- President Barbara W. Ballard (KS) is honored with a Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) Phenomenal Women of Leadership Public Service Award during its National Women of Power Summit. She also serves on a panel moderated by Susan Taylor, Editor-in-Chief Emeritus of Essence Magazine.
- NBCSL and the National Medical Association (NMA) convene in Washington, D.C. for the 13th Annual Colloquium on African- American Health, funded by Pfizer Inc. The theme, “All Advocacy is Local: The Roadmap to Health Equity,” focuses on collaborative advocacy between doctors and legislators at the local level.
- The shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin leads to nationwide protests and public discourse regarding racial profiling, “Stand your Ground” gun laws, and equity in the criminal justice system.
- Under a new, three-year grant funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation under the banner of racial healing and equity, NBCSL, the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators, and the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators will convene three times per year for three years to study the barriers of structural racism that keep children and their families in poverty, and work on common solutions. The first Joint Caucus meeting takes place in New Orleans, LA, where participants focus on the African American and Vietnamese American communities.
- President Barbara W. Ballard (KS) serves as part of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Faculty Team for a Transparency and Oversight Exchange with the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Legislature of South Africa. President Ballard teaches a course on Transparency and Corruption.
- NBCSL and NHCSL meet for the seventh annual Promoting Healthy Lifestyles symposium in Denver, CO, funded by NOVARTIS and themed “Healthy Aging.”
- The U. S. Supreme Court upholds the Affordable Care Act with a historic vote of 5 to 4, with Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. joining the court’s four more liberal members. The decision is a victory for NBCSL members and, more importantly, their constituents, affirming that access to health care is imperative.
- Past Vice Chair of NBCSL’s Corporate Round Table, Ms. Sherry Hopkins, passes.
- The second NBCSL on the Hill event takes place in Washington, D.C. Leaders convene for a policy forum the first day and meet with members of Congress as well as White House and Administration officials the second day. The event is funded by Experian, Google, Abbott, and Centene.
- President Barbara W. Ballard (KS) serves as NCSL Co-Chair of the Human Services and Welfare Standing Committee, helping to oversee and guide the resolutions and policy processes during NCSL’s Annual Summit in Chicago, IL. In this capacity earlier this year, she participates in an NCSL Foundation Hunger Partnership Symposium in Kiawah Island, SC to study model policies and programs to address hunger.
- The 2012 Summer Olympics are hosted in London, England.
- The second Joint Caucus meeting is held in Chicago, IL in advance of the NCSL Annual Summit. The meeting centers on how unconscious and implicit bias leads to discriminatory practices and policies.
- President Barbara W. Ballard (KS) and President Elect Joe Armstrong (TN) speak at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education’s (NAFEO) Presidential Peer Seminar and Leadership Training Institute during a session titled, “NAFEO Teaming with NBCSL to Strengthen HBCUs, PBIs, their Service Communities and the Economy.” Here, they discuss with HBCU Presidents the critical and unique role of HCBUs in educating African Americans, how NBCSL and its members are supporting HBCUs, and future opportunities to collaborate.
- NBCSL Past President and Founder, Maryland State Senator Clarence Mitchell, III passes.
- During the 42nd Annual Legislative Conference of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, President Barbara W. Ballard (KS) speaks on CBC’s Health Braintrust, “Leadership Matters: Ending AIDS in Black America” and an Education Forum, “What It Takes to Improve Our Schools: The Reality beyond the Rhetoric,” sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers.
- Following NBCSL Executive Committee and Corporate Round Table Meetings during CBC Week, NBCSL launches the NBCSL Foundation at a reception on Capitol Hill. Rep. Calvin Smyre (GA) is the Foundation President.
- NBCSL holds the 19th Annual Black America’s Dialogue on Health in Indianapolis, IN. Funded by Eli Lilly & Co., the topic is “Raising our Health Status through Innovation, Treatment, and Delivery.”
- Hurricane Sandy, spanning 1100 miles in diameter, measures as the largest Atlantic hurricane in recorded history. It devastates several Caribbean nations before continuing on as far north as Canada. While impacting the entire Eastern Seaboard and several interior states, New Jersey and New York suffer disproportionate losses, comprising about 60% of the nation’s 131 deaths and over half the 8.5 million who lose power. Wall Street closes and total U.S. damages are estimated at $50 billion.
- President Barack Obama is re- elected President of the United States of America.
- The third Joint Caucus meeting is held in Albuquerque, NM in advance of NHCSL’s 10th National Summit. Legislators focus on education policy and participate in site visits in the Native American and Hispanic communities.
- NBCSL convenes for the 36th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. The conference theme is “Leading a United Front: Diverse not Divided.”
