Icons in Entertainment, Business and Politics Headline Diversity Conference

2008-06-24 23:48:12 -

- Mozaic Media + Communications Aram Nadjarian, 323-533-4523 aram@mozaicmc.com The Turning Point Urban Business Summit and Expo will take place from June 26-27, 2008 at the Sheraton Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The conference and expo will feature an exclusive book signing with WNBA MVP Lisa Leslie and salute such key influencers as co-owners of the Los Angeles Sparks organization Carla J. Christofferson and Katherine E. Goodman. Former Speakers of the California State Assembly, including Antonio Villaraigosa, Robert Hertzberg, Willie Brown, Cruz Bustamante, Herb Wesson, and newly elected Karen Bass, the first African American woman to hold the position, will all be honored at a historic reception. Hector Barreto, Chairman of The Latino Coalition and former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, will be a featured panelist discussing the credit crisis and the impact on financing for urban business development.

Other conference highlights include a recognition luncheon of the nation's top urban entrepreneurs who will be inducted into the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City's (ICIC) Inner City 100. Some of the distinguished companies are American Apparel, El Clasificado and ADIR Restaurants. The luncheon will be hosted by former California State Treasurer Phil Angelides who is the current Principal at Canyon Capital Advisors LLC and Chairman of Canyon-Johnson Urban Communities Fund. Also, David Latimore, Chief Executive Officer and President of the ICIC will give the keynote address. Preceding the conference on Wednesday, June 25th, the TPC Foundation, Inc. will host their 5th annual golf tournament at the Malibu Country Club. Celebrity golfers, including actor and Golden Globe Nominee Dennis Haysbert (24 and The Unit), will play to raise proceeds for the foundation's inner-city youth financial literacy program SmartStart.

Visit www.urbanbusinesssummit.com for more information.

About TPC Foundation, Inc.

TPC Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3), provides educational assistance and training to minority college students through the TPC Internship Program. It prepares students for the business world by helping them gain practical experience and professional instruction in the communications industry, specifically journalism, business and graphic design. The Foundation has also developed the SmartStart Youth Financial Literacy program, a 7-year old curriculum that educates 11th and 12th graders from underserved areas on financial matters ranging from banking relationships to personal credit and lending--to wealth creation.

Turning Point Urban Business Summit & Expo 2008 to Premiere in
Downtown Los Angeles