Florida lawmakers are taking center stage this week at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) in Washington, D.C., using the national platform to spotlight key issues affecting their constituents. The conference, held Sept. 24–28, brings together members of Congress, policy experts, and vendors.
On Sept. 25 and 26, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick hosted two major sessions: “Haiti Forward: Addressing Security Challenges, Governance, and Economic Opportunities” and “The Energy Braintrust: Meeting the Growing Energy Needs of the Digital Technologies Era.”
The “Haiti Forward” discussion addressed instability in Haiti and the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), affecting over 500,000 Haitians—many of whom live in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
“We, as the Congressional Black Caucus, are here to provide resources to give [constituents] wings,” said Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick.
In her second panel, experts applauded Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick’s leadership and emphasized the need for U.S. energy policy to meet the demands of AI, data centers, and rapid digital growth—especially in developing areas like South Florida.
On Sept. 26, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Chair of the U.S. Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, drew one of the conference’s largest crowds as she led two discussions: “Social Status of Black Men and Boys Education Braintrust” and “Don’t Build a Jail for Me: Standing Strong Against All Odds.” Both focused on dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline and mentoring Black boys.
“These boys look so sharp, so ready,” Wilson said, pointing proudly to young men from her nonprofit, 5000 Role Models of Excellence. “Let us remember—this is who we’re fighting for.”
Attorney Ben Crump praised her decades-long advocacy: “Before Trayvon Martin, there was 14-year-old Martin Lee Anderson, beaten in a Florida boot camp. And it was Frederica Wilson who stood up — before social media, before the hashtags.”
Fellow Floridian lawmaker and Commissioner Rep. Maxwell Frost also offered a fresh, Gen-Z perspective during the session.
“I feel empowered because every time I go home in Orlando, Florida, I meet people in my community that have been fighting the type of stuff we’re seeing today for generations,” said Frost. “It gives me the optimism, the power, and the foundation I need to do this work here in D.C.”
Antonio White, president of the United Teachers of Dade (UTD), spoke to the urgent need for community support across South Florida: “If we don’t invest in [our youth] today, we risk broken homes and broken futures.”
Together, Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick, Wilson, and Frost aim to elevate the priorities of Black South Floridians, shape federal conversations, and secure resources for their communities back home.
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