Photo credit: CBCF
The 55th Annual Legislative Conference continues Thursday with a full day of policy conversations, leadership discussions and community engagement in Washington, D.C.
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s ALC 55 runs from September 16 through September 20 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Today’s schedule includes the National Town Hall from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET. The discussion carries the theme “Forward Together: The Black Policy Playbook for an Equitable America.”
The event comes one day after CBCF opened the conference with its first round of activities and discussions.
CBCF puts policy in focus
Thursday’s program gives attendees an opportunity to explore major policy issues affecting Black communities.
CBCF describes ALC as a gathering for thought leaders, legislators, advocates, influencers and engaged citizens. The conference also features panels and workshops covering areas such as healthcare, education, economic empowerment and social justice.
The National Town Hall adds another major platform for those conversations.
Symone D. Sanders-Townsend and Eugene Daniels will moderate the discussion. More speakers and participants may contribute to the conversation as the event unfolds.
Voting access gets attention
CBCF has also placed voting rights among the key resources connected to this year’s National Town Hall.
The foundation’s materials address the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais and its implications for congressional redistricting.
CBCF says several states are reconsidering their congressional maps following the decision. Its tracker follows those state-level redistricting efforts.
The foundation also created a Voting Rights Scorecard. The resource examines policies in 15 states across seven areas of voting access.
Those areas include early voting, voter ID rules, polling places, felony disenfranchisement, election disinformation, vote-by-mail and redistricting.
The conference looks beyond one day
Although Thursday’s National Town Hall provides a major focus, ALC 55 continues for several more days.
CBCF says the conference features more than 100 in-person issue forums and established brain trust sessions. These discussions bring together elected officials, policymakers, activists, entrepreneurs, professionals and emerging leaders.
The conference also celebrates CBCF’s 50th anniversary.
The organization established CBCF in 1976. This year’s “Rooted, Ready and Rising” theme connects that history with the organization’s focus on leadership, policy and civic engagement.
Later in the conference, the schedule includes the Day of Healing and Phoenix Awards Dinner.
For Thursday, however, the National Town Hall provides the main platform for policy conversations at ALC 55.
As the conference continues, attendees will have more opportunities to discuss issues affecting Black communities and explore the ideas shaping the future.
Source: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF).
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