2007 has been prosperous for Gregory, as he just wrapped producing, for Warner Brothers, the film American Dream starring the rapper Mike Jones and his screenplay is the basis for the Sony Screen Gem’s project Stomp the Yard starring Hip Hop / R&B sensations Chris Brown and Ne-Yo. This summer, it was announced on HBO by Bryant Gumbel (Real Sports) that Gregory and his company Tri Destined Films optioned the rights to the Life Story of Bev Kearney, the world-renowned track coach from the University of Texas who took her team on a miraculous quest for success, coaching them to the Collegiate and U.S. National (Pre-Olympic) championships, all from her hospital bed, after a horrendous accident almost caused her demise. As well, Gregory is currently the writer and Associate Producer of Compton Christmas Treez being produced by Gotham Entertainment, the producers of the MTV / Paramount film: “Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat” and is in development on the project Saturday which is set as the debut film for comedian Dexter Tucker (brother of Chris Tucker) and will also star hip hop chart-topper Paul Wall.
Call to Conscience: 2007 Celebration of Black History
Pantages Theatre in Tacoma, WA | February 17th 2007
Master of Ceremonies : Tony Benton
Director of Community Affairs and Host of StreetBeat &
Get In The Game; Clear Channel Radio Seattle
Tony B. is heard over the airwaves on several different radio stations in the Seattle-Tacoma region. Whether he is hosting community affairs shows, like KUBE 93’s “StreetBeat,” or covering sports topics on SportsRadio KJR AM’s “Get in the Game,” Tony’s shows are known for being open, honest and thought-provoking.
After graduating from Seattle ’s Franklin High School , Tony attended the University of Washington , with a major in communications. He has received several awards for his contributions to music, youth and community organizations in addition to serving on boards of organizations such as Thrive by Five, Seattle Public High Schools Radio/TV Advisory Committee and the Northwest chapter of NARAS, the National Academy of recording Arts and Sciences.
As the founder and CEO of MUSICA Entertainment, LLC, Tony produces an annual music festival showcasing the Northwest’s emerging hip hop scene. He is also creator of the Call to Conscience Black History Month Essay Writing Challenge and producer of the 2006 and 2007 Call to Conscience Black History Month Celebrations in
Tacoma , WA.
Tony B. is dedicated to being a positive role model, as well as an active member of, the Puget Sound community. He believes in promoting positive changes in the community through an understanding of music and culture.
Host : Isiah Anderson, Jr.
Anderson serves as Teen Development Leader for Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center’s after-school Hearts and Minds program. He has also directed the LHPAC’s summer musicals at the Paramount Theater for the last ten years and has created original urban theatrical hits such as Grease, Soul of Beauty and the Beast, The Wiz, Peter Pan and most recently, Uncle Willy’s Chocolate Factory at the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
Last fall, he directed Sadie’s Kitchen an original production by local playwright
La’Chris Jordan. In addition to directing, Isiah is also an actor and well-known national comedian. He has appeared several times on Black Entertainment Television's BET Comic View and has been a featured performer on Russell Simmons’s Def Jam Comedy Tour.
Co Chairs:
Maxine Mimms -
In 1972, Dr. Maxine Mimms, an Evergreen State College faculty member, focused on developing an educational program that would serve place-bound working adult students there. A clear focus on serving the educational needs of urban, African-American adult learners combined with an interest in teaching inner-city adults, led to the founding principles of the Tacoma Campus program. Evergreen-Tacoma was formally established in 1982 under the leadership of Dr. Mimms. Her mission to increase the number of African American women in Washington with Doctorate degrees has improved the education of families across the region. Her most recent post retirement institution is the Maxine Mimms Academies for suspended, expelled and undereducated students.
Michael Jackson -
Former University of Washington Husky Football Star & Former Seattle Seahawk.
With a passion for giving our youth every opportunity to succeed in life, Michael Anthony Jackson has become a popular public speaker. A Washington State native, Michael’s high school and college careers were spent making his mark on the football field. Attending the University of Washington from 1975-1978, Michael set many school records. A Seattle Seahawks third round NFL draft pick in 1979, Michael went on to play professional football for eight years. After retirement, Michael went back to school and graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in drama. As a professional actor he has appeared in 15 film and television roles.
Keynote Speakers:
Afeni Shakur
An important member of the Black Panther Party and mother of the late Tupac Shakur, led a series of chapters during the "break down" of the Black Panther party. Her intellect and ability enabled her to edit and write columns for the Panther Post with such strategic craftiness that it misled the FBI to believe that the Black Panther Party was no longer in existence, while in fact they were multiplying rapidly. A year after Tupac's death, Afeni founded the Georgia-based Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, which provides art programs for young people. She has also since launched a fashion clothing line, Makaveli Branded; all proceeds go to his charity, the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation. In February of 2005 Shakur, and actress Jasmine Guy released book entitled "Afeni Shakur: Evolution of a Revolutionary"
Courtesy of wikipedia.com
Dr. Quintard Taylor
Taylor is a specialist in African American history in the American West with over three decades of research and teaching experience in this field at a number of institutions of higher education, including currently the University of Washington.
Courtesy of http://faculty.washington.edu/qtaylor/index.htm
Jone M. Bosworth
Bosworth
was appointed Director of the Department of Early Learning by Governor Chris Gregoire on September 11, 2006. Ms. Bosworth is the first director of the department, which was created by the Legislature in 2006 at Governor Gregoire's request.
Ms. Bosworth most recently served as Senior Director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative in St. Louis, where she supported partnerships with public and private non-profits to create enhanced opportunities for young people aging out of foster care systems. She also worked with state child-welfare departments to develop plans to prepare foster youths for adulthood. Prior to this position, she was the administrator for the Division of Child and Family Services in the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services and child and family services consultant at The ORBit Group, Inc. She worked in Mexico and Kenya as a foreign services officer with the U.S. Department of State.
In 1986 she received a Bachelor of Arts degree form the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and in 1997 received her Juris Doctor from the Nebraska College of Law.
Gregory Anderson
While studying at Harvard University during the summers, Gregory, independently produced and theatrically distributed a film with his Florida A&M University classmates (Rainforest Films): called Trois, which landed them at the #34 spot of the Top 500 Film Distributors of 2000 listed by the Hollywood Reporter (August 2001), and resulted in the picture being in the Top 50 highest grossing Independent Films of that Year according to Daily Variety (July 30, 2001). Soon after that release, he wrote, Co-Produced, and distributed Pandora’s Box, also highlighted in Variety and Hollywood Reporter’s Top Lists, which was eventually picked up by Columbia Tristar. The independent “theatrical” distribution of the Master P film Lockdown followed. After being one of the producers of the Sony Pictures Entertainment release Motives starring Vivica A. Fox, Gregory’s work as a writer and producer was then showcased in the Columbia Tristar release: Trois: The Escort.
As the President and Co-Owner of Tri Destined Films with ND Brown and Trey Haley, Gregory spearheads several projects including Comedy Kids / Comedy Teens a stand-up comedy project (which Gregory was also a writer) featuring child stars from Nickelodeon, Disney, ABC Family, Fox Kids, and several hit films including “Daddy Day Care” and the upcoming “Benchwarmers”. His company and President of Television Ron Deshay, in conjunction with Andrea Wiley (Writer / Executive Producer, The Jamie Foxx Show, The Parkers, The Steve Harvey Show, Fresh Prince of Bel Air, etc) and Jacque Edmonds (Cuts, All about the Andersons, Moesha) recently wrapped a pilot for the TV show Walking in the Light hosted by Cookie Johnson and Pauletta Washington (Magic Johnson and Denzel Washington’s wives). There are several projects in development including Foolishy In Love. Considered a hip-hop “What’s Love Got to Do With It”, the story is a biopic about the dangerous love affair between football legend Andre Rison and Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez of the hit female group TLC. In the summer of 2006, Gregory wrapped two films made for the Home Entertainment market; Soul To Go and The Caretaker. Members of Tri Destined Studios include Ron Deshay (Senior Producer – “American Idol”, Director – BET’s hit show “College Hill”) and Ben Stephens (Creator of the MTV/Magic Johnson show “Who’s Got Game”).
Performers:
Nu Black Arts West Theatre presents an excerpt from the play "Dark Divas" which is an energetic tribute to the past works of Billie Holiday, Pearl Bailey, Moms Mabley and Ella Fitzgerald.
Step Show featuring Black Fraternities and Sororities.
Lincoln High Dance Team
Mt. Tahoma Lady Bird Crew
Essay Writing Challenge
Statewide essay challenge for middle school, high school, and college.
Giving away at least $2,000 in scholarships.
View more information : EssayChallenge.pdf