Geoffrey Canada of “Waiting for Superman,” “Same Kind of Different as Me” Author Ron Hall and NEEDTOBREATHE Added to The Orange Conference 2011 Lineup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cumming, Georgia, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) November 5, 2010 -- The Orange Conference, a premiere gathering for church leaders, is excited to announce its latest on-stage additions, Geoffrey Canada, Ron Hall and NEEDTOBREATHE. Between them, they are an educator, authors and musicians. Together they will reinforce the 2011 theme, “It’s Your Move” by supporting the idea that everyone can have positive impact on someone else’s life, and empowering attendees to do likewise. All have earned tremendous acclaim and notoriety around the country, and they will undoubtedly influence new and current fans at the Atlanta conference next April.

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Geoffrey Canada of “Waiting for Superman,” “Same Kind of Different as Me” Author Ron Hall and NEEDTOBREATHE Added to The Orange Conference 2011 Lineup

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Geoffrey Canada is a noted social activist, educator, author and President/CEO of Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), whose work and knowledge can currently be seen in “Waiting for Superman,” a documentary about the US education system now playing in theaters. Geoffrey has become nationally recognized for his pioneering work helping children and families in Harlem and as a passionate advocate for education reform. Growing up in the neighborhood he now serves, he understands first-hand the tragedy and neglect that can occur in a child’s life from such a disadvantaged surroundings. But Geoffrey found his calling as a teacher at a young age and now serves as a national model for education reform, healthy family environments and positively influencing the lives of children. In October 2005, U.S. News and World Report named Geoffrey one of “America’s Best Leaders.” His work and HCZ has been featured on major national media including "60 Minutes," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "The Today Show," "Good Morning America," "Nightline," "CBS This Morning," as well in articles in The New York Times, USA Today and Newsday.

Called "one of the most ambitious social-service experiments of our time," by The New York Times, the HCZ is a unique, holistic approach to rebuilding a community so that its children can stay on track through college and successfully go on to the job market, without falling through the cracks. Serving nearly 100 blocks in Harlem, the HCZ pipeline begins with babies and continues through adulthood to include in-school, after-school, social-service, health and community-building programs. Its premise is that for children to do well, their families have to do well. And for families to do well, their community must do well. That is why HCZ works to strengthen families as well as empowering them to have a positive impact on their children's development. Today, it serves over 10,000 children and 7,400 adults, absolutely free of charge to participants.

Ron Hall is the co-author of “Same Kind of Different As Me,” a book retelling the unlikely friendship between himself, a big city art dealer, and his now best friend, Denver, a formerly homeless drifter who had lived a life of picking cotton in virtual slavery. Currently being developed for a feature film with Samuel L. Jackson as Denver and the producer of The Pursuit of Happyness, the story reads more fiction than fact and has captured the hearts of readers everywhere, as demonstrated by sitting on the New York Times Best Seller list for over 85 weeks.

Ron’s now deceased wife, Deborah, who volunteered with a meal’s program, brought the pair together. She began the friendship with Denver at what she believed was God’s request, and then upon finding out she had cancer, she asked Ron to assume the friendship before she passed. The two men then grew closer together as they grieved Deborah’s death, but also came to realize that everyone feels different, the same kind of different as me. They were able to share laughter, heartache, doubt and faith together, all the while strengthening the bonds of their friendship. They currently live on the same property in two different houses. Ron travels all over the country speaking on their friendship, the book, investing in others and the power of relationships.

The South Carolina-based band NEEDTOBREATHE will be performing at The Orange Conference, showcasing that the quality of the musicians is just as high as the quality of the speakers. Releasing their third studio album in 2009, the band has cultivated a following from all across the music world. Though the two brothers, Bear and Bo, grew up sons of an Assembly of God pastor, they would characterize their music as warm, organic, emotional, heartfelt rock rather than giving it a Christian genre label. Much like U2, one of their influences, it has allowed them to deliver their passionate, positive, and sometimes spiritually-undertoned lyrics to a wider audience while still remaining true to their beliefs. The Christian music community has embraced them whole-heartedly, as the band has received three Dove Awards and was one of CCM Magazine’s new artists to watch. NEEDTOBREATHE has toured with several well-known recording artists, including Collective Soul, Train, Jars of Clay and Edwin McCain. They have also done an amazing job at connecting to their fans, The Breathers, allowing them to explore their style over their 10-year history within a supportive context. Additionally, their music has appeared in numerous films, TV shows and commercials.

The Orange Conference will be held at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga., beginning Wednesday, April 27, 2011 and concluding on Friday, April 29, 2011. This groundbreaking event, now entering its fifth year, draws together thousands of key speakers, authors, church leaders, entertainers and thinkers from around the world to rethink the way that the traditional church model approaches family ministry. Orange pioneered a revolutionary strategy by partnering parents with the church to create the greatest and most effective influence on the faith of the next generation. “Thinking Orange” blends two vital, yet often unconnected worlds to reshape the current ministry model.

Further details regarding speakers, entertainers, session specific information and registration can be found online at www.TheOrangeConference.com.

About Orange and The Orange Conference:

Orange is a nonprofit organization providing resources and training to help churches maximize their influence on the spiritual growth of the next generation. For more information on Orange, please visit www.WhatIsOrange.org. Orange is also the architect and primary sponsor of The Orange Conference, www.TheOrangeConference.com, and Orange Tour, www.OrangeTour.org, which provide national training opportunities for senior pastors, church leaders and ministry volunteers.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Kristi Porter
Office: 678-600-8115
Cell: 678-523-7765
Email: kporter@rethinkgroup.org

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More information can be found online at http://www.TheOrangeConference.com

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