FREEDOM INSTITUTE
Rev. Wendell Anthony, Founder/Chairman
Ms. Maryann Lee, Executive Director
19600 W. McNichols
Detroit, MI  48219
Phone (313) 533-5053 / Fax (313)533-3818
www.freeinst.org

PRESS RELEASE 

Media Contacts:
Cobo Conference Center – Media Room:  (313) 393-4206
Carmen Carter (248) 910-6527 (cell)
Llenda Jackson-Leslie (313) 313-629-6573 (cell)

AFL-CIO PRESIDENT JOHN SWEENEY MAKES RARE DETROIT APPEARANCE AT FREEDOM WEEKEND IV EVENT

JUDGE GREG MATHIS & REV. AL SHARPTON TO SPEAK ALSO

Detroit, MI -- April 26, 2005-- AFL-CIO International President John J. Sweeney will keynote Freedom Weekend IV’s Labor Leaders’ Breakfast Friday, April 29 at 8:00 a.m. in Cobo Center’s Riverview Ballroom.  Sweeney was elected international president of the AFL-CIO in 1995.  The Labor Leaders’ Breakfast is one of 22 Freedom Weekend IV events held at Cobo Conference Center, downtown Detroit.  Freedom Weekend IV features workshops, panels, seminars, forums, a National Town Hall Meeting, Health, Business and Career, and Home Ownership Expos as well as an Art Fair, Book Fair, Art Gallery Crawl, Parade of Homes Bus Tour and a 5K Run/Walk.

Popular television personality, Judge Greg Mathis of the “Judge Greg Mathis” show will deliver the keynote address for the Power Economics Luncheon, Friday, April 29 at 12:00 p.m. in the Riverview Ballroom.  Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, will be the keynote speaker for the Religious Leaders’ Breakfast, Thursday, April 28 at 8:00 a.m. in the Riverview Ballroom.  Sharpton, a nationally recognized orator and political leader who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, will speak on the positive aspects of hip hop music. 

Freedom Institute Founder and Chair, Rev. Wendell Anthony described the Freedom Weekend activities as a comprehensive attempt to address the needs of the African American community, “We're offering information that will empower people in their work, business, family, cultural and spiritual lives,” he said.

John Salley, host of “The Best Damn Sports Show Period” will moderate the Emerging Leaders Forum and will appear at the Hip Hop Forum. Freedom Weekend will conclude with a National Town Hall meeting on “The Urban Agenda” co-hosted by Shaun Robinson, Host of “Access Hollywood” and John Mason of “Mason in the Morning” featuring Mayors Kwame M. Kilpatrick of Detroit, Brenda Lawrence of Southfield, Willie Herenton of Memphis, and former Mayors, Wilson Goode (Philadelphia) Marion Barry (DC) Freeman Bosley, Jr. (St. Louis) and C. Jack Ellis (Macon). The Town Hall meeting will be held Saturday April 30 at 5:00 p.m. in Cobo's Riverview Ballroom.