On Monday evening, June 10, ICNY supporters gather to celebrate “The Courage of Conviction – Then & Now” and to honor five distinguished individuals, including Russell Simmons, Chairman, Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.
USA Today recently named native New Yorker Russell Simmons one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years. “ He has been a leader in bringing the powerful influence of hip-hop culture to every facet of business, media and fashion from its inception in the late 1970s through the current day, in which its integration into mainstream American culture has created an entirely progressive new America.
Simmons’ social activism is as robust as his business acumen and has grown out of his many years of traveling and advocating nationally and internationally on behalf of his brands. His social justice, education inclusion and financial empowerment efforts come directly from his work in music, fashion, entertainment and financial services.
Among his many philanthropic endeavors, Simmons serves as Chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, an organization co-founded by Rabbi Marc Schneier. The foundation has promoted interfaith communications between religious and ethnic leaders including a notable twinning program between mosques and synagogues around the world. Simmons, a long time supporter of equal rights for all, has advocated for fair treatment of Muslims and was a staunch opponent of the 2011 Congressional hearings held by U.S. Representative Peter King on the radicalization of Muslims in America. He helped to organize the “I Am A Muslim, Too” rally in New York City in March 2011, and demonstratively displayed the word “Coexist” using many religious symbols in the windows of his penthouse overlooking the World Trade Center construction site during the height of the Park51 controversy. In 2011, when national hardware chain Lowe’s withdrew funding from the television show All-American Muslim, Simmons offered to pay The Learning Channel for any revenue lost.
Simmons practices a method of yoga which encourages vegetarianism and social and environmental activism. His younger brother is Rev. Joseph Simmons, an ordained Pentecostal Minister and lead rapper in the Hip Hop group Run-DMC.
In the following video, Russell Simmons and Grammy Award-winning artist Jay-Z speak out against Anti-Semitism and Racism:
ICNY cordially invites you to join us in honoring Sister Pat Farrell on June 10. Other JMP awardees on June 10 will be:
- Sister Pat Farrell, OSF, Vice President, Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque & Past President, Leadership Conference of Women Religious
- Rev. Dr. C. T. Vivian, Veteran Civil Rights Activist & Colleague of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Bill Moyers, Host, PBS Bill Moyers Journal
- Judith Moyers, CEO, Public Affairs Television
