Russell Simmons and his Hip-Hop Summit Action Network are poised to bring the next summit to Colorado, tentatively scheduled for this fall.
The focus for the subsequent summit this fall will be “Youth and Empowerment,” as Benjamin Chavis, president of the HHSA, told the Denver Post, “It’s in the context of encouraging young people to register to vote; encouraging young people to become entrepreneurs.”
A lineup has not been determined for the summit, but will have to star-studded in order to match the ballyhoo of the Detroit Summit hosted by Eminem, which featured an award presentation to Nas.
Simmons, who was in town to launch his prepaid debit card service, had the idea to bring the next summit meeting to Denver after speaking with Mayor Wellington Webb. The mayor was more than pleased to oblige as he referred to Simmons as the “Bill Gates of the African-American community.”
“He is truly a unique business leader because he not only takes risks by speaking his mind on community issues and political issues, but is also focused on giving back to the community and creating ways to empower them,” Webb said.
