New Coalition Update

One Book, One Chicago

Lee Walker, president of The New Coalition for Economic and Social Change, was invited to participate as a community leader in the City of Chicago's "One Book, One Chicago" program.

The program's fall book selection is The Crucible by Arthur Miller. On September 19, Walker joined Illinois State Sen. Alice Palmer in a discussion of the book's themes, including how fear affects civil rights and what liberties black Americans might be willing to trade for safety. The meeting was held at the Avalon Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Meetings and Events

Among Walker's other meetings and speaking engagements:

On June 17-22, Walker attended a special program of the International Leadership Conference series in Honolulu, Hawaii. The theme of the gathering was "The Asia-Pacific Era and the Need for Vision and Leadership at a Time of Global Crisis." Diplomats and ambassadors from the United States, Korea, Japan, and the United Nations participated in the conference.

On July 11, Walker attended an editorial board meeting at the Chicago Defender to discuss Wal-Mart's ongoing plans for a Chicago store.

On July 17, Walker attended a board meeting of the Black United Fund.

On July 18, Walker hosted Angela Saxton, an organizer with Gamaliel of Metro Chicago, to develop a working partnership between Gamaliel and The New Coalition. Gamaliel is a Latino neighborhood organization that seeks to help immigrants transition into life in the United States.

On July 20, Walker chaired a meeting of the Illinois Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

On July 21, Walker participated in the second meeting of the Illinois Amistad Commission at the Carter G. Woodson Library. The commission is preparing a report on the historical effects of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade on today's African Americans.

On July 23-24, Walker attended the African American Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. He was invited by U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). The attendees at this national policy forum discussed proposals to secure the United States' competitiveness in a global economy, health care solutions, education, and other issues. The conference was held at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC.

On August 6-8, Walker attended the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2007 Legislative Summit in Boston.

On August 17, Walker chaired a meeting of the Illinois Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

On August 24, Walker addressed a gathering of Wal-Mart sales associates and managers on the topic "Diversity in the Workplace."

On September 12, Walker spoke at the South Shore Cultural Center at an event sponsored by The People Programme. He discussed gentrification on the south side of Chicago.

On September 18, Walker attended the annual open house of ShoreBank's Nonprofit Service Center. This unique banking branch, exclusively dedicated to the nonprofit sector, serves more than 1,000 nonprofit customers across the country.

On September 19, Walker attended a First Freedom Project seminar in Chicago. The seminar is designed for religious, community, and civil rights leaders, government officials, attorneys, and others interested in religious liberty issues.

On October 24-28, Walker will be a panelist at the 19th Annual Wiley A. Branton Issues Symposium & Awards Luncheon hosted by the National Bar Association, the nation's oldest and largest national association of predominantly African-American lawyers and judges. The conference will be held at Tuskegee University. Walker will address Booker T. Washington and civil rights.

Media Attention

On June 18, the Chicago Tribune published Walker's letter to the editor, "Don't Patronize Barack Obama." The letter responded to a Tribune editorial that wondered whether Obama's children should receive affirmative action based on their race. Walker suggested the motive behind the editorial may have been to drive a wedge between Obama and black voters by questioning Obama's commitment to affirmative action.

On July 6, Walker was a guest on the Santita Jackson radio show on WVON 740AM in Chicago. Jackson and Walker discussed President George W. Bush's decision to commute Scooter Libby's prison sentence.

On July 16, Walker was a guest on the Armstrong Williams radio show on WGCV 620AM, which reaches audiences in South Carolina and Georgia. Walker discussed the recent Supreme Court case, Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 et al. Walker said the decision did not erode any of the civil rights protections established in Brown v. Board of Education, and that the Court's decision defended the principle that citizens should not be discriminated for or against based upon race.

On July 17, Walker was again a guest on Santita Jackson's WVON radio show. The two discussed one of Walker's past articles in which he lamented the rise of the so-called "thug athlete" in today's sporting world. Walker honored the legacy of Jackie Robinson: athlete, activist, and gentleman.