Douglass Leadership Institute(DLI) hopes to ‘turn the tide’ against challenges facing the black community by bringing together area leaders to discuss challenges and solutions that are facing the black family.

Hampton, VA – March 15, 2016

DLI is a new 501c(3) organization launched this year with the express purpose of educating, equipping and empowering faith-based leaders to embrace and apply biblical principles to life and in the marketplace.  Turning the Tide is DLI’s first initiative.  This initiative has three pillars 1) Strengthening the Black Family, 2) Supporting Criminal Justice Reform and 3) Securing Economic Opportunities. Content and training will be delivered via social media, DLI’s website and community forums.

Although they have held a few training events in the Virginia area, this is their first public event. Not only is the forum being held on the campus of Hampton University but one of their guest panelist is Dr. Linda Malone-Colon, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Hampton and the Executive Director of the National Center for African American Marriage and Parenting.  Dr. Malone-Colon will be joining the Chairman of the Douglass Leadership Institute, Rev. Dean Nelson.  Other community leaders will also be speaking:  Martin Brown – Former Commissioner of the Virginia Dept. of Social Services and Special Advisor to the Governor for Prisoner Reentry and Family Reintegration; Rev. Dr. William Keen – VA State Chapter President of SCLC and Dr. Ray Johnson D.Min, MBA, M.Div, M.A. Law & Public Policy; Pastor, Calvary Revival Church Peninsula; Overseer 1st Diocese, CACM; Former State Board Member, Virginia Dept. of Social Services.

Saturday will be a packed day at Hampton University.   We are pleased to have as our host Pastor Gerard Henry who is National Radio Host for Douglass Leadership Institute. Mr. Henry is the Creator and original host of the highly rated Black Entertainment Television, Inc. (BET) Gospel music video show, “Lift Every Voice” is considered to be a pioneer in bridging the Gospel Music and Lifestyle experience TV Format.  He is also a Pastor, published author, inspirational speaker, committed husband and father of four children.

DLI starts at 8:30am with a Pastors only Breakfast and Discussion in the Student Center Ballroom.  From 10:30 to 2pm, the Strengthening the Black Family forum starts which includes a free lunch for those who pre-register by Wed 3/16.  At 6pm that evening DLI will celebrate with Andrew Shannon and the 19^th Annual Step Show, Drumline and Talent Showcase which will be held in Ogden Hall.

For more information about the Douglass Leadership Institute, please visit their website www.DLInstittute.org and their social media outlets @DL_Institute on Twitter and Facebook.com/DLInstitute .

 

Contact:
Regina Roundtree
Communications
rroundtree@DLInstitute.org
860-593-8483

###