Robots, Silicon Valley movers and shakers, business leaders and international affairs in the era of Trump will kick off the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund 46th Annual International ConventionWednesday, July 12 at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan, Avenue.
Preparing black and brown youth for futures in technology and Silicon Valley will be a major focus of the four-day conference, which will feature the Rainbow PUSH Coalition “Tech Expo” – a gallery of exhibits and demonstrations by Google, Intel, Exelon and other companies as well as the University of Illinois and the robotics team from PUSH Excel, the educational arm of Rainbow PUSH.
“There is no talent deficit,” Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., founder and president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, said. “There is an opportunity deficit. Given the opportunity and training, our children can do anything.”
At 12:30 P.M., Rosalind (Roz) Hudnell, Intel vice president and President of the Intel Foundation, will keynote the Business Luncheon and receive the Rainbow PUSH Coalition “Technology Trailblazer” award. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe will also speak at the luncheon and will be honored for his work in protecting and restoring voting rights.
The theme of the first day of the conference, which runs from July 12 through July 15, is Business and Education. Panels will include business opportunities in Africa, diversity in the law and training young people for the digital present and future.
Wednesday evening – from 6 – 9 P.M. – PUSH Excel will hold its annual scholarship awards ceremony. Since 1990, the program has awarded more than $7 million in scholarships to high school and college students. Rev. Janette C. Wilson, senior adviser to Rev. Jackson, is executive director of PUSH Excel.
Other highlights of Opening Day include:
- PUSH National Brainstorm: State of Minority Businesses and Entrepreneurship – 9 A.M. – 12 Noon
- National Oratorical Competition – 1 – 5 P.M.
- U.S. Foreign Policy: Expectations, Perception, Reality of President Donald Trump View of the World – 3 – 5 P.M.
For a complete schedule of the convention please go to www.rainbowpush.org
