The United Way of Greater Greensboro is bringing Misty Copeland to town – but she’ll be talking rather than dancing this time around.
Copeland, a renowned star who made history by becoming the first African-American female principal dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, will be the United Way’s featured speaker this year for the 2020 Community Speaker Series at Piedmont Hall at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex on Wednesday, March 25.
United Way of Greater Greensboro’s Community Speaker Series brings people from across the community together with this goal: “to learn together, connect with one another, and be inspired while supporting the work of United Way.”
This year’s event is being hosted by United Way’s Women United.
Copeland has been featured in numerous publications and television programs, including CBS Sunday Morning, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Vogue, Essence, Ebony and People Magazine to name a few.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in San Pedro, California, Copeland began her ballet studies at the late age of thirteen and went on to become a huge star in the world of ballet with many of her experiences captured in a 2014 memoir that she co-authored: Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.
At 15, Copeland won first place in the Music Center Spotlight Awards and, four years later, in 2001, she joined American Ballet Theatre. Six years after that, she became the company’s second African-American female soloist and the first in two decades. In June 2015, she was promoted to principal dancer – making Copeland the first African-American woman to hold that position in the company’s 75-year history.
At the United Way’s March 25 Community Speaker event, WFMY News 2 Anchor Taheshah Moise will interview Copeland in a way meant to give the audience an intimate look into Copeland’s life and experiences.
The discussion will also highlight some of the ways Copeland has given back to society. She has worked with many charitable organizations and has dedicated much of her time to mentoring young girls and boys. In 2014, President Obama appointed her to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition.
