Welcome and Introductions Richard Yep, CAE, FASAE, CEO, American Counseling Association Aisha C. Mills, Political Strategist and Social Impact Advisor (Moderator)
Remarks on Legislative Proposals on Mental Health Representative Anthony Brown (D-MD), U.S. House of Representatives
Presentations and Panel Discussion: Legislative Proposals on Racism, Police Reform, and Mental Health Jake Hinch, Legislative Assistant for Senator James (”Jim”) Inhofe (R-OK), U.S. Senate (S.1464 “Law Enforcement Training for Mental Health Crisis Response Act of 2019” )
Senator Bill Cowsert (R-GA), Georgia State Senate (SR 1007 “Senate Law Enforcement Reform Study Committee”)
Charlyn Stanberry, Esq., Chief of Staff for Representative Yvette A. Clarke (D-NY), U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 7120 “George Floyd Justice In Policing Act”)
Closing Remarks — PRESENTERS’ BIOS —
Aisha C. Mills Political Strategist Social Impact Advisor (Moderator)
Aisha C. Mills is a seasoned political strategist and social impact advisor with twenty-years of experience working to ensure that our democracy is responsive to, reflective of, and led by the diverse communities that are the fabric of our nation. A nationally respected voice on Democratic politics, she is a political commentator on MSNBC and CNN, and is the author of dozens of policy reports and political and cultural analyses published in a range of media outlets. She has been recognized as one of “The Out 100”; The Root 100” top African American influencers; and a top “40 Under Forty” LGBT leader by The Advocate Magazine. Aisha was recently an IOP Fellow (Sp’19) at Harvard Kennedy School where she hosted a weekly seminar on identity politics and the rise of the “New American Majority” of people of color who will soon be the majority of the population. Previously, she was the first African American woman to lead a national LGBTQ organization in her role as president & CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund and Institute. Prior to Victory, she served as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, the largest progressive think tank in the country. Aisha has also advised and helped to elect dozens of Members of Congress as executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, regional finance director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and fundraiser to several candidates. The most southern Jersey girl you’ll ever meet, Aisha was raised in New Jersey by her grandparents who left South Carolina in the 1950s as part of the great migration of African Americans fleeing the Jim Crow south. After over 20 years in Washington, DC she is now at home in New York’s Hudson Valley.
Congressman Anthony Brown (D-MD) United States House of Representatives
Anthony Brown was elected to his first term representing Maryland’s 4th Congressional District - encompassing parts of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties - on November 8, 2016 and was sworn in on January 3, 2017. He is currently serving his second term in Congress. Congressman Brown serves as the Vice Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, where he helps shape the policies to ensure we maintain the best-trained and best equipped military, make the right investments to fight 21st century threats, and keep our country strong and safe. Congressman Brown is also a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as well as the Committee of Natural Resources, working to build 21st century transportation networks and ensure future generations of Marylanders enjoy a clean and healthy environment. He was also tapped by Democratic leaders to serve on the equally- — PRESENTERS’ BIOS —
divided House Committee on Ethics. The Ethics Committee interprets, investigates and enforces the House Code of Official Conduct and rules regarding gifts, financial disclosure and other activities of Members of Congress and employees. Congressman Brown is currently co-Chair of the New Democrat Coalition’ National Security Task Force. The son of immigrants and raised in a home where his father was the first in the family to ever attend college, Congressman Brown was taught the value of service at a young age. Through his military and public service, Anthony has devoted his life to serving his community and defending our nation. A retired Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, Congressman Brown’s military record spanned more than a quarter century as an aviator and JAG officer, during which time he graduated first in his flight class and received both Airborne and Air Assault qualifications. Congressman Brown was awarded the Legion of Merit for his distinguished military service. In 2004, he was deployed to Iraq, where he earned a Bronze Star and became one of the nation’s highest-ranking elected officials at that time to serve a tour of duty in that conflict. In 1998, Congressman Brown was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates to represent Prince George’s County. Recognized by his colleagues for his leadership, Congressman Brown rose quickly, serving as Vice Chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee and, later, as Majority Whip. Congressman Brown made an even larger impact on Maryland during his eight years as Lt. Governor. He fought to increase investments in Maryland schools so that every child could receive a world-class education, protected victims of domestic violence, expanded health coverage to over 391,000 Marylanders, increased employment and health services to veterans, and spearheaded efforts to plan for and coordinate the arrival of 60,000 BRAC-related jobs to Maryland, including at Joint Base Andrews and Fort Meade. Congressman Brown is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He and his wife Karmen are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Largo. They reside in Prince George’s County where they are raising their three children, Rebecca, Jonathan, and Anthony.
Jake Hinch Legislative Assistant for Senator James (“Jim”) Inhofe (R-OK)
Jake Hinch is a Legislative Assistant for Republican U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (OK) advising and assisting the senator on environmental, judiciary, energy and banking policy matters. He has served the senator in a variety of roles since January 2016. He is a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma and a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. — PRESENTERS’ BIOS —
Senator Bill Cowsert (R-GA) Georgia State Senate
(“Bill”) Stone Cowsert (born September 1, 1958) is an American politician from the state of Georgia. A member of the Republican Party, Cowsert serves in the Georgia State Senate, representing the 46th district. Senator Cowsert was raised in Macon, Georgia, earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Presbyterian College, and a law degree from the University Of Georgia School Of Law. After passing the bar, Cowsert founded the Athens law firm of Cowsert & Avery. Senator Cowsert was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2006 and represents Oconee County and parts of Walton and Clarke counties. He serves as Chair of Regulated Industries and Utilities, Vice Chair of Judiciary, Vice Chair of Rules, and on Appropriations, Health and Human Services, and Finance Committees. Senator Cowsert is the newly appointed Chair of The Study Committee on Law Enforcement Reform in Georgia.
Charlyn Stanberry, Esq. Chief of Staff for Representative Yvette A. Clarke (D-NY)
Charlyn Stanberry currently serves as Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. Previously, Charlyn served as Congresswoman Clarke’s Legislative Director and Counsel, Vice President of External Affairs for Net Communications, Counsel for the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council and Professional Staff for the Congressional Black Caucus. During the 2016 Hillary for America Campaign, she served as a Regional Voter Protection Director in Florida. Charlyn earned her J.D. from Florida International University’s College of Law and her B.S.B.A. and M.P.A. from the University of Central Florida. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and serves in various leadership capacities in the DC community including with the Washington Bar Association Educational Foundation, Junior League of Washington and New Leaders Council DC. Additionally, she is an Adjunct Professor at the University of the District of Columbia where she teaches Civics and Ethics & Values. In 2020, she received the Lawyer of the Year award from the Washington Bar Association, Public Sector Award of Excellence from Women in Government Relations and was named a Top 40 under 40 Nation’s Best Advocate from the National Bar Association.