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A huge birthday celebration and Rainbow Push Confrence will take place this week in Atlanta in honor the Reverend Jesse Jackson’s 50 years of service. God has used this modern day Moses to deliver minorities, the poor, negotiate the safe return of solders, and countless others. Rev. Jesse Jackson has done more to have never held an elected office then most elected officials.
Jackson turned 75 on last Saturday, but will celebrate in the birth place of the Civil Rights Movement and home of his mentor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The founder of Rainbow Push will be honored at a star studded black tie gala on Friday, October 21, 2016 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Tickets are still available. A number of other spatular events will take place all week a long with the conference.
It started with a breakfast and wrapped up with a luncheon attended by faith leaders and community activists.
Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.’s 75th Birthday Celebration and his work for over 50 years. This year’s annual Hope is Alive Awards Gala will also recognize Mrs. Helen Price, President-Coca Cola Foundation, Mr. Leroy Johnson, former State Senator of Georgia, Attorney CK Hoffler, and Nathaniel Goldson, Founder of Gourmet Services, Inc. The Hope is Alive Awards Gala will be hosted by, WSB-TV 2 Anchor Dave Huddleston and CBS 46 morning Anchor Gloria Neal. It will also include special musical presentations by various music artists, from Lloyd, Phillipia, and Teresa Hightower to Reverend Jackson’s daughter Ms. Santita Jackson. A special tribute is planned including Civil Right foot soldier and Icons. This exciting celebration will be topped off with a surprise guest DJ. This blockbuster event will culminate Friday, October 21 activities at the Rainbow PUSH Atlanta 17th Annual Creating Opportunity Conference (October 20 – 22, 1986). 
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition will host its 17th Creating Opportunity Conference, October 20 – 22, 2016. The 17th Creating Opportunity Conference is an informative event that supports the Rainbow PUSH Peach Street Project launched in 2000 to work for justice and equality in education, youth development, financial literacy, business formation and growth. This year’s conference will take place Thursday at Morehouse College and the Center for Civil and Human Rights, Friday and Saturday at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Downtown).
This year’s conference celebrates Reverend Jackson’s 50 year legacy of work and his commitment to economic equity as well as Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.’s 75th Birthday. “This is a special year because we are celebrating the work Reverend Jackson began 50 years ago with Opportunity Breadbasket in Chicago, Illinois. We are fortunate to not only celebrate his work for over 50 years, but are also recognize this Civil Rights icon on this milestone birthday of 75 years, said Calvin Vismale, Director of the Rainbow PUSH Atlanta office. “This represents the opportunity to give back to someone who has given so much to all and has made our lives better ,” said Vismale.
This year’s conference focuses on the continued Civil Rights struggle of today, economic equity. The theme is “Converting Opportunity to Wealth in Our Community” filled with sessions and activities that will provide its attendees:
Thursday, October 20, 2016 Morehouse College
Shirley A. Massey Conference Center
Bank of America Auditorium
830 Westview Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314
• Creating the Black Tech Ecosystem panel discussion. Information, advice and exposure to Angel Investors such as Michael Ross, financial institutions and bankers such as Jerome Russell from Citizens Trust Bank.
• Focused on digital entertainment, Digital Capital: The Quest for Appropriate Capital, featuring entertainment executives and the process of raising capital.
• Strategy Luncheon: Piercing the Capital Veil honoring inventor technologist Lonnie Johnson, inventor of the SUPER SOAKER.
• Business pitch competition finals, PUSHTech 2020 Think Tank, featuring innovative entrepreneurs who can win up to $5,000.
National Center for Civil and Human Rights 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• Intergenerational Mixer and conversation with Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. at the Center for Civil and Human Rights. This exciting event is an opportunity for youth and young adults to engage in discussion on Civil Rights and today’s role.
Friday, October 21, 2016 Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Downtown)
265 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Powerful Women in Leadership Breakfast featuring the Honorable Alexis Herman and honorees Mrs. Juanita Abernathy, Ms. Bree Newsome and Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd. Mrs. Lisa Rayam, former TV News 5 anchor (FOX), will serve as the mistress of ceremony with entertainment provided by Ms. Regina Love, former contestant on The Voice, season 9.
• Public Policy Roundtable focused on the Black Vote featuring Joe Neal, Marilyn Stevens, Atlanta Councilman Ceasar Mitchell, Georgia Representative Floyd Makissick, Georgia Senator Gail Davenport, Michael Thurmond, former Georgia Commissioner of Labor and South Carolina Senator Marlon Kimpson.
• Annual Minister’s Luncheon featuring Dr. Kevin W. Cosby, St. Stephen Church, Louisville, Kentucky and Dr. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III, Friendship-West Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas.
• Community Stabilization and Financial Readiness session. This workshop will provide discussion and information with Robert Smith from Wells Fargo and Maurice Coleman from Bank of America.
• Panelist from Marta, GDOT, Georgia Port Authority, ARC, The Partnership for Southern Equity and Project Urban Renewal Energy will engage in an informative session, Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy, Utilities and the Environment focusing on key drivers of economic growth through public, private and philanthropic partnerships.
Hope is Alive Awards Gala Regency Ballroom
Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Downtown)
265 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Blockbuster annual Hope is Alive Awards Gala celebrating the 75th Birthday of The Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. recognizing Mrs. Helen Price, President-Coca Cola Foundation, Mr. Leroy Johnson, former State Senator of Georgia, Attorney CK Hoffler and Nathaniel Goldson, Founder of Gourmet Services, Inc.
• The Hope is Alive Awards Gala will be hosted by, WSB-TV 2 Anchor Dave Huddleston and CBS 46 morning Anchor Gloria Neal. It will also include special musical presentations by various music artists, from Lloyd, Phillipia, and Teresa Hightower to Reverend Jackson’s daughter Ms. Santita Jackson. A special tribute is planned including Civil Right foot soldier and Icons. This exciting celebration will be topped off with a surprise guest DJ.
Saturday, October 22, 2016Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Downtown)
265 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Focus on health disparity with former Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher including health care experts from Peace Medicine Institute and Wellstar.
• Community Economic Development session to discuss the tide of gentrification and displacement looking at best practices with experts such as Marta Director of Real Estate, Richard Slayton and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation Executive Director, Roderick Miller.
• Saturday youth focused events and activities including Wells Fargo Bank’s Monopoly teaching money management life skills; Interactive session on Coding, Gaming and Virtual Reality; The Game of Chess and learning winning strategies for life management by Orin Hudson, chess champion and motivational speaker recently tapped by Disney to help promote film “Queen of Katwe” with actress Lupita Nyong’o.
The Honorable Alexis Herman Headlines Powerful Women in Leadership Breakfast
Rainbow Push Atlanta 17th Creating Opportunity Conference October 21, 2016, 8:00 AM
Mrs. Juanita Abernathy, Ms. Bree Newsome, and Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd
Honored for their leadership role as change agents in the movement of Civil Rights
Who: Honorable Alexis Herman, America’s 23rd Secretary of Labor – Keynote Speaker
Mrs. Juanita Abernathy, American Civil Rights Legend – Mother of the Movement
Ms. Bree Newsome, American Filmmaker, Musician, Speaker and Activist from Charlotte, North Carolina – Woman of Courage
Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd, President-Alabama State University – Excellence in Education
Mrs. Lisa Rayam, Former News Anchor at FOX 5 Atlanta (WAGA) – Hostess
What: The Powerful Women in Leadership breakfast will feature the Honorable Alexis Herman, America’s 23rd Secretary of Labor and the first African American ever to lead the United States Department of Labor. Herman’s focus will be “The Power of Women Leader’s,” exemplified in this year’s award recipients whose individual actions demonstrate women leadership that is poignant and purposeful. Rainbow PUSH Atlanta is exited to recognize the contribution of women, who have served as the backbone of the Civil Rights movement at the 17th Annual Creating Opportunity Conference being held from October 20 – 22, 1986.
When: Friday, October 21, 2016
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Where: Hyatt Regency Atlanta (Downtown)
Regency Ballroom
265 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 30303
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