NAACP Image Awards - Los Angeles, CA
May 15, 2007
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will host more than 8,000 members, delegates and visitors during its 98th Annual Convention at Detroit’s COBO Hall Convention Center, July 7-12. Prominent speakers include: U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Michael Chertoff, secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Soledad O'Brien, anchor and special correspondent for CNN; Bishop Philip Robert Cousin, Sr. , Senior Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; Kwame M. Kilpatrick, Mayor, City of Detroit; Julian Bond, Chairman, NAACP National Board of Directors; and Dennis C. Hayes, Interim NAACP President and CEO. (Other speakers will be announced in June).
Themed “Power Beyond Measure,” new offerings for this year’s annual convention include political forums, an Authors’ Pavilion with signings and readings and a funeral for the N-word.
“Simply phenomenal” is how NAACP National Board of Directors Vice Chair and Convention Planning Committee Chair Roslyn M. Brock describes the event. “The NAACP annual convention always gathers the most dedicated and influential community activists in the nation who represent ‘Power Beyond Measure,’” Brock said. “The convention has a principled purpose yet provides phenomenal fun. What the convention offers underscores the point that the NAACP has something for everyone and every lifestyle.”
NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Julian Bond addresses the convention on opening night, Sunday, July 8 at 6 p.m.
A funeral for the N-word will be held 9:30 a.m. July 9 at Hart Plaza. Bishop Cousin keynotes the Religious Leaders Luncheon July 9 at 12:30 p.m.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be the keynote speaker at the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Awards Program on July 10 at 7 p.m. The Motown Revue will feature legendary R&B groups The Temptations, The Spinners and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas July 10 at 8 p.m.
The NAACP Youth & College Division will host the “State of Young Black America” Forum at 9 a.m. July 11 and its Freedom Fund Dinner & Awards at 7 p.m. that day. The uplifting sounds of Grammy and Stellar Award winning vocalist CeCe Winans headlines the Gospel Extravaganza, also July 11 at 6:30 p.m.
NAACPers and guests will also hear from candidates seeking their party’s nomination for the 2008
presidential election. Candidates from each party will participate in separate two-hour forums the morning of July 12. Michigan legislator U.S. Rep. John Conyers will be presented the Spingarn Award, the NAACP’s highest honor, at 7:30 p.m. July 12. The incomparable voice and style of diva Patti LaBelle will complete that evening.
As part of the 38th Annual Commerce and Industry Show, the first NAACP Authors’ Pavilion will showcase the best in literary talent. Individual presentations and book signings are the heart of the Authors’ Pavilion experience, which is designed to bring readers and their favorite writers and poets together. Featured writers this year include: Connie Briscoe, Lolita Files, Lyah B. Leflore/Eddie Levert, Mo’Nique, Kimberla Lawson Roby and Omar Tyree. The Author Pavilion will operate July 7 from 2-6 p.m. and July 8-10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The 2007 NAACP Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) national competition (being held the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Mich. July 5-8) will feature hundreds of youth contestants competing in 26 different disciplines to win college scholarships, internships and a chance to be named a presidential scholar. The ACT-SO awards ceremony will be held 1 p.m. Sunday, July 8 at Cobo Hall.
Conventioneers and visitors are especially encouraged to take advantage of the diverse array of resources provided at the Information Exchange Center (IEC). The IEC is designed to create healthier, wealthier more connected families and will feature the Verizon cyber café, C-SPAN’s 2008 Campaign Bus and representatives from African Ancestry who will be on hand to assist visitors in tracing their genealogy. Other exhibitors in the IEC will provide information on homeownership and credit reports, free on-site Sudden Cardiac Arrest risk assessments, NAACP membership and much more.
The 38th Annual Commerce & Industry, Health Fair and the NAACP Retail Expo will open Saturday, July 7 at 2 p.m. and concludes on July 11 at 6 p.m. An accompanying job fair will be held July 10 and 11. The commerce and industry expo represents a broad spectrum of organizations from Fortune 500 companies, government and social service agencies to minority-owned businesses and institutions of higher education. The exhibit area provides an interactive exchange between delegates and corporate sponsors.
As is customary, the convention will also offer registrants the NAACP Continuing Legal Education seminars, as well as adult and youth workshops offering tips and trends on the NAACP legislative agenda/strategy, economic empowerment, juvenile justice, the assault on affirmative action, health care, civic engagement, education, voting rights and civil/human rights law. The Thalheimer Awards will also be presented to NAACP branches, state conferences and publications that have contributed the most to the Association's mission during the preceding year.
All registration for the convention takes place at COBO Hall Convention Center. On-site adult registration fee is $90. The youth registration fee is $40. For registration times and additional information, go to www.naacp.org.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
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