Bennett College News April 2, 2012 Renowned Civil Rights Leader is Speaker for Bennett's Baccalaureate Rev. Al Sharpton, a renowned civil rights leader, will be the guest speaker for Bennett College's annual Baccalaureate service on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 7:00 pm in the Annie Merner Pfeiffer Chapel. The Baccalaureate service is a religious convocation that precedes the Commencement Exercise which is scheduled for Saturday, May 5 at 10:30 am on the campus quadrangle. Both events are free and open to the public. As one of the nation's most-renowned civil rights leaders, Rev. Sharpton has been praised by President Barack Obama as "the voice of the voiceless and a champion for the downtrodden," and by former President George W. Bush who said that "Al cares just as much as I care about making sure every child learns to read, write, add and subtract." Rev. Sharpton is currently the only African-American host of an evening talk show called "PoliticsNation" on MSNBC that analyzes the top political and social news of the day featuring the country's leading newsmakers. He also hosts a nationally syndicated radio show "Keepin it Real" that is heard daily all over the country, and two local New York radio shows. Typically Rev. Sharpton delivers live remarks at NAN's weekly Saturday Rally at NAN's Harlem headquarters the "House of Justice" that is broadcast live on NAN's website www.nationalactionnetwork.net each Saturday from 9-11 a.m. National Action Network, under Rev. Sharpton's leadership, takes pride in being the most active social justice organization in the country and President Obama said it candidly in his keynote address at NAN's 20th anniversary Keepers of the Dream Awards Dinner, that National Action Network is not the National "Satisfaction" Network, it is the National "Action" Network, highlighting that "Action" is what Rev. Sharpton and NAN are about. Rev. Sharpton is a champion for human rights and is passionate about the key issues that involve confronting human rights violations. One of his career highlights has been contributing to the end of the United States Navy exercises in Vieques, Puerto Rico, which proved to be poisoning the environment on the island. Rev. Sharpton says his religious convictions are the basis for his life and on most Sundays he preaches to congregations across the nation. Rev. Sharpton has two daughters from his marriage to Kathy Jordan Sharpton, Dominique and Ashley. Dominique works as the Membership Director for National Action Network and produces NAN's weekly live radio broadcast. Ashley currently attends college at Hampton University. Rev. Sharpton was educated in New York public schools and attended Brooklyn College. He has an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Bethune-Cookman University and an honorary degree from A.P. Bible College. Guests are invited to return to the campus on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 10:30 am as commencement weekend comes to a close with the graduation ceremony. Held on the quadrangle, the event will recognize the Class of 2012 with special guest speaker, the Honorable Alexis Herman, Workforce Expert and Former Secretary of Labor. The Class of 2012 will be the last class to graduate under the tenure of President Julianne Malveaux, 15th president of the College. Dr. Malveaux has retired from the College after five years of service. SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-520-0593 Skype:sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree Street NW Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (Lyrasis) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2012meeting-form.html for the October 21-23, 2012 HBCU Library Alliance 5th Membership Meeting and the Photographic Preservation Pre-Conference in New Orleans, LA. The Pre-Conference and Membership meeting are open to directors and other librarians.