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NINE BIDEN CABINET MEMBERS, ENTERTAINERS TYLER PERRY AND KERRY WASHINGTON, MAGIC JOHNSON AND BUSINESS LEADER ROBERT SMITH HEADLINE 2023 NAN CONVENTION

Mar 15, 2023

Four-day gathering seeks to galvanize Black Americans against concerted efforts to undermine democracy, threaten the dream of Dr. King

  

New York, NY (Wednesday, March 15, 2023) – In response of the continued and concerted efforts to undermine democracy in the United States, Rev. Al Sharpton will hold the 2023 National Action Network Annual Convention in New York City from April 12th through April 15th to galvanize the civil rights and social justice movement. To that end, the Founder and President of NAN has called upon the nation’s top government officials, entertainers, activists, scholars, media personalities, and financiers to develop real solutions to keep Dr. King’s dream for an equal, just America alive and strong.

“The theme of this year’s convention is Dealing with the Dream Under Threat because Dr. King’s vision for America is being rapidly blurred by those who want to take away our rights,” said Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of NAN. “We are seeing the impacts at the ballot box, in the doctor’s office, and in the classroom. The NAN Convention has always focused on how we can the civil rights movement moving forward, but this year particularly demands we bring the top of the top together to figure out a way to not only preserve that dream but make it as clear as ever.”

The timing of this year’s convention is especially significant. NAN members will meet just a week after the 55th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King and on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington.

Panels, plenary addresses, and events will all be rooted in the need to empower Black Americans during this vital time. More than a dozen top officials in the Biden administration are confirmed to appear during the four-day summit, reflecting the White House’s partnership with NAN on several initiatives for Black America the last two years. The convention will also feature entertainers Kerry Washington and Tyler Perry; the Mothers of the Movement; news figures Michelle Miller and Lawrence O’Donnell; business titans Robert F. Smith and Earvin “Magic” Johnson; and leaders of the Black Church, including Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of NAN and the Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC).

 

Members of the media will be credentialed for this event. To register, please click here.

 

WHEN

Wednesday, April 12th – Saturday, April 15th

WHERE

Sheraton New York Times Square
811 7th Avenue (at West 53rd Street)

New York, NY 10019

Program Schedule

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12th

8:00 am – 3:00 pm

REGISTRATION

Back Lobby – 1st Floor

9:00 am –9:45 am

RIBBON CUTTING & OPENING REMARKS

Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman, National Board of Directors & Elected Officials

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

9:45 am – 10:30 am

FIRESIDE CHATTHE POWER OF OUR VOTE                         

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Kerry Washington, and Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National
Action Network

10:30 am – 11:30 am

POLICE REFORM                                              

Metropolitan East – 2nd Flr.

Moderator:

Benjamin Crump, Esq., Attorney, Ben Crump Law, PLLC

Panelists:

Gwen Carr, Mother of Eric Garner

Wanda Cooper Jones, Mother of Ahmaud Arbery

Allisa Findley, Sister of Botham Jean, President, Botham Jean
Foundation

Philonise Floyd, Brother of George Floyd

Sybrina Fulton, Mother of Trayvon Martin

Rodney Wells, Father of Tyre Nichols

Row Vaughn, Mother of Tyre Nichols

Buddy McClean, Father of Amir Locke

11:30 am- 11:45 am

PLENARY ADDRESS

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

The Honorable Denis R. McDonough, Secretary, U.S. Department of
Veteran Affairs

                               

11:45 am – 12:00 pm

PLENARY ADDRESS

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

The Honorable Al Green, Congressman, U.S. House Representatives (TX-
9)

 

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm       

BREAK

 

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

FIRESIDE PLENARY DISCUSSION

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

The Honorable Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary, U.S. Department Of Education and Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network

 

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm           

FIRESIDE PLENARY DISCUSSION 

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

The Honorable Pete Buttigieg, Secretary, U.S. Department Of Transportation and Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network

 

2:15 pm – 2:45 pm

FIRESIDE PLENARY DISCUSSION

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary, U.S. Department of
Homeland Security and Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network

                                

2:45 pm – 4:00 pm

INCREASING THE UTILIZATION OF DIVERSE ASSET MANAGERS: A CONVERSATION WITH LARGE

ALLOCATORS OF CAPITAL, PUBLIC PENSIONS, & INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

Robert Smith, CEO Vista Equity Partners

Panelists:

Tom DiNapoli, NY State Comptroller

Brad Lander, NYC Comptroller

Jarvis Hollingsworth, Chair, Texas Teacher Retirement System

Jagdeep Bachher – CIO, University of California

 

6:00 pm – 7:00 pm          

KEEPERS OF THE DREAM GENERAL RECEPTION

Empire Ballroom – 2nd Floor

 

7:00 pm

KEEPERS OF THE DREAM PROGRAM (TICKETED EVENT | INVITE ONLY)

Metropolitan Ballroom – 2nd Floor          

Host:

Rev. Al Sharpton, President & Founder, National Action Network

Honorees:
Tyler Perry, Filmmaker, Director, & Producer

Hill Harper, Actor, Author

Dr. Alfred Seawright, CEO of Medical Place, Montgomery AL

THURSDAY, APRIL 13th

 

7:30 am – 9:00 am          

CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

Empire East – 2nd Floor 

 

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

REGISTRATION

Lobby – 2nd Floor

9:00 am – 10:00 am

STEM PANEL

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

10:00 am – 10:30 am

FIRESIDE PLENARY DISCUSSION

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Alexis McGill Johnson, President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action
Fund and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) with Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network

10:30 am – 10:45 am

PLENARY ADDRESS

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Tamron Hall, Host, Tamron Hall Show

10:30 am – 11:30 am

MEDIA PANEL

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

TBD

Panelists:

Lawrence O’Donnell, Host, The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

Jonathan Capehart, Host, The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart

Leonard Greene, Reporter and Columnist, New York Daily News

Wes Lowery, Writer, The Atlantic and GQ

Mara Schiavocampo, Global News Anchor and Managing Editor, Revolt
Black News

 

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

1:1 WITH REV. AL SHARPTON & DR. MICHAEL ERIC DYSON          

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

MAGIC JOHNSON ECONOMIC/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SESSIONS

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Hosted by: Magic Johnson

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT LUNCHEON

(TICKETED EVENT | INVITE ONLY)

Metropolitan West – 2nd Floor 

Co-Chairs:

Tanya Lombard & Rachel Noerdlinger

Host:

Mara Schiavocampo, Global News Anchor and Managing Editor, Revolt
Black News

Keynote Address:

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.N. Ambassador, U.S. Mission, United
Nations (USUN)

Honorees:

Michelle Miller, CBS

Ethel Isaacs Williams, President, Links

Pastor Shirley Caesar, Gospel Artist

Michelle Stoddart, Resort World Casino

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH MIXER POWERED BY PLANNED PARENTHOOD (Invitation Only –  Must Use Event Registration to Attend)

Empire East – 2nd Floor

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm          

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

TBD

Panelists: 

Mayor Ras Baraka, Newark NJ

Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago IL

                                               

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

PLENARY FIRESIDE CHAT

Reverend Al Sharpton, Founder & President, National Action Network, and Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

THE STATE OF SOCIAL & CRIMINAL JUSTICE TODAY: ARE WE A MORE PERFECT UNION?

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

Michael A. Hardy, Esq, NAN Executive Vice President & General Counsel

Panelists:
Ari Melber, MSNBC
Twyla Carter, Attorney-in-Chief, Chief Executive Officer, Legal Aid
Society

 

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

BREAK

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

TRUTH TO POWER REVIVAL

Metropolitan Ballroom – 2nd Floor

Guest Speaker & Performer:

Pastor Shirley Caesar

FRIDAY, APRIL 14TH

7:30 am – 8:45 am          

CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP

Empire East – 2nd Floor

8:00 am – 5:00 pm

REGISTRATION

Lobby – 2nd Floor

9:00 am – 10:15 am

SOCIAL JUSTICE & THE DIASPORA

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

 

10:15 am – 10:30 am

PLENARY ADDRESS

 

10:30 am – 11:15 am

BLACK MENTAL HEALTH STATE OF EMERGENCY

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

Alicia Butler, Health & Wellness Fellow, National Action Network

 

Panelists:

Ebony Baylor, Director of Policy and Advocacy,

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

Kier Gaines, Licensed Therapist and Social Media Influencer  

Dr. Wendy Osefo, Assistant Professor, Johns Hopkins School of
Education, Author, Cast Member, Housewives of Potomac

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Congresswoman, U.S. House of Representatives, (NJ-12), Chair, Emergency Task force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health and Co-Chair, Congressional Caucus on Black Women & Girls   

                                               

Resource Announcement:

Rev. Dr. Que English, HHS Director, Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships

11:15 am – 12:30 pm

TREASURED INSTITUTIONS: HBCU’S

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

Dr. Jamal Watson, Trinity Washington University

Panelists:

Dr. Gregory J. Vincent, Talladega College

Dr. Kevin James, President of Morris Brown College

Lodriguez Murray, United Negro College Fund

Lezli Baskerville, NAFEO

Dr. Melva K. Williams, Huston Tillotson University

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

REVEREND DR. WILLIAM A. JONES MINISTERS LUNCHEON (Ticketed Event – Invite Only)

Metropolitan West – 2nd Floor

Hosted by:

Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman, National Board of Directors,

National Action Network

Keynote Address:

Bishop J. Drew Sheard, Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ & Pastor of Greater Emmanuel Institutional, C.O.G.I.C, Detroit MI

 

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm

BREAK

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

PREACHING JUSTICE

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Chairman, National Board of Directors, National Action Network

Panelists:

Dr. Fredrick D. Haynes, III, Senior Pastor, Friendship-West Baptist
Church
and Board Member, National Board of Directors, National Action Network

Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Senior Bishop of the AME Church

Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ

Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Interim President and General Secretary, National Council of Churches

Bishop James Dixon, Community of Faith Church, Houston TX

Pastor Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes, Co-Pastor, The Double Love Experience
Church

 

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

PLENARY REMARKS

3:30 pm – 4:45 pm

INTERNET FOR ALL: THE FIGHT FOR BROADBAND & DIGITAL EQUITY

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Opening Remarks:

FCC Representative

Moderator:

Pastor Steffie Bartley, NE Regional Director, National Action Network, and Board Member, National Board of Directors, National Action Network

Panelists:

AT&T Representative

Michele Cober, Director, Strategic Alliances, Verizon

Nicolaine Lazarre, Vice President, External Affairs, Charter
Communications

Sean E. Mickens, Associate Vice President & External Affairs, Comcast

NTIA Representative

Clint Odom, VP, Strategic Alliances & External Affairs, T-Mobile

 

4:45 pm – 5:45 pm

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Metropolitan East – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

Deborah Fraser-Howze, Choose Healthy Life

Panelists:
Jacqueline L. Burton, President, Conference of National Black Churches
Dr. Angela R. Elam, Assistant Professor & Health Disparity Policy Researcher, Univ. of Michigan

Tony Wafford, I Choose Life Foundation

4:45 pm – 5:45 pm

GUN VIOLENCE PANEL

Empire East – 2nd Floor

5:45 pm – 5:55 pm          

PLENARY ADDRESS

The Honorable Yvette Clarke, Congresswoman, U.S. House of
Representatives

5:55 pm – 7:00 pm

BREAK

7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

BATTLE OF THE CHOIRS

Metropolitan Ballroom – 2nd Floor

SATURDAY, APRIL 15th YOUTH & COLLEGE DAY

 

8:00 am – 2:00 pm

REGISTRATION

Lobby – 2nd Floor

9:00 am – 11:15 am

SATURDAY RALLY LIVE FROM THE SHERATON

Metropolitan Ballroom – 2nd Floor

 

10:00 am – 11:15 am

MEASURING THE MOVEMENT  

Metropolitan Ballroom – 2nd Floor 

Moderator:

Rev. Al Sharpton, President & Founder, National Action Network

Leaders:

Shavon Arline-Bradley, President, National Council of Negro Women 

Melanie Campbell, President & CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

Damon Hewitt, President & Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Derrick Johnson, President & CEO, NAACP

Marc Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League

Maya Wiley, President & CEO, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

 

11:15 am – 11:30 am

BREAK

 

11:30 am – 12:15 pm     

OPENING CEREMONY AND YOUTH DAY AWARDS

Metropolitan Ballroom – 2nd Floor          

Opening Remarks:

Youth Huddle Leadership

 

YOUTH DAY AWARDS:

Gambian Youth Project

Stevante Clark, Brother of Stephon Clark

 

12:15 pm – 1:15 pm

USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENHANCE SOCIAL JUSTICE WORK

Metropolitan Ballroom – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

Ashley Sharpton, NAN Youth Huddle Co-Founder

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

The Rise & Power of Young Electeds in America

Metropolitan Ballroom – 2nd Floor

Moderator:

Ousmane Diallo, NAN Youth & College Rep.

Panelists:

Congressman Maxwell Frost, 10th District of Florida

Councilman Chi Osse, Brooklyn NY

1:15 pm – 2:15 pm

FROM THEN TO NOW, A LONG BUT STEADY JOURNEY: CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM &

PRACTICES

Empire East –  2nd Flr.

Moderator:

Victor Pate, Chairman, Second Chance Committee, NAN New York City Chapter, Co-Director

for New York Campaign for HALTsolitary Confinement Coalition

Panelists:

Alisha Soates, SVP of Post Incarceration, Aventiv Technologies

Assemblymember Al Taylor, NY 71st District

Assemblymember Eddie Gibbs, NY 68th District

Gwen Levi, Criminal Justice Advocate

Jerome Wright, Co-Director Western NY HALTsolitary Confinement

Senator Julie Salazar, NY 18th State Senate District

Ousmane Diallo, NAN Youth Huddle

 

2:15 pm – 3:15 pm

PROTECTING OUR HISTORY AND OUR HBCU’S

Metropolitan Ballroom, 2nd Flr.

Moderator:

Follyvi Dossa, NAN Youth & College Representative

Panelists:

Lauren Wilkes, President, NAN Spelman College

HBCU Task Force Rep

Myles Hoff, NAACP

 

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm

CLOSING REMARKS

 

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm          

BREAK

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm          

FASHION SHOW/TALENT SHOWCASE

 

About National Action Network (NAN) 

National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, nationality, or gender.

For more information go to www.nationalactionnetwork.net.