- President Calvin Smyre, Vice President Barbara Ballard, Executive Director LaKimba DeSadier and NBCSL members attend the historic Inauguration of President Barack Obama as he is sworn in as the first African American President and the 44th President of the United States of America.
- President Obama signs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) or Stimulus Package to restart the economy. The package contains extensive funding for science, engineering research, infrastructure, and more limited funding for education, social sciences and the arts.
- NBCSL convenes with the National Medical Association for the 10th Annual Colloquium On African American Health in Arlington, Virginia. Funding provided by Pfizer Inc. ■ Noted historian and scholar John Hope Franklin passes at the age of 94.
- President Smyre attends state legislators meeting at the White House representing African American state legislators.
- The 2009 Spring Forum: Energy, Telecommunications and Health convene in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
- President Smyre attends White House Economic Recovery meeting presided by President Obama.
- NBCSL and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) convene their fourth Annual Promoting Healthy Lifestyles meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico to discuss the theme: The Value of Vaccines in Protecting Public Health. Funding provided by NOVARTIS.
- Recording entertainment superstar Michael Jackson passes at the age of 50.
- President Smyre attends meeting at the White House presided by First Lady Michelle Obama.
- Walter Cronkite considered for decades one of the most trusted journalists in America passes at the age of 92.
- Justice Sonia Sotomayor becomes the first Hispanic American sworn in as United States Supreme Court Justice.
- Senator Edward “Ted” Kennedy passes away at the age of 77.
- President Smyre travels to Paris, France along with other state legislators and visits Nuclear Power Plant to learn more about alternative energy sources.
- President Smyre meets with members of the Black Leadership Forum and Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to the President, at a meeting during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference to discuss priorities of the Obama Administration. Jarrett was seeking the leaders’ advice and support for the administration’s policies.
- President Smyre is presented with The Phoenix Award presented by Congressman Kendrick Meek, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Chairman, during the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Gala Awards program.
- NBCSL convenes its 16th Annual Mental Health Conference “Breaking Mental Health Stigmas in Our Communities” in Indianapolis, Indiana. The meeting is broadcast live via satellite to Columbia, South Carolina and Jackson, Mississippi. The meeting is supported through a grant by Eli Lilly and Company.
- President Smyre attends White House meeting on Consumer Financial Products Safety Commission.
- The United States House of Representatives passes historic Health Care Reform Bill.
- NBCSL convenes for its 33rd Annual Legislative Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
