Black Ministers Demand Fair Equitable Budget From Congress

Rev. Raphael Warnock of historic Ebenezer Baptist Church will lead a group of African American clergy from across the nation on Capitol Hill Tuesday, July 18th to demand a fair and equitable budget from Congress .

The group is demanding Congress to reject both the immoral budget proposed by the Trump Administration and the equally unjust health care bill that the Senate may have a procedural vote on in the coming weeks. A vote initially scheduled for Tuesday has been postponed.

Faith leaders will address the many ways the proposed budget will negatively impact African American families and communities, including deep cuts to education, Medicaid, civil rights, community development block grants and housing vouchers. The budget will also likely create an environment for predatory lending to increase.

Some of the clergy assembled will participate in direct social action on Tuesday afternoon 2 p.m. following scheduled meetings with lawmakers.

Faith leaders will also debut an aggressive social media campaign to amplify calls for Congress to withdraw the controversial healthcare bill that could strip life-saving health coverage from millions of Americans. #BlackClergyUprising #BlackClergyVoices

What:  News Conference

News Conference:

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

10:30 a.m. – 11:30am: U.S. Capitol Building / East Front of the U.S. Capitol (across from the Supreme Court and First Street)

Noon: Closed door meeting with Senators

2:00 p.m.: Social Action Demonstration / Russell Building Rotunda

Who:

Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Rev. Dr. Teresa Hord Owens, Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins, Rev. Dr. Barbara Williams Skinner, Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland Tune, Bishop Frank Madison Reid, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, Rev. Dr. Donald Gillett,Rev. Aundreia Alexander, and Rev. Dr. Willie Gable.

Contact
Tenisha Bell
***@perfectpitchmediagroup.com

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration Approves Endari, A New Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease

Endari has shown to decrease the number of sickle cell crises and hospitalizations in patients with sickle cell disease. SCD is a rare, debilitating and lifelong hereditary blood disorder that affects approximately 100,000 patients in the U.S. and up to 25 million patients worldwide, the majority of which are of African descent.

Emmaus Life Sciences Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Endari™ (L-glutamine oral powder) to reduce the severe complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) in adult and pediatric patients age 5 and older. Endari reduces oxidant damage to red blood cells by improving the redox potential of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), a coenzyme that has been identified as the primary regulator of oxidation.

"The approval of Endari is a significant milestone for the sickle cell patient community who has not had an advancement in treatment for nearly 20 years and which now, for the first time ever, has a treatment option for children," said Yutaka Niihara, MD, MPH, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emmaus Life Sciences. "Endari reinforces our commitment to discovering innovative therapies that help to improve the lives of people with rare diseases. We thank the FDA for its prompt review and look forward to making treatment available to patients as early as this fourth quarter."

SCD is a rare, debilitating and lifelong hereditary blood disorder that affects approximately 100,000 patients in the U.S. and up to 25 million patients worldwide, the majority of which are of African descent as well as Latinos and other minority groups. Approximately one in every 365 African American children is born with SCD and children between the ages of 2 and 7 are 400 times more likely to suffer from stroke.

Caused by a genetic mutation in the beta-chain of hemoglobin that distorts red blood cells into crescent shapes, SCD lowers oxygen levels in the blood and has an extensive impact on morbidity, mortality and quality of life. Patients often suffer from debilitating episodes of sickle cell crises, which occur when the rigid, adhesive and inflexible red blood cells block the blood vessels, resulting in excruciating pain. Sickle cell crises can lead to organ damage, stroke, pulmonary complications, and other adverse outcomes, including acute chest syndrome (ACS), which may be potentially fatal and is the leading cause of death among people with SCD.

"A sickle cell crisis is the most common acute complication for patients and the number one cause of emergency room visits," said Wally Smith, MD, Florence Neal Cooper Smith Professor of Sickle Cell Disease, Division of General Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University. "Endari has clinically shown to reduce sickle cell crises and hospitalizations, representing a significant medical advancement for patients with limited therapeutic options that have many side effects."

FDA approval was supported by efficacy data from a 48-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the effects of Endari, prescription grade L-glutamine, as compared to placebo on 230 adults and children with SCD. The results demonstrated that Endari reduced the frequency of sickle cell crises by 25 percent and hospitalizations by 33 percent. Additional findings showed a decrease in cumulative hospital days by 41 percent and lower incidence of ACS by more than 60 percent.

Safety was based on data from 298 patients treated with L-glutamine and 111 patients treated with placebo in the Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies. Endari's safety profile was similar to placebo and well-tolerated in pediatric and adult patients. The most common adverse reactions occurring in greater than 10 percent of patients treated with Endari were constipation, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, cough, pain in extremity, back pain, and chest pain (non-cardiac).

About Emmaus Life Sciences

Emmaus Life Sciences is engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative treatments and therapies for rare diseases. The company's research on sickle cell disease was initiated by Yutaka Niihara, MD, MPH, Chairman and CEO of Emmaus, at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. For more information, please visit http://www.emmauslifesciences.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, regarding the research, development and potential commercialization of pharmaceutical products. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in reports filed by Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Emmaus is providing this information as of the date of this press release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Emmaus Life Sciences Inc.

Related Links: http://www.emmauslifesciences.com

White Maryland student indicted in black Army officer's murder

A grand jury indicted a white former University of Maryland student for murder on Thursday in the stabbing death of a black U.S. Army officer that is still being investigating as a possible hate crime, authorities said.

Sean Urbanski, 22, of Severna Park, Maryland, who was a member of a racist Facebook group, was indicted for common-law murder over the on-campus death of Lieutenant Richard Collins III in May, said John Erzen, a spokesman for the Prince George's County state's attorney.

"Right now, the investigation into the motive, including whether it was a hate crime, is still ongoing," Erzen said in a telephone interview.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation was helping police analyze Urbanski's digital devices. "We expect that to conclude in the coming weeks," Erzen said. A police investigation showed that Urbanski was part of the Alt-Reich group on Facebook, where members post disparaging material about African-Americans, Jews and others.

Erzen said prosecutors planned to seek life without parole for Urbanski, who remains jailed without bond. His attorney, William Brennan, did not respond to a request for comment.

[SOURCE]

Bernie Sanders endorses Ben Jealous for Governor of Maryland

Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders weighed into Maryland's race for governor Thursday, endorsing Ben Jealous in the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary. Watch Sander's endorsement below.

DHS Debunks Trump Claim That Loretta Lynch Let Russian Lawyer Into U.S.

In his attempts to tarnish President Obama, Donald Trump tries to find a way to blame Obama or his administration for all of his problems. He now blames Obama appointee Loretta Lynch for letting the Russian lawyer into the country that his son foolishly spoke to and attempted to collude with in an attempt to get dirt on Hillary Clinton. Of course like most Trump claims this one isn't true either and the Department of Homeland Security has been quick to point that fact out. George L. Cook III African American Reports.

In the days before her June 2016 meeting with Donald Trump, Jr. and other top Trump campaign aides, Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya was granted a visa by the US State Department to enter the country.

"In Sept. 2015, DHS paroled Natalia Veselnitskaya into the U.S. in concurrence with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, allowing her to participate in a client’s legal proceedings," the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement to BuzzFeed News Thursday night.

"Ms. Veselnitskaya was subsequently paroled into the U.S. several times between 2015 and 2016, ending in February 2016. In June 2016, she was issued a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa by the U.S. Department of State," it said.

The statement contradicts remarks made by President Donald Trump earlier Thursday, suggesting that the Russian lawyer had somehow been allowed into the US by former Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

“Somebody said that her visa or her passport to come into the country was approved by Attorney General Lynch,” Trump said at a press conference in Paris. “Now, maybe that's wrong. I just heard that a little while ago, but a little surprised to hear that. So, she was here because of Lynch."

Almost immediately, a spokesperson for Lynch put out a statement insisting that she had no authority over whether or not the Russian lawyer was allowed to enter the country.

"Lynch, as the former head of the Justice Department, does not have any personal knowledge of Ms. Veselnitskaya's travel,” the statement said.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed to BuzzFeed News that it granted Veselnitskaya special permission to enter the US in 2015, so that she could participate in a civil court case involving her client, the Russian-owned investment company Prevezon Holdings. The parole status was granted at the behest of the Department of Justice, specifically the Manhattan US Attorney's office, which had accused Prevezon of a massive money laundering scheme.

The timeline of Veselnitskaya's parole status appears to line up with statements she made in court during that case, in which she claimed that she had been denied a visa but granted parole so she could represent Prevezon. But in January 2016, after Veselnitskaya filed an affidavit saying that her parole status would soon expire, Justice Department lawyers told the court that her presence in the US, was no longer necessary.

Veselnitskaya's parole subsequently expired in February 2016, according to DHS. When she returned to the US in June, it was under a standard visitor's visa, newly issued by the State Department. It is not clear what prompted the State Department to change course on its decision to grant Veselnitskaya a visa.

But it was on that trip that Veselnitskaya met with key aides for Donald Trump's presidential campaign, on the premise that she would provide damaging information about Hillary Clinton. She remained in the US until at least the following week, when she traveled to Washington, DC, to push members of Congress into repealing the Magnitsky Act.

[SOURCE: BUZZFEED]

NABJ Gives Thumbs Down Awards to FOX News and Ebony Magazine

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) awards The Thumbs Down Award is presented annually to an individual or organization for especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical reporting of African Americans. While Fox News is a no brainer for this award the inclusion of Ebony Magazine is a bit of a surprise, until you read the NABJ's reasons why Ebony won the "award". George L. Cook III African American Reports.

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) issues its 2017 Thumbs Down Award to FOX News and Ebony magazine.

The Thumbs Down Award is presented annually to an individual or organization for especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical reporting, commentary, photography or cartoon about the black community or for engaging in practices at odds with the goals of the National Association of Black Journalists.

"We take this award very seriously," said NABJ President Sarah Glover. "It is our hope that the recipients would re-evaluate their policies and procedures to ensure that they are following the highest journalistic and ethical standards."

FOX News was selected for numerous reasons. In addition to lawsuits accusing the cable news network of "abhorrent, intolerable, unlawful and hostile racial discrimination," there have also been allegations of sexual harassment. Additionally, the lack of diversity in key positions, is a major concern for NABJ.

"It seems FOX has allowed a very unhealthy environment to fester," said NABJ Vice President of Broadcast Dorothy Tucker. "There has to be a level of accountability and it starts at the top. Management has to do better."

Co-recipient Ebony magazine, under its new owners Clear View Group, has made headlines this year because of staff cuts; the relocation of its headquarters from its founding base in Chicago to Los Angeles; and, its very public and sometimes offensive responses to reports of late or non-payment for work already performed by staff or freelance journalists.

"Many of the decisions being made by Ebony's new owners seem counter to the vision of founder John H. Johnson," said NABJ Vice President of Print Marlon A. Walker. "Ebony and its sister publication Jet are near and dear to us. To hear writers whose words bring us much joy aren't being paid for those words is sad, unconscionable, unacceptable.

"Johnson is probably rolling over in his grave."

FOX News must address its work culture and diversity at all levels of employment, including management positions, and the owners of Ebony magazine must resolve its pay issues with freelancers immediately and work to rebuild its image after several alarming missteps.

[SOURCE: NABJ.COM]

Cory Booker and others Introduce Bill to Repeal Trump Voter Suppression Executive Order

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) along with Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chairwoman Judy Chu (D-CA) today introduced the Anti-Voter Suppression Act, a bicameral bill that would repeal President Trump’s Executive Order establishing an “election integrity” commission to investigate widespread voter fraud.  The bill is supported by more than 90 members of Congress, including every Democratic Senator of color.

The Anti-Voter Suppression Act would also prohibit any federal funds from being used to support the creation of a commission to investigate voter fraud, which is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at voter suppression that will disproportionately affect poor and minority communities. Facts show that a person is more likely to be struck by lightning than to commit in-person voter fraud. In a 2014 study, only 31 credible instances of in-person voter fraud were discovered out of more than one billion ballots cast between 2000 and 2014.

“The right to vote is among the most precious features of our American democracy,” said Senator Booker. “We will not go back to a time when millions of people – most of them poor and minorities – were silenced through disenfranchisement. Yet that is exactly what President Trump seems to want to do with this sham of a commission. And all to appease his enormous insecurity about the fact that he lost the popular vote by a sum of 2.9 million Americans. We will fight him every step of the way. Even one taxpayer dollar spent on this circus would be a waste of resources.”

“This commission is based on a lie, and is using taxpayer resources to perpetuate the falsehood of widespread voter fraud in the 2016 election,” said Senator Hirono. “In Hawaii, we have a word to describe this sham effort—shibai, or as it’s more widely known, B.S. 

“After the Supreme Court struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, many states rushed to strip American citizens—the poor and working class, people of color and students—of the right to vote, the most fundamental right in our democracy and one for which many of our parents and grandparents fought and died. Now, President Trump is requesting invasive and unwarranted personal information from voters," said Rep. Cedric L. Richmond, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“Attacks on voting rights by GOP legislatures and President Trump’s so-called voter fraud commission cannot go unchecked. The Anti-Voter Suppression Act would repeal President Trump’s executive order establishing the commission and prohibit any funds from being used to investigate the non-issue of voter fraud. Congress needs to pass this legislation as well as other legislation introduced by CBC Members that would restore the Voting Rights Act and expand access to the ballot box.”

“President Trump’s commission was founded on baseless claims of widespread voter fraud that continue to go uncorroborated,” said Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “Despite this, the President continues to seek out reasons to make it more difficult for people to vote. These types of tactics have led to burdensome voter ID laws or the purging of voter registration rolls that disproportionately impact poor, elderly, disabled and Americans of color, and increase the amount of red tape and bureaucracy needed to exercise a fundamental Constitutional right. I call on Members to support this legislation and bring this commission to an end. “

“President Trump’s so-called ‘election integrity’ commission is nothing more than a thinly-veiled attempt to disenfranchise millions of American voters across the country,” said Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “The right to vote is fundamental to the strength of our democracy, and the Trump Administration’s efforts to undermine this right is absolutely appalling and must be stopped. 

“This is why I am proud to join my Tri-Caucus colleagues in introducing the Anti-Voter Suppression Act. Rather than spread false claims of voter fraud and promote voter suppression efforts, the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans should work with Democrats to restore the Voting Rights Act, and ensure that all Americans, including the growing Asian American and Pacific Islander electorate, can exercise their fundamental right to vote." 

“Free and fair elections make up the very foundation of our democracy, and we must do everything we can to protect voters’ personal information to ensure that it can never be used to interfere with one’s right to vote and participate in our democracy,” said Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).  “Stopping voter discrimination laws that effectively disenfranchise poor and minority voters has become increasingly more difficult since the Supreme Court’s infamous decision in Shelby County v. Holder.  I will continue to stand up and fight to uphold our most basic democratic principles and everyone’s right to vote.”

“President Trump’s executive order to establish an ‘election integrity’ commission will ironically make it harder for Americans, particularly those from disadvantaged and minority communities, to exercise their right to vote,” said Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). “This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to distract the public from real issues facing the nation." 

“Instead of focusing on the serious threat to our democracy posed by known foreign attacks on our election infrastructure, this commission appears to be attempting to manufacture false evidence of massive voter fraud to justify voter suppression,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). “I can’t help but think back to 2005 when I was laying in my hospital bed looking at pictures of Iraqis – including women, Christian minorities and marginalized groups – with green thumbs who were so proud they could vote freely for the first time thanks to the sacrifice of American troops. Now, we have a Commander-in-Chief who is spearheading an effort to take away the rights of people to vote through an illegal action.” 

The bill is also sponsored by the following members of Congress:

Senator Kamala Harris

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Senator Ed Markey

Senator Jack Reed

Senator Al Franken

Senator Dick Durbin

Senator Christopher Coons

Senator Sherrod Brown

Senator Tom Carper

Senator Patty Murray

Senator Bob Casey

Senator Maggie Hassan

Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Senator Chuck Schumer

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

Senator Amy Klobuchar

Senator Chris Murphy

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Senator Ron Wyden

Senator Tom Udall

Senator Elizabeth Warren

Senator Richard Blumenthal

Senator Patrick Leahy

Senator Martin Heinrich

Senator Jeff Merkley

Senator Brian Schatz

Rep. John Conyers

Rep. John Lewis

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

Rep. Maxine Waters

Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr.

Rep.  James Clyburn

Rep. Alcee Hastings

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson

Rep. Bobby Rush

Rep. Bobby Scott

Rep. Bennie Thompson

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee

Rep. Elijah Cummings

Rep. Danny Davis

Rep. Gregory Meeks

Rep. Barbara Lee

Rep. William Lacy Clay, Jr.

Rep. David Scott

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II

Rep. Al Green

Rep. Yvette Clarke

Rep. Keith Ellison

Rep. Hank Johnson

Rep. Andre Carson

Rep. Marcia Fudge

Rep. Karen Bass

Rep. Terri Sewell

Rep. Frederica Wilson

Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.

Rep. Joyce Beatty

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries

Rep. Marc Veasey

Rep. Robin Kelly

Rep. Brenda Lawrence

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman

Rep. Dwight Evans

Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester

Rep. Anthony Brown

Rep. Val Butler Demings

Rep. Al Lawson

Rep. A. Donald McEachin

Rep. Ted Lieu

Rep. Steve Cohen

Rep. Marcy Kaptur

Rep. Grace Meng

Rep. Frank Pallone

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa

Rep. Raul Grijalva

Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan

Rep. John Garamendi

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney

Rep. Don Beyer

Rep. Tim Ryan

Rep. Pramila Jayapal

Rep. Nydia Velazquez

Rep. Paul Tonko

Rep. Carol Shea-Porter

Rep. Jared Polis

Rep. Rick Larsen

Rep. John Sarbanes

Rep. Darren Soto

Rep. Nydia Velazquez

Black gun owners ask: Does the Second Amendment apply to us?

There's evidence that black gun ownership has spiked since the 2016 campaign began. While white Americans have led the liberalization of gun laws in the past decade, black gun carry is becoming a test of constitutional agency.

Like many African-Americans of his generation, Phillip Smith, a Californian in his 50s, grew up without a gun in the house. To his parents, gun ownership was not just politically unacceptable, but morally wrong – a fount, if anything, of trouble and tragedy.

When he moved his own family to the South in 2002, he found a different tradition, where black families, many of them fresh from the farms, had hunting rifles for sport and, to an extent, self-defense. Mr. Smith was intrigued. As he bought his first guns and began practicing at a gun range, he had an epiphany: Perhaps the Second Amendment is the black man’s ultimate sign of full citizenship.

Smith’s crossover into the world of guns and ammo makes him part of a widening attempt to, as he says, “normalize” a black gun-carrying tradition fraught with historical pain and tragedy.

His advocacy for African-American gun rights has turned out to be a potent message. The National African-American Gun Association he founded has grown from 800 to 20,000 members since 2015. Unlike the primarily white and male National Rifle Association, NAAGA is diverse in both color and gender; 60 percent of its members are women.

“The main thing – and I’d be lying if I said something else – is that in the last 18 months the racial tone of the country has tilted in a direction that is alarming, at a minimum,” says Smith, who lives in an Atlanta suburb. “For African-Americans, we’re seeing the same old faces, the same type of conversations we saw in the ‘50s and ‘60s, and we thought they were dead and gone.”

Given that white Americans have led the liberalization of gun laws in the past decade, black gun carry is becoming a test of constitutional agency, injecting what University of Arizona gun culture expert Jennifer Carlson calls the specter of “legitimate violence” into an already tense political climate. Incidents like the June acquittal of the Minnesota police officer who shot Philando Castile, a legal gun owner, during a traffic stop have added to that tension, gun owners like Smith say – as did the National Rifle Association’s silence over both his shooting and the verdict.

For some black gun owners, the question is a stark one: Can African-Americans reasonably expect to be covered by the Second Amendment in a country still marbled by racist rhetoric, attitudes, and acts?

Read more: Black gun owners ask: Does the Second Amendment apply to us?

Black woman makes polo history in top-tier event

Nineteen year old Shariah Harris has become the first black woman to play in top tier U.S. Polo event.

Shariah Harris says the stares, the inappropriate comments and the whispering that comes with being a Black woman playing polo can be discouraging at times, but it won’t stop her from riding.

The 19-year-old from southwest Philadelphia, who plays collegiately at Cornell, mounted up Friday for the Postage Stamp Farm polo team in the Silver Cup tournament at the tony Greenwich Polo Club.

Brenda Lynn, a spokeswoman for the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, said Harris became the first African-American woman to ever play in the top tier of U.S. polo, known as high-goal polo. High-goal doesn’t refer to scoring, but rather the handicap (like in golf) of the players.

“If me playing will mean opportunities to play for other kids like me, then I’m perfectly happy to be breaking down doors,” Harris said. “I just keep quiet, put on my boots and go out and play.”

Read more: Black woman makes polo history in top-tier event

Elijah Cummings statement on Donald Trump Jr. Russia emails

Congressman Elijah Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform issued the following statement on Donald Trump's email chain as it pertains to the setting up of a meeting with a Russian lawyer. A person that Trump Jr. believed had damaging information on Hillary Clinton. Cummings comments in his statement that this is a sad day for our country.

Elijah Cummings: "This is a sad day for our country...We must investigate. And we must act on our findings." pic.twitter.com/9N3xxj1Zqx

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 11, 2017

Michelle Obama to appear at Pennsylvania Conference for Women

The Pennsylvania Conference for Women announced 
today that Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the 
United States, will participate in a conversation at the 
14th annual Conference on Thursday, October 3rd, 2017.  More than 10,000 are expected to attend the event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Michelle Robinson Obama served as First Lady of the United States, from 2009-2017. During that time, Mrs. Obama launched and led four key initiatives: Let's Move!, to address the challenge of childhood obesity; Joining Forces, to support veterans, service members and their families; Reach Higher, to inspire young people to seek higher education; and Let Girls Learn, to help adolescent girls around the world go to school.

Before becoming First Lady, Michelle Obama attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School. She started her career as an attorney at the Chicago law firm, Sidley & Austin, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama. She later worked in the Chicago mayor's office, the University of Chicago, and the University of Chicago Medical Center. Mrs. Obama also founded the Chicago chapter of Public Allies, an organization that prepares young people for careers in public service.

"We are honored and thrilled to have Michelle Obama, one of the most respected women in the world, join us at this year's conference," said Leslie Stiles, Board President of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. "With her career-long devotion to improving the lives of children, increasing nutrition awareness, and advocating for equal access to education, Michelle Obama's impact clearly extends beyond her White House years."

The nonpartisan, nonprofit Pennsylvania Conference for Women offers a full day of networking, inspiration, professional development and personal growth. In addition to a standout lineup of keynote speakers, the Conference will feature breakout sessions led by experts in the fields of business, philanthropy, leadership, finance, media and professional development.

Previously announced keynote speakers include Dr. Brené Brown, courage and vulnerability researcher, #1 New York Times best-selling author and one of the top five most viewed TED speakers in the world; Shawn Achor, New York Timesbestselling author of The Happiness Advantage; and Carla Harris, Wall Street executive and author.

The Pennsylvania Conference for Women is presented by Beneficial Bank and Beneficial Foundation and generously sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb; Cisco; Drexel University LeBow College of Business; GlaxoSmithKline; Johnson & Johnson; PECO; Prudential; QVC Inc.; State Farm; Chase; DuPont; Macquarie Investment Management; Mastercard; Penn Mutual; Poo-Pourri; State Street Corporation; Villanova School of Business; ACME Markets; Amtrak; Dow Chemical Company; Erin Condren; Fine Wine & Good Spirits; Merck; PNC; Shriners Hospitals for Children; The Philadelphia Foundation; United Airlines and media sponsors WPVI-TV 6abc; Philadelphia Magazine; Philadelphia Media Network; and iHeartMedia.

"We are proud to welcome one of the most inspirational women of our time," said Joanne Ryder, Chief Administration Officer for Beneficial Bank. "Michelle Obama continues to be a force for good and for progress in advancing the interests of women and girls around the world."

To apply for media credentials, please click here. Please note this session will be a covered by press pool only. Due to high demand, not all requests can be approved.

Registration is now open for the Conference. To register or learn more about the event, visit www.paconferenceforwomen.org.

Media Contact:
Karen Breslau
media@conferenceforwomen.org
650-906-3132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Conference for Women

Related Links

http://www.paconferenceforwomen.org

'Run the Rock 2020' forms to draft Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson for president

A campaign committee has formally filed to draft actor and former WWE wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for president. This should probably be taken with a grain of salt since Johnson originally announced his attentions to run on Saturday Night Live and America would never elect a person who appeared on WWE programming presi...whoa wait a minute. Watch more on this story in the video below.