“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
I have a question. How do the seminars work? Does a ticket for any given night give you access to the seminar that day? is there a separate price for them?
Posted by: Adrian | July 01, 2007 at 07:27 AM
I have a question. How do the seminars work? Does a ticket for any given night give you access to the seminar that day? is there a separate price for them?
Posted by: Adrian | July 01, 2007 at 07:27 AM
I have a question. How do the seminars work? Does a ticket for any given night give you access to the seminar that day? is there a separate price for them?
Posted by: Adrian | July 01, 2007 at 07:27 AM
I have a question. How do the seminars work? Does a ticket for any given night give you access to the seminar that day? is there a separate price for them?
Posted by: Adrian | July 01, 2007 at 07:27 AM
I have a question. How do the seminars work? Does a ticket for any given night give you access to the seminar that day? is there a separate price for them?
Posted by: Adrian | July 01, 2007 at 07:27 AM
Seminars are usually free! They are enlightening, informative and entertaining.
Posted by: Diane S. | July 01, 2007 at 09:34 AM
I have a few questions. Are we able to take pictures with any of the speakers? Sometime ago it said Common was performing. Is he no longer performing? Juanita Bynum is no longer doing the morning inspiration?
Posted by: RRC | July 02, 2007 at 06:12 AM
Where are the seminars located? Will the seminars be at the convention center or at another site?
Posted by: Barbara | July 04, 2007 at 12:21 AM
Why is it that neither Sen. Obama nor Sen. Clinton is included on the seminar schedule? I am from New Orleans. I would like to see them both, but I dont have the leisure to hang around the Convention Center all day. Can give a time frame? Thanks.
Posted by: Ya Wilson | July 05, 2007 at 07:36 AM
where is the convention center located? please provide that bit of info. iam so ready to come and enjoy what has been that of interest me my whole life. iam growing this year and i want the world to know it. ready or not, new orleans here i come.
Posted by: michelle joyner | February 11, 2009 at 05:52 PM
do youknow of any package deals where everything is included. i want the finest of everything as well.
Posted by: michelle joyner | February 11, 2009 at 05:55 PM