Opening Ceremony
Keynote Speaker: Joyce S. Johnson

Wednesday, February 4, 2009
12:40 pm to 2:10 pm (Campus Life Time)
Student Activities Center Auditorium

Joyce S. Johnson is President and CEO of the Black Equity Alliance, Inc., a New York City-based federation that creates coalitions of individuals and organizations that leverage their collective strength to achieve economic and civil equity for the betterment of the Black community and all of New York. She has worked in New York City government and the private sector for thirty years. Through Black Equity Alliance Johnson plans to work on leveraging the $74.9 billion buying power of New York's black community to help create sustainable social and economic change in the areas highlighted by the organization's report, "The State of Black New York City 2007." Black Equity Alliance is the only institution engaging policy analysis, research, and advocacy on cross-system issues specifically affecting Black children, families and communities, and looks at the New York City Black community as a whole.

Johnson most recently served as the New York State Field Director for the Obama 2008 presidential campaign. She also served as the Deputy Campaign Manager in Charlie King’s campaign for New York State Attorney General in 2006. Johnson is a former National Director of Equal Employment Opportunity for Joseph E. Seagram & Sons, Inc., and a former Executive Assistant to New York City Schools Chancellor Rudy Crew, directing the Office of Business and Community Relations. Click here for more information about Joyce S. Johnson.