Plugging In: The Kucinich Address

What do you look at when you see the Urban League Logo? Well for one presidential candidate it may not be the obvious. As the Urban League moves forward with an intense branding strategy under the leadership under President and CEO Marc Morial, it was Dennis Kucinich who explained the revamped logo to a theatre full of Urban Leaguers on Friday morning. Besides citing the logo as an obvious sign of equality, the former mayor of Cleveland went to describe the League’s insignia as having the ability to be a light socket or possibly the front of a train.

While I like many others chuckled at the thought of this analogy, the Congressman from Ohio went on with poise to explain what he meant. Kucinich said that a light socket is a representation of energy and light. In addition, the Congressman said that the insignia could represent the front of a train or in other words movement. After little thought, most people in attendance realized what Congressman Kuccinich was speaking of. I personally would go on to cite that the Urban League is a light socket not only because of an illumination which represents innovative ideas but a light socket because by itself it simply represents potential energy. Only when the Urban League Community and stakeholders plug themselves in to the ideals of its mission statement and agendas such as the “Opportunity Compact” can we further influence change in this nation. Once we do the Urban League train can move at full force on the tracks to the destination of equality.

Congressman Kucinich, an endorser of the Urban League’s “Opportunity Compact” has several items on his platform which were received well by the audience. Besides the simple item of ending what has been deemed a useless war in Iraq, Kuccinich has substantive items on his agenda that could have a great impact on the country domestically. Kuccinich believes that the opportunity to thrive, a cornerstone of the “Opportunity Compact” can be addressed with a Universal Pre-Kindergarten Bill. In addition, Kucinich hope to allow the opportunity to thrive can be addressed with HR.676. HR.676 is an initiative for America to move towards a Universal Single-Payer Not-for-Profit Healthcare System. Kucinich is the only Presidential hopeful with such a plan. The bill which is sponsored by Congressman Conyers, is what Kucinich named as the legislative accomplishment which he is most proud of throughout his congressional career.

Over the course of his address Congressman Kucinich appeared bright and impressed many in attendance. Even more interesting was that through this address even though they have trouble pronouncing it, more people now know his name. While I personally believe that at this point he’s running for the sake of a vice-presidential bid, the Congressman has innovative and very progressive ideas. Congressman Kucinich has gone on the record of not only being in support of same-sex marriage, even more controversially the Congressman is an avid supporter of reparations for African-Americans.

So as the primaries quickly approaches the Kucinich Camp will have to ask itself are the American people willing to take a trip on the Kucinich train for a trip to their destinations or are Americans more willing to accept the Ohio Congressman as the caboose to another Democratic front-runner.

-Ronald Holmes
NUL Policy Institute

Exhibit Hall & Career Fair

Considering that this is the second NUL Conference I've attend, I know for a fact that one of the most exciting part of this experience is the exhibit halls. It not only showcase a collection of products from some of today's leading businesses, it also gives people a chance to collect some merchandise without breaking their bank. The thing that I like about this exhibit hall is that your not just walking around collecting free gifts. You also become involved in the vibe that the exhibit hall generates; live music, free food, interactive activities. It is these elements that allows the exhibit hall to take on a life of its own and gives everyone the opportunity to interact on a social level with those local and abroad.

This year's theme was "You, Your money, Your future," and the career fair created a strong platform for our theme. I think that the problem in the black community is not that we can't find jobs the real issue is that we can't find the right jobs that cater to our talents and potential. That's why I was pleased when I walked through the career fair and was able to see businesses and organizations such as Rolls Royce, U.S. Army, BP, etc. all represented to support the black community. I'm glad these events was a success.

--I.Hall

Presidential Forum- Hillary Clinton

Wow! I'm not really the best one to write about our New York Senator. First of all I believe the Democrats and Republicans are no different from each other. Yes..I know some of you just can't believe it, but when you get down to it..THEY ARE!

Ok, so I went to the forum and listened to John Edwards first. Nice guy..too bad he won't win. Maybe they will make him VP. Next up was...Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton! (I silently groaned) She walked to the podium in a stylish navy blue suit, hair perfect, make up flawless and began to follow in her husbands foot steps by rallying up all the black support. I gave her performance an A+. She has a way of capturing the audience (especially ::cough:: minorities ::cough:: blacks) Of course she came out in support the Opportunity Compact presented to them by our fearless leader Marc Morial. Politically suicide if she didn't at least say she did. What politician would do that? We will know how much she supports it if she wins the election. (God, I'm praying to you today to send us a leader to save us from the candidates who are running.)

One thing she briefly spoke about was Katrina (when asked about what she would do to improve the efforts in the gulf coast region) and her 10 point plan. So i took the initiative to go find it on her website.(I did a brave thing; but I just wanted a copy so when I go home to New Orleans where I was born and raised. I will do an assessment on how things are going) Its below for all to read. My question to the candidates is this: All of you have a enough power and money, why wait to do anything? Why not use some of that campaign money to make a difference before you are in office? If you see the problem now FIX IT!

Although I am not a Clinton supporter, they have been a family that has intrigued me. I believe Hillary is the brains and Bill has been used as the figure head. They can definitely talk a good game and if she does become our new president..i have a written list of the promises she has made since running for president and I will be keeping tally of how many things she actually accomplishes

http://www.nationalreview.com/interrogatory/klein200506200754.asp

Today, Hillary Clinton announced an agenda that she would pursue as president to cut through the red tape, deliver the promised federal assistance, and get services running and infrastructure built in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast. Hillary believes that it is unacceptable that 20 months after the storms, New Orleans is still coping with vulnerable levees, closed hospitals, dilapidated schools, rising crime, halting economic development, and a shocking lack of affordable housing. Hillary also believes that the people of New Orleans and the region – with real federal commitment and meaningful federal aid – can overcome these challenges. Here is what she would do to help them:

As president, Senator Clinton would take the federal rebuilding coordinator out of the Department of Homeland Security bureaucracy and put him in the West Wing, reporting directly to the president. She would meet with the Director weekly and grant him full authority to lead all federal participation in Gulf Coast recovery. The Director’s first order of business would be to conduct a Katrina/Rita Recovery Census –canvassing all federal assistance needs of Gulf Coast communities.

Senator Clinton would take a series of immediate, concrete steps to move federal dollars to where they belong. She would eliminate the local match requirement for FEMA recovery funds. She would streamline and simplify the “project worksheet” process of securing FEMA public infrastructure grants, and deploy sufficient staff to clear backlogs. For priority projects, she would provide upfront seed funding to jumpstart rebuilding while applications and claims are processed. And she would direct FEMA to give the maximum flexibility allowed by law to schools, fire stations, and other critical institutions for creative rebuilding and renovation. She would also convene a state-local-federal summit to resolve challenges confronting Louisiana’s “Road Home” program, with the goal of removing the remaining federal obstacles.

As president, Hillary would create a Gulf Coast Corps, governed by a joint federal-state-local board. The Corps would have two tracks: (1) it would provide financial incentives to skilled professionals – teachers, doctors, nurses, etc. – to serve in high-need areas as identified by state and local officials; and (2) it would directly hire thousands of workers and apprentices – especially locals and those who left but want to return – to complete priority public works projects, as identified by the states. The first track would fill shortages of key personnel who perform essential services. The second track would provide well-paying jobs to restore and upgrade core infrastructure – fire stations, parks, hospitals, roads, sewer and water systems – so that businesses can function effectively and residents can reestablish their communities and reclaim their culture.

There are still clear gaps and deficiencies in the city’s hurricane defenses. Senator Clinton would immediately order an independent, stem-to-stern review of the Army Corps of Engineers’ plans and progress thus far. She would fully fund and expedite construction to ensure the city has reliable defenses this hurricane season, and would order the Corps to achieve Category 5 protection over time. And, because every 2 to 4 miles of wetlands reduces storm surges by a foot, she would require the Army Corps and other federal agencies to integrate a wetlands restoration plan as a vital component of hurricane protection efforts.

In addition to addressing Road Home, Senator Clinton would pursue two specific policy initiatives. First, she would address the skyrocketing cost of insurance by: investigating insurance pricing and claims adjustment practices in the Gulf region; reforming the National Flood Insurance Program; reviewing the insurance industry’s antitrust exemption; and working with states to support their insurance programs. Second, she would expand the stock of affordable rental housing by: partnering with states and localities; funding new public housing developments; offering incentives to builders and developers; and providing direct assistance to residents who have lost their units, including those living in transitional housing.

The murder rate in New Orleans has spiked, while the police ranks have dwindled. Senator Clinton would provide sufficient COPS and Byrne Grant funding to put two hundred new police officers back on the beat in New Orleans, to fill vacancies in prosecutors’ offices, and to help the city deploy new crime-fighting technologies and methods in partnership with local community leaders. Senator Clinton would also confront the challenge of interoperability by setting national communications standards and providing funds for equipment upgrades.

The schools in New Orleans suffered hundreds of millions in damage, and remain in various states of disrepair. Senator Clinton would renovate and modernize school facilities through the Gulf Coast Corps. The Corps would also fill the large teacher shortage – officials are anticipating 650 vacancies alone in the Recovery School District. In addition, Senator Clinton would direct the EPA to provide technical assistance through its “Tools for Schools” program to help New Orleans build modern school facilities that are energy efficient, free of lead, mold and other pollutants, and designed to maximize fresh air and sunlight.

A recent survey reported that more than a third of greater New Orleans residents reported less access to quality health care than before the storm. As president, Senator Clinton would deploy the Gulf Coast Corps to rebuild hospitals and clinics, especially those that serve the under- and uninsured. She would recruit health care workers – doctors, nurses, mental health professionals – through the Corps. And she would provide Community Mental Health Block Grants to address a growing mental health care crisis.

In addition to supporting and extending federal incentives to stimulate a thriving Gulf Opportunity Zone and to support small businesses, Senator Clinton would direct federal agencies to provide technical assistance to help individuals and communities build energy-efficient “green” homes and buildings, environmentally friendly public transit systems, and modern parks and recreation areas.

To avoid a repeat of the catastrophic failures of the Bush Administration, Hillary would immediately pursue two proposals she has offered in the Senate: elevate FEMA to cabinet-level status; and establish a Katrina/Rita Commission – modeled on the 9/11 Commission – to review what went wrong and what changes are necessary. She would modify the Stafford Act to add a Catastrophic Annex and would direct FEMA to work with folks on the ground to develop preparedness and response plans and lines of authority. As president, she will be ready to respond the moment a disaster strikes.

~A black woman tired of our people being pulled on a string like puppets~
Troi Russell

Portrait of A Black Man (Woman Perspective)

Bonjour!

It has been an exciting week! The National Urban League really knows how to put together a conference :) Full of great entertainment, but most of all powerful workshops.

The Town Hall Meeting held about the black man crisis was very enlightening. On the panel there were several speakers. Some more known then others i.e Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. However, I am going to address something I think others probably took lightly.

The discussion began with the Moderator (name forgotten) holding up a sign that reads:

I AM

A MAN

Well, I am a woman and when I looked at the sign I saw the many men in prison who have been degraded and striped of their manhood. I took a closer look and I saw a generation of fatherless homes who have no role model of what it means to be a man. I decided to go a little deeper into the sign and saw a black man who once stood tall and fearless now broken and afraid to speak out against the injustice he has endured unable to hold his head high. When I gazed into that sign I saw woman who has lost her place, trying to play(emphasis on play) the role of a man because when she walks down the street there are no men, just figures of what use to be the provider, protector, hero, leader, etc.. After staring at the sign I came to a conclusion... if we do not raise up a generation of Men, then the black community shall perish.

I am going to end with the scripture Jeff Johnson of the Cousin Jeff Chronicles quoted during the discussion:

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1)

~ A black woman praying for the black man~

Troi Russell

Plenary Session III: Presidential Candidate John Edwards

To start off my morning, I ended up oversleeping a little because I attended the YP Social the night before. Nevertheless, I managed to wake up at 7:00am and be at the event at 8am. As soon as I walked up to the event I noticed the massive line of people waiting to get in along with the people already seated. I managed to get into the VIP section, by saying I was an NUL summer intern (the many perks of being a summer intern).

When I entered the theatre I couldn't find a seat. It was a good feeling though, because it meant that so many people were interesting in hearing these presidential candidates speak. People were truly interested in who will be leading our future and our country in 2009. After my endless search for one seat I chose to sit in the back, because I knew I wouldn't have a problem finding a seat there.

John Edwards was the second candidate to step up to the platform, and was recieved by a warm welcome from the audience. Not as warm as Hillary Clinton or Barack Onama but one could tell that he had numerous supporters in the audience. I clearly remember him from the last presidential race and one thing that always stood out was his ability to remain calm in debates and not look flustered. When he came up, he spoke articulately about a universal healthcare plan, strengthening schools so every child can succeed, and ending the poverty in America. He spoke passionately about how urgent it was to tackle these issues that have plagued our country for quite some time now.

One topic I wish that he could have spoke more on was helping to save young african american males ages 18-24, because it is such a serious issue and a priority for the urban league. After his speech had ended and when he was asked questions by NUL President and CEO Marc H. Morial, I think he became a little flustered when asked if he supported the NUL Opportunity Compact. He took a few seconds to answer yes and when he did he gave no reasons why he supported it and why is was so essential in empowering minorites. However overall, I felt like he did a good job and had some valid points for his campaign.

During his speech I felt he caught the attention of many. I feel that John Edwards is a worthy candidate to lead our country into the year 2009. His tireless efforts as a former Senator and campaign race have cleary shown that.

I really enjoyed myself during the event because this is the first time that I have seen these candidated speak since thier declaration to become the next president. I also thought to myself throughout the event, that this was a wonderful opportunity and allowed me to thoroughly analyze what John Edwards spoke about during his speech.

-Andrew J. Oliver

Benefit Concert: Erykah Badu and Teena Marie

Hello World:

On Thursday evening I had the task of going to the Erykah Badu and Teena Marie Benefit Concert at Ferrara Theatre. At the beginning of the event, LaToya and I managed to get into the backstage. We quickly realized that its not all its cracked up to be. lol. Inside the backstage we met the host of the event whose name escapes me at this very moment. We also posed and took pictures in front of the NUL background. I really felt exclusive during the event, walking in and out of backstage while people were taking their seats.

Shortly after we went to the first floor to get a better view of the people coming into the event. We took pictures and noticed that it took no time for the theatre to get packed. We stood around for awhile watching people come in and looking at the stage being set up. It really was amazing to see a thought come into fruition after seeing it in the Conference Bible, to watching the event up close and personal. After a while, we went up to the third floor to watch the event from our seats. While sitting in anticipation I thought of who Erykah Badu was; her lyrics are highly personal urban philosophies which give emotional challenges to any listener. She has an unusual musical sounds with songs like Bag Lady and Call Tyrone that captivates her audiences.It was funny because while we were waiting for her to come to the stage, the band must have been playing the instrumental to her song for at least ten minutes. But, when she did come out, the audience raved and you could tell who all the Erykah Badu fans were in the building. One song that I really like that she did was Bag Lady, it has always been one of my favorite songs of her's and whenever I hear it, it puts me into that hip hop soul kind of mood. She had a wondeful preformance and I had almost wished that she would have just headlined the show by herself.

That was until Teena Marie came to the stage, I have heard a few songs in the past, but she really did her thing during her preformance. Her vocals were amazing and really topped off the whole event, making it one of my favorite events thus far.


Overall, the event was a huge success. Everyone that I saw and spoke to raved about the great time that they had. It was a smooth atmosphere and people were having fun, not worrying about the fact that they had to get up in the morning for the next Plenary Session. The only thing I wish I could have done over would prabobly be to knock on their dressing room doors to possibly get a picture with either one of them. But, everything happens for a reason and hopefully I cross their paths in the future.

-Andrew J. Oliver

Barack Obama at the Presidential Forum on Urban Issues

The line was literally wrapped around the 2nd floor escalators and people were edging their way in hoping that by skipping a couple of people they would be able to guarantee themselves a seat. I remembered my past two plenary session experiences and I made sure that I would be at the theatre EARLY today. Yet, I still found myself at the tail end of the line. It was only 7:55 am. We weren't scheduled to begin until 8:30.

By 8:15 I finally reached the general entrance.
"Standing room only people. Please try to find seats if they are available on the upper levels"

Good luck with that.

There were no seats available on the upper levels. Determined to find a seat (after all I was going to be taking notes and taking pictures) I walked back down to the lower level and found myself again, not too bad off. Seated near the middle I was far back but still had a good visual of all who would be on the stage.

Saving the best for last, Senator Barack Obama was the last of the political candidates to take the stage and let me tell you, everyone in the audience and geared up and ready to hear him speak.

The first thing he said when he got to the podium was that he endorsed the National Urban League Opportunity Compact, the issues it focuses on and the policy proposals it puts forth for consideration. This envoked loud applause from the audience.

Listening to Senator Obama you can tell that when he speaks about working for the communities and on the communities to create positive change, it isnt just empty campaign rhetoric. He has spent many years of his life working on this cause and with the power of the presidency would continue to do so. His mission is to fight against an administration that tells the underpriviledged that they are on their own and that the government's goal is not to help them.

But how can he do this? He cant do this on his own. He cant do this with just a cabinet of supporters. Senator Obama needs our help and our support, our willingness to stand up, stand together and demand change. Put the pressure on and not let up.

It seems so simple. It seems so easy and yet, it isnt done. Definately, something to think about. Where are our priorites as a country? Mr. Obama brought this question up. We need to revamp the Justice System and perhaps appoint an Attorney General who believes in its mission and is not set on obstructing the system. The Justice System needs to be taken on so that less african american youth are held within its grasp. More preventive measures should be taken so that the destiny of a child would not be predetermined before he or she took their first steps or their future determined simply by the neighborhood they are born into.

When people ask whether America is ready for a Black president, I would like to reply that although my teachers have always told me that there is no such thing as a silly question, that right there is indeed a silly question.

America is ready for change. As citizens we are tired of being taken for granted while being written off as the apathetic crowd whose absence of engagement gave present and past administrations the carte blanche to create the havoc that we find ourselves in today.

If we werent ready for change, Senator Obama wouldnt be the popular front running candidate for the presidency that he is today. One interesting statement that he made was that if he won the presidency he would not only change the look of the white house and that position but that occurence would actually transform the nation.

Let that marinate in your minds for a minute.

If for the first time an African American was elected to the White House it would not just stop there. Those elected to the positions such as the US Congress, State Legislatures, County Executives and so on and so forth would experience a shift as well. Going back to Mr. Morial's statement in his keynote addres, communities of color are a force. We have the power to push for change and for once the change would be real, it would be visible and it would be palpable.

It truly was an amazing speech. The whole time the audience was relatively silent, hanging onto his every word. He just didnt appeal to the emotions of the audience but also stuck to facts, statistics and presented clear cut plans.

And that is all we were asking for. I think it was a job well done.

-Adaeze Udoji

National Council of Urban League Guilds Leadership Luncheon

I had the honor and privilege to cover the Guilds Leadership Luncheon. The Guild could not have found anybody better than Susan Taylor. Susan Taylor is the Editorial Director of the Essence Magazine. Let me tell you, I think Susan Taylor did a phenomenal job during her presentation at the Guild Luncheon. Forgive me, it's 1:30 in the morning, but I'm gonna pull this off somehow. Her innate ability to match her topic with a real life experience she faced while speaking in Orlando, FL made EVERYBODY think twice about what she said. She spoke about taking time out and helping somebody else. We spend all our time trying to look good and feel good that we ignore a lot of the problems in our society. Ms. Taylor said it best when she said, "The only time you should look down on somebody is when you're extending your hand out to help them out." That is a great quote and to those that know me, I will definitely be using that quote soon. Believe me on that. I digress, though.

She didn't have to use big words, catchy figures of speech, or even relate it to stories and novels we have probably never heard of. Her simple metaphor of America ignoring the problems of society was enough to captivate the audience of what we can do to become better citizens and better problem solvers. Ms. Taylor is not only a great influence to the National Urban League, but a great asset to the community as well. She said it best when she said there is no true division between black and white problems because black problems happen first, simply put. Everything then has the trickle down effect on whites and others. It was a compelling 25 minutes and I am glad I had the opportunity to report on this event. It may be short, but it proves the point.

The food was good, the presentations were good, and the speaker was dynamite. Ms. Taylor, if you have the chance to read this, I am STILL waiting for my interview and my photo. I went ahead and continued this blog anyways. All in all, thank you for being a strong African American woman and thanks to all that are reading this blog.

Plenary Session III: Presidential Forum on Urban Issues

When I first found out that there were going to be Presidential Candidates appearing at the Urban League conference, there was a great deal of excitement that ran down my spine. Immediately, I began to research all of the candidates and know what they were all about. When the interns were told they would be reporting on a specific candidate, I was hoping and praying that the words Jamel Vanderburg and Barack Obama would appear in the same sentence. Unfortunately, that's where some of my hope died on that day.

Instead, my name was paired with Dennis John Kucinich. Don't get me wrong, I think he has a lot of great ideas, but his chances of grabbing the Presidential nomination are slimmer than Bush's approval rating. I digress, though. I knew Kucinich was going to come to the table with a lot of great ideas during his speech. I liked his analogy of the Urban League symbol to equality, the light bulb, and the train. The similarity between these three things is the amount of power and energy they have.

Dennis Kucinich has some very good ideas in the areas of Healthcare and Early Childhood. Because he was the first to speak, I thought his ideas were phenomenal. The idea of children possibly starting school at age 3 probably won't impact me until I actually have children of my own if or when that iniative takes affect. The Healthcare iniative would be beneficial as it would slowly but steadily change the dramatic split in Healthcare in America right now. He spoke of changing from a for-profit to a non-profit form of Healthcare. As controversial as that sounds, that would undoubtedly destroy and crush the "better for middle and upper class" Healthcare in this country now and make it equal, affordable, and beneficial for all citizens. He also spoke about creating rehabilitation programs for those incarcerated to bring them back into the fold of things. That would open jobs and make more productive citizens.

For a man with over 40 years of experience, as a mayor, city councilman, state senator, attorney, and congressman, Dennis Kucinich could possibly be a great contender for the White House. His main issue is he doesn't appear as marketable as the John Edwards, Hillary Clintons, and Barack Obamas of the political arena. It appears that the Democratic Presidential Nomination is already set, but the question is, would America be ready to endorse an African American and a woman, or will they revert back to bootleg Republican backwards trending wasteful spending ways?

Would Dennis Kucinich be a great VP candidate? Absolutely, but it doesn't look good. Being a student in Ohio, I know Kucinich is very effective. He needs to get out there more and differentiate himself. All of the Democratic candidates have the same platform almost. If Kucinich wants to distinct himself, distinct his policies further.

Plenary Session II: Portrait of a Black Man

The second Plenary Session addressed the image of today's Black Man in America. The issues covered spoke on many of the problems that we face as a community but with little understanding of how to not only formulate solutions but how to be a part of these solutions . Still, what singled me out in that audience was not just the fact that I was given the opportunity to be enlighten by some of today's great thinkers and political activists but that I too represented that community portrait. I was able to realize that regardless of what level of education I achieve from any institution my face is still represented in that portrait because I still walk this earth as a black man. One of the points that Rev. Jesse Jackson made was the fact that, "Freedom is not the goal for our struggle. Freedom is the precondition for equality." What I took from that quote is that it's not enough for me to emerge from my community as one of those who "made it." But I have to realize that I now have a greater responsibility to be a living blueprint and a service to those who don't know how to make it.

So What's The Next Step?

When I looked at the title Portrait of a Black Man and as I listened to the words of those that sat on the panel I realized that the concept was no just about the image of today's black male. What it also addressed was how do we break a generational cycle of simple minds and shallow goals? This is where I really began to get the most out of the session. When you have speakers like Jeff Henderson who went from selling cocaine, to being institutionalize, to having the title as an ex-con, to becoming a published author and world-class chef it just allows myslef to see the full potential of opportunity. To have Cousin Jeff speak as a symbol of the young black male generation in America it gives me that attitude of "Why Not?". Why can't I fulfil all that I want in life even though the odds maybe against me. Why can't I have the credentials needed to be eligible for Mr. Morial's position by the age of 30. But the point I'm trying to make is the same point that I think my mentor Calvin Wilson has been trying to get me to understand for a while. That point is that I have everything I need today to achieve everything I want tomorrow. All I have to do is want it enough and make the simple sacrifices of hardwork and diligence to attain what is rightfully mine. I think that I still represent the portrait of a Black Man but from another standpoint. I see myself as America's Promising Nightmare: Young, Black and Educated.
Isiah Hall

Will the Black Vote Be Taken For Granted in the 2008 Presidential Election?

It was the very first plenary session of conference and it was a good one.

Not scheduled to begin until 8:30 am I didn't leave my hotel room until 8:01. That left me just enough time to walk over to the convention center and be on time just in case I got lost. And of course, I almost did. You know not everyone is geographically savvy, but that is a discussion for another day, another blog...

On to business.

I walked into the convention center around 8:15 and walked almost halfway to the staircase to the second floor before noticing that I was walking side by side with a civil rights icon: Reverend Al Sharpton. He made absolutely no fan fare about his appearance and I wouldn't had noticed if people ahead of me weren't turning back to look in my direction repeatedly. After regaining my composure (which really means clearing my voice and making sure that there was nothing in my teeth) I greeted him with a "good morning". To this Rev. Al slowed his pace down just a bit to look to his left and reply with, "And how are you?" I was going to reply but you see, he kept it moving. He had to get to the plenary session. But I SAW him, hair and all and I SPOKE to him. I made my decision then and there that all I would have to do is get a photo and I would be golden.

In the Ferrara Theatre the front row seats were already full. I realized that I needed to get to these sessions earlier than 15 minutes before so that I could snag me some prime seating. (Mental note)

The split level theater had an amazing capacity and looked amazing. No matter where you sat you could see everything. But yet again I found myself not to bad off : row 5 center. What can I say, I lucked out and I was close enough to my favorite invention of all time: The Jumbotron.

There was endless chatter as people greeted each other, found their seats and spoke about the different panelists who would be addressing the topic of the black vote and whether or not we will be courted by presidential hopefuls. It truly is an issue of relevance for the times we are in now. I may be young but I don't think there has ever been such competition among front running presidential candidates for black votes and support. It is a noteworthy paradigm shift and it is long overdue.

As Mr. Morial correctly stated, we, African Americans and communities of color are people committed to justice and equality. We are a force. Yet the candidates don't always pay attention to our issues the way they should. But 2008 is proving to be a different time.

Rev. Al opened the conversation by saying that 2008 has the potential to be different. You see, a politician will only do as much as the constituents pressure them to do. We need to be aggressive and stand up for our communities as a constituent group. Because if we don't make the politicians see our issues, embrace our plans, and compete for our votes then no one else will.

Point well taken.

Rev. Joseph P. Watkins went on to say that as a community we need to change our voting habits to vote for the candidate that is best aware of our issues and is supportive of implementing a solution instead of just voting democrat because my daddy was a democrat and his daddy was a democrat and so on and so forth. Why would Republicans even venture out to compete for our votes when they figure that no matter what they say or do, in the end the black vote will flock to the democratic candidate.

Point well taken.

Let's not sleep on the Republican Party. But let's not let the Democratic Party take our votes for granted in order to get into office and then do nothing to benefit the people who helped get them there in the first place.

I may not agree ideologically with many of the stances that the Republican Party takes but it is assuring to see people such as Shannon Reeves and Tara Wall, panelists and spokespersons for the Republican Party. They are more than just blacks who are republicans; they are "black republicans". And according to Shannon Reeves, there IS a difference.

Black Republicans take their experiences and issues with them to the Republican Party, places the issues on the table for discussion and engages with the community to create change. An African American who is a republican usually doesn't associate with the community and their concerns.

Maybe its a play on syntax, but I sure would like to believe him. Hopefully there will be an increase in the level of inclusion of minorities within the Republican Party. That would truly be noteworthy.

More along the lines of political diversification which seemed to be the theme of the moment Tara Wall noted that by openly considering Republican Candidates we create more options for ourselves. True, but Rev. Al quickly rebutted that while options are good they are truly based on availability. If these republican candidates missed every conference put on by organizations such as the National Urban League and the National Action Network and other opportunities to meet with the African American demographic then we can only assume that these candidates by their absence were not courting us or our votes.

Again, point well taken.

It was all in all, a good session. Perspectives from those liberal and those conservative were shared, applauded and sometimes met with cynicism from the audience. But it was informational and nothing short of interesting. This plenary session was a good precursor to the Urban Issues forum that will take place on Friday with the presidential candidates. I've definitely got my list of questions ready. It's time to put the pressure on and get some answers.

And yes, I found my way backstage and I got my picture. :)

-Adaeze Udoji

Healthy Starts

Man, I couldn't believe it. First, as if getting up @ 7 this morning wasn't bad enough, it's been a while since I had a thorough workout. I knew this was gonna be a memorable morning. I put on the sweat, the sneaks, my radio player set to Steve Harvey, and I made my way to the Healthy Starts Workout at the Renaissance. It didn't help that I didn't know where I was going, or that I was running a few minutes late. As soon as I got there, it all started coming into place. Jeanette Jenkins is one fine black woman. I would love to...........anyway, back to the blog. There were people young and old there. Of course, I think I was the youngest of the bunch. Man, what a workout. Every part of the body was worked out, from the arms to the pelvis to the abdominals. Even the gluts got a good workout this morning. Those kicks and thrusts and moves are actually beneficial. I am in a lot of pain right now, but that is a good thing. Exercising my entire body for 45 minutes started my day off right. Getting a picture with Jeanette Jenkins was even better. I'm glad we got that 30 second water break, but for some, I don't think 30 seconds was enough. Word to the wise: stretch out BEFORE you do one of these Hollywood workouts. I'm about to re-tone my body thanks to this Hollywood workout.

Keynote Address

The National Urban League 2007 Annual Conference kicked off with the Keynote Session tonight at American's Center in the convention hall. It was just 15 minutes before it was scheduled to begin and all of the front row seats were taken. But alas, I found myself in the second row off to stage right. Close enough to get some good photos off of the crisp clear jumbrotron ahead of me.

The new chairman of the National Urban League Board John D. Hofmeister presided over the keynote session and it was clear to see: this man was genuinely EXCITED to be here. He laid out some of the events that the conference attendees would have to look forward to such as plenary sessions, workshops and the career fair. He guaranteed us all "we have a great conference in store for you".

One of the remarkable opening speakers of the night was David Jerome Jordan Jr. A high school graduate and a product of the NULITES (National Urban League Incentives to Excel and Succeed)program. David was introduced as a future leader of not only the Urban League movement but of also our generation.

Be on time. Have faith. Succeed.
Failure is not an option.

These were the words that punctuated his speech and got the audience worked up. Younger than myself and preparing to enter college this fall, David definitely has the art of public speaking under his belt. He was a great lead into the event we were all waiting for: The keynote address by the National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial.

Mr. Morial began with the acknowledgment that the Urban doesn't usually market our mission and accomplishments for the world to take note. The time has come for the Urban League to not only be bold but to also advocate for ourselves. The National Urban League doesn't just talk the talk but it has the actions to back up its words.

We serve the people, and we do it well. The National Urban League is committed to running a first class organization and getting the job done.

Mr. Morial's was a message of determination, optimism and graciousness. He spoke highly of the Presidential Forum that would occur on Friday and the expectations beholden. The session would not consist of what Mr. Morial called "drive by politics". There would be no bs, no beating around the bush or useless political rhetoric. There would be straight answers and real talk. A CONVERSATION.

Mr. Morial ended his address by stating that this young generation has all of the tools and resources to institute true and meaningful change. However, his question was do we have the will?

This insightful point made me recall the remarks of David Jerome Jordan Jr., the NULITEr.This generation, although we are younger we are well equipped. We attend conferences like these, we take copious notes at plenary sessions and we are engaged in the discussion of issues and alternative solutions. We are ready to stand up on the shoulders of the great generation before us in order to institute change.

We will be on time. We already have faith and believe. There is no reason for us not to succeed.

Failure is not an option.

-Adaeze Udoji