Storms are not made to last; they’re made to pass.

[View this email in your browser]( Michael’s Monday Motivation Last week was one of those weeks. You know what I mean. A week when you are getting tested spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. I can think of at least four disappointments. Yeah, I know. Not great. But, I choose Transformation over Tears. I was wondering: How will I respond? Then, I heard an on time sermon. Our Preacher yesterday, Rev. Jacqueline Crawford, at our Praise in Pink Breast Cancer service fortified our spirit with her "I'm Still Standing" message from 2 Corinthians, Chapter 4, Verse 8: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair". From our Mama beating Breast Cancer TWICE to me overcoming Injustice, the challenges are real but so is the joy on the other side. As you are reflecting on life, say to yourself: Storms are not made to last; they’re made to pass. [Register Today]( KAIROS Conversation with Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. and Keesha Gaskins-Nathan Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. Founder and President Corporate Community Connections, Inc. [The Dfree movement]( Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr. has a wealth of experience and expertise in the areas of community development, public service, and financial empowerment, making him an ideal candidate to share his journey and vision with your audience. Dr. Soaries has a long and impactful history of community leadership, beginning with his tenure as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey including his extensive public service experience includes serving as New Jersey's first African-American Secretary of State and chairing the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. He founded the Central Jersey Community Development Corporation (CJCDC), focusing on revitalizing distressed neighborhoods, and later established the Harvest of Hope Family Services Network to create permanent solutions for foster care children. Currently, the Founder and President of the multi-million dollar community solutions enterprise, Corporate Community Connections, Inc., Dr. Soaries is the driving force behind the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement, a revolutionary program that empowers individuals to achieve financial freedom through debt elimination. The Dfree movement has reached more than 100,000 people around the world. His books and resources on financial freedom have inspired thousands. With a history of breaking barriers and empowering communities, Dr. Soaries brings a unique perspective on social change, financial literacy, and civic engagement. His recent partnership with Newark's First Lady, Linda Baraka, to empower 1,000 women financially is just one example of his ongoing commitment to transformative change. -and- Keesha Gaskins-Nathan Program Director, Democratic Practice Rockefeller Brothers Fund Keesha Gaskins-Nathan is the director for the Democratic Practice–United States program and the Racial Justice Initiative at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. Ms. Gaskins-Nathan is dedicated to advancing measures and ideas that improve democratic systems and engage democratic culture in the United States to support full and fair democratic and economic opportunity for all residents. Ms. Gaskins-Nathan is a long-time organizer, lobbyist, and trial attorney. Prior to joining the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, she was senior counsel with the Brennan Center for Justice, serving as the director of the Redistricting and Representation program. Her portfolio included redistricting reform, voting rights, and elections, with a focus on voter suppression issues. Ms. Gaskins-Nathan is a frequent lecturer and writer on issues related to women and politics, movement building, and democratic transformation. Ms. Gaskins-Nathan served as executive director for the League of Women Voters Minnesota and the executive director for the Minnesota Women’s Political Caucus. She worked for several years as a civil trial attorney and served as a special assistant appellate public defender for the State of Minnesota. She is the 2021-2022 Daynard Public Interest Fellow at Northeastern University School of Law, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, 2019 Aspen Ideas Scholar, and 2008 Feminist Leadership Fellow with the University of Minnesota, Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs – Center on Women and Public Policy. She is a frequent commentator on voting rights and redistricting reform and regularly appears on numerous news and public affairs programming, including past appearances on Background Briefing, The Great Battlefield, PBS’s NewsHour, MSNBC, and Bill Moyers. See you Wednesday! Wednesday, June 12 · 1:00pm – 2:00pm EST Video call link: [( Or dial: ‪(US) +1 651-571-1259‬ PIN: ‪460 226 103‬# More phone numbers: [ [Dream Machine's A.I. Academy]( is a FREE one-day event on Saturday, June 15th in Atlanta for entrepreneurs, creatives, artists, technologists, and anyone curious about A.I. tools. Join us on June 15, 2024, in Atlanta, GA, for hands-on workshops, inspiring talks by industry leaders and networking with community experts. You'll leave with a powerful understanding of A.I. and how to apply it to your life or profession. Learn More & Register [International African American Museum]( 14 Wharfside St., Charleston, 29401 June 19| 12pm - 5pm [J.O.Y. | Juneteenth On the Yard]( June 20| 6pm - 9pm [Anniversary Jubilee Soirée 2024]( June 27 | 6pm - 9pm [Salon Marronage Featuring Secretary Lonnie Bunch III]( Our Time. Our Moment. Our Democracy. KAIROS: DEMOCRACY PROJECT exists to promote social welfare and civic betterment by mobilizing and engaging Communities of Color and Young Adults through Issue Advocacy and awareness on the impact of safeguarding our Democracy on their everyday lives. From deploying local Influencers and surrogates of Color from the KAIROS Communications war room to hosting KAIROS CONVERSATION Listen & Learns to executing a targeted media and message mobilization, the KAIROS: DEMOCRACY PROJECT will be the go to place for engaging Leaders of Color around Issues and Democracy in the country, not just for one election but for future generations. Join the fight for Democracy by helping us mobilize and engage Communities of Color and Young Adults through Issue Advocacy and awareness on the impact of safeguarding our Democracy on our everyday lives. [$50 ⮕]( [$100 ⮕]( [$250 ⮕]( [$500 ⮕]( [$1000 ⮕]( [Other ⮕]( Convening for the Culture August 12-15, 2024 Our signature annual event, “Convening for the Culture,” provides an opportunity for leaders of color to gather during one of the Black community’s most prominent weeks of leadership activation each year. About 200 of the nation’s leaders and change makers of color and their allies attend the four-day event on Martha’s Vineyard focused on relationship building, ideation, deal flow and partnership development. [Register Now!]( [Learn More]( [Register For Gabe Amo Reception]( [RSVP By June 7th]( [Register Today]( We have some exciting events coming up, and we wanted to make sure to share the details with you. The full list of upcoming events is below for your review. We hope to see you at one of them, and we’d of course be very appreciative if you could share these events with your friends and family who might be interested in joining us. June 15 Reception with Chef Eric Korn Join fellow foodies for an evening reception in support of President Biden’s re-election with a dinner specially prepared by Chef Eric Korn. Time: Evening Patterson, NY [RSVP Here]( [Purchase Tickets]( The Biden Jobs Boom Continues: - Three years ago, the President inherited an economy on the brink—the worst economic crisis in a century. - President Biden has overseen the great American comeback: His plan is growing the middle class and lowering costs. - 272,000 jobs created last month for a total 15.6 million jobs created under President Biden. - Unemployment at or under 4% for 30 months in a row—the longest stretch in 50 years. - A record share of working-age women and people with disabilities have jobs. - Inflation is down 60% and incomes are up more than prices. - Families are still struggling. President Biden is fighting every day to lower costs. - Negotiating lower prescription drug prices, capping insulin at $35/month, and saving millions of Americans $800/year on health care. - A plan to make rent more affordable by building 2 million new homes, lower child care costs, and cut taxes for hardworking families. - Taking on price gouging by banning hidden junk fees and calling on corporations with record profits to lower prices—with Target and Walmart answering his call and lowering grocery prices. - Congressional Republicans are siding with the rich and special interests. They have no plan to lower costs. - Cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. - Slashing taxes for billionaires and big corporations while raising taxes for middle-class families. - Increasing costs for health care, housing, and utility bills. [RSVP]( [Equity March Info]( [New York City Alpha Classic Info]( [Check out Online Toolkit]( [When We All Vote]( is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting, increase participation in each and every election, and close the race and age voting gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. When We All Vote empowers supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable. When We All Vote Open Positions Director of National Organizing [ Regional/State Organizing Directors (Multiple positions available) [ Organizing Coordinator [ June 19 Hon. Michael Hancock Founder, National Nonpartisan Conversation on Voting Rights Managing Partner, Hancock Global Former Mayor - Denver, Colorado Robin Rue Executive Director First Repair Aria Florant Co-Founder & CEO Liberation Ventures June 26 Rob Donahue Director, Center for Civic Engagement July 10 Tonya M. Matthews, Ph.D. President and CEO International African American Museum Save the Dates June 12-25 Attorney General Alliance Annual Convening Colorado June 15 National Black Justice Coalition 2024 Equity March Washington, DC June 19th Congresswoman Nikema Williams [Du Bois Freedom Center]( Event June 20-23 US Conference of Mayors Kansas City June 23-26 Models Schools Conference Orlando, FL June 27[Presidential Debate]( Televised July 12-19 National Bar Association Annual Conference Las Vegas, NV July 13-17 NAACP National Conference Las Vegas, NV July 19-23 American Association of Justice Nashville, TN July 24-27 National Urban League Conference New Orleans, LA July 26-28 Dreamcon Anime & Gaming Convention Austin, TX August 12-15 KAIROS: Convening for the Culture Martha's Vineyard[Get Tickets]( August 19-22 KAIROS @ Democratic National Committee Convention Chicago, IL KAIROS "a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action : the opportune and decisive MOMENT" "The right or critical MOMENT" [Facebook icon]( [Instagram icon]( [Website icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( [YouTube icon]( Copyright (C) 2024 Atlas Strategy Group. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: Atlas Strategy Group 1 Bruckner Blvd Bronx, NY 10454 USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe]( [Logo]