of achieving equality in employment, health, housing and education. Sponsor: Volkswagen Group of America

11:00 a.m. 
Press Conference – Room 204AB -Announcement of a new program and partnership with Advance America

3:00pm-5:30pm
Special Town Hall: Listen Up! Voices from the Next Generation: Young leaders of tomorrow will dialogue about the issues they face and the vision they have for the future. Part One – Youth Panel/Part Two – Adult Panel. Panelists include poet Sonia Sanchez, singer Michelle Williams and filmmaker, actor and author Jordan Coleman. Sponsor: Casey Family Programs

8:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. 
National Urban League Benefit Concert featuring Fantasia and Ron Isley at the Warner Theatre. Sponsors: Walt Disney Company, Coca-Cola, Harrah’s Foundation, MillerCoors and Toyota.


Saturday, July 31
(Dedicated to the Legacy of the Urban League Movement)

8:30am- 10:30am
Family Session Breakfast Reception & Interfaith Program featuring singers Mary Mary in Hall E.

11:00 a.m.
Press Conference – Joint announcement with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency

11:00am-4:00pm
The Project Ready Invitational College Fair will feature more than 40 institutions of higher learning, college access organizations and scholarship organizations. The College Fair will also provide “college ready” and “financial aid” sessions for DC area parents and students and public training opportunities for school staffers. Sponsor: FedEx

12:00pm-2:00pm
Women of Power Luncheon: Hosted by Michelle Miller, CBS News. Confirmed honorees include Actress Angela Bassett; professional boxer Laila Ali; Angela Conyers-Benton, founder and publisher, Black Web 2.0; and Ambassador Susan E. Rice. Sponsors: General Mills, Lilly USA, Prudential and Hyundai.

7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Whitney M. Young Jr. Awards Gala
Honorees include Dr. Maya Angelou, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, actors LeVar Burton and Alfre Woodard, and U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn. Sponsors: BP, Toyota, Wal-Mart.