Leadership: African American Leaders Statewide To Meet In Winston-Salem To Address Black Issues

The conference begins on May 3, 2003 with the opening of the Black Business Expo, which runs through May 5 at the Benton Convention Center. During the opening day of the Expo, a reception will be held to recognize the City of Winston-Salem Minority/Women Business of the Year. Also, on May 3 there will be a State of Black North Carolina Conference/WQMG 97.1 Young Professionals Mixer at the Sawtooth Building.

The bi-partisan conference will bring together African American leaders to address such issues as economic development, politics, health, education, philanthropy, religion and technology. Black Business Media LLC, a Winston-Salem-based company, is producing the conference. Conference seminars and other activities will be at the M.C. Benton Jr. Convention and Civic Center and other locations in the city.

“What we will do at this conference is put on the table many issues of concern to African Americans throughout the state of North Carolina,” said Richard L. Williams, president of Black Business Media and the conference organizer. “Once the issues are on the table, we believe that there are leaders around the state who will accept the daunting challenge of forming bi-partisan alliances and work to solve many of them.”

Among those scheduled to attend the conference are High Point businessman Bob Brown; Winston-Salem businessmen Ben Ruffin, Ernie Pitt and Marshall B. Bass; former N.C. Court of Appeals Judge Loretta C. Biggs; congressmen Mel Watt and Frank Ballance; state Auditor Ralph Campbell; 2002 U.S. Senate candidates Dan Blue and Dr. Ada Fisher; Golden Leaf Foundation President Valeria Lee; the Rev. Claude Alexander of University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte; and Bobby Hopkins, the interim town manager of Princeville.

“This is an opportunity for African Americans to reach across party lines and establish some common ground,” Williams said. “Your vision tends to be clearer to see common ground at a forum such as this, than it is when your vision may be impaired by the glare of television cameras during campaign wars.”

“This conference will connect African Americans throughout North Carolina to discuss issues that are not isolated to their communities, create alliances that can assist in solving many of the problems, and it will serve as a networking opportunity for African Americans who can become customers to other black-owned businesses,” said Delores “D” Smith, president of the Winston-Salem Urban League. Conference seminars will be held May 4-5 at the Benton Convention Center and the Adam’s Mark Winston Plaza Hotel. On May 6, there will be a Black Business Roundtable for Winston-Salem-area businesses from 9 a.m. to noon at the Adam’s Mark.

Also scheduled to appear are Charlotte investment banker Erskine Bowles, who was White House chief of staff under President Bill Clinton; Scott Livengood, chief executive officer of Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp; university chancellors James C. Renick (North Carolina A&T State University), Harold L. Martin (Winston-Salem State University), Mickey Burnim (Elizabeth City State University) and Dorothy Cowser Yancey (Johnson C. Smith University; and Prezell R. Robinson of Raleigh, president-emeritus of St. Augustine’s College.

Morgan Edwards of the Mecklenburg Black Republican Council said he is excited about the possibility to dialogue on the functions of the two-party system and leverage African American voting strength on a statewide level.
“There are a number of people who believe that many problems that plague black people across the state of North Carolina are not necessarily related to political party affiliation,” he said. “I happen to be one of them.”

For conference registration information, call (800) 405-8533 or visit www.stateofblacknc.com.

State of Black North Carolina Conference Schedule of Activities

Saturday, May 3
Black Business Expo, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., M.C. Benton Jr. Convention Center
Businesses get to showcase their products to thousands who will arrive in Winston-Salem for the inaugural State of Black North Carolina Conference.
M/WBE Business of the Year Reception, 3 p.m., Benton Convention Center
The City of Winston-Salem and State of Black North Carolina Conference hold a reception in honor of a business chosen as the city’s business of the year.
SBNCC/WQMG Young Professionals Mixer, 8 p.m., Sawtooth Building
The Sawtooth Building will be the place to be and be seen, as young professionals from around the state arrive in Winston-Salem to kick off the State of Black North Carolina Conference in elegance and style.

Sunday, May 4
SBNCC Opening Ceremonies/Luncheon, 2 p.m., Benton Convention Center
The Pastor Claude R. Alexander, pastor of University Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, will get conference activities under way with an arousing message.
Seminars on Family and Health, 4 - 6 p.m., Benton Convention Center
Sponsors’ Reception, 6 - 9 p.m., Sawtooth Building

Monday, May 5
Seminars, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Adam’s Mark Winston Plaza Hotel
Reception, 7 p.m., Benton Convention Center. SBNCC Awards Gala, 8 p.m., Benton Convention Center
Community leaders from across the state will be recognized for their contributions in their respective fields at this black-tie awards gala.

Tuesday, May 6
Black Business Roundtable, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Adam’s Mark. Minority and women-owned business are invited to this session to learn how they could better position themselves in order to competitively bid on major construction contracts that are taking shape in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

Program Outline