Legendary Civil Rights Leader Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. Moderates 'The Bridge Forum'

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Oct. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- African American civil rights leader, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Chavis Jr., moderates The Bridge Forum, a national gathering of police chiefs, law enforcement and community, Fri., Oct. 28, 9am, with Dr. Kevin W. Cosby, president, Simmons College; David W. Tandy, president/CEO, Kentucky Diversity Chamber of Commerce and Alan "AP" Powell, Checkered Flag Run Foundation (CFRF). 

Powell a Westend Louisville native, entrepreneur, and founder, The Bridge Forum, is founder, CFRF, seeking to ensure students and veterans cross the finish line.  Speaking with friend, Troy L. Gray, CFRF board member and Executive Director, PEAK Community Supports Inc., Louisville, Powell brings the conversation to his hometown.

Said Powell: "To see my hometown make national news for violence was so disheartening. I knew I had to tap into my resources and take a stance by bridging the gap between community and law enforcement. The timing couldn't be better to have a leader of Dr. Chavis' stature as an intricate part of this movement." 

Chavis worked alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. as a youth. He served the Commission for Racial Justice, Wilmington, NC, to help desegregate public schools, and was NAACP Executive Director and National Director of Million Man March.  He founded the National African American Leadership Summit and was named CEO/Co-Chairman of Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, co-founded with Russell Simmons. Dr. Chavis is President/CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, an African-American organization serving the nation's 200+ black newspapers. 

The Bridge Forum, Louisville, features:

• Chief of Police Steve Conrad, Louisville
• Dr. Cedric L. Alexander, past president, NOBLE, director of public safety, DeKalb County, Ga.; CNN Analyst
• Chief of Police Regina J. Price, Darby-Township, Delaware County, Pa.
• Chief of Police Cecil E. Smith, Sanford, Fla.
• Assistant Chief of Police Mattie C. Provost, Houston, Texas
• Deputy Chief of Police U. Renee' Hall, Detroit, Mich.

The Bridge Forum is a model to exchange concepts to solve inner-city challenges.  

Lamont Robinson, VP Supplier Diversity, Nielsen and forum participant: "I come from an underserved community run by the same small businesses you can find in any disadvantaged community nationwide. Our small businesses can't be successful if we destroy them in our anger; and my purpose is to educate people on the link between these very vital entities and to the economic growth of underserved communities whether local or national." 

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161003/414793LOGO

SOURCE Checkered Flag Run Foundation