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On June 21, 2007 the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy, along with Rev. Dr. James Forbes and Dr. Cornel West, presented the DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE awards to:
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor, City of New York
for PlanNYC - his sweeping plan to make New York City a model for environmentally sustainable cities in the 21st century
Tavis Smiley
Talk Show Host & Author
for being an outstanding voice for social change in the news media and beyond.
Thank you to the over 2007 Host Committee, our 2007 Annual Benefit sponsors & the over 250 supporters who joined us at our 6th Annual Benefi at Cipriani 23 in New York City.
For more information about the 2007 Annual Benefit, please visit www.drummajorinstitute.org/benefit
Panelist Biographies
MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG
Named one of Time magazine's 100 "Most Influential People in the World," Mayor Bloomberg stands apart from other American mayors. Not only is he a dedicated philanthropist, successful businessman and founder of Bloomberg LP, Mayor Bloomberg also likes to challenge the political status quo. This spring he unveiled an ambitious plan for our city that defies the inertia surrounding climate change, pollution and decaying infrastructure to boldly invest in New York's future today.
After years of consultation with local communities and leading environmental experts, the mayor revealed PlaNYC 2030, a sweeping proposal to make New York City a model for environmentally sustainable cities in the 21st century. The plan boldly seeks to accomplish admirable goals that range from cleaning up all contaminated land in New York to reducing global warming emissions by more than 30%. "I make this promise to you...leadership is about recognizing challenges and seizing opportunities. And we are going to seize this opportunity - to lead the way forward and create the first environmentally sustainable 21st century city."
TAVIS SMILEY
Tavis Smiley started his career as an aide to the late Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley, and over the next two decades he built a socially-conscious media empire that brings "intelligent entertainment" to millions of Americans. His in-depth analysis and commentary on a variety of political and social issues is watched nightly on Tavis Smiley on PBS and heard on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.
Mr. Smiley has encouraged communities to social action with the New York Times bestseller - The Covenant With Black America, which he conceived and edited. "The Covenant will not truly be a success unless we realize its promise. To do that we must act; act as individuals to do what we can to improve our lives and the lives of those in our families and communities - that means becoming role models for the change we seek, volunteering, mentoring, organizing for change, speaking out, holding leaders accountable, and becoming advocates for justice."