November 4-5  2021 
Virtual Conference Keynote  Speakers
Robin Thompson, Patricia Spence, & Sherry Winston
​All On The Zoom Platform

Innovation, Inspiration, & Action
The Impact of DEI & The Worldwide Pandemic

Our Genealogist, Karen Joyce Lowe, is not able to join us this week at the Conference. Robin Thompson from
Vail, Colorado, will deliver a power-packed keynote instead on Thursday, November 4th, at 10:00 am Eastern. 
​You won't want to miss Robin and ALL of our distinguished Speakers!

"Givingology In A Me First World"
***
Thursday, November 4, 2021
10 am - 12 am Eastern

Robin Thompson
Robin Thompson is a professional fundraising consultant, trainer, and coach. Robin managed over $17 million in assets as Executive Director. As Vice President, Robin and her staff were responsible for raising over $10 million annually. She successfully designed and implemented a $3.9 million Comprehensive Campaign. Robin closed two debt reduction campaigns, each one raising several million dollars in less than one year. She has built endowments from less than $100,000 to over $2 million in less than two years. ​

Robin has a fundraising certificate from Indiana University School of Philanthropy. Her BS degree is from West Virginia University, and she has a master's degree from the University of Utah. 

Her book that was published at the end of last year is Putting the Fun in FUNdraising: The Secrets to Raising More Money, Faster and Easier. 

Robin and her husband, Tim, live in Vail, Colorado.

"Why Urban Farming Matters More Than Ever"
***
Friday, November 5, 2021
1 pm - 3 pm Eastern

Patricia Spence

Patricia Spence is President and CEO of The Urban Farming Institute(UFI) of Boston. UFI has a mission to develop and promote urban agriculture to encourage more residents to grow food and build a healthier community. Prior to UFI, Pat had a successful career in corporate sales & marketing for Xerox Corporation and the Digital Equipment Corporation.

She moved from corporate America to work at WILD 1090 radio and WGBH-TV. Pat has also worked in education for Boston Public Schools, developed the Educational Options Series for families, and worked on diversity & recruitment efforts for independent schools.

​Pat founded the 16-year old organization They Made It So Can I, The 5th Grade Speakers Series. Patricia grew up near the historic Fowler Clark Epstein Farm in Mattapan (headquarters for UFI) and comes from a family that has always grown its own food. She is passionate about passing these growing skills onto the next generation, from the 1-year old to the 100-year old. 

Pat enjoys community building, reading, camping, knitting, sewing, roller skating, and growing food.

"A Special Evening Of Culture & Arts"
***
Friday, November 5, 2021
7 pm - 8:30 pm Eastern

Sherry Winston

A multi-Grammy nominee, educator, and performer, Sherry Winston plays with a delicate balance.

Sherry performed at The White House for President and Mrs. Clinton during their last holiday party and for former President George H.W. Bush at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NYC.
She has appeared on "Emeril Live," The Today Show, BET, and many other TV shows nationally. She hosted six shows for BET TV, with Lou Rawls and Saxophonist Najee at the San Francisco Jazz Festival. 

Sherry has been featured in the New York Times, Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise, Odyssey Couleur, More, and other national magazines and newspapers.

Sherry performed with Stevie Wonder in NYC and for Misty Copeland (The first African American Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theater.) She has opened for John Legend, Gregory Porter, Vanessa Williams, Maxwell, Sinbad, Fourplay, Patti Austin, Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliott, Ramsey Lewis, Chaka Kahn, Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle, & Grover Washington, Jr. She has appeared in concert with Ronnie Laws, Kirk Whalum, "Pieces of a Dream, "Jeff Lorber, Norman Brown, and Flutist Hubert Laws at Carnegie Hall in NYC.

Sherry's client list includes many of the top Fortune 500 companies such as Aetna, Accenture, Adidas, AT&T, Anheuser Busch, Avon, Bristol Myers Squibb, Burger King, Cartus, Champion, Coca Cola, Colgate Palmolive, Dow Jones, Equitable Capitol and Equitable Capitol, Equitable Life, Federal Express, Gannett Publishing, General Electric, General Foods, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Mercedes Benz, Miller Beer, Pepsi Cola, Philip Morris, Reebok, Tiffany, Time Warner, Xerox, United Technology, Verizon Wireless, and many others across the U.S. and abroad. 

Some of Sherry's Jazz Festivals include The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, The Richmond Jazz Festival, Jamaica, W.I., Orlando & Mercado Jazz Fest with Ramsey Lewis, 17th & Vine, Kansas City, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Hartford Jazz Fest, Virgin Gorda, Louisville, Ky., Riverfest, Nashville, & the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival.

On the business side, Sherry worked as National Director of Jazz Promotion at Columbia, Arista, GRP, and Elektra-Asylum Records in NYC. She also ran her own Promotion Company and represented Uniworld Advertising Group in Japan. 

Sherry is a graduate of Howard University's College of Fine Arts, School of Music and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Some of Sherry's awards include the Ct. Women's Hall of Fame Award," "Women of Power" the Stamford Urban League, the Links "Impact Through The Arts" award, 2017, the Louis Armstrong Award, 2005, nomination for the NAACP "Image Award," 1989; the "Eubie Blake Award," selected by Billy Taylor, 1991; "Howard University Alumni Award," 1984 and 1989, the Cultural Achievement Award by the National Black MBA, 1996, WBLS's "Quiet Storm Award," and Alpha Kappa Alpha's "Partner in the Arts award," 2001.
​
Some of Sherry's extracurricular activities include Scuba Diving, Ski Racing where she is a Nastar Gold medal winner, Kayaking, Hiking internationally, Golf, Swimming, Snorkeling, Wind Surfing, Mountain Biking, working out, gourmet cooking, traveling, and reading. 
She published her new book, "For Lovers Only, A Cookbook and More," which contains a romantic CD of her music. She did a cooking demonstration for Valentine's Day for News 8, WTNH T.V.
Visit her website at: http://sherrywinston.com for live performances at The Clifford Brown Jazz Fest, The Hartford Jazz Fest, The Today Show & more....