NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 9, 2013 BILL COSBY CHAIRS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 1963 BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT -- “THE CHANGING LIVES EDUCATION & ENTREPRENEURIAL SUMMIT WITH BILL COSBY & FRIENDS” WHEN: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2013 WHERE: BIRMINGHAM J EFFERSON CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX SOUTH EXHIBITION HALL 2100 RICHARD ARRINGTON JR BLVD NORTH, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203 Meet/Greet: 9:45AM – 10:45AM EVENT TIME: 11:30AM – 2:00PM BIRMINGHAM, AL – Bill Cosby Chairs the 50Th Anniversary of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Movement – “The Changing Lives Education & Entrepreneurial Summit With Bill Cosby & Friends” on Saturday, September 14, 2013 at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center Complex South Exhibition Hall located 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Birmingham, AL 35203 from 11:30am – 2:00pm. The importance of the Changing Lives Education & Entrepreneurial Summit With Bill Cosby & Friends is the message of hope and inspiration. The events that unfolded during the Civil Rights struggle in Birmingham 1963 opened the World’s eyes to the hatred and humiliation that Blacks were experiencing on a daily basis. Dogs unleashed on innocent men, women and children; Fire hoses were aimed at Blacks and used as pressure washers to deter Foot Soldiers from marching for their rights; and Four Little Girls lives were removed from this Earth when a bomb blasted through the 16Th Street Baptist Church on Sunday, September 15, 1963. For these very reasons, Bill Cosby leaped at the opportunity to lend his name as a Chair of the 50Th Commemorations of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Movement. “The Civil Rights 50TH Anniversary is an opportunity to showcase the city 50 years forward,” said Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. “I want to thank Bill Cosby, for his leadership, for partnering with the City of Birmingham and giving us permission to use his celebrity in order to garner national exposure. Not just for the celebration of the heritage we have in this great city but to making life better in Birmingham,” states Mayor Bell. As an advocate for good parenting, education and entrepreneurialship, Bill Cosby hopes that his influence with the 50TH Anniversary of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Movement will turn on a light blub that reads, “Come On People.” Cosby believes that the Changing Lives Education & Entrepreneurial Summit will be the vehicle that drives the dialogue, we can’t move 50 years forward until we come up with a solution to solve our declining education system and come up with a formula to prevent our Black Businesses from becoming extinct. Bill Cosby said, “I am proud to be a Chair of the 50Th Anniversary of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Movement “The Changing Lives Education & Entrepreneurial Summit With Bill Cosby & Friends” because no one should ever forget those that paved the way for us to have a free education and be given the same privileges to become a successful entrepreneur. We have a moral and societal obligation to give our young people the opportunity to become productive human beings. I am elated that some of my closest friends will take part in this wonderful discussion.” Cosby, who has an ED.D. In Education, has worked for decades to promote and support education and entrepreneurialship on all levels. PURPOSE PR FIRM – OFFICE: 205-422-5573 – EMAIL: [email protected] Page 1 Bill Cosby invited some of his closest friends to take part in his panel discussion and they all graciously accepted: Dr. Mary Frances Berry, Educator and Historian University of Pennsylvania; Dr. Bob Moses, Civil Rights Leader, Educator and Founder of the Algebra Project; Michelle Rhee, CEO and Founder Studentsfirst.org; Tempsett Bledsoe, Actress The Cosby Show & Guys With Kids; Jasmine Guy, Actress A Different World; Darryl M. Bell, Actor A Different World; Rick C. Wade, Former Obama Campaign Adviser & Commerce Department Senior Adviser; and Benjamin Crump, Attorney For Trayvon Martin’s Family. Moderating this historic event will be Joy-Ann Reid, Managing Editor TheGrio.com and MSNBC On-Air Contributor. For more information regarding the 50Th Anniversary of the 1963 Birmingham Civil Rights Movement – “The Changing Lives Education & Entrepreneurial Summit With Bill Cosby & Friends,” please visit www.50yearsforward.com and/or by calling 205-422-5573. ### FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES AND INTERVIEWS CONTACT: Andrew Wyatt, Purpose Public Relations (205) 422-5573 [email protected] About Bill Cosby One of America’s most beloved comedians of all time, Bill Cosby has captivated generations of fans with his comedy routines, iconic albums and best selling books such as Fatherhood. His comedy transcends age, gender, and cultural barriers. For his philanthropic efforts and positive influence as a performer and author, Cosby was honored with a 1998 Kennedy Center Honors Award. In 2002, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America’s highest civilian honor, was the 2009 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and the Marian Anderson Award in 2010. PURPOSE PR FIRM – OFFICE: 205-422-5573 – EMAIL: [email protected] Page 2 “THE CHANGING LIVES EDUCATION & ENTREPRENEURIALSHIP WITH BILL COSBY & FRIENDS” --PROGRAM— 9:45AM – 10:30AM………………SPECIAL MEET/GREET WITH BILL COSBY & PANELISTS (WESTIN HOTEL- BALLROOM) *NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC/INVITATION ONLY* 10:00AM – 11:00AM……………CLEVE EATON & JAZZ ALLSTARS PROVIDE MUSIC (BJCC SOUTH EXHIBITION HALL) 10:50AM………………………………COSBY/PANELISTS ARRIVE AT EVENT LOCATION (BJCC SOUTH EXHIBITION HALL) *EVENT FREE/OPEN TO THE PUBLIC* 11:00AM………………………………INTRODUCTION OF HOSTS STATE REP. JUANDALYNN GIVAN & NAACP PRESIDENT, HEZEKIAH JACKSON, IV 11:05AM……………………………..WELCOME MAYOR WILLIAM A. BELL, SR. 11:10AM……………………………..GREETINGS PRESIDENT GEORGE T. FRENCH, JR (MILES COLLEGE) 11:15AM…………………………….MILES COLLEGE CHOIR “LEAN ON ME” “LIFT EVERY VOICE” 11:25AM…………………………….PRAYER PASTOR WILLIAM A. WALKER, SR. (NEW BETHLEHAM BAPTIST CHURCH- BESSEMER, AL) 11:28AM…………………………..VIDEO PRESENTATION OF PANELISTS 11:30AM…………………………..EDUCATION PANEL BEGINS DR. BILL COSBY, DR. MARY FRANCES BERRY, DR. BOB MOSES, MICHELLE RHEE, MAYOR WILLIAM A. BELL, SR & Alabama State Board Member Yvette Richardson 12:45PM…………………………..BREAK CLEVE EATON ALLSTAR JAZZ BAND ENTERTAINS 1:00PM……………………………ENTREPRENEURAILSHIP PANEL BEGINS BILL COSBY, TEMPSETT BLEDSOE, JASMINE GUY, DARRYL M. BELL, RICK C. WADE, BENJAMIN CRUMP & STATE REP. JUANDALYNN GIVAN 2:00PM…………………………..SPECIAL CORPORATE AWARDS PRSENTED HEZEKIAH JACKSON, IV 2:10PM…………………………..SPECIAL TRIBUTE SONG CLEVE EATON ALLSTAR JAZZ BAND PURPOSE PR FIRM – OFFICE: 205-422-5573 – EMAIL: [email protected] Page 3 .