CBCF Opens 54th Annual Legislative Conference With Community-Focused Press Conference
Source: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation YouTube
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) launched its 54th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) on September 24 with an Opening Press Conference at the Sycamore & Oak Cultural Center in Southeast D.C., underscoring this year’s theme: “Made for This Moment: Power, Policy & Progress.”
Established in 1976, CBCF is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy, research, and educational institute dedicated to advancing the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public.
The event featured remarks from CBC Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), CBCF President & CEO Nicole Austin-Hillery, Rep. Terri A. Sewell (AL-07), Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02), National Urban League President Marc Morial, NCNW President Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, and political strategist Angela Rye. The Howard University Marching Band opened the program with a performance.
“Our work is far from finished,” said Rep. Clarke during the opening speech. “We have crossed a Rubicon in this nation — efforts to roll back our fundamental rights and silence Black voices persist. However, we will not be deterred.” Clarke also reaffirmed her support for District of Columbia leadership amid criticism of Mayor Muriel Bowser’s cooperation with the Trump administration on federal funding and local issues.
Nicole Austin-Hillery reminded attendees of CBCF’s founding vision: “Our founders knew young Black leaders were not getting the same opportunities to come to Washington. They built a foundation to level the playing field, create leadership pathways, and provide research to strengthen the Black community.”
Following the press conference, CBCF and community partners launched DC Community Day, offering residents fresh produce from the Black Farmers’ Market, free legal aid, and other relief services. Small business growth took center stage with a pitch competition organized by Our Village United, awarding cash prizes to local entrepreneurs with the strongest community impact plans.
National Town Hall at CBCF Conference Calls for Unity, Action in Face of Rollbacks
On September 25, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference hosted its signature National Town Hall, bringing together lawmakers, civil rights leaders, and policy experts under the theme Made for This Moment: Moving Forward in Unity and Power.
Held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the event featured U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43), Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (MD), National Council of Negro Women President Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley, National Urban League President Marc Morial, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law President Damon Hewitt, and other key voices. The discussion was moderated by journalist Joy Ann Reid.
Panel 1: Addressing the Moment
Source: Getty Images
Panelists examined the roots of today’s political climate, with Marc Morial highlighting how voter suppression campaigns in 2016 and 2024 drove Black voter turnout below 60 percent. “We need to understand that in this country, politics and elections matter,” Morial said during the panel.
Rev. Arline-Bradley addressed voter disenfranchisement: “There are a lot more of our people checked in than we give them credit. The critique is centered in how does this policy translate into me eating? Into me paying my mortgage?”
Panel 2: Moving Forward in Unity and Power
Source: Getty Images
The second panel focused on solutions, with panelists warning that civil rights gains are being rolled back through executive actions, partisan redistricting, weakened agencies, and anti-protest laws.
The discussion was moderated by journalist Joy Ann Reid, a former South Florida broadcaster for WSVN Channel 7 and co-host of Wake Up South Florida on Radio One’s then-Miami affiliate WTPS. Reid also previously served as host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut and a political columnist for the Miami Herald.
Rep. Clarke emphasized the importance of shared experience in shaping political power: “We live the word democracy because of the abolitionist movement, the civil rights movement, the Black power movement. Once we come together around shared aspirations, we understand what is in our collective interest.”
Judith Browne Dianis of the Advancement Project cautioned against the dismantling of DEI efforts and erasure of Black history. Damon Hewitt called for a stronger, modernized Voting Rights Act: “What got us here won’t get us there… We need something more robust that speaks to how racism shapeshifts.”
Moderator Joy Ann Reid closed with a challenge to create a “Project 2028” to mobilize Black communities ahead of future elections. Panelists pointed to reparations, housing access, and Supreme Court accountability as critical priorities.
Native Land Pod Tapes Live at CBCF Conference
Source: Native Land Pod Instagram
The Native Land Pod hosts Angela Rye, Tiffany Cross, and former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum recorded a live episode at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference.
Angela Rye—who also received the CBC Chair Award during the conference—delivered her remarks on air, thanking her family and reflecting on the broader significance of the gathering.
The panel, which included journalist Roland Martin, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, and Texas State Representative Jolanda Jones, centered discussions on the ongoing attacks on voting rights and the need to strengthen grassroots movements across generations.
Gillum raised a critical question, noting the CBCF’s theme, Made for This Moment:
“You mentioned that civil rights organizations are frozen…. I would wonder why organizations that are speaking of the theme of ‘made for this moment’… How could we look on them right now as being frozen, in a moment from an administration that never respected them?”
Martin responded by pointing to a generational transition in activism:
“Frozen because there’s a generational shift happening. There was a group of people who sustained us from [Martin Luther King Jr.’s] assassination to today…. They did precinct walks…. Those people are retiring. There’s a generation that did not replace them. We’ve become so technical that [social media] replaces that on-the-ground infrastructure. Gen X did not step up.”
Rapper Plies Thanks Congressional Black Caucus Delegation for Showcasing Black Excellence
Rapper Plies publicly thanked members of the Congressional Black Caucus after attending the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, sharing his appreciation in a widely circulated Instagram post.
“I deem myself as a very strategic person on purpose, and I don’t allow myself to be around much for my own reasons,” Plies said in the post. “Just to experience that much Black excellence in one room, in one building, I just thought it was important for me to let y’all know, how much I’m forever thankful for it.”
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation responded to his post with high praise, commenting: “You are Black excellence. You are Black culture. And we would be more than honored to have you at our conference again next year.”
Plies’ appearance and reflections also drew support from political strategist Tezlyn Figaro, founder of the Push The Line Bootcamp, who has long advocated for his involvement in social and political issues.
“When I reached out to Plies in 2011 while living in Florida…I knew he would be a great advocate for prison reform,” Figaro wrote in the comments. “But they told me that Plies would never get involved in politics under any circumstances…turns out they were wrong! It’s a good thing that they don’t have the final say…God does!”
Commissioner Oliver Gilbert Brings Miami Flavor to D.C. with “305 Day Party”
On Saturday, September 27, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Oliver Gilbert (District 1) hosted a lively “305 Day Party” brunch at Dirty Habit, located inside the Kimpton Hotel in downtown D.C. The event, backed by the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners with support from Aetna, brought Miami’s signature energy to the nation’s capital.
From the sounds of 2 Live Crew to a Caribbean-style buffet, guests were treated to a full Miami experience. Brightly colored outfits and a vibrant atmosphere made the day party feel like home for Miamians in Washington during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference weekend.
The party drew a wide range of Miami notables, including longtime radio personality Papa Keith (Keith Walcott), known to fans as “The People’s Voice” and host on 103.5 The Beat Miami.
CBCF Closes 54th Annual Legislative Conference with Powerful Phoenix Awards Dinner
Source: Getty Images
On Saturday night, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) closed out its 54th Annual Legislative Conference with the Phoenix Awards Dinner, honoring leaders who have made lasting contributions to Black communities, culture, and the nation.
The evening featured stirring remarks from former Vice President Kamala Harris—recipient of the CBCF Board Chair and CBC Body Awards—as well as Maryland Governor Wes Moore. Co-hosted by Aldis Hodge and Samantha Walkes, stars of Prime Video’s Cross, the program drew a room full of political, business, and cultural leaders, underscoring the theme of this year’s conference: Made for This Moment.
Throughout the night, members of the Congressional Black Caucus and CBCF leadership reinforced the urgency of the moment, pointing to the challenges facing democracy, equity, and representation across the nation. Addressing the 61 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Harris stressed the importance of congressional power in safeguarding democracy.
“The United States Congress has equal power to the executive branch in our constitutional government,” she said to the crowd. “Your work, now, is more important than ever, especially as your colleagues bend the knee and fail to uphold their constitutional duty… A time such as this demands that the leaders in this room remind the people of their power.”
She urged the audience to focus on the upcoming midterms, calling for checks and balances on what she described as an “unchecked, incompetent, unhinged President.”
The program featured remarks from U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08); Honorary Co-Chairs Senator Angela Alsobrooks (MD) and Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse (CO-02); CBC Chair Representative Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09); and CBCF Board Chair Representative Terri A. Sewell (AL-07).
CBCF President and CEO Nicole Austin-Hillery opened the program with a pledge to continue equipping lawmakers with data and resources to push back against efforts to roll back progress.
“I am proud of the way our leaders have been speaking up and speaking out,” she said. “And I pledge… that the CBCF will continue to support and sustain them in the struggle.”
Awardees included political strategist and commentator Angela Rye, who received the CBC Chair Award, and Jotaka Eaddy, recipient of the CBCF ALC Honorary Co-Chair Award.
Black Vendors and Exhibitors Prioritized During Congressional Black Caucus Weekend
Additionally, despite recent anti-DEI pushback, Black-owned vendors were front and center at the 2025 ALC. Nicole Austin-Hillery, president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, emphasized the importance of the exhibitors.
“The ALC is not only a premier policy forum, it is a cultural and community experience,” Austin-Hillery told the Washington Informer. “This year’s theme, ‘Made for This Moment,’ comes to life through a vibrant and diverse lineup of vendors and exhibitors who embody innovation, entrepreneurship, and a deep commitment to preserving and advancing our culture and vision.”
To view livestreams and full coverage from the Congressional Black Caucus, click here.
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