Special Events

All-American Presidential Forums on PBS
Moderated by Tavis Smiley, the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates participated in forums about how they would address issues of concern to Black America, as detailed in the book, Covenant with Black America. The Democratic Forum was held June 28, 2007 at Howard University in Washington, DC. Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD was the venue for the Republican Forum, held on September 27, 2007.

The forums were simultaneously Webcast on the companion site to the Tavis Smiley TV show, and video of both events are archived for download and viewing on the site.

For both the Democratic and Republican forums, American Blog, Inc. captured questions and sent them out via the Internet across its 50-state blog network. Citizens across the U.S. logged on to the state where they live and "entered the forum"—discussing and commenting on any of the candidates' responses.

Covenant In Action Tour (Multi-city tour, February 12 to March 5, 2007)

Multi-city town hall meeting featuring Tavis Smiley, Dr. Cornel West, Eddie Glaude, and local civic and community leaders

Tour cities: San Francisco, New Orleans, Boston, Newark, New York, Orlando, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Chicago, Louisville, Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Detroit, Philadelphia

Covenant with Black America: An Evening of Purpose and Praise! (SOBU 2006)

SOBU 2006 Kickoff Event. An ecumenical service featuring Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, Bishop Noel Jones, Cornel West, Tavis Smiley

The Covenant Celebration (SOBU 2006)

In association with Zomba Gospel
Gospel concert featuring live performances by today’s top gospel artists

Ebony 60th Anniversary Tribute Luncheon (SuccesSoul 2005)

Sponsored by: Nationwide, Chicago GSB, NBC-5 Chicago
Award Luncheon celebrating Ebony magazine’s 60th Anniversary

The Blacklist (SuccesSoul 2005)

Hosted by: Bentley Gold Coast
Paid networking reception for SuccesSoul conference.

Challenges, Strategies, and Possibilities for the Future of Black Leadership

Partner: Leadership Center at Morehouse College (Atlanta, GA, 2005)
Speakers included: Tavis Smiley, Professor David Thomas, Harvard Business, Professor Lani Guinier, Harvard Law Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Antonia Hernandez, California Community Foundation, Dr. Jeffrey Howard of the Efficacy Institute, Dr. David Satcher, Former U.S. Surgeon General and Interim President Morehouse School of Medicine, Dr. Walter Fluker, Leadership Center at Morehouse College

Pass the Mic! (Multi-city tour December, 2003)

Six-city lecture tour featuring Tavis Smiley, Dr. Cornel West, and Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson.
Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago

CONSUMER EXPOS

Blacks in Technology/Building Inroads to Technology (Multi-city, multi-year tour 2002 – 2003)

Sponsors (partial list): Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, American Airlines, BellSouth
Over 150+ exhibitors showcasing the hottest tech trends for consumers and small businesses. Featured Youth Day and Digital Divide symposium. Over 100,000 attendees in five cities, including New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Oakland and Chicago.