Maria Dowd

Maria Dowd, Creator & Executive Producer of African American Women on Tour.

Every Successful entrepreneur has a business philosophy that navigates them beyond obstacles, through challenges and toward achievement of their ultimate goals. For one successful businesswoman, her philosophy is simple, yet profound, and has touched the lives of thousands of women around the world. "Recognize your calling; do meaningful work that has positive effects on others; and always listen to your inner voice," states Maria Dowd, creator and Executive Producer of African American Women on Tour (AAWOT).

AAWOT, title sponsored by Mobile Oil Corporation, is a national conference that tours six cities, offering self-empowerment workshops, networking events, cultural activities and presentations by some of the nation's most dynamic Black female personalities.

Ms. Dowd produces AAWOT with the help of a crew of 20, as well as support from corporations such as Mobile Oil corporation, Kellogg, Chrysler, AllState Insurance Company, JC Penney, Reebok International and American Airlines. With such powerful and influential support, Ms. Dowd is sure to continue to live up to her philosophy of empowering Black women throughout the U.S. and abroad.

Dr. Claudia F. Curry

As an innovative higher education administrator devoted to education, teaching, learning, and empowering women, Dr. Curry has a proven track record for speaking with “great power” as an engaging keynote speaker, motivational speaker, and workshop presenter for diverse audiences. Her topics include: Women as Agents of Change; Empowerment: An Inward and Outward Journey for Women; Building Effective Teams: A Journey Toward Organizational Growth and Development; This Thing Called...Leadership; College IS for Adult Learners; Self-Esteem from a Biblical Perspective; and Empowerment: A Strategy for Building Self-Esteem.

Her audiences have included the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA); the National Multiple Sclerosis Society/Greater Delaware Valley Chapter; American Business Women’s Association; the Bucks County Commissioners’ Advisory Council for Women; the University of Central Florida; the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education Robert D. Lynch Student Leadership Development Institute; the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the National Council on Black American Affairs/Northeast Region, and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

In addition to her speaking career, Dr. Curry is an accomplished leader with 20 plus years of comprehensive experience in organizational and leadership development. For example, she designed, implemented, and served as Founding Director (1988 to 2000) of the prestigious Urban League of Philadelphia Leadership Institute, a Philadelphia-based institution designed to project and promote leadership capabilities of African American and other minorities. Under her administration, nearly 500 minority executives—including Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter—completed a comprehensive leadership development curriculum.

Currently, Dr. Curry is Founding Director of the Community College of Philadelphia Women’s Center where she is responsible for providing leadership and advocacy in the development of programs and services that address the needs and concerns primarily of women students. She aslo serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the English Department where she teaches in the Leadership curriculum.

Among her civic activities, Dr. Curry is President/Founder of The Institute for Women’s Empowerment, Inc. She is on the Board of Directors of YWCA Philadelphia and the AAUW/Philadelphia Branch. A few of the awards for which she has been a recipient are: The Philadelphia and Vicinity Club of The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. Professional Achievement Award; the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. Status of Women Award for Dedicated Service; and the Power 99 FM/CoreStates “Sistahs!” Award for Excellence in Education.

Dr. Curry earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Innovation and Leadership from Wilmington University where her research focused on empowering women college students. Information about her research is featured in the March 2008 Inaugural Journal About Women in Higher Education published by NASPA. Dr. Curry also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Management and an MBA from Eastern University.

Dick Gregory

Dick Gregory, Author, Activist, Comedian, Actor and Nutritonist. Dick Gregory's unflagging sense of justice has led him from Louisiana to Iran, and from Ireland to Detroit, always working for human rights, always "for people."

Acclaimed for his mobilizations for social change, his Bahamian diet, his comedy career and his anti-drug activities.

His participation in the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's is well documented, as are his efforts for world peace, against hunger an on behalf of the American Indians. Also his unique community action approach to stamping out drugs: he camped out in dealer-ridden public parks and rallied community leaders to shut down "head shops." His work on behalf of better nutrition has spanned the globe.

Farai Chideya is a multi-media journalist who has worked in print, television, and online. Five years ago she founded PopandPolitics.com, an online journal of news and opinion for a diverse national and international audience. She and the site have won a MOBE IT Innovator award and been named one of Alternet's New Media Heroes. In 1997 Newsweek named her to its "Century Club" of 100 people to watch. In 2002, One Economy Corporation also named Chideya the Special Editor of The Beehive (http://www.thebeehive.org), a site providing critical information for low- and middle-income families.

Chideya has been a correspondent for ABC News, anchored the prime time program "Pure Oxygen" on the Oxygen women's channel, and contributed commentaries to CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and BET. In 1996 Chideya spent the Presidential election season as a CNN Political Analyst and was named to the New York Daily News' "Dream Team" of political reporters and commentators. She spent the 2001-2002 academic year as a Knight Fellow at Stanford University, a prestigious honor granted 20 journalists from around the world.

Chideya's stereotype-shattering 1995 book, "Don't Believe the Hype: Fighting Cultural Misinformation About African-Americans" (Plume Penguin), is now in its eighth printing. Using statistics, she systematically undercuts the argument that African-Americans are at the root of problems like crime, welfare and drugs. In 1999, William Morrow published her second book, "The Color of Our Future." From an Indian reservation to South Central L.A., the 99% white heartland to multi-racial Southern California, Chideya interviews and analyzes the lives of today's diverse teens and twenty-somethings. The Color of Our Future was named one of the best book for teens by the New York Public Library. Both books have been featured in college curricula across the country, including Duke, Syracuse, and Stanford Universities.

From 1994-96 Chideya was a writer at MTV News, and from 1990 to 1994 she reported for Newsweek magazine in New York, Chicago and Washington, where her political coverage ranged from labor issues to following the President as a pool reporter on Air Force One. In 1996, Chideya completed a Freedom Forum Media Studies Center fellowship, examining why young Americans are tuning out the news.

Chideya has profiled white supremacists for Mademoiselle, examined child sexual abuse allegations for the Los Angeles Times, and written on affirmative action for The New York Times. Honors include winning a National Education Reporting award, a WIN Young Women of Achievement award and a GLAAD Award.

Ed Gordon Hard hitting, inspiring, intelligent, honest, and direct. These are some of the words used to describe the style and approach of Emmy award winning broadcaster Ed Gordon. Known for his stellar interviews with newsmakers from the worlds of politics, entertainment, and sports his name is synonymous with the "big" interview. Gordon's knack for landing exclusives and his no-nonsense style make him one of television's most respected journalists. Mr. Gordon's diverse style also makes him one of the most versatile people in broadcasting. Ed Gordon is one of the most important and respected voices in media today. Gordon has distinguished himself during two stints at BET. He has had many roles at the network including host of BET Tonight, anchor of BET News, and creator of his signature one-on-one series Conversation with Ed Gordon. Over the years, Gordon covered many of the world's most defining events. From the freedom of South Africa's Nelson Mandela to the Rodney King beating to upheaval in Haiti and Cuba he provided comprehensive coverage. Mr. Gordon also provided up-to-the-minute reports on many other domestic and international affairs, including the tragic September 11th attack on America. Some of Mr. Gordon's other notable works that garnered the admiration and respect of viewers and colleagues include: The infamous O.J. Simpson interview An exclusive interview with pop superstar Janet Jackson about her secret marriage and painful divorce No holds barred, headline making interviews with controversial Senator Trent Lott and embattled singer R.Kelly Gordon's impressive portfolio also includes conversations with newsmakers the like of television mogul Oprah Winfrey, President Bill Clinton, Academy Award winner Halle Berry, and Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan. His 3-year period at NBC was just as impressive. A contributor to the Today Show and Dateline NBC, Ed Gordon brought viewers face-to-face with many controversial figures, bringing their stories to (bear) Most notably was his exclusive interview with Autumn Jackson who unsuccessfully waged an explosive (patrimony) suit against comedian Bill Cosby. Gordon also covered many of the days top stories at NBC's sister cable network MSNBC. He won praise for his coverage of breaking news events including the death of Diana, Princess of Whales, the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal and the crash of SwissAir flight 111. In addition to an Emmy, Gordon is the recipient of many other awards recognizing his talent and professionalism. The awards include the NAACP image award, as well as the prestigious Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. He has also been featured in many national newspapers and periodicals. The Los Angeles Times described Mr. Gordon and his interviewing style as "forthright…commanding…He was, in short, close to being exemplary." Gordon is also an alumnus of a special list People magazine named him one of its 50 most beautiful people. The Detroit-born Gordon earned his bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science from Western Michigan University.

Roger Jackson, Jr. A powerful speaker, facilitator, and author of the critically acclaimed I Isn't Scared To Say It, Roger Jackson, Jar. has spent his life committed to the elevating, educating, and empowering people of color. Mr.. Jackson has been a featured workshop presenter and keynote speaker for numerous conferences, organizations, and universities some of which include The National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (ENCORE); the National African American Student Leadership Conference (NASAL); the National Association for African American Studies; the Fatal Graduate Opportunities Conference and Pre-College Forum; the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education Student Leadership Development Institute; the Black Male Development Symposium; the University of Pennsylvania, James Madison University, and Temple University. Having earned multiple degrees from Kutztown University, Temple University, and Lehigh University, Mr.. Jackson’s professional experiences have included high school principal, adjunct professor, teacher, varsity athletics coach, senior director for the YMCA, and assistant to a United States Congressman. A much sought after speaker and workshop leader in the areas of education, leadership, personal development, and organizational strategic planning, Mr.. Jackson is presently an educational administrator and also the featured editorialist for The Drum Newspaper.