Media Advisory

Members of the media are invited to cover a conference, "New Strategies for Southern Progress," which will convene national, state and local policy-makers, advocates, journalists and academics to rethink critical issues facing the South.

Conference partners are the Center for American Progress, the Center for a Better South and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Program on Southern Politics, Media and Public Life.

N.C. Gov. Mike Easley will give remarks at 10:30 a.m. Friday. Other scheduled speakers include:

• Andy Brack, president of the Center for a Better South;
• State Rep. Joyce Elliott of Arkansas;
• Dr. Larry Griffin, John Shelton Reed distinguished professor of sociology and professor of history in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences;
• Ferrel Guillory, director of UNC’s Program on Southern Politics, Media and Public Life;
• Howard Lee, chairman of the N.C. State Board of Education and former N.C. state senator;
• Hialeah, Fla., Mayor Raul Martinez;
• U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek of Florida;
• John Podesta, president and chief executive officer for the Center for American Progress;
• U.S. Rep. David Price of North Carolina;
• David Pryor, dean of the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock and former governor and senator of Arkansas;
• William Winter, former governor of Mississippi; and
• State Sen. Sam Zamarripa of Georgia.

A full list of speakers and the agenda of topics – addressing tax policy, public attitudes, governance, the faith community, culture, community and politics – is available at http://www.newsouthernstrategies.org/

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News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415 or deborah_saine@unc.edu