“Coming Home” is a blog looking at life in New Orleans as we get ready to meet again in the Superdome July 5, 6 and 7 for the Essence Music Festival. Everybody has been asking about the seminar schedule; we finally have it, complete with times. This year’s theme is “Essence Cares! Claiming Our City … Claiming Ourselves.”
THURSDAY – RESTORATION
11 a.m. Restoration Ceremony
11:20 a.m. Opening Remarks: Susan L. Taylor
11:30 a.m. Host: Angela Burt-Murray
11:40 a.m. Children’s Defense Fund: Dr. Jeanne Middleton-Hairston
11:50 a.m. Welcome Home: New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin
12:05 p.m. In Defense of Our Children: Atlanta Cares – Special presentation by Mable Ivory to Thomas W. Dortch, Jr., Al Dotson, Jr., Tracey Knight & the Atlanta Cares Team, Brenda Coleman and Kathleen Bertrand
1:15 p.m. A musical interlude
1:30 p.m. Louisiana Lieutenant-Governor Mitch Landrieu
1:35 p.m. Out of the Storm: Voice from the New Orleans Community
1:45 p.m. The Future is Ours: Marc Morial, President & CEO of the National Urban League
2:10 p.m. Sometimes I Cry: Sheryl Lee Ralph
2:35 p.m. Restoring Our Souls: Bishop Eddie Long, New Missionary Baptist Church
2:55 p.m. The Power of Mentoring: Frankie Lane, National Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children
3:25 p.m. Into the Light: Putting an End to Black Pain. An excerpt from the play “Living Dark Lives” by Madeline McCray
3:35 p.m. Panel discussion: Terrie Williams, Dr. Denese Shervington, asha bandele, Gina T. Charbonnet and Katrina survivors
4:30 p.m. Standing in the Eye of the Storm: Iyanla Vanzant
FRIDAY - LOVE
11 a.m. Opening Remarks: Michelle Ebanks
11:05 a.m. Host: Reverend Andriette Earl
11:15 a.m. In Tribute to My Son: Eddie LeVert
11:25 a.m. Hip-Hop Moving to a Higher Ground: M1, Michaela angela Davis, Michael Eric Dyson, Marcia Dyson, Dr. Cornel West, Dr. James Peterson, MC Lyte, moderated by asha bandele
12:15 p.m. Greetings from the State of Louisiana: Senator Diana Bajoie, Louisiana state senator and president pro tempore
12:25 p.m. The Power of Us: First Lady Serita Jakes, the Potter’s House of Dallas
12:50 p.m. Out of the Storm: Voice from the New Orleans Community: poetry by Sunni Patterson
1 p.m. The Power of Mentoring: Rodneka Shelbia
1:10 p.m. Social Entrepreneurship: Judy Reese Morse, Deputy Chief of Staff for the office of Lieutenant-Governor Mitch Landrieu
1:30 p.m. Six Goals for Building Wealth in the 21st Century: the African-American Angle: George Fraser
2:20 p.m. Shifting the Lens: Altering the Landscape of Your Life: Reverend Deborah Johnson
2:45 p.m. Tribute to Eddie Griffin: Terrie Williams
3 p.m. Musical performance by Desiree Coleman-Jackson
3:15 p.m. Stomp the Hate, Start the Love: Nu Mu Citywide Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
3:25 p.m. The Issue with our Images: Tom Burrell
3:50 p.m. It’s All About Love: Mo’Nique
4:15 p.m. Poetry with Devynity
4:25 p.m. Sisters Take Issues with out Images: Regina King, Kimberly Elise, Victoria Rowell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Dr. Joy Leary, moderated by Michaela angela Davis
SATURDAY – POWER
11 a.m. Opening remarks from Ed Lewis
11:10 a.m. Host: Jeff Johnson
11:20 a.m. Claiming God’s Blessings: Staying Focused on Your Power & Purpose: Dr. Debra Morton, Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church
12:10 p.m. House Hustle Real Estate: From the Projects to the Prosperity: Kenny Rushing
12:55 p.m. Music from the People of New Orleans: Mother Tongue
1:10 p.m. Tribute to Hill Harper: Myra J
1:25 p.m. Rebuilding the Village: How to Save Our Children: Introduction – Tyler Perry
1:40 p.m. Dr. Shelia Evans-Tranumn
1:50 p.m. The Village Nation: Andre Chevalier, Fluke Fluker, William Paden
2:10 p.m. Fyre Youth Squad (Village Nation Re-Actment)
2:20 p.m. Dr. Sandra Baxter
2:30 p.m. Left Behind Documentary: The Story of the New Orleans Public Schools: Vince Morelli
2:35 p.m. Out of the Storm: Voices from the New Orleans Community: Sandra Hester
2:55 p.m. In Defense of Our Children: Tracey Knight
3 p.m. United States Senator Mary Landrieu
3:15 p.m. What Makes a Man: Common
3:20 p.m. a clip from the documentary Beyond Beats and Rhymes by Byron Hurt
3:30 p.m. Voice of GOD intros Chuck D
3:40 p.m. Panel Discussion: Common, Chuck D., Byron Hurt, Lyfe Jennings, Reverend Conrad Tillard, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, David Johns, Hill Harper, moderated by Roland Martin
4:30 p.m. Musical performance by Lyfe Jennings
4:40 p.m. Strength, Courage and Wisdom … We Can Move Mountains: Michael Eric Dyson













