Morning Sessions | 10:45AM – 12:15PM | 3 Sessions

SESSION 1:

Creating Conditions for Generational Wealth and Eliminating Health Disparities

Policy Committees: Health and Human Services | Housing and Community
Policy Chairs: Senator London Lamar (TN) | Representative Dianne Hart (FL)

From reproductive rights, HIV prevention, local community health resources, to affordable housing and generational wealth, this session will provide tools to be used to develop and implement policy and legislative engagement on these issues.

  • Shamarial Roberson, DrPH, MPH – President, Health & Human Services, Indelible Business
  • Dr. Troy D. White – Executive Director, Metropolitan Development & Housing Agency
  • Alan Williams – Senior Advisor for Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs in the Office of the Vice President, White House
  • Amna Osman, MPA – CEO, Nashville CARES
  • Ramon Gardenhire – Director of Government Relations (South Region), ViiV Healthcare
  • Senthil Sankaran – Managing Principal, Amazon Housing Equity Fund

 

SESSION 2:

Navigating Equity: Lessons from California and New York on Reparations and Diversity Initiatives

Policy Committees: Labor and Workforce Development | Military and Veteran’s Affairs
Policy Chairs: Senator Karla May (MO) | Representative Gloria Frazier (GA)

The goal of this session is to stimulate meaningful discussions about reparations, and how we can learn from the efforts in California and New York. With the rising attacks on workplace diversity efforts, this session will discuss impacts, review the commitments that were made after the death of George Floyd, and chart a path forward in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion for all.

  • Senator James Sanders Jr. – New York State Senator – 10th District
  • Senator Steven Bradford – California State Senator – 35th District
  • Arian Simone – Co-Founder and CEO, Fearless Fund
  • Ron Busby Sr. – President and CEO, U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.

 

SESSION 3:

Politics, Power, and Pipelines – Charting the Road to 2024 and Beyond

Policy Committees: Law, Justice and Ethics | Census, Redistricting and Reapportionment
Policy Chairs: Representative Fentrice Driskell (FL) | Representative Carol Ammons (IL)

No political party can win in 2024 without the Black vote. This session will focus on how Black state legislators will continue to lead and be the driving force in shifting political power in the 2024 Presidential Election Cycle and beyond to sustain and build a nation and world that is more just, equal, equitable and representative. Additionally, the panelists will discuss creating pipelines for African Americans in political office, public policy, and lobbying.

  • Vanessa Griddine-Jones – Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute
  • Quentin James – Founder & President, The Collective PAC
  • Stefanie Brown James – Founder & Senior Advisor, The Collective PAC
  • Tasha Cole – Deputy Executive Director and Chief Diversity Officer, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
  • Dominik Whitehead – Vice President of Campaigns, NAACP

Afternoon Sessions | 2:30 – 4:00PM | 4 Sessions

SESSION 4:

Strengthening Our Communities: The Fight to End Gun Violence

Policy Committees: International Affairs | Emergency Preparedness, Cyber and Homeland Security
Policy Chairs: Representative Anthony Daniels (AL) | Representative Raymond Hull (RI)

This discussion will follow all the hard work done by state legislators to fight for funding gun violence prevention programs and the impact they’ve had in communities. Panelists will discuss the importance of fighting for funding in a difficult landscape, avenues to fund programs and grants, ways to make Community Violence Intervention (CVI) more equitable, garner social impact and empower youth against gun violence. Subject matter experts and legislators will lead this session to empower states to fight crime in the Black community.

  • Yolanda Cash Jackson, Esq. – Shareholder, Becker
  • Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II – State of Michigan
  • Monisha Henley – Vice President of Government Affairs, Everytown for Gun Safety
  • Michael Sean-Spence – Managing Director of Community Safety Initiatives, Everytown for Gun Safety
  • Ron Johnson – Director of the Office of Community Safety, City of Nashville

 

SESSION 5:

Connecting Communities: Addressing Broadband Affordability and the Future of Artificial Intelligence for Black America

Policy Committees: Agriculture and Conservation | Energy, Transportation and Environment Telecommunications, Science and Technology
Policy Chairs: Representative Sonya Harper (IL) | Representative Barbara Ballard (KS) | Representative K.C. Ohaebosim (KS)

The progress achieved by the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Broadband Equity and Access Deployment (BEAD) programs will be highlighted. The panelists will identify potential opportunities to shape the future of broadband access and adoption. The discussion will also address how companies are creating opportunities to promote American innovation by developing artificial intelligence technologies, working with government, competitors, and researchers/academics to mitigate risks.

  • Assemblyman Clyde Vanel – New York General Assembly – 33rd District
  • Chelsi Bennett, J.D. – State Public Policy Lead, Eastern U.S. for Block
  • Koy Miller – Executive Director, Public Policy and Strategic Alliance, Verizon
  • Mansoor Khadir – Associate Vice President of External Affairs, NCTA – The Internet & Television Association

 

SESSION 6:

The Future of Collegiate Sports and NIL Policy for Black Athletes

Policy Committees: Business and Economic Development | Gaming, Sports, Tourism and Entertainment
Policy Chairs: Senator James Sanders (NY) | Representative Chris Bell (MS)

College athletics is changing rapidly, and our legislators must have a clear understanding of the current policy landscape specifically with Name Image and Likeness. This session will address the issues impacting college athletics and how to collectively address it across the nation.

  • Kendra Bulluck – Executive Director, Orange Blossom Classic
  • Angela Adams Suggs – President and CEO, Florida Sports Foundation
  • Joe Briggs, Esq. – General Partner, TJC Ventures

 

SESSION 7:

Protecting Our Educators, Safeguarding Our Future

Policy Committees: Children, Youth and Families | Education
Policy Chairs: Representative Melissa Minor-Brown (DE) | Representative Felicia Robinson (FL)

Extremist ideologies continue to attack education professionals, particularly from Black and other diverse backgrounds. This session will delve into the necessities from K-12 to higher education, share strategies and the role our legislators must play in strengthening and protecting the future of education for our students.

  • Kimberly Jones, JD, CAE – President, Council for Opportunity in Education
  • Lesia L. Crumpton-Young, PhD, MBA – CEO, Greatness Gurus Corporation
  • Fedrick C. Ingram – Secretary-Treasurer, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO
  • Angela Williams – Senior Director, Government & External Affairs, Stride
  • Tanya T. Coats – President, Tennessee Education Association
  • Rep. Marvin R. Pendarvis, Esq. – South Carolina State Representative – 113th District
  • Curtis Valentine – Co-Director, Reinventing America’s Schools Project, Progressive Policy Institute

Stay tuned for special guest announcements on our social media platforms, and use #TheFutureIsNow and #NBCSL2023 to help us spread the word about this year’s conference with your network.

The countdown to ALC begins and we are excited to see you in Nashville!

For more information about the 47th Annual Legislative Conference, please email us at planner@nbcsl.org