[Press Conference: “National Urban League Conference”]
[00:00:19]
UH, WE, I'M MARK MORIAL, PROUD TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE.WE ARE EXCITED, DELIGHTED TO BE HERE IN HOUSTON.
LET'S GIVE HOUSTON ANOTHER BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
UH, AND WE WANT TO THANK, UH, THE MAYOR.
I WILL, UH, THROUGHOUT THIS PRESS CONFERENCE, BRING YOU UP TO SPEED ON SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
BUT I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING THE TWO GENTLEMEN WHO ARE BEHIND ME.
UH, FIRST, MY COLLEAGUE, JUDSON ROBINSON.
UH, JUDSON HAS STEWARDED THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE NOW FOR, UH, A BIT, A BIT OVER A DECADE.
AND IN THAT TIME, THE HOUSTON AREA URBAN LEAGUE HAS BUILT ON THE INCREDIBLE LEGACY, UH, CREATED AND LEFT BY SYLVIA BROOKS, OUR FORMER CEO, WHO'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
THANK YOU SYLVIA, FOR BEING WITH US.
AND WE, WE HAD A PLAN, JUDSON, THE MAYOR AND I, UH, TO DO THIS CONFERENCE IN HOUSTON IN 2020.
AND THE PANDEMIC INTERVENED AND ALL OF OUR PLANS WERE SHATTERED, UH, TO THE WIND AS THE PANDEMIC EASE, BOTH JUDSON AND MAYOR TURNER CALLED AND SAID, AND THE MAYOR WAS EMPHATIC, I MUST HAVE THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE IN 2022 OR 2023.
I AM NOT TAKING NO FOR AN ANSWER.
I SAID, OKAY, MAYOR, LET'S GO GET TO WORK.
OF COURSE, JUDSON JOINING WITH THAT, UH, HAS ALWAYS BEEN EAGER TO HOST THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CONFERENCE HERE IN HOUSTON.
AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HERE WE ARE.
AND SO OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, WE WILL EXECUTE A PURPOSEFUL CONVERSATION AND ALSO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PARTY.
SO WE ARE A PURPOSE WITH A PARTY AS WE GATHER.
NOW, I WANNA FRAME THIS IN THIS WAY.
NUMBER ONE, WHY ARE WE HERE IN HOUSTON? WE ARE HERE IN HOUSTON BECAUSE OF THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS MAN AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS MAN, AND THE INCREDIBLE COALITION OF SUPPORT THAT THEY HAVE PUT TOGETHER.
HOUSTON IS AMERICA'S MOST DIVERSE CITY.
HOUSTON IS A CITY OF INCREDIBLE, UH, ECONOMIC PROWESS.
HOUSTON IS A CITY THAT FEATURES MANY CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS.
HOUSTON IS A CITY THAT IS DEFINING THE 21ST CENTURY IN AMERICA.
AND YOUR MAYOR, SYLVESTER TURNER, WHO MAGICALLY SOMEHOW FIGURED OUT A WAY TO GET RID OF THIS TWO YEAR TERM AND TURN IT INTO TWO FOUR YEAR TERMS IS ONE OF THE PRIME REASONS FOR THE PROGRESS OF HOUSTON TODAY.
LET'S GIVE THE MAYOR A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, AND WE'VE COME FOR THAT REASON.
WE'RE ALSO MINDFUL THAT WE ARE IN TEXAS, AND LET ME BE PERFECTLY CLEAR AND UNEQUIVOCAL.
WE'VE ALSO COME TO SEND A MESSAGE TO GOVERNOR ABBOTT IN THE TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE.
GET YOUR HANDS OFF THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF THE BALLOT BOXES AND INTERFERENCE WITH THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF OUR HISTORY AND OUR BOOKS, AND STOP CENSORING OUR BOOKS AND TRYING TO REWRITE OUR HISTORY WITH INACCURACIES AND DISCONTINUE THIS CAMPAIGN OF PURE HATE DIRECTED AT OUR L-G-B-T-Q BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
SO WE ARE SENDING A MESSAGE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME WE WE'LL HOST URBAN LEAGUERS FROM ALL OVER THE NATION.
WE'VE ALSO SET IN STORE FOR SATURDAY A DYNAMIC ACTIVATION FOR THE PEOPLE OF HOUSTON FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DAY 10,000 BACKPACKS, A JOB FAIR, A TECH ZONE, UH, A COLLEGE FAIR, IF YOU WILL, FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
SO WE HOPE THAT THE MEDIA, UH, WILL HELP US BY SPREADING THE WORD
[00:05:01]
THAT THIS CONFERENCE IS FOR EVERYONE HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND SATURDAY'S GONNA BE A VERY IMPORTANT DAY, UH, FOR PEOPLE TO COME AND EXPERIENCE WHAT THE URBAN LEAGUE DOES EVERY DAY IN 92 COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION.SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT, GREAT TIME IN HOUSTON.
AND WITH, WITH, WITH NO DELAY, I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE MAYOR OF THIS CITY WHO'LL BE FOLLOWED BY JUSTIN ROBINSON.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER.
THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT AND TO THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE.
UH, WELCOME TO WELCOME TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
UM, I'M NOT GOING TO BOAST, UH, TOO MUCH ABOUT THE CITY.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA LET THE PEOPLE SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES, BUT WE ARE JUST SO EXCITED ABOUT HAVING THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, UH, IN THIS CITY.
PLEASE GIVE IT UP AGAIN TO MARK MARY ALLEN TO THE NU ALBUM.
AND LOOK, IT IS AN HONOR TO BE ON THE SAME STAGE ALSO WITH THE JUDSON ROBINSON.
UH, YEAH, GIVE IT UP TO JUDSON.
UH, WE HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING TOGETHER FOR DECADES AND, UM, URBAN LEAGUE, UH, IT CERTAINLY HAS BENEFITED FROM, FROM JUSTIN'S LEADERSHIP.
AND TO SYLVIA BROOKS, LEMME JUST GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOU AS WELL.
LOOK AS MAYOR AND IN MY FINAL YEAR IN OFFICE, UH, I AM PLEASED THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE HAS RETURNED, UH, FOR THIS ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
UH, FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1999.
FROM 24 YEARS AGO, UH, THE CONFERENCE WAS SCHEDULED AS, UH, THE PRESIDENT SAID TO BE IN HOUSTON IN 2020, UH, BUT WAS CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
THE PANDEMIC CANCELED IT, BUT IT DID NOT SAY NO FOREVER.
I WANT TO THANK THE TEAM AT HOUSTON.
FIRST, UH, REPRESENTED BY MICHAEL HECKMAN.
I WANT TO THANK YOU SOME FIRST, UH, FOR WORK THEY'VE DONE IN ASSISTING IN BRINGING THE CONFERENCE HERE.
UH, THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE ATTENDEES ARE FILLING HOTELS, SPENDING MONEY LOCALLY ALREADY.
UH, AND THERE'S, UH, NATIONAL ATTENTION.
UH, HOUSTON GETS BY HOSTING SUCH AN IMPORTANT GROUP'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE AS A CITY THAT IS ALSO HOME TO THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CHAPTER THAT IS CELEBRATING ITS 55TH ANNIVERSARY.
WE, WE UNDERSTAND FIRSTHAND THE BENEFITS OF THE URBAN LEAGUE, WHICH IS, WHICH LOCALLY SERVES MORE THAN 10,000 PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY EVERY YEAR.
UNDER THE GREAT LEADERSHIP OF JUSTIN ROBINSON III, UH, THEY ARE LEADING THE ORGANIZATION AT A TIME THAT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CRITICAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND THE PRESIDENT, CEO OUTLINED SOME OF THOSE THINGS WHILE OVERALL US UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DECLINED IN JUNE.
THE CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR BLACKS IS 6%, NEARLY TWICE THE RATE OF WHITE UNEMPLOYMENT.
WE ARE SEEING ATTACKS ON OUR HISTORY WITH STATES LIKE FLORIDA TEACHING THAT SLAVERY HAD BENEFITS.
SO LET ME QUICKLY CORRECT THAT AND MAKE NO MISTAKES.
SLAVERY WAS EVIL AND BENEFITED NO ONE BUT THE SLAVE OWNERS AND THINGS.
BUT THINGS ARE NOT MUCH BETTER IN TEXAS, AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO TELL OUR OWN STORY.
MANY OF OUR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF BLACKS AND BROWN PEOPLE UNDER ATTACK FROM THE ATTACKS ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, VOTING RIGHTS, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS, AND THE TAKEOVER OF OUR SCHOOLS RIGHT HERE IN HOUSTON.
UH, MR. PRESIDENT CEOI SPOKE ON THAT THIS MORNING AT, UH, CITY HALL BECAUSE NOW THE, UM, IMPOSED, UH, SUPERINTENDENT IS CLOSING LIBRARIES IN SOME OF OUR MOST UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND USING THEM NOW AS DISCIPLINARY CENTERS.
SO WHEN YOU CLOSE THE LIBRARIES, IT'S NOT JUST BANNING BOOKS, BUT WHEN YOU CLOSE THE LIBRARIES, QUITE FRANKLY, UH, YOU ARE REALLY LIMITING THE POSSIBILITY OF OUR CHILDREN.
AND I JUST HAVE TO SPEAK OUT ON THIS BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS COMING FROM A FAMILY WHERE NEITHER PARENT GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, LIMITED MEANS, AND I TRAVELED THE GLOBE THROUGH THE BOOKS IN THOSE LIBRARIES.
AND SO VERY MUCH CONCERNED WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THAT FRONT.
UH, AND THEN APPRECIATE THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE FOR CONTINUING TO LEAD THE WAY IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS AMERICA FOR ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.
I AGREE WITH THE IDEA THAT THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CIVIL RIGHTS EVENT OF 2023.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO FOUR DAYS PACKED WITH PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT,
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EQUALITY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TO ELEVATE BLACK AMERICANS.THERE IS A PURPOSE IN THE PROGRAMMING FROM THE CAREER FAIRS TO, TO HEALTH CHECKUPS.
AND WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN WITH EVENTS LIKE THE WOMEN OF POWER AWARDS, LUNCHING THAT WILL HONOR HOUSTON'S OWN STATE REPRESENTATIVE SAFRONIA THOMPSON.
AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE, UH, I HAVE INVITED MAYOR ERIC ADAMS OF NEW YORK CHICAGO MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON AND LA MAYOR CAMERON BASS TO PARTICIPATE IN A FIRESIDE CHAT.
THEY WILL BE IN HOUSTON, AND THESE FOUR MAYORS IN PARTICULAR WILL BE AT THE URBAN LEAGUE, PARTICIPATING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, UH, ON A SINGLE FORUM.
SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN US FOR A DISCUSSION ON THE STATE OF BLACK AMERICA.
THIS WILL BE FRIDAY, FRIDAY MORNING.
AMERICA'S THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY ON THE GLOBE, AND THE FOUR OF THE BIGGEST CITIES IN THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD ARE LED BY AFRICAN AMERICANS.
WE HAVE NAVIGATED OUR CITY THROUGH THE COVID MAN PANDEMIC THROUGH FISCAL CHALLENGES, IMMIGRATION ISSUES, CRIME AND CIVIL UNREST.
AND WE ARE, UH, WE LIVE IN NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONNECT WITH CITIZENS ON A DAILY BASIS.
WE ARE CEOS AND LEADERS WHO HELP EACH OTHER THROUGH UPS AND DOWNS.
AND FINALLY, AFTER THE PANEL DISCUSSION, M BASS HAS ASKED ME TO SHOW HER HOW HOUSTON IS ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR CITY, AND THE REST OF THE COUNTRY SEES HOUSTON AS A MODEL AND HOW WE ARE TRYING TO HOUSE INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDE HOLISTIC WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
IT ALL WRAPS UP WITH SATURDAY'S FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DAY.
LET ME MAKE A SPECIAL PLEA TO HOUSTONIANS.
AND THAT IS, I KNOW THE NATIONAL LEAGUE IS HERE WITH DELEGATES COMING FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, IF NOT THE WORLD, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY ON SATURDAY AT THAT, UH, COMMUNITY DAY FOR HOUSTONIANS TO SHOW UP IN REAL NUMBERS.
UH, I'M MASTERING OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY, UH, OUR, UH, ORGANIZATIONS, UH, DIFFERENT GROUPS TO REALLY SHOW UP ON SATURDAY, UH, AT THE COMMUNITY DAY.
AND HOUSTONIANS, LEMME JUST ASK YOU TO DO THIS, JUST SHOW UP IN SUCH A BIG NUMBER THAT YOU'LL PUT THE DELEGATES COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE CITY, OUTSIDE THE DOOR SO THEY CAN LOOK IN.
UM, BUT LET'S HAVE OUR PRESENCE FACE.
I'M ASKING YOU TO SHOW UP ON THIS COMING SATURDAY.
SO THIS IS AN EXCITING WEEK IN HOUSTON, AND I ENCOURAGE ALL THE MEDIA AND I AND OUT OF TOWN ATTENDEES TO VISIT THE BEST OF OUR CITY FROM RESTAURANTS, TO MUSEUMS AND SHOPPING.
AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME GREAT FUN.
AND AGAIN, AS THE MAYOR OF CITY OF HOUSTON, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR, UM, MR. PRESIDENT AND CEO, LET ME THANK YOU.
BECAUSE THE URBAN LEAGUE COULD HAVE CHOSEN ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY TO HOST THEIR CONVENTION, ANY CITY THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO COME, UH, TO THE CITY OF HOUSTON.
AND FOR THAT, I WANT YOU TO KNOW WE ARE VERY, VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE.
AND NOW LET ME YIELD TO JUSTIN ROBINSON.
GREETINGS, URBAN LEAGUERS, GREETING VISITORS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO HAVE YOU HERE AT OUR CITY THIS WEEK.
AS I LOOK AROUND, I SEE, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM, I SEE OUR BOARD CHAIRMAN, I SEE MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD, I SEE MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF, AND I SEE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES HIGH AND LOW, WHO ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE THIS GREAT ANNUAL MEETING, UH, IN ONE OF THE HOTTEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, STEAM GUESTS AND FELLOW ADVOCATES OF SOCIAL PROGRESS.
IT'S AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE ARY URBAN LEAGUE, AND ADDRESS THE ESTEEM GATHERING OF PASSIONATE INDIVIDUALS DEDICATED TO ADVANCING EQUALITY, OPPORTUNITY, AND EXCELLENCE HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AS A CEO OF THE ARY URBAN LEAGUE, I AM HUMBLED BY THE COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT DEMONSTRATED HERE.
OUR LEAGUE, ALONGSIDE THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE AND OTHER PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, WORKS TIRELESSLY TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, BREAK DOWN BARRIERS, AND BUILD BRIDGES TO BRIGHTER FUTURES.
THE THEME OF THIS YEAR'S CONFERENCE, EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES, ADVANCING EQUITY RESONATES DEEPLY WITH US.
WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE FOUNDATION OF A THRIVING SOCIETY LIES IN PROVIDING EVERY INDIVIDUAL WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO, TO SUCCEED IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR BACKGROUND
[00:15:01]
OR CIRCUMSTANCE.THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE, WE WILL DELVE INTO THE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT URBAN COMMUNITIES HERE IN HOUSTON AND ACROSS OUR NATION.
TOGETHER WE WILL EXPLORE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES OF EDUCATION, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.
LET'S TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THESE ISSUES REAL QUICKLY.
EDUCATION IS THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY.
WE MUST WORK TIRE TIRELESSLY TO ENSURE THAT EVERY CHILD HAS ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION REGARDLESS OF THEIR ZIP CODE.
LET US DISCUSS STRATEGIES TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD AND CREATE PATHWAYS FOR SUCCESS IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
AS WE STRIVE TO BUILD A STRONGER ECONOMY, WE RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF EQUIPPING OUR WORKFORCE WITH THE SKILLS DEMANDED BY THE EVOLVING JOB MARKET.
AND THANK YOU, MARK, FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THOSE JOBS TO THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE.
LET US FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN EMPLOYERS, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO BRIDGE THE SKILLS GAP AND PROVIDE MEANINGFUL CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.
WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
OUR BEAR LEADS THE COUNTRY IN MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD IN THIS SPACE, TRYING TO ERADICATE HOMELESSNESS AND MAKING SURE THAT A SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AVAILABLE.
THANK YOU, MAYOR, BECAUSE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH FAMILIES THRIVE.
OUR DISCUSSIONS WILL CENTER ON INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO ADDRESS HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, REDUCE HOMELESSNESS, AND REVITALIZATION OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
NONE OF THIS MATTERS IF WE'RE NOT HEALTHY.
HEALTHCARE ACCESS IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTHCARE SHOULD BE A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT FOR EACH AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL.
WE WILL EXPLORE WAYS TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND OUTCOMES IN THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE.
ENSURING THAT NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND IN THEIR JOURNEY TO WELLBEING.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT, ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IS NOT JUST ABOUT FINANCIAL STABILITY.
IT IS ABOUT CREATING PATHWAYS TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH.
WE WILL EXPLORE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO CAPITAL AS MEANS TO FOSTER ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE.
AND WE'RE ALL TALKING ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE, BUT WE MUST DO MORE THAN JUST TALK.
MARK TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN OUR STATE.
AND AS TEXANS, WE'RE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT IT.
BUT IT TAKES ALL OF US COLLECTIVELY TO WORK TOWARDS EDUCATING OUR POPULATIONS ON WHAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.
IN THESE CHALLENGING TIMES, WE MUST CONTINUE THE FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
TOGETHER WE WILL DISCUSS THE STRATEGIES TO DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC INEQUALITIES, INEQUITIES, AND PROMOTE SOCIAL COHESION, RECOGNIZING THAT OUR COLLECTIVE STRENGTH LIES IN OUR UNITY.
THROUGHOUT THIS CONFERENCE, LET US EMBRACE THE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT AND EXPERIENCES THAT DEFINE US.
LET US LISTEN, LEARN AND COLLABORATE WITH ONE ANOTHER TO AFFECT LASTING CHANGE.
TOGETHER WE CAN CREATE A MORE JUST EQUITABLE AND PROSPEROUS SOCIETY FOR ALL, I EXTEND MY DEEPEST GRATITUDE TO EACH OF YOU FOR JOINING US IN THIS HISTORIC AND CRITICAL CONVERSATION TO TOGETHER AS ADVOCATES AND EMPOWERMENT AND EQUITY, WE ARE UNSTOPPABLE.
LET US MAKE THIS CONFERENCE A BEACON OF HOPE, SPARKLING THE CHANGE WE WISH IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND LET'S SEE IF THIS GREAT CONFERENCE.
LET'S GIVE 'EM BOTH ANOTHER BIG WARM ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND, UH, SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SPONSORS, OUR TITLE SPONSORS FOR THIS CONFERENCE.
BANK OF AMERICA, REPRESENTED BY ANGIE LATHROP.
CENTER POINT ENERGY, REPRESENTED BY KIMBERLY BLASSINGAME.
KIMBERLY NATIONWIDE, REPRESENTED BY LOU YARBOROUGH, III.
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USA REPRESENTED BY CHRIS JACKSON.CHRIS TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, REPRESENTED BY ALVA MASON AND UPS REPRESENTED BY LA KERRY JACKSON.
PLEASE STAND UP, GIVE THESE SPONSORS A WARM ROUTE OF APPLAUSE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT, YOUR GENEROSITY, UH, AND THE LONGSTANDING COMMITMENTS TO THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE.
THEN LET ME GIVE YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS, SOME SPEAKERS AND HONOREES THIS YEAR.
THE RECORD BREAKING EMMY NOMINATED PRODUCER JANET MAGILLA, A KEY ALLY OF OURS, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNIS US.
I WAS WITH JANET ON MONDAY NIGHT AT THE UNIS US CONFERENCE, UH, IN CHICAGO.
I WAS HONORED TO BE HONORED, UH, HONORED TO BE HONORED BY THEM, UH, WITH ONE OF THEIR HIGHEST AWARDS.
US REPRESENTATIVE SHEILA JACKSON LEE.
US REPRESENTATIVE AL GREEN WILL ALSO BE WITH US.
AND THEN TENNESSEE STATE REPRESENTATIVE, ONE OF THE TWO JUSTINS, JUSTIN PEARSON, WILL ALSO BE WITH US, WILL GIVE HIM THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS AWARD, THE NOTED GOSPEL SINGER AND RADIO HOST, YOLANDA ADAMS. KRISTEN CLARK, A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE.
SHE PLAYS AS ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, UH, FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.
UH, WE WILL ALSO HAVE JULIE SUE, WHO'S NOW SERVING AS THE ACTING SECRETARY OF LABOR.
WALLY AYO, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY.
UH, WE'LL ALSO HEAR, HEAR FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
SO WE HAVE A PACKED, PACKED LINEUP OF SPEAKERS AND HONOREES, AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS.
SO TODAY WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU, UH, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE URBAN LEAGUE FIGHTS FOR YOU, RALLY ON CIVIL RIGHTS, GUN VIOLENCE, WOMEN'S RIGHTS, AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE, RIGHT HERE AT THE CONVENTION CENTER.
AND I ALSO WANT TO NOTE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY DAY IN A FEW HIGHLIGHTS.
THERE'S A LEGAL CLINIC, BACKPACK, DISTRIBUTION, COLLEGE FAIR, TIKTOK DANCE OFF.
CAN I SEE YOU THERE? FEATURING NAME, NAY, NAY, TWINS AND SPLASH TWINS.
AM I GONNA SEE YOU THERE? AM I GONNA SEE YOU THERE? IN THE TIKTOK DANCE CONTEST, THEY ARE RECRUITING ME, SO I DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK THERE ALONE.
AND SATURDAY, THE SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT.
ONE OF OUR STRATEGIES WHEN IT COMES TO CLOSING THE WEALTH GAP, STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR ECONO AND, AND OUR ECONOMIES.
UH, IT FEATURES WORKSHOPS, NETWORKING INFORMATION ABOUT MBE CERTIFICATION, INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES COMING FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND A PITCH CONTEST FOR CASHS PRIZES AND SO MUCH MORE.
SO WE'VE GOT A BUSY, BUSY THREE DAYS AHEAD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR TURNER.
FIRST THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND ALL WHO ARE HERE, AND LET THE SHOW BEGIN.
UH, MEDIA WILL TAKE QUESTIONS FOR EITHER THE MAYOR, MYSELF, OR JUDSON.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE WORKING MEDIA, ANY QUESTIONS OR HAVE ALL QUESTIONS BEEN ADEQUATELY AND THOROUGHLY ANSWERED.
HOPEFULLY THEY HAVE HEARING NO QUESTIONS, GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, THIRD TIME GONE, AND THIS PRESS CONFERENCE STANDS ADJOURNED.