Ford, Former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Rapper Big Sean and Others Join to Expand Men of Courage on MLK Holiday
12 January 2017 - 3:00AM
Business Wire
- Notable ambassadors with Ford’s
expanding Men of Courage program include music and tech investor
Troy Carter, NFL all-pro DeAndre Levy, political commentator Van
Jones and actor Hill Harper
- Black men across United States are
being challenged to download #MenofCourage digital tool kit and
host gatherings to create positive social change in honor of
#MLKDAY17
- Dave Bing, Chicago-area Ford dealer
Nate Sutton and others will co-host Men of Courage event for a
diverse group of more than 50 black men this Martin Luther King Jr.
Day, Jan. 16
Ford Motor Company is pulling together African American leaders
from across the United States to make this year’s Martin Luther
King Jr. Day a day of action for advancing the narrative of black
men and creating positive social change.
Through both an online Men of Courage tool kit and a daylong
forum in Chicago, black men are uniting to tell their stories and
develop strategies and solutions for challenging stereotypes while
improving their economic and social status. Download the tool kit
from www.menofcourage.com. Participants can also access
#menofcourage for updates.
“Men of Courage enables African American men to unite behind a
common mission of being great family men, innovators and barrier
breakers through storytelling, visioning sessions and action
pacts,” said Shawn Wilson, manager, multicultural community
development, Ford Motor Company Fund. “Dr. King often spoke about
poverty as the root cause for many of our social ills. I’m excited
to hear the solutions we develop in Chicago and around the U.S.
that will benefit not just African American men — but all of our
communities.”
The Men of Courage event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
takes place Jan. 16, 2-9 p.m., at 1871, Technology &
Entrepreneurship Center, suite 1212 of Merchandise Mart.
A cross-section of African American men will gather to share
stories and experiences as well as to create action plans.
Participants include Nate Sutton, owner of Sutton Ford Lincoln in
Matteson, Illinois; NBA legend and former Detroit mayor Dave Bing;
linebacker DeAndre Levy from the Detroit Lions; NFL Hall of Famer
Jerome Bettis; educator Barrington Irving, the youngest person to
pilot a plane around the world solo; Bill Pickard, founder Global
Automotive Group; Dr. Anthony Hamlet, superintendent of Pittsburgh
Public Schools; and author and criminal justice advocate Shaka
Senghor.
Joe Madison, who discusses race, politics and social activism
with a national audience on his daily SiriusXM show, will broadcast
live from the Chicago Men of Courage forum from 7-9 p.m. CT. During
the broadcast, Joe will speak with attendees and air recorded
moments from earlier in the day to bring focus to positive African
American male role models, whether they are celebrities or ‘every
day citizens.’ “Joe Madison The Black Eagle” is on SiriusXM’s Urban
View, channel 126.
Ford has enlisted African American leaders from across media,
political, technology, sports and music arenas to encourage black
men to host similar events in their homes, houses of worship and
workplaces nationwide. Notable leaders include political
commentator Van Jones; music and tech investor Troy Carter;
musician and rapper Big Sean; and actor Hill Harper. So far, 1,300
groups and individuals have organized gatherings to take place in
Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, South
Carolina and Texas.
Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor
Company, launched Men of Courage in Detroit in August 2015, aiming
to connect diverse black men from local communities with a growing
list of advocates and celebrities working to create positive social
change for African American men. Ford Fund has joined with Sean
Anderson Foundation and Dave Bing Youth Institute to promote Men of
Courage.
The program expanded to Baltimore last year for Martin Luther
King Jr. Day, then Atlanta for the 2016 Father’s Day weekend at the
100 Black Men of America National Conference.
Interview opportunities for the Chicago event are available 2-7
p.m., with the exception of 3-4:30 p.m., when there will be a
closed-door session. For media requests or to RSVP for media
credentials, please contact Melody McDowell, 312.371.8917.
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with
community and global partners to advance driving safety, education
and community life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more
than 65 years with ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford
Driving Skills for Life is free, interactive, hands-on safety
training focused on skill development and driving techniques, while
addressing inexperience, distractions and impaired driving.
Innovation in education is encouraged through Ford Blue Oval
Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning and other inspiring
programs that enhance high school learning and provide college
scholarships and university grants. The Ford Volunteer Corps
enlists more than 30,000 Ford employees and retirees each year to
work on local projects that strengthen their communities and
improve people’s lives in more than 40 countries around the world.
For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company
based in Dearborn, Michigan. With about 203,000 employees and 62
plants worldwide, the company’s core business includes designing,
manufacturing, marketing and servicing a full line of Ford cars,
trucks and SUVs, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. To expand its
business model, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging
opportunities with investments in electrification, autonomy and
mobility. Ford provides financial services through Ford Motor
Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its
products and services, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
About Dave Bing Youth Institute
The Bing Youth Institute support programs and activities that
are designed to improve the academic, behavioral, and social
wellness of young men of color through mentorship. The Bing Youth
Institute is located in Detroit, Mich., and was founded by former
Detroit Mayor, NBA Hall of Famer, and Businessman Dave Bing.
For news releases, related materials and
high-resolution photos and video, visit www.media.ford.com.
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170111005723/en/
Ntouch CommunicationsMelody
McDowell312.371.8917melodypr@aol.comorFord Motor Company FundTodd
Nissen313.322.4898tnissen@ford.com
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