Tues., Oct. 14th HARAMBEE featuring Doug Gansler Set for Milton’s Grill: A Lesson in Political Economy
Guests include Live Baltimore’s Anna Custer, Frederick Douglass Family Foundation, Clarence Mitchell III
(BALTIMORE – October 13, 2008) – Political economy, the inter-connection between politics and economics, is the order of the day as the Oct. 14th HARAMBEE is poised to offer something for business people and politicos alike.
‘Protecting consumers …safeguarding children … and seniors … law enforcement’: This is the role of the Maryland Attorney General. With over 1 million votes, Gansler won the General Election in 2006 with some 61% of the vote. Today, his issues include curbing tobacco sales to minors, monitoring developers, and staying in tune with the rights of voters – including ex-offenders who have paid their dues to society.
Tomorrow night (Tuesday, Oct. 14th – 6 to 8 pm), Attorney General Gansler will be among the featured speakers at the HARAMBEE Dinner Club. The affair will take place at Milton’s Grill, 336 North Charles Street.
Gansler, who has been an ardent and early supporter of Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, will provide attendees with an overview of his office’s activities as of late and answer any questions posed.
Also scheduled to speak is former State Senator Clarence Mitchell, III. An icon in Maryland politics, Mitchell was a co-founder of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee and worked first-hand with a number of black political giants, including Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, the late Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, and former DC Mayor/Councilman Marion Barry. With an encyclopedia of knowledge and wisdom, this is the first time Mitchell will address the HARAMBEE Dinner Club.
According to the club co-founder, Doni Glover, “To have ‘the Bear’ [Mitchell] speak at our event is really a milestone.”
He added, “So much of the work we do is possible because of the work that he and people like him have done long ago. It is both an honor and a pleasure to host ‘the Bear’. We are absolutely confident that he will bring his one-of-a-kind brand of empowerment to the table.”
Glover said that Mitchell’s mentorship has inspired countless people to take up the mantra of leadership, including the up and coming Minister C. D. Witherspoon.
Other featured guests tomorrow include Anna Custer, the Executive Director of Live Baltimore.
According to Live Baltimore’s website (www.livebaltimore.com), the “Live Baltimore Home Center is an independent non-profit organization founded in 1997 to promote the benefits of city living. As the single source for information about living in Baltimore City, Live Baltimore provides comprehensive information about city neighborhoods, real estate professionals and home buying incentive programs.”
Serving since March 2007, Custer “is responsible for the organization’s strategic direction and funding and looks forward to building upon Live Baltimore’s successful marketing programs.”
Live Baltimore’s mission is “[t]o make Baltimore City a preferred living destination.” Their goals are to:
• Find and deliver consumers for city living;
• Increase residential tax base;
• Push for no net loss in annual population;
• Promote positive attributes of Baltimore City living to influence public perceptions; and
• Maintain a thriving Live Baltimore as the leading source for information about city living.
Wayne Frazier, President of the Maryland-Washington Minority Contractors Association, is also scheduled to attend. Frazier, a well-known advocate for minority business, has been encouraging minority business development in a grand way over the past several years and testifies regularly before city and state entities responsible for monitoring minority business development. On his way to iconic status himself, Frazier has been heavily involved in political economy in Maryland and is intent on minorities getting their fair share of the business pie in a 30% black state as Maryland and in majority black cities as Baltimore and DC.
Also, with the economy in such a heap of trouble as of late, there will also be some talk of the economic conditions by those whom know it first-hand. Teddy Coates and Darric Boyd are among those financial experts who will give their take on the 2008 American economy, considered the worst in American history.
With Attorney/WEAA radio host Craig Thompson scheduled to emcee this very special HARAMBEE, other attendees include: Karen Shannon of M-PALM (conveners of the SBA Awards Ceremony last Friday at the Baltimore Convention Center); Attorneys Granville Templeton and Paul Gardner (co-sponsors of this HARAMBEE); The Frederick Douglass Family Foundation; and Prince George's County Delegates Veronica Turner (Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland) and Michael Vaughn.
Representing the foundation are Nettie Washington Douglass and Ken Morris (direct descendants of both Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington) – along with Robert Benz.
Dinner is $20 and includes admission to this stellar networking event. To RSVP, please call Phenomenal Events at 1.443.223.8759.
Sponsors include Channel Magazine, Attorney Paul Gardner, Attorney Granville Templeton, and the Maryland-Washington Minority Contractors Association.
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