GDW Event Alert: Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project ECONOMIC SUMMIT--March 21-22

By Gloria DULAN-Wilson

Hello All!

Can you believe it!!!??? It's been 25 years since Brother Rev. Jesse L. Jackson launched his epochmaking Wall Street Project.  I almost remember the exact day he made the announcement from the prestigious offices of Mitchell-Titus LLP Accounting on Wall Street.  That was in 1996, telling the news media, the world, and more importantly, Black people, that he was going to finally focus on the disparity in wealth and access Black people faced in a caucasoid environment.  Rev. Jackson had long held the concept that integration and holding political office were necessary, but not sufficient for Black people to become autonomous and independent in a racist society.  To achieve economic parity, one must understand the economic forces that are brought to bear - especially in a society that gained most of it's wealth from the very backs of our ancestors.  More than reparations - which may or may not come in our lifetime - is understanding, participating in, and controlling the forces of capitalism as it applies to us individually and collectively.

                                                                  Rev. Jesse L. Jackson

I was there at the announcement; I was there at the kick off which was held on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, and in some very cramped areas of the World Trade Center - they tried so hard to make us as uncomfortable as they possibily could, thinking that would discourage us.  I remember the early workshops that were held at Trinity Church, and other bastions of caucasoid largesse - and the walking tour Jesse took us on through Broad Street to show us where our monies were managed. 

Throughout the 25 years I've covered the Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project ECONOMIC SUMMIT, I have been blown away by the wealth of knowledge that has been presented to us!  I've written about it, and encouraged many of our rank and file brothers and sisters to come, observe, learn and apply their new knowledge to their own lives.  I have marveled at the fact that the Rev. Jesse Jackson is a true genius - often underrated by many of his own people, but highly regarded by those in the realm of finance and empire building. 

Until the bombing of the World Trade Center, the Summit was held on Wall Street - and then relocated to midtown Manhattan's Sheraton, where it's been held continuously ever since.  Covid=19/Delta/Omicron kept it virtual after that - and this year in 2022, there is to be a hybrid of in person and via Zoom conferences.  And it couldn't come at a more opportune time - with so many forces and sources driving the economic train off the rails at the present time, it will be interesting to see what the predictions are for the future of Black economic development. 

If you haven't already done so, register for the upcoming ECONOMIC SUMMIT the information and schedules are  below.

For More Information, Contact: Michelle Pascal, michelle@ariellewren.com 917.715.3659 Ryan Stewart ryan@ariellewren.com 347.526.9556 Renée E. Warren-Mebane renee@ariellewren.com 646.344.2630 Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project ECONOMIC SUMMIT Join Co-CEO & Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments  John W. Rogers, Jr.,CEO of Tigress Financial Partners Cynthia DiBartolo, Esq. and many more. The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund will host its 25th Annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit, Monday, March 21 – Tuesday, March 22, 2022. This year, it will be a hybrid format. On Monday it will be in-person at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, 811 7th Avenue, 3rd Floor in New York, NY., and on Tuesday the summit will be held virtually.   This year’s Wall Street Project Economic Summit theme is “The Wall Street Project 25 Years Later: Many Successes, but Our Work to Level the Playing Field Continues.”. The summit will feature a Labor & Ministers Breakfast, Wall Street Project Business Luncheon, and sessions on utilization of diversity broker-dealers and assets managers, sports, hip hop at 50, transforming Africa economic prospects, and much more.    The Wall Street Project Economic Summit will bring entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and some of the nation’s leading policymakers together to increase business and employment opportunities for African Americans, women, and people of color.   “We’ve had 25-years of work, struggle, and success, but our challenge is to continue to close the economic opportunity gap. Our agenda reflects that mission,” says Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Founder & President, Rainbow PUSH Coalition. We’re elated that we can meet in person, roll up our sleeves and get more work completed.” SUMMIT FEATURES DAY ONE: The Summit kicks off in-person with the Labor & Ministers Breakfast followed by the session Wall Street Project’s Impact Then and Now: Expansion and Utilization of Diversity Broker-Dealers and Asset Managers, which will feature panelists Malik T. Murray, Senior Vice President, Head of Business Development, Institutional Marketing, Ariel Investments, James Roundtree, Managing Director of BNY Mellon | Pershing, Jia Shan, Managing Director, Investment Banking Division, Goldman Sachs, Stephanie Smith, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer of BlackRock Alternative Investors (“BAI”), Brandon Sun, Director, Investment Banking, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and Alexis Thomas, Commissioner, New York State Insurance Fund. Cynthia DiBartolo, Esq., Chief Executive Officer, Tigress Financial Partners (DOBE & WBENC Broker-Dealer), and Chief Executive Officer, RISE Financial Services (Diversity Prime Broker) will moderate.    John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman, Co-CEO & Chief Investment Officer, Ariel Investments will be one of the distinguished honorees acknowledged during the Wall Street Project Business Luncheon. After the Luncheon, Jineea Butler, Editor, The New American Tastemaker, President, Hip Hop, will moderate the Business of Hip Hop session where panelists will discuss Hip Hop at 50 years old, how the culture has evolved, and where it’s going from here   Later in the day, as he did 25 years ago, Rev. Jackson will return to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to ring the Closing Bell to celebrate the 25th-anniversary milestone of the Wall Street Project.   DAY TWO: The Summit concludes with a half day of virtual sessions. The day leads off with the panel African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) moderated by Matilda Arhin, President, Ghana International Chamber of Commerce. The panelists (Olivier Kamanzi, President & CEO, Africa Global Chamber of Commerce, Malose Letsoalo, Minister, Economic – Embassy of South Africa, Niclette Mundabi, Africa Portfolio Manager – Money Gram International) will discuss the impact of COVID-19 while AFCTA is being implemented and how to attract foreign investments.   Dr. Joseph Bryant, Jr., D. Min, Executive Director, Rainbow PUSH Silicon Valley/Bay Area & PUSHTECH Programs; National Director, Rainbow PUSH Sports; and West Coast Field Director, for Rev Jesse Jackson/PUSH will moderate two Business of Sports panels. The first will include speakers Jelani Jenkins, NFL VET, Entrepreneur, Forbes 30 under 30; Reginald Grant, NFL VET, Business Consultant & Entrepreneur; Dave Desrochers, NFL VET, Vice President NFLPA, Orange County; and Darryll Stinson, Former Division 1 Athlete, Author, Speaker, and Suicide Survivor. Speakers on the second panel will be Drew Davis, Former NFL Player, Coach, current Director of Player Development at UCLA; Isaac Jones, Former NFL Player, Wealth Management Advisor for Athletes in Transition; Dr. Richard Lapchick, Director, Institute for Diversity & Ethics in Sports; Attorney Jaia Thomas, Lawyer specializing in The Business of Sports and Sports Careers; and Billy Thompson, Former, NBA Player, Founder, and Lead Pastor Jesus People Proclaim International Church.   SPONSORS (Partial list as more are joining) Ariel Investments, Blaylock Van, LLC, CastleOak Securities, LP, C.L. King & Associates, The Coca-Cola Company, Drexel Hamilton, JPMorgan Chase, MFR Securities, New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), Ramirez Asset Management, Siebert Williams Shank & Co., Tigress Financial Partners, Walmart, Inc.   ABOUT THE WALL STREET PROJECT The Wall Street Project was founded in 1996 by Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., and the Citizenship Education Fund, alongside prominent business owners. It was officially launched on January 15, 1997, on Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. The Wall Street Project challenges corporate America to end the multi-billion-dollar trade deficit with minority vendors and consumers while working to ensure equal opportunities for culturally diverse employees, entrepreneurs and consumers.   CLICK HERE FOR FULL AGENDA   TO REGISTER, Visit: http://www.rainbowpushwallstreetproject.org/registration.html  or call (646) 569-5889 PRESS: to set up an interview or receive onsite media credentials, email: assistant@ariellewren.com   MEDIA ROOM | Contact: Michelle Pascal, Michelle@ariellewren.com, (917) 715-3659; Renée E. Warren-Mebane, 646.344.2630, renee@ariellewren.com PRESS ROOM HOURS: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ###

NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? Stay Blessed & ECLECTICALLY BLACK

  

Gloria DULAN-Wilson