World Renowned Jazz Singer and Recording Artist Vanessa Rubin also Joins the CSU Jazz Heritage Orchestra for a Memorable Concert on Nov. 6

Cleveland State University's Black Studies Program, along with Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, Cuyahoga Community College and Wright State University, will present the 19th Annual Association of Black Culture Centers Conference on November 5-7 at the Hilton Garden Inn, located at 1100 Carnegie Avenue.

The conference will feature five keynote speakers, recognized for their remarkable achievements as artists, educators, authors and journalists, who will focus their remarks on the theme of "Centers and Negotiations of Cultural Politics of a Black Presidency." The conference is expected to draw several hundred participants from colleges and universities around the nation.

As part of the conference, CSU will also present the 3rd Annual Treasures of Jazz concert on Friday, November 6 at 8 p.m., featuring international recording artist Vanessa Rubin and the CSU Jazz Heritage Orchestra. The concert will take place in CSU's Main Classroom Auditorium, located at 1899 East 22nd Street.

Admission to this concert featuring one of the nation’s great jazz singers is $30 for adults and $15 for students. For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com or call 216.687.3655.

Conference keynote speakers are:

• Dr. Mark Anthony Neal: Professor of Black Popular Culture in the Department of African and African American Studies at Duke University. He is the author of four books: What the Music Said: Black Popular Music and Black Public Culture (1998), Soul Babies: Black Popular Culture and the Post-Soul Aesthetic (2002), Songs in the Keys of Black Life: A Rhythm and Blues Nation (2003) and New Black Man: Rethinking Black Masculinity (2005).
• Margaret Avery: an American actress and singer, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Shug in The Color Purple (1985). Born in Mangum, Oklahoma, she was raised in San Diego, California, where she attended Point Loma High School. Avery then attended San Francisco State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. While working as a substitute teacher in Los Angeles, Avery began making singing appearances and acting on the stage.
• Dr. Nai’m Akbar: His ideas have penetrated most aspects of progressive thought affecting the minds of African people throughout the world. His insight and his analysis of the social concerns affecting African-Americans in particular and humanity as a whole is soul stirring, superbly rational and highly informative.
• Preston Jackson: Sculptor, art educator and gallery owner, Jackson was born in Decatur, Illinois, where he began drawing at the age of seven. He attended Stephen Decatur High School, where he ran the one hundred yard dash in 9.7 seconds. Graduating in 1962, he attended Millikin University while working at Revere Copper. In 1967, Jackson enrolled in Southern Illinois University where he earned his BA degree while playing jazz guitar with his group, Preston Jackson and the Rhythm Aces. He obtained his MFA from the University of Illinois in 1972.
• Bryon Pitts: Contributor to 60 Minutes and chief national correspondent for The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, Pitts has covered the September 11, 2001 attacks and the war in Iraq. He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1982.

For register for the conference or for more information, please visit www.csuohio.edu/blackstudies or call 216.687.3655.

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