NASHVILLE |
DATE: APRIL 23, 2009
2009 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL
CONFIRMS FINAL EMPOWERMENT SEMINARS THEMES
AND PARTICIPANTS
FOR THREE-DAY MUSIC AND EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND
UPDATED LIST OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS INCLUDES
BISHOP T.D. JAKES, STEVE HARVEY, BILL COSBY,
ROLAND MARTIN, TOM JOYNER,
JUANITA BYNUM AND REV. AL SHARPTON
ANNUAL NEW ORLEANS CULTURAL EVENT
SET FOR JULY 3, 4 AND 5
Having set itself apart from other music events around the world by including three full days of Empowerment Seminars, the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL can now confirm the final list of Seminar participants. This year’s 15th anniversary weekend-long celebration of music and empowerment is set for this July 3, 4 and 5 in New Orleans will include seminar participants Bishop T.D. Jakes, Steve Harvey, Bill Cosby, Roland Martin, Tom Joyner, Juanita Bynum and Rev. Al Sharpton. The Empowerment Seminars–which are free of charge–are open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
Beyond the daytime seminars, the annual event also features nightly musical performances. This year’s ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL performers include Beyoncé, Maxwell, Anita Baker, Al Green, John Legend, Keri Hilson, Robin Thicke, Salt-N-Pepa, Ne-Yo, Raphael Saadiq, En Vogue, Eric Benet, Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, Teena Marie, and more than 30 acts.
As in previous years, musical performances are slated for the New Orleans Superdome and Empowerment Seminars will take place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The updated seminar list is below.
“As the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL reaches its 15th anniversary, the Empowerment Seminars will commemorate this milestone with in-depth and timely programming to help advance the cultural discussion for Black America,” says Angela Burt-Murray, Editor-in-Chief, ESSENCE magazine. “Over three full days, ESSENCE will tackle women’s issues from the perspective of purposeful living; partner with CNN to explore ‘Black America’s State of the Union’; and celebrate spirituality with an all-star gospel tribute to Bishop T.D. Jakes.”
Friday, July 3
LIVING AN AUTHENTIC LIFE
Opening Remarks: Angela Burt-Murray, ESSENCE Editor-in-Chief
ESSENCE Music Festival Welcome: Michelle Ebanks, ESSENCE Communications Inc. President
Host Remarks: Mikki Taylor, ESSENCE Beauty Editor & Cover Director
City Of New Orleans Welcome: Mayor C. Ray Nagin
Part I – Getting the Love You Deserve
Living An Authentic Life: Carla Harris
HIV/AIDS: Sheryl Lee Ralph
HIV in the Black Community: Marvelyn Brown, Dr. Hilda Hutcherson, Phill Wilson (Black AIDS Institute), Donna Richardson-Joyner, Dr. Celeste Watkins-Hayes
Getting The Love You Deserve: Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook
Image Versus Reality: Omarosa Manigault Stallworth, Lisa Wu Hartwell, NeNe Leakes, Sharon Quinn, Malinda Williams
Keynote Address: Juanita Bynum
Part II – The Steve Harvey's Love and Relationships Tour
"Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man": Steve Harvey Q&A
Black Men Unplugged: The Game, The Lies, The Truth: Ed Gordon, Finesse, Malik Yoba
My Message To Black Women On Getting The Love You Deserve: Steve Harvey
Saturday, July 4
BLACK AMERICA'S STATE OF THE UNION
Opening Remarks: Angela Burt-Murray
Louisiana State Welcome: Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu
Host Remarks: Roland Martin
Opening Remarks: Benjamin Todd Jealous, NAACP, National President and Chief Executive Office
Education: Bill Cosby
Politics – The Next Generation: Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA), Valerie Jarrett, Tom Joyner, Donna Brazile, Roland Martin
Keynote Address: Reverend Al Sharpton
Economy & Jobs: George Fraser
Finding Solutions: Stephen Stoute, Monique Greenwood, Carla Harris, George Fraser, Sheryl Hilliard Tucker
State of the Black Family: Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, Malaak Compton-Rock, Ed Gordon, Dr. Michael Lomax, Dr. Calvin Mackie
Performance: Donnie McClurkin
The Black Church: Roles and Responsibilities: Conversation with Donnie McClurkin and Roland Martin
Sunday, July 5
TRIBUTE TO BISHOP T.D. JAKES
Opening Remarks: Angela Burt-Murray
Host Remarks: Steve Harvey
Performance: CeCe Winans (Co-Host)
Sermon & Dedication: Bishop Noel Jones
Performance: Tyronne Foster and the Arc Singers
Performance: Ledisi
Tribute: Greater St. Stephens Full Gospel Baptist Church: Bishop Paul S. Morton and Pastor Debra Morton
Performance: Marvin Sapp
Performance: Smokie Norful
Presentation: Mayor C. Ray Nagin Presents Bishop Jakes with Key to the City
Keynote Address: Bishop T.D. Jakes
A full list of participants can be found at www.essencemusicfestival.com. For additional information about ticket sales, accommodations and the latest news about the ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL, visit www.essencemusicfestival.com. General admission daily ticket prices are available from $51–$200 per person per night and weekend packages range from $153–$545 per person; Gold Circle tickets are $173; all plus applicable service charges. To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 800-277-1700.
The 2009 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL is executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC and produced by Rehage Entertainment. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI). The 2009 Empowerment Seminars are produced by GeChar. The 2009 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL sponsors include Presenting Sponsor Coca Cola; Major Sponsors: Covergirl Queen Collection, Ford, McDonald’s, Pantene Pro-V, U.S. Army and Walmart; and Official Sponsors: CNN, Coors Light, Mastercard, My Black is Beautiful, Southwest Airlines, TBS and TVOne.
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About Essence Communications Inc.: Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the leading media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is "Where Black Women Come First". The company's flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival, Women Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit, Window on Our Women (WOW I, II & III) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD). For 39 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a readership of 8.1 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women's lives.
Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at www.essence.com.
CONTACTS:
Marcee Rondan
MSO
818-380-0400
Dana Baxter
ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS
212-522-1634
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2009 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL CONFIRMS FINAL EMPOWERMENT SEMINARS THEMES AND PARTICIPANTS FOR THREE-DAY MUSIC AND EMPOWERMENT WEEKEND; UPDATED LIST OF SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS INCLUDES BISHOP T.D. JAKES, STEVE HARVEY, BILL COSBY, ROLAND MARTIN, TOM JOYNER, JUANITA BYNUM AND REV. AL SHARPTON; ANNUAL NEW ORLEANS CULTURAL EVENT SET FOR JULY 3, 4 AND 5
