League of Black Women Conference to Explore Global Leadership Power -- How to Get It Now

DESTIN, Fla., May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, MD, MBA, will join her colleagues from the federal government, as well as high-ranking women and men from the private sector to explore the global leadership power and potential of modern-day Black women at the 9th annual League of Black Women conference, "Black Women 2012 New World Power: Bringing You the Global Leadership Power of Tomorrow's Jobs Today," May 8-11.

The conference is being hosted by the LBW and its sponsors at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin, Florida, and will feature panel discussions on health care, executive leadership, energy, technology, education, entrepreneurship, media and management consulting. Attendees will also be able to take advantage of executive coaching sessions and network with key influencers in an unencumbered, intimate environment.

Conference speakers will include Dr. Debra Saunders White, Deputy Assistant for Higher Education Programs for the U.S. Department of Education; Reta Jo Lewis, Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, U.S. State Department; Ralph Cleveland, Executive Vice President, NICOR Gas; and Kim Reed, Regional Vice President of Sales, Kellogg's.  Noted food desert researcher Mari Gallagher of the Mari Gallagher Research and Consulting Group will give a sneak peek of her latest research that looks at communities lacking healthy food choices on the East Coast. And Blue Cross Blue Shield Association will discuss the impact of health care economic disparities on people and communities of color.

The theme of this year's conference is intended to capture the forward view, optimism and aspirations of today's leading Black women across industries and interests.

"Black women cannot wait for the economic condition of the country or the world to improve before they start to plot their strategy to ascend the ladder and assume positions of power and influence," says Sandra Finley, President and CEO of the League of Black Women. "Black women are weary of waiting for earned opportunities that are promised but go unfulfilled. We want Black women to see themselves as being able to grasp these opportunities today, as in right now."

The League of Black Women is expected to announce creation of the first League of Black Women Global Research Institute at Bethune Cookman University. The organization will also design online leadership and business coursework for students and professionals. The LBW expects to host a dozen or more students attending historically black colleges and universities during the conference, and will stream live video of key conference sessions to HBCUs.

Sponsors include Deloitte; American Airlines American Eagle; Kraft Foods; Progress Energy; U.S. Cellular; CNA; The Walt Disney Company; Federally Employed Women TIAA Cref; Nicor Gas; and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

For information and media access, email [email protected] or call 312-371-6260. For registration, conference schedule and speakers, visit www.leagueofblackwomen.org, or call 708-754-1676.

SOURCE League of Black Women