FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Dana Baxter
ESSENCE
212-522-1634
dbaxter@essence.com

TYLER PERRY, BILL COSBY, DR. ALVIN POUSSAINT, SOLEDAD O’BRIEN, DR. JUANITA BYNUM, REGINA BELLE AND MORE  TO JOIN THE ESSENCE EMPOWERMENT SEMINAR SERIES  DURING THE 2008 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL JULY 4, 5,6 IN NEW ORLEANS

New York, NY (April 10, 2008)–ESSENCE announced today the schedule for the 2008 ESSENCE Empowerment Seminar Series to be held during the 2008 Essence Music Festival July 4, 5 and 6 in New Orleans. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will be the official daytime destination for inspiration and motivation as the free and open-to-the-public ESSENCE Empowerment Seminar Series hosts three full days of dynamic speakers and participants including: Tyler Perry; Bill Cosby and Dr. Alvin Poussaint; Soledad O’Brien; Dr. Juanita Bynum; Regina Belle; and more. Some of the highlights include:

Friday, July 4:
Tyler Perry & Friends

Celebrate with the multi-talented Tyler Perry and friends:

• Meet-and-Greet with the “House of Payne” cast
• Local hero celebration
• Contests and giveaways
• Exclusive movie previews

Saturday, July 5:
CNN and ESSENCE Present: Black in America

Join CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien and ESSENCE editors for a televised interactive forum on major issues facing the African-American community. This year’s theme, The State of the Dream, will focus on daytime keynote addresses and panel discussions to explore progress for African-Americans, as well as address ongoing issues of concern since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Some of the special guests that will be featured include:

• Bill Cosby and Dr. Alvin Poussaint (co-authors of Come On, People: On the Path from Victims to Victors)
• Roland Martin, CNN and ESSENCE magazine contributor

Sunday, July 6:
An Afternoon of Praise, Worship and Inspiration

Rejoice with spiritual leaders and Grammy-winners, including:

• Bishop Paul S. Morton and Co-Pastor Debra Morton
• Greater St. Stephens Full Gospel Church Choir
• Dr. Juanita Bynum
• Regina Belle

(*Note: Speakers are subject to change.)

In addition to the ESSENCE Empowerment Seminar Series, the Festival’s daytime offerings also include the Essence Marketplace, a showcase of quality fine arts & crafts by African-American vendors from all over the world. The Marketplace will also include interactive sponsor presentations, celebrity meet-and-greets, Festival souvenirs and a book fair with author book signings.

Tickets for the evening concerts are on sale immediately at ticketmaster.com or (800) 488-5252. For updates on performers, hotel accommodations, ticket prices and weekly promotions log on to www.essence.com.

Sponsors of the 2008 Essence Music Festival include presenting sponsor, Coca-Cola; major sponsors McDonald’s, U.S. Army, Chevrolet and Wal-Mart; and official sponsors Vaseline, Anheuser Busch and Southwest Airlines.

Known as the “party with a purpose,” the Essence Music Festival is the nation’s largest annual gathering of African-American musical talent; featuring an unprecedented three days of cultural celebrations and empowerment seminars and three nights of performances by some of today’s greatest African-American artists.

The Essence Music Festival started in 1995 as a one-time event to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of ESSENCE magazine. Now the Festival has been heralded as one of the country’s “Top 10 Leading Brand Events” in 2007 by Advertising Age; highlighted prominently among well-known consumer events such as NASCAR and Spring Break. The Essence Music Festival has featured a host of legendary performers over the years, including Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, Beyoncè, Chaka Khan, Chris Brown, Destiny's Child, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gladys Knight, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Kanye West, The Isley Brothers, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige, The O’Jays, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Toni Braxton, Patti LaBelle and Yolanda Adams, to name a few.

The 2008 Essence Music Festival is executive produced by Essence Festivals LLC and produced by Rehage Entertainment. Essence Festivals LLC is a division of Essence Communications Inc. (ECI).

About Essence Communications Inc.:

Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the leading media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is “Where Black Women Come First”. The company’s flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival, Women Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit, Window on Our Women (WOW I & II) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD) via Essence Studios. For 37 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a readership of 8.2 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women’s lives.

Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at essence.com.

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