WELCOME TO THE VIRTUAL NNPA 2021 NATIONAL CONFERENCE

Black Press Matters: Trusted Voice, Resilient Vitality, Transformative Vision

KAREN CARTER RICHARDS, NNPA CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

To our esteemed publishers, staff, guests, and viewers, I would like to welcome each and every one of you to the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Virtual 2021 National Convention. On behalf of our NNPA Executive Committee and our entire Board of Directors, we are grateful that you have taken the time to join us.

During the past 12 months, we all have experienced and witnessed very trying times due to the persistence of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic that continues to spread across the nation. Yet, we are here to reaffirm our mission and our purpose as the trusted voice of Black communities throughout the United States.

We have an informative program for the next two days as we celebrate the 194th Anniversary of the Black Press of America and the 81st Anniversary of the NNPA.

Collectively, the NNPA represents the interests of 230 African American-owned newspapers and media companies throughout the United States. As always, we thank our partners and sponsors who help to make our National Convention possible.

DR. BENJAMIN F. CHAVIS JR., NNPA PRESIDENT AND CEO

On behalf of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), I am please to welcome you to the Virtual NNPA 2021 National Convention. Using the benefit of today’s technology platforms affords the opportunity for us to gather together virtually to address the issues, policies and interests of all of those who support freedom, justice and equality for all in America and throughout the world.

This is the 194th year of the Black Press of America.  We, therefore, take this moment to reaffirm our mission and purpose as the national trade association of the Black Press.  The NNPA is committed to representing the interests of the Black Press as well as the interests, concerns, and news relevant to Black America. We grateful the NNPA continues to make progress in a number of areas that help to sustain the Black Press.

Pluria Marshall Jr., Chairman of the NNPA Fund

I am pleased to welcome you to the Virtual NNPA 2021 National Convention.  As our nation is now undergoing another period of transition and change, it is important that the Black Press of America continues to be the “trusted” voice of equality, empowerment, and equity. Thus, we are convening virtually to reaffirm our mission and to ensure the future sustainability of the Black Press.

DAY ONE LIVESTREAMS

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Conference Speakers

U. S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)

U. S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)

Senator (D-NY)

United States Senate

Honorable Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

Honorable Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)

52nd Speaker

United States House of Representatives

Honorable Cedric L. Richmond

Honorable Cedric L. Richmond

Senior Advisor to the President of the United States

White House Office of Public Engagement

Denise Forte

Denise Forte

interim CEO

The Education Trust

Rochelle Walensky

Rochelle Walensky

Director

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Rita Choula

Rita Choula

Director of Caregiving

AARP Public Policy Institute

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci

Director

U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Isabella Casillas Guzman

Isabella Casillas Guzman

Administrator

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Dr. Elizabeth Ofili

Dr. Elizabeth Ofili

Professor of Medicine

Morehouse School of Medicine

Muriel Finkel

Muriel Finkel

President

Amyloidosis Support Groups

Don Chaney

Don Chaney

Former NBA player and coach

Pfizer Rare Disease

Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron

Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron

Chief Patient Officer

Pfizer

Candice Hoyes

Candice Hoyes

Singer/Producer/Curator/Composer

Rev. Dr. Starksy Wilson, The Children’s Defense Fund

Rev. Dr. Starksy Wilson, The Children’s Defense Fund

President and CEO

The Children's Defense Fund

Darnella Frazier

Darnella Frazier

Citizen Journalist / Videographer

Scotty Barnhart- Count Basie Orchestra

Scotty Barnhart- Count Basie Orchestra

Director/Professor

The Count Basie Orchestra/Florida State University

Philip Bailey- Earth Wind & Fire

Philip Bailey- Earth Wind & Fire

Founder, Music is Unity

Earth, Wind & Fire

Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan

10-time GRAMMY® Award-winner

Rev. John P. Kee

Rev. John P. Kee

Pastor, Gospel Singer

New Life Fellowship Center

Attorney General Keith Ellison

Attorney General Keith Ellison

Minnesota’s 30th Attorney General

Congresswoman Joyce L. Beatty (D-OH)

Congresswoman Joyce L. Beatty (D-OH)

Representiing Ohio’s Third Congressional District

U.S. House of Representatives

Janis Ware

Janis Ware

Publisher

The Atlanta Voice Newspaper

Honorable James E. Clyburn

Honorable James E. Clyburn

U.S. Congressman

Serving the 6th District of South Carolina

Pluria Marshall

Pluria Marshall

Chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Association Foundation

President and CEO, Marshall Broadcasting Group (MBG)

Jackie Hampton

Jackie Hampton

Publisher

Mississippi Link

Stacy Brown

Stacy Brown

Senior National Correspondent of the NNPA

National Newspaper Publishers Association

Terry Jones

Terry Jones

Publisher

New Orleans Data News Weekly

BENJAMIN L. CRUMP, ESQ.

BENJAMIN L. CRUMP, ESQ.

WINNER: NNPA 2020 FREEDOM-FIGHTING LEGAL ACHIEVEMENT

Founding Attorney, Ben Crump Trial Lawyers for Justice

Ziggy Marley

Ziggy Marley

WINNER OF THE NNPA 2020 GLOBAL ICON AWARD

Tuff Gong Records

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., NNPA President and CEO

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., NNPA President and CEO

President and CEO

National Newspaper Publishers Association

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