The State of New Orleans Black: Empowering the People.

Red Shoe New Orleans and EBONetworks of New Orleans are hosting their first empowering seminar: "The State of New Orleans Black: Empowering the People."

The seminar will be held Saturday, August 26 at the JW Marriott @ 614 Canal Street from 9am-4pm.

The special guest for the event is nationally renowned author, Michael Eric Dyson. Dyson recently appeared on a wide array of local and national television and radio programs with his New York Times best seller Is Bill Cosby Right?, but never before has there been a subject closer to Dyson's heart than what happened to the black poor in New Orleans following the emotional, economic and cultural devastation that was Hurricane Katrina. His latest book, "Come Hell or High Water", champions the issues plaguing the disenfranchised in America.

The keynote speaker is the nationally renowned Mr. Johnny Wimbrey. Mr. Wimbrey is a Best Selling Author, a motivational speaker and successful entrepreneur. For more information on Mr. Wimbrey, log onto www.johnnywimbrey.com.

Leading up to the key note speaker of the afternoon, the seminar will consist of motivational speakers, community activists and public officials speaking on various topics such as economic development, education and crime. The seminar boasts vocational training enrollment and mental health evaluations, and other information important to the citizens of New Orleans as they continue to rebuild.

The Urban League will also be hosting an empowerment job fair at the seminar, highlighting entry level to executive level positions available all around the city. Other businesses are also welcome to contact us about setting up a recruiting table from 9 am until 12 noon. Participating sponsors include: Crescent Bank, The Idea Village, and the City of New Orleans – JOB1.

The event's coordinator Cleveland Spears says, "This event is absolutely necessary - not only because of Hurricane Katrina last year, but also because of the current state of our city. Young men are being killed at a rate never before seen in history. When someone can kill 5 teenage boys in cold blood, there is no respect or regard for human life! When things like that happen it is time for the community and the citizens to get involved and retake their city. It is painfully clear that no one can do for us but us." The entire theme and motto of Red Shoe New Orleans is that "The People Must Sustain the People" and that is what we hope to display through this event.

Red Shoe and EBONetworks have been assisting the New Orleans community in the rebuilding process in every way possible. Red Shoe New Orleans is responsible for what they refer to as "Neighborhood 100". Through this initiative, the group goes into neighborhoods all around the city and documents the concerns and plights of the citizens of that area. Red Shoe New Orleans communicates these messages to the city leaders and facilitates people getting answers to concerns via their elected public officials.

EBONetworks, LLC, the parent company of NewOrleansBlack.com has survived Hurricane Katrina! Since 1999, their role in advocacy for equality and public policy, have been a beacon of hope for the underserved African American professional and disadvantaged citizens. This program will generate critical resources for the creation and distribution of a new fund entitled, "New Orleans Black Business Recovery Fund" administered by The Idea Village, a local 501C-3 whose mission is to help minority entrepreneurs recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. We are requesting your support to assist in raising $100,000.00 to support this fund.

The funds for the New Orleans Black Business Recovery Fund will be presented at the2nd Annual Changing Faces Awards ceremony. This award recognizes individuals who have made a tremendous impact in the African-American community pre and post-Katrina. We feel that it is extremely necessary to shine a light on those individuals that are "changing the face" of this city. As leaders and concerned citizens of this great city, I hope you will find your support of the Changing faces awards as a necessary cause and restore hope, faith, and positive images on the face of rebuilding our community.

Persons interested in assisting, contributing or finding out more information about the seminar, the recovery fund and the awards ceremony can do so by logging onto: www.neworleansblack.com or www.redshoeneworleans.com. You may also reach us by contacting W. Anthony Patton, MBA directly at 504.309-9287 or Cleveland Spears III at Cleveland@redshoeneworleans.com.

http://neworleansblack.com/