Sunday, May 3, 2009

The Runway Diva is Essence Music Festival Bound!!!!

Good News Fam!

Yours truly has been tapped to appear at this year's Essence Music Festival in New Orleans during 4th of July weekend. I will be guest panel speaker at the Empowerment Seminars this year. The seminar is will be held on Friday, July 3, 2009 and it's titled "Image Verses Reality"....check out my esteemed "panel mates".....

Friday, July 3

LIVING AN AUTHENTIC LIFE

Part I - Getting the Love You Deserve

Image Versus Reality:
Omarosa Manigault Stallworth, Lisa Wu Hartwell,
NeNe Leakes, Sharon Quinn, Malinda Williams

I am TOTALLY excited fam and I plan to blog live from New Orleans with up-to-the-minute happenings....

Click HERE to see the complete list of panel speakers and bios (including mine...lol!!) and there are also group links for forum discussions.

Want to attend and need more info?

Check out the OFFICIAL WEBSITE of The Essence Music Festival.





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 BeyoncĂ©, 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 tickets are available for $51-$200; all plus applicable service charges. To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 800-277-1700.

Holla at me fam, if y'all are planning on attending!!!

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