KEYNOTES

This year's convention will feature three prominent keynote speakers addressing the impact of the arts on community development from artistic, political, and other perspectives.

Journalist Ray Suarez, former host of National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation, has recently joined respected journalist, Jim Lehrer, on The Newshour with Jim Lehrer.

In 1946, Ossie Davis made his Broadway debut in Jeb and went on to perform in many Broadway productions, including Anna Lucasta, The Wisteria Trees, Green Pastures, Jamaica, Ballad for Bimshire, The Zulu and the Zayda, and the stage version of I'm Not Rappaport. In 1961, Davis wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed Purlie Victorious. He was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 1994.

As leader and co-founder of legendary rap group Public Enemy, Chuck D redefined rap music and Hip Hop culture with the release of PE's explosive debut album, Yo Bum Rush The Show, in 1987. His messages addressed weighty issues about race, rage and inequality, with a jolting combination of intelligence and eloquence never seen before.