Public Speaker

Michael McCray is an expert on grassroots organizations and community development, and a gifted Public Speaker Michael McCray was a pioneer for new technologies in community economic development for the Federal Empowerment Zone Program, a $4 Billion White House Initiative during the Clinton Administration. Michael McCray is a Political Strategist who specializes in grassroots organizing including Community and Faith-Based Organizations.

A native Arkansan, Michael McCray traveled to Washington, D.C. with the Clinton Administration and began his community development career working on the Presidential Empowerment Initiative. Also known as the Federal Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities (EZ/EC) Initiative where he served with distinction as community development specialist and a National Speaker on community economic development issues and technology for USDA, McCray toured the country conducting technology training and speaking engagements at three White House Empowerment Zone Conferences and four Regional Enterprise Community Meetings across the country.

As a result of his experience, education and direct involvement with the EZ/EC initiative, Michael worked on a senior level policy working group that developed the Rural Development induction training curriculum for new Rural Development employees (RBS, RHS and RUS) in the National office and he developed and co-authored the EZ/EC Executive Staff training curriculum for rural EZ/EC communities nationally.

Community Development Speeches and Presentations:

Michael was the featured USDA Technology Speaker at numerous White House Empowerment Zone Conferences and additionally at Regional Enterprise Community Conferences. Other featured speakers included Andrew Cuomo, Secretary of HUD; Rodney Slater, Secretary of Transportation; and Carol Rasco, Domestic Policy Advisor to President Clinton –

 

WHITE HOUSE EMPOWERMENT ZONE CONFERENCES

 

1st White House Empowerment Zone Conference

Old Executive Office Building (February 96)

 

2nd White House Empowerment Zone Conference

Washington Mayflower Hotel (June 96)

 

3rd White House Empowerment Zone Conference

Detroit Renaissance Hotel (June 97)

 

 

REGIONAL ENTERPRISE COMMUNITIES CONFERENCES

 

1st Regional Enterprise Community Conference

(Buffalo, New York)

2nd Regional Enterprise Community Conference

(Seattle, Washington)

3rd Regional Enterprise Community Conference

(Louisville, Kentucky)

4th Regional Enterprise Community Conference

(Nashville, Tennessee)

 

Michael designed, procured and conducted a virtual reality demonstration and photo opportunity with Vice President Al Gore for Empowerment Zone children through Detroit's Pleasant Grove Baptist Church at the Detroit Empowerment Conference.

Community Development Curriculum / Training Design:

As a result of my experience, education and direct involvement with the EZ/EC Initiative, Michael worked on a senior level policy working group that developed the Rural Development induction training curriculum for new Rural Development employees in the National office and I developed and co-authored the EZ/EC Executive Staff training curriculum for rural EZ/EC communities nationally.

 RECD Induction Training Task Force

(Washington, DC)

Rural Development Benchmark Training

(Manassas, VA)

EZ/EC Executive Staff Training

(Washington, DC)

National Rural Development Empowerment Training

(Oklahoma City, OK)

Additionally, Michael lead a team which provided, coordinated and conducted technology-based Community Economic Development training to both Urban and Rural EZ/EC communities across the county.

MEDIA APPEARANCES:

Michael McCray has provided expert commentary on local television and talk radio programs, magazines and newspapers and the Internet, including the following; 

National Television Appearance on Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, which is broadcast each Sunday to 43 million households on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, Telemundo and CW stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group; Fox News Network “Glenn Beck Show” (FOX), “Lou Dobbs Tonight” on (CNN) and Black Entertainment Television Network – “Technology Town Hall Meeting” (BET), More Room on the Outside with Toussaint Tingling Clemmons – American University (ATV2) (Washington, DC) and local Atlanta Fox 5, CBS 46, Channel 2 and Channel 11.

National/Syndicated Radio Guest Appearance on “The POWER” Morning Show with Joe Madison “Black Eagle” on MSNBC, WAOL (AM-1590) and XM (XM-169); “The Expert Witness” Show (WBAI) with Mike Levine and Mark Marshall WBAI 99.5 FM (Pacifica Radio Network) (New York City, NY); and “Talk-Back!” (WBAI) with Hugh Hamilton on WBAI 99.5 FM (Pacifica Radio Network) (New York City, NY). “We Ourselves“ (WPFW) with Ambrose Lane WPFW 89.3 FM (Pacifica Radio Network) (Washington, D.C.); “Freedom Sounds” (WPFW) Evening Drive Time Show with Askia Muhammad WPFW 89.3 FM (Pacifica Radio Network) (Washington, D.C.); and  “Metro Watch” (WPFW) Morning Drive Time Show with Gloria Minote WPFW 89.3 FM (Pacifica Radio Network) (Washington, D.C.).

Local Radio Guest Appearance on “Powertalk” (WAOK) Morning Drive Time Show with Lorraine Jacques White WOAK 1380 AM (Atlanta, GA), and Real Estate 101 (WOAK) with Ronald “Ron” DeVoe and Mary Gill. WOAK 1380 AM (Atlanta, GA). “Broadway Joe Talk Show” with Joe Booker on KOKY (FM-102.1) (Little Rock, AR), “First News” with Bob Steel on KARN (FM-102.9) News Talk (Little Rock, AR) and “St.. James in the Morning” with Billy St. James on Praise (FM-102.5 / FM-101.7) (Little Rock, AR).