Joe Reed, chairman of the Alabama Democratic Conference, announced today that Congressman Jess Jackson, Jr. of Chicago, Illinois, will keynote the ADC Annual Convention Luncheon on Saturday, May 12, 2007, at 12:30 p.m.

Congressman Jess Jackson, Jr.

His visit will continue Alabama's strong ties to Illinois Democrats who have addressed ADC conventions in the past. The list includes: former United States Senators Paul Simon and Carol Mosley-Braun; Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.; and Roland Burris, the former Secretary of State in Illinois.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1994. Although he is one of the younger members of the House, he sits on the powerful Appropriations Committee. He is also the second most senior Democrat on the Sub-Committee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.

As a young policy-maker Jackson is proudest of the legislation he crafted that led to the creation of the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health in 2001.

Jackson's visit kicks off ADC's organizational campaign to take back Alabama for Democrats in 2008. "Taking Back Alabama: Some Democratic Strategies for Success," is the theme of the upcoming convention.

Since the convention falls on Mother's Day weekend, ADC will pay tribute to all mothers present during the welcome reception on Friday, May 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., and at the prayer breakfast on Saturday, morning, May 12, at 8 a.m.

As usual an impressive group of grassroots leaders and elected officials from across Alabama is expected to attend the annual convention. Reverend Eric Richardson, pastor of King Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Montgomery, will be the speaker for the Saturday morning Q.D. Adams Prayer Breakfast honoring mothers at 8 a.m.

The convention honorees and recipients of ADC's annual awards are: Sam Jones, mayor of Mobile – the Martin Luther King Jr. American Dream Award; Katie Walton, former member of the Chambers County Board of Registrars – the Lyndon Baines Johnson Political Freedom Award; and Chester Mallory, founder/CEO of Mallory Realty Company in Montgomery – the A.G. Gaston Black Enterprise Award.

Tickets to the convention prayer breakfast and luncheon are available and can be purchased by calling the ADC state office. For more information call: (334) 263-4040.