Dr. Elsie Scott, Pres. and CEO- CBCF, Inc.
For the past 42 years, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) has convened their legislative conference in Washington, DC during September. There are currently 42 members of the congressional black Caucus. Of that number 15 are women out of 500 congressional leaders. This year’s annual conference is being held from September 19-22 at the Washington convention center.
This year’s CBCF’s theme is Inspiring Leadership/Building Generations. Although the focus on the legislative conference is on the African American community, the issues addressed are ones that face all Americans- to build a better America. This year the conference focuses on doing that by inspiring a future generation of leaders to take the helm and become politically involved and engaged.
If you are in Washington, DC during these dates, I encourage you to attend some of the sessions offered. The sessions are listed by tracks which includes: Business and Economic Development; Civil Rights/Judiciary History; community Engagement; Education and Labor; Emerging Leaders; Energy and the Environment; Foreign Affairs; Health Wellness and various special events.
As this year is an election year, many of the sessions focus on tools to combat voter suppression, address disenfranchisement and encourage strong voter turnout and civic participation in 2012. The sessions on Friday and Saturday also cover such additional topics as breaking the cyclke of poverty and incarceration; the black church and same sex marriage ( a hot button topic in the black community), emerging leaders and black women’s civic engagement. There is even an author’s pavilion where authors share their books.
Throughout the years, I have often attended the CBCF. It has never failed to enlighten and engage me. Most important, it refreshes me for the challenges we face and to continue to fight those challenges. If you have never attended a CBCF Legislative conference, I invite you to attend this one==this year.
I look forward to seeing you there . You may go online to get a full description of all sessions @cbcfinc.org. You will not be disappointed at the diversity of the programs offered.
Leave a Reply