Rockford Association for Minority Management Scholars Banquet Feb. 22

• Award-winning journalist, social activist, political pundit and author Jeff Johnson to keynote event

Online Staff Report

Rockford Association for Minority Management (RAMM) is celebrating its 32nd Annual RAMM Scholars Banquet Friday, Feb. 22, at Giovanni’s Restaurant and Convention Center, 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford.

Social hour is at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:45 p.m., at which time scholarships will be awarded to area African-American high school seniors who have shown exceptional leadership through academic achievement and community involvement.

The keynote speaker this year, Jeff Johnson, is an award-winning journalist, social activist, political pundit and author of Everything I’m Not, Made Me Everything I Am, an “empowering strategic guide for manifesting and achieving your personal best.”

An MSNBC contributor, Johnson offers weekly commentary on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, addressing issues of politics, entertainment and social policy.

Johnson has spent the last decade merging the worlds of politics and popular culture through his work as senior advisor for media and youth outreach for People for the American Way, national director of the Youth & College Division of the NAACP, and an appointment by Russell Simmons as vice president of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network (HSAN).

Well-known for his “Life and Death in Darfur: Jeff Johnson Reports” series chronicling the conflict in Darfur, he is a contributor to news broadcasts and publications such as MSNBC’s Dayside and Hardball with Chris Matthews, CNN Headline News, Huffington Post, CNN.com, The Root.com, EbonyJet.com and more.

RAMM was founded in 1980 to provide support for African-American managers and promote excellence in African-American students in the greater Rockford community. To date, the organization has awarded scholarships totaling more than $750,000 to 560 deserving African-American high school graduates who plan to continue their education at the college level.

For tickets to the evening event, contact Dennis Bias, ticket chairman, at (773) 960-1192. Tickets are $75 per person.

For additional information, contact Jessica Jones, banquet chairman, at (815) 222-7140, or Becky Cook Kendall at (815) 978-3924.

Posted Feb. 13, 2013