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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
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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 CHAT: THE 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.