Days away from the return of our NREI Summit on Tuesday, November 14!

These are not mere words for us but our mandate. They ring as true today as they did when we first adopted them. There is much work to be done to ensure we meet this mission and our efforts to meet that mandate are evident in the most recent work and activity of the CBCF.

As Black America faces challenges around education, economic power, and many other issues, CBCF has brought together policy experts to discuss these important issues and engage the public on how to confront and resolve these challenges. In September, we held the 52nd Annual Legislative Conference that included over 130 panel discussions and brain trusts with experts, academics, and practitioners from around the country to debate and focus on problem-solving. In October, our Center for Policy Analysis and Research hosted an all-day Policy for the People Economic Summit looking at the impact of the Supreme Court affirmative action decision on educational opportunities for Black and minority people. We examined the strength and power of Black banks and how they help provide home ownership opportunities and we had robust discussion on unions and labor issues that impact the Black community. CBCF will continue to provide a platform for examining critical issues and providing space for intellectual exchange and problem solving.

In addition to addressing policy issues, our work to provide opportunities for the next generation of leaders remains robust and ever expanding. We welcomed classes of interns and Fellows this past Summer and Fall. They come from an array of colleges and universities and are working on Capitol Hill and in major corporations preparing for limitless futures in which they will take on the challenges and achieve the successes in further fulfillment of our mission.

I urge you to continue following our work, engaging in our discussions, and supporting the growth and development of new leaders. The ability to impact a growing and thriving society depends on our collective efforts. We look forward to continuing to engage, work and uplift our culture as we move into 2024 in partnership with you!