BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) –
One of the celebrities in town for Empowerment Week is Bill Cosby, who visited Miles College bright and early Friday morning.
Sporting a Miles College t-shirt, Cosby and Dr. George French, the school’s president, got ready to watch the Golden Bears’ football practice. Even early in the morning, Cosby was cracking jokes. We asked him if he was ready to take the field with the players.
“No, those days are gone. Maybe a walk around the track,” he said.
Instead, Cosby shared some inspiring words. First, he huddled the players around him at the 50 yard line. Then he went over blocking techniques with a few laughs. After that, his talk got serious.
“If coach tells you something, he knows more than you,” Cosby said.
Cosby’s next step is sharing his message with everyone in Birmingham. He will host the “Changing Lives Education and Entrepeneurial Summit” Saturday at the BJCC. Cosby says we can’t move 50 years forward until we come up with a solution to solve America’s declining education system.
The panel discussion is open to the public and Cosby says attendees won’t be disappointed.
“I assure you this won’t be your usual town meeting where you talk and then you go home and don’t do much of what,” Cosby said.
Here are the remaining events for Empowerment Week:
Friday, Sept. 13:
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Panel on Civil Rights/National Impact, composed of U.S. Congressional Representatives lead by Rep. Terri Sewell at 16th Street Baptist Church
1 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Panel on Civil Rights/International Impact by Dr. Condoleezza Rice at 16th Street Baptist Church and simulcast from Regions Bank
3:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. Panel on Civil Rights/Human Right Impact at 16th Street Baptist Church
7 p.m. – 10 p.m. U.S. Conference of Mayors Uptown Cityfest at Uptown Entertainment District
Saturday, Sept. 14:
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Street Diversity Fair at the BJCC and 9th Avenue
Noon A discussion with Bill Cosby at the BJCC
8 p.m. BBVA Compass Concert for Human Rights with Jamie Foxx, Jill Scott and Charlie Wilson at the BJCC
Sunday, Sept. 15:
Noon Premiere of 4 Little Girls documentary hosted by Spike Lee at the Alabama Theatre
3 p.m. Commemorative program for the 50th anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing at the church
3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Birmingham Originals’ Taste of Birmingham Food Festival on First Avenue South
5 p.m. – 7 p.m. The Power Hour with Rod Parsley and Pastor Greg Matthews at Kelly Ingram Park
6:30 p.m. American Idols Concert with Taylor Hicks and guests at Railroad Park
8 p.m. Alabama Symphony, Red Mountain Theatre Company and other in concert at Railroad Park
9 p.m. Closing ceremony with fireworks show at Railroad Park
For more information on the 50 Years Forward effort, please visit http://www.50yearsforward.com/events/.
To learn more about the worship events Sunday at 16th Street Baptist Church, please visit http://www.16thstreetbaptist.org/.
Several streets will also be closed during these events:
6th Avenue North between 15th Street North and 17th Street North
15th Street North between 5th Avenue North and 6th Avenue North
16th Street North between 4th Avenue North and 6th Avenue North
17th Street North between 5th Avenue North and 6th Avenue North
These streets will re-open at 6 a.m. Monday, Sept. 16.
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