Sierra Club National President Aaron Mair and NAACP President Cornell Brooks will share the stage at a large evening meeting on Friday, October 30th at the Hotel Pere Marquette. They will both speak at a panel presentation on Climate and Justice from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The public can attend this session at no charge. There will also be a further presentation from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with both Cornell Brooks and Aaron Mair speaking.
If individuals wish to register for the full conference it will be $35 for both days, with about 9 workshops to choose from. All meals are extra, $35 for lunch on Friday and Saturday, $60 for Saturday Freedom Fund Banquet (speaker not yet confirmed). There are programmed activities for both lunches and the Saturday Dinner. Friday dinner is not scheduled, although there is a small possibility light snacks / buffet will be provided within the Speakers room.
Workshops will begin on Friday afternoon (the energy panel plus an Education workshop). Donations are welcome.
The tentative conference schedule is below. Times are approximate. NAACP President Cornell Brooks has officially confirmed as their Friday night Freedom Fund Banquet Speaker along with Aaron Mair, President of the Sierra Club, the largest environmental group in the United States. President Mair is the first African American ever elected to that position. Heart of Illinois Group members are encouraged to attend.
Friday 10/30:
10:00 am Registration all day.
1:30 pm Welcome by Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, State Senator David Koehler and State Representative Jehan Gordon.
1:45 pm - 3:00 pm Labor Luncheon, apx 150 people, hopefully sponsored by UAW and AFSCME.
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Debate on Labor Issues in Illinois between Governor Rauner ( invited) and labor leadership.
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Two simultaneous workshops: the first is a Minority Job Opportunities in the Illinois Energy Sector, featuring State Senator Koehler, African American labor leaders, Jacqui Patterson, Director of National NAACP Climate & Environmental Justice, Sierra Club President Aaron Mair, local labor staff person Tony O'Brien and perhaps one more panelist, to be identified.
The second workshop will be on Education.
6:30 - 8:30 pm Mass Meeting featuring President Cornell Brooks and Aaron Mair, to be held at a large room at the Pere Marquette.
Saturday 10/31
8:00 am Registration all day.
9:00 am - 10:00 am Plenary.
10:00 am - 11:30 am Two simultaneous workshops: Criminal Justice and Education.
11:30 am to 1:15 pm Luncheon, Hopefully / organized by YOUTH ????
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm three simultaneous workshops: Financial Freedom, Voting Rights and Environmental Justice.
3:15 pm - 4:45 pm Three or four simultaneous workshops: how to start up an ACT-SO program, Minority Hiring in Municipal Governments, Health Workshop for Men, and a separate Health Workshop for Women.
4:45 pm - 6:30 pm BREAK and Informal Social.
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Freedom Fund Banquet. Keynote Speaker not yet confirmed.
Sunday 11/1
8:00 am - 9:00 am Prayer Service
9:00 am - 11:00 am Report of State Committee Chairs. Report of Conference Financials. Election of State Officers.