43rd Annual Legislative Conference September 18-21, 2013 Walter E. Washington Convention Center Join CBCF for a series of issue forums geared toward emerging leaDerS college students and young professionals ages 18 to 35.

“Where Are They Now?” CBCF Alumni Networking Reception Wednesday, September 18, 2013 Thursday, September 19, 2013 | 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Room 143-A National Association of Realtors Synopsis: With 2,000+ alumni, CBCF plays a major role in 500 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC providing opportunities for talented young adults to work in the Invitation Only competitive world of policy. “Where Are They Now?” showcases Synopsis: The CBCF Alumni Association was created to foster the professional paths pursued by CBCF alumni and the social continuous engagement among previous interns, fellows and impact they continue to make after completing their respective scholarship recipients. CBCF Alumni are some of the most accomplished internships, fellowships and scholarships. Attendees will also have and dedicated professionals across the country working to further an opportunity to connect with alumni, network and learn about impact their communities. The Foundation is proud to recognize more the CBCF Alumni Association. than 2,000 alumni. In our effort to promote the opportunity for alumni to interact with each other, the Foundation hosts an annual alumni Intellectual Property and Technology Sharing: reception at our Annual Legislative Conference. Energy Issues in Developing Nations Wednesday, September 18, 2013 A Town Hall Meeting for Emerging Leaders 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Room 143-B Friday, September 20, 2013 | 10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. Synopsis: How does a state comply with bilateral and multilateral Room 207-B technology transfer agreements when the agreements involve Presenting Sponsor: Union Pacific property rights? There is building tensions between nations Synopsis: The Emerging Leaders Town Hall is designed to engage involving the burden of ownership and payment for intellectual political leaders, corporate executives, community activists, entertainers property, which could lead to less international cooperation to and other young professionals in discussing the state of affairs in Black combat climate change and increased levels of green house America. Historically, our community has played a major role in our gas emissions as developing countries industrialize. During country’s economic, political and social development. Acknowledging this session, experts will present different perspectives on the the role that Emerging Leaders play in advocating for effective change, intersectionality of intellectual property rights and economic we will also identify strategies for them to navigate the political process, issues involving technology sharing of advanced nuclear, influence public policy and excel in corporate America. renewable, and reusable energy and will discuss possible solutions to the rising international antagonism. The Black Party Friday, September 20, 2013 | 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Instant Apprentice Power Luncheon Howard Theatre Thursday, September 19, 2013 620 T Street, NW, Washington, DC 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Room 202-AB Tickets are required and may be purchased in the registration Synopsis: The Emerging Leaders luncheon will feature African- area at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center until American executives and leaders in business, government, capacity is reached. education, sports and non-profit organizations. During this high- Presenting Sponsor: ExxonMobil energy event, participants will have access to power-brokers by Synopsis: Emerging leaders will mingle amid the regal ambiance of the becoming their “instant apprentices.” Industry leaders will give legendary Howard Theater. A free shuttle bus service will be provided for advice on how to gain a competitive advantage in today’s market, black party attendees from the Grand Hyatt, Renaissance, and Marriott tap into one’s entrepreneurial spirit and enhance leadership skills Metro Center hotels every 20 minutes to the Howard theater from 8:00 by sharing lessons which have helped them become successful. p.m. to 1:30 a.m. A ticket is required for entry.

Young Elected Officials Roundtable Saturday, September 21, 2013 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Room 146-A Synopsis: The 2013 Roundtable with Young Elected Officials, Policy Officials and the Obama Administration is designed to equip young professionals with the tools and resources needed to be successful advocates, legislators and policy makers. Young elected officials, policy professionals (40 years of age and younger) as well as a select group of African-American leaders from the Obama administration will gather to engage in this important conversation. The moderator will facilitate a discussion around accessing federal resources, communicating effectively with the White House and other federal officials, monitoring and accessing federal funds, promoting civic engagement in local communities, and building and sustaining an exceptional career in public policy. 30 CBCF OVERVIEW The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) was established in 1976 as a non-partisan, non- profit, public policy, research and educational institute.

Our mission is to advance the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public.

CBCF seeks to achieve its mission by facilitating the exchange of ideas and information to address critical issues affecting our communities; developing strategic research and historical resources for the public; providing leadership development and scholarship opportunities; and developing effective programs and research to address social, economic and health disparities.

CBCF programs are supported by fundraising events and corporate underwriting. Each year, CBCF produces the Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) which provides a national forum to develop strategies and viable solutions to public policy issues facing Black America.

In addition, CBCF sponsors regional symposiums throughout the country to explore public policy concerns and to solicit opinions and recommendations of citizens at the local community level.

CBCF EMERGING LEADERS SERIES The Emerging Leaders Series is a special registration category that benefits students and young professionals seeking to step up their game! By attending ELS, you will gain tools essential to personal and professional success. The powerful combination of expert information and access to decision makers will benefit you as you seek to achieve your goals.

ELS will provide you with a unique experience to take your career and community to the next level.

Through this series, you can contribute to a national emerging leaders’ agenda that will serve as the

blueprint for change. You will also be able to ask the nation’s most powerful leaders in business, nonprofit EMERGING LEADERS SERIES and government the questions you want answered, while building your personal and professional brand.

Don’t miss your chance to see and be seen at the Emerging Leaders Series.

3 INSTANT APPRENTICE MENTOR

Mason P. Ashe, President, Ashe Sports & Entertainment Consulting Keywords: Law/Justice, Sports Management, Arts, Entertainment, Education

Mason P. Ashe is a sports and entertainment attorney, brand strategist, and adjunct law professor who has played an integral role in negotiating and managing the success of professional athletes, entertainers, businesses, and entrepreneurs that provide platforms and delivery mechanisms to commercialize talent around the world. He has negotiated employment, endorsement, and personal appearance agreements for professional athletes who were starters, All-Stars, and won championships in the NBA, WNBA, and NFL. He has been listed twice by Sports Illustrated magazine as one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports.” Mr. Ashe earned a BA in Psychology from Hamilton College, a JD from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, and is a member of the Bar.

W. Todd Baker, Partner, Oblon Spivak McClelland Maier & Neustadt, LLP Keywords: Law/Justice

W. Todd Baker is a patent attorney highly recommended for his patent prosecution expertise, and he has been named to the Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) list of the top 1000 patent attorneys in the world. He has extensive experience handling all aspects of post-issuance proceedings at the USPTO including reissue applications, ex parte reexamination, IPR proceedings, and appeals to the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). As Chair of Oblon Spivak’s Patent Interferences group, Mr. Baker leads the team, advising clients on issues of priority, patentability, derivation, inventorship, and licensing related to patent interference matters before the PTAB. Mr. Baker is a recognized leader in the IP community, currently serving on the Board of Directors of the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

Deana Bass, Partner, Bass Public Affairs Keywords: Media/Communications, Business, Government, Nonprofits, Arts

Deana Bass brings over 20 years of communications experience to her role as a principal at Bass Public Affairs. She has managed the communications for politicians, business leaders and community organizations on the national, state and grassroots levels. Deana has served as press secretary and spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Howard P. Buck McKeon, Director of Coalitions for the House Republican Conference, and Deputy Director of Coalitions for the Republican National Committee. ​In addition to her national experience, her work as a staff writer for regional daily newspapers and her experience as the news producer of a CBS affiliate gives her a keen appreciation for writing, editing and messaging that appeals to grassroots audiences. She holds a B.A. in communications and international relations from Salem College and an M.F.A. in film production from The Ohio University.

Robert B. Batie, Jr., Senior Cyber Security Engineer, Raytheon IIS Keywords: Technology, Science, Cyber and Information Security, Defense Contracting

Robert Batie, Jr. has more than 25 years in the IT industry, and has directed cyber security engineering projects and business pursuits for a variety of Defense organizations. He is a Principal Investigator for Independent Research and Development (IRADs) programs, including Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Biometrics, and DoD Architecture Framework for Information Security. Mr. Batie is also an CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL

ND inventor – he had a US Patent awarded in May 2013, with 4 provisional US Patents submitted from

43 2008 – 2013. He has a M.S. in Computer Systems Management from the University of MD and is pursuing a PhD at Nova Southeastern University. 4 Lisa Borders, MHA, Chair, The Coca-Cola Foundation & Vice President, Global Community Connections, The Coca-Cola Company Keywords: Business, NARTD (Non-Alcohol Ready to Drink) Beverages

In her role at Coca-Cola, Lisa Borders integrates the company’s global community outreach and philanthropic efforts into their broader sustainability agenda. Ms. Borders successfully completed her tenure in early 2013 as President of the Grady Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of Grady Health System, Georgia’s largest public hospital. Formerly, she served as President of the City Council and Vice Mayor of , and as CEO of LMB, LLC, a consulting company advising clients on community reinvestment, external affairs, marketing and communications. Ms. Borders has a Bachelor’s Degree from Duke University and a M.S. in Health Administration from the University of Colorado.

Olutosin “Olu” Burrell, Program Development Specialist/Government Liaison, Office of Youth Programs, DC Department of Employment Services Keywords: Education, Government/Politics

Olu Burrell attended DC Public Schools and later matriculated to Howard University where he majored in English and minored in Secondary Education. After graduation, Olu worked in Board Governance and Event Management before going back to his real passion: working with young people. He taught English at his alma mater, Benjamin Banneker High School for more than five years before accepting his current position at DC DOES. Olu has achieved the distinction of Teacher Consultant as a member of the District of Columbia Area Writing Project and is a member of the 2012 Cohort of the Minority Political Leadership Institute of the Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Monica Cost, Chief Strategist, Evidently Assured, LLC Keywords: Business, Brand Strategy, Life Design, Entertainment, Media/Communications

Monica Cost is a Brand Strategist, Author and Life Design Advisor with over 17 years of branding experience for organizations and individuals. Her approach to all areas of her professional and personal life is around authenticity and values. Monica has provided her brand strategy expertise to the likes of actor Isaiah Washington, actress Meagan Good, reality star NeNe Leakes, and organizations including JP Morgan Chase, Prudential, and Ernst & Young. Monica’s passion for authentic living in every area of one’s life led her to write the new life changing book, “The Things I Used to do to Sneeze: How to live an authentic life with awesome emotional sensation.”

Congressman Ronald Dellums, Vice Chairman, J.C. Watts Companies Keywords: Government/Politics

The Honorable Ron Dellums, who has been in politics for over 40 years, is Vice Chairman of J.C. Watts Companies, the largest African-American owned lobbying company in Washington, D.C. In 1967, he was elected to the Berkeley City Council and in 1970 to the US House of Representatives. He represented Oakland, Berkeley, and the surrounding areas in Congress for 28 years, rising to become Chair of the House DC Committee and then Chair of the House Armed Services Committee. He was also the mayor EMERGING LEADERS SERIES of Oakland from 2007 to 2011. Initially elected to Congress in opposition to the Vietnam War, Ron became a recognized expert in military and foreign policy. He is the author of several books, including a recent autobiography Lying Down With the Lions: A Public Life from the Streets of Oakland to the Halls of Power as well as Defense Sense: The Search for a Rational Military Policy.

5 Dr. Linda Elam, PhD, MPH, Senior Deputy Director and State Medicaid Director, DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF) Keywords: Medicine/Health, Government/Politics

At the DHCF, Dr. Linda Elam oversees the offices responsible for program operations, policy and research, health care delivery management, health reform and innovation long term care, and the Office of the Medical Director. Prior to joining DHCF, Dr. Elam was a Principal Policy Analyst with the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Dr. Elam’s policy expertise, industry experience and basic science background give her a unique perspective on health care, and she is a sought-after speaker on health care coverage issues and Medicaid in the era of the Affordable Care Act. Dr. Elam received her B.S. in zoology from Howard University, her M.P.H. in Health Policy and Administration from the University of California at Berkeley, and her Ph.D. in Health Policy and Management from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at the Johns Hopkins University.

Tina Fletcher, Consultant and Motivational Speaker, Tina and Trina LLC Keywords: Education, Government/Politics, Nonprofit/Advocacy, Sports Philanthropy

Tina L. Fletcher is an author, community leader and motivational speaker dedicated to serving others. She now serves as an independent education and leadership consultant and formerly served as the Manager of Community Investment for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, a position that allowed her to fundraise for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and provide enrichment opportunities and resources to children and families in the Mid-South. She has interned in the office of former U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln, the Southern Education Foundation and in the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama. Tina has also served as an educator of history and government at Anacostia Senior High School in Washington, D.C. where she was named the 2010 Teacher of the Year. Tina earned a B.A. in Political Science and African American Studies from the University of Arkansas and an Ed.M. in Teacher Education from Harvard University.

Heather Foster, Associate Director, White House Office of Public Engagement Keywords: Government/Politics

Heather J. Foster serves in the White House as President Obama’s primary strategist and liaison with African American leaders and advocacy groups. In this role, Foster works to mobilize African American and civil rights organizations in support of the President’s policy priorities. She also works closely with the speechwriting and communications to refine messaging for speeches and policy rollouts of particular importance to African Americans. Her earlier career was spent with two major law firms in the Chicago area specializing in management and intellectual property. Most recently the National Action Network granted her their Action and Authority Award, Ebony Magazine named her as one of their “Young Political Women on the Rise,” and in 2013 Foster was named by the National Journal as one of the “25 Most Influential Women Under 35 in Washington.

Rob Hill, Sr., Author/Motivational Speaker/Community Activist Keywords: Nonprofit/Advocacy, Literary, Business

When Rob Hill Sr. Began his journey as an entrepreneur, author, relationship expert and motivational speaker the road he had traveled at that point had been riddled with disappointment and regret. Having been expelled from his parent’s home in Chesapeake, Virginia at 17 years old, Rob had to embrace the reality of homelessness for two years. After leaving the U.S. Navy as a decorated veteran, he embraced his fervor for writing and passion for helping people. In 2008, with the rise of social media on the horizon, Rob began a meager email distribution list of just 20 people who received words of inspiration and relationship advice via Rob’s written expressions. Today, Rob has a devoted social CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL

ND media following reaching 180,000 people daily. Through these platforms and Rob’s various speaking

43 engagements, Rob became affectionately known as the “Heart Healer.” 6 Donna Hollis, Shepherding Program Director, Duke Ellington School of the Arts Keywords: Education/Arts

Donna Hollis has been on the staff at Duke Ellington for 20 years. As the head of the Shepherding Program, she works with students from 9th through 12th grades, preparing them for the transition from junior to senior high school and providing intervention services to the neediest students. Ms. Hollis’ approach to aiding her students is holistic, and focuses on the entire family, which includes the design and conduct of outreach workshops for parents. She is a former dancer and was previously responsible for costume design for productions at Ellington.

Lynn Jennings, Legislative Affairs Associate, The Education Trust Keywords: Education, Nonprofit/Advocacy

Lynn Jennings is the Legislative Associate at the Education Trust where she advocates for federal policies that close the achievement and opportunity gaps between low-income students and minority students and their peers, in K-12 and higher education. She works specifically on the issues of fair funding, teacher equity, and accountability. Prior to joining the Education Trust team, Lynn worked at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, where she directed fellowship programs for young professionals working on Capitol Hill and was responsible for the strategic development of the Leadership Institute of Public Service. Lynn has taught high school students and on several college campuses in Chicago, Georgia, and Washington, DC, including Spelman College, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature, and at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where she completed her doctorate degree.

Rita D. Lewis, Director of Marketing & Promotions, Radio 1 & Owner/President, RAD Media Group Keywords: Media/Communications, Business, Social Networking, Event Planning, Promotions

Rita Lewis is an entrepreneur, marketing executive and visionary with a reputation for executing savvy campaigns in high-profile industries. Rita launched her career in the Mid-Atlantic area working for Monumental Sports, home of the Washington Wizards, Capitals, and Mystics, before moving on to Viacom, BET and Discovery Communications. As the founder and President of RAD Media Group, she exhibits her skills in social networking, event planning and promotions on local and national levels. Currently, Rita has joined Radio One, Inc.’s Washington, DC hub, where she is lending her seasoned track record and progressive approach to media concepts towards propelling their revenue streams and listener impact to record-breaking numbers. Rita has a Bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of .

Kenny Rocker, Assistant Vice President- Industrial Products Marketing, Union Pacific Keywords: Business/Finance

Kenny Rocker has responsibility for marketing strategies and business development at Union Pacific. Under Mr. Rocker’s leadership, Industrial Products helps customers and manufacturers improve their EMERGING LEADERS SERIES supply chain competitiveness in domestic and international markets. He joined Union Pacific in 1994 and has held positions of increasing responsibility across marketing and sales in logistics, market development, and field sales. His most recent role was Assistant Vice President of the Automotive group. He has held responsibilities of President and Vice President of the Union Pacific’s Black Employee Network (BEN), which is an employee resource group focused on recruiting, retaining and promoting African Americans within Union Pacific. Rocker earned his B.S. in Finance from Tuskegee University in 1994.

7 Dr. Pierre N.D. Vigilance, MD, MPH, Associate Dean for Public Health Practice, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Keywords: Medicine/Health, Education, Government/Politics

A leader in public health practice, research, and advocacy, Dr. Vigilance has more than 20 years of experience in public health leadership, programming, and administration. At GWU, he continues to expand the School of Public Health’s Practice collaboration network, assist students in finding work experience opportunities including internships and practica, teach and mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and establish strategic partnerships with a number of organizations, including a few focused specifically on development in the Caribbean. He is the former Director of the District of Columbia’s Department of Health. Before entering the government, Dr. Vigilance’s early public health work focused on the development of a community-based substance abuse program along with other social justice-oriented, community-based interventions in East .

Will Walters, Founder/Publisher, Monarch Magazine Keywords: Media/Communications

Will Walters founded Monarch Magazine in 2005. He envisioned a publication that would reflect the diversity of the ever-growing African American business professional. Walters imagined a multidimensional publication that would lay the groundwork for a multi-platform media base, which would display inspiring content. Under his leadership, Monarch has secured covers of popular celebrities and leaders such as entrepreneur and tennis champion Serena Williams, award-winning actress Angela Basset, Academy award nominee Taraji Henson and President . Rapidly, Monarch is positioning itself to be the ultimate lifestyle publication for African American business professionals.

Rep. Alan Williams, State Representative, Florida House of Representatives Keywords: Government/Politics

Rep. Alan Williams was elected in November 2008 to represent Florida’s District 8 (Leon and Gadsden). He has a record of championing legislation creating green jobs, economic development, financial literacy and prosperity. A leader amongst his colleagues, Williams also serves as Democratic Whip, and is a member of numerous committees, including the Economic Affairs and Energy & Utilities Committees, where he is the Democratic Ranking Member. Rep. Williams is also President & CEO of MW Land & Investments, a Florida based property management and business development firm. He is a recipient of both a B.S. and M.B.A. from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL ND 43 8 EMERGING LEADERS TOWN HALL BRIEFING MEMO Friday, September 20, 2013

Co-Hosted by Roland Martin & Angela Rye sponsored by

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to IMPACT’s Emerging Leader’s Town Hall. For those of you who do not know, IMPACT is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization, founded by a group of young professionals to foster civic engagement, to increase knowledge in the political and legislative processes, and to enhance economic empowerment opportunities for young professionals.

This morning’s town hall will have two panel segments. The purpose of the first panel is to examine the community’s ongoing response to the Trayvon Martin Tragedy and discuss best practices for empowering the community to advance the dialogue in a solutions-oriented and action-based manner.

The purpose of the following panel is to examine the state based and legislative strategies for addressing racial profiling, Stand Your EMERGING LEADERS SERIES Ground laws, and gun violence more generally. When working to achieve political solutions, it is important to engage varying constituencies including labor and nonprofits. We will discuss the critical synergies and partnerships that exist when working to empower communities politically.

9 ROLAND MARTIN Columnist and Host, “Washington Watch with Roland Martin”

Martin is a nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate, and is senior analyst for the Tom Joyner Morning Show, where his daily segment is heard on more than 100 stations and 8 million people daily.

He is the author of three books: Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith; Speak, Brother! A Black Man’s View of America; and The First: President Barack Obama’s Road to the White House as originally reported by Roland S. Martin. He has contributed to several others, including Paradox of Loyalty: An African American Response to the War on Terrorism by Julianne Malveaux; Black Woman Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama by Sophia Nelson; and Fatherhood: Rising to the Ultimate Challenge by Etan Thomas and Nick Chiles.

Martin is chief political editor for TV One Cable Network and host and managing editor of “Washington Watch with Roland Martin,” a one-hour Sunday morning news show.

When Jet Magazine readers voted in 2012 for who is “King of the Hill” in terms of who they turn to on issues of concern to African Americans, Martin came on top, ahead of the likes of the Rev. Al Sharpton and Donna Brazile. NewsOne.com named as the number one Black pundit in the country; and he has been named several times to The Root 100, their annual list of influential African Americans.

In his career, Martin has been showered with more than 30 awards for journalistic excellence, including being named the Journalist of the Year in 2013 by the National Association of Black Journalists for his extensive focus on voter suppression and other issues of concern to African Americans during the 2012 election.

Martin was also awarded the 2008 President’s Award by the National Association of Black Journalists for his work in multiple media platforms. In 2008, he was also inducted into the Texas A&M University Journalism Hall of Honor.He is a two-time NAACP Image Award winner; and has been named by Ebony Magazine on three occasions as one of the 150 Most Influential African Americans in the United States.

Martin spent six years as a contributor for CNN, appearing on numerous shows and earning accolades near and far for his no-holds honesty, conviction and perspective on various issues. In 2009, CNN was awarded the Peabody Award for its outstanding 2008 election coverage, of which Martin was a member of the Best Political Team on Television.

Martin has been named one of the top 50 political pundits by the Daily Telegraph in the United Kingdom, and has appeared numerous times on a variety of American networks, as well as media outlets in Canada, Columbia, Italy, Australia and South Africa.

From October 2005 to October 2008, he served as a radio talk show for WVON-AM in Chicago, first as mid-day host and CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL later as morning drive host. ND 43 10 He is the former executive editor/general manager of the Chicago Defender, the nation’s most historic Black newspaper. He is the former founding news editor for Savoy Magazine under the team of New York-based Vanguarde Media, and the former founding editor of BlackAmericaWeb.com.

He previously served as owner/publisher of Dallas-Fort Worth Heritage, a Christian monthly newspaper. He also has worked as managing editor of the Houston Defender and the Dallas Weekly, which he led to a number of local, state and national journalism awards. Mr. Martin has worked as morning drive reporter for KRLD/1080 AM; news director and morning anchor at KKDA-AM in Dallas; city hall reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram; and county government and neighbors reporter for the Austin American-Statesman. He has also written pieces for Ebony and Essence magazines.

Mr. Martin is a life member of the National Association of Black Journalists, and a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc..

He is a 1987 graduate of Jack Yates High School-Magnet School of Communications, and a 1991 graduate of Texas A&M University, where he earned a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism. In May 2008, Martin received a master’s degree in Christian Communications from Louisiana Baptist University. He has been awarded honorary degrees from Florida Memorial University, University of Maryland-University College and Lemoyne-Owen College.

He is married to the Rev. Jacquie Hood Martin, author of Fulfilled! The Art and Joy of Balanced Living. They reside in Washington, DC. EMERGING LEADERS SERIES

11 ANGELA T. RYE, ESQ. Principal, IMPACT Strategies

Angela Rye is a Principal at IMPACT Strategies and has been recognized as one of the most dynamic, young leaders on Capitol Hill. She has been featured on MSNBC, TV One, C-SPAN, BET as well as in The Root 100, MSNBC’s “BLTWY Power List: 35 Under 35 Who Changed DC”, the Washington Post “Who Runs Gov”, and recognized as one of DC’s Most Influen- tial. In 2011, Rye became the youngest woman Executive Director and first General Counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus. In her role as Executive Director, Rye was tasked with developing the overall legislative and political strategy for the CBC.Prior to her tenure with the CBC, she served as Senior Advisor and Counsel to the House Committee on Home- land Security under the leadership of Congressman Bennie G. Thompson, Chairman. There she was charged with devel- oping the general political strategy for the Committee with a focus on assisting disenfranchised, small minority owned businesses.

Upon moving to the Nation’s Capital, Rye co-founded IMPACT (www.impact-dc.com), an organization that seeks to en- courage young professionals in three core areas: economic empowerment, civic engagement, and political involvement. The organization has quickly become a powerful voice and advocate for today’s young professionals of color nationwide. Rye continues to serve as IMPACT’s Director of Strategic Partnerships. During her tenure with the organization, IMPACT has formed critical partnerships with the National Bar Association, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Rainbow PUSH’s Wall Street Project, Young & Powerful, Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute, Black Leadership Forum, and others.

Rye began her career in legislative advocacy after graduating from Seattle University School of Law, at the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), which is the umbrella association for the Nation’s 120 historically and predominately black colleges and universities on Capitol Hill and with the Executive Branch. At NAFEO, she served as the Coordinator of Advocacy and Legislative Affairs. Prior to NAFEO, Rye had the privilege of serving as a Legal Extern in Congresswoman ’ Los Angeles office. While working in the district office, Rye assisted in the mobilization and organization of community members to make a difference locally.

Rye also served as the Western Region Director for the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) where she man- aged and supervised the Regional Executive Board. Formerly the Legislative Affairs Chair of the Greater Washington Area Chapter (GWAC) for the Women’s Law Division of the NBA, Rye is committed to shoring up efforts to increase knowledge of the political processes for her colleagues and peers. Rye’s reputation for advocacy led to her appointment to the American Bar Association’s Government Affairs Committee, where she served as the YLD Liaison.

She also served as Vice Chair of the National Bar Association Young Lawyers Division where she currently remains a mem- ber and was recently appointed as Chair of the National Bar Association’s Legislative Committee.

Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Rye learned the importance of advocacy through her family’s political and com- munity activism. She now resides in Bowie, Maryland and is a member of Reid Temple AME Church. CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL ND 43 12 10:00AM-11:00AM RESPONSE TO TRAYVON MARTIN TRAGEDY Panelists: · Congressman Andre Carson (D-IN) · Jeff Johnson, Activist and Host, The Intersection · Judith Browne Dianis, Co-Director, Advancement Project · Phillip Agnew, Executive Director, Dream Defenders · Rev. Dr. Jamal H. Bryant, Pastor, Empowerment Temple AME Church · Michael Skolnik, Political Director for Russell Simmons and Editor-in-Chief, Global Grind EMERGING LEADERS SERIES

13 CONGRESSMAN ANDRE CARSON (D-IN) Representing Indiana’s 7th District First elected as part of a special election in early 2008, Congressman André Carson is now serving in his 3rd full term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since taking office, he has established him- self as an influential leader and respected public servant, fighting for good paying jobs, economic growth, and safer communities for Indiana’s working families. During the 113th Congress, Carson will serve as a Senior Whip for the House Democratic Caucus and as a member of the Congressio- nal Black Caucus’s Executive Leadership Team, enabling him to fight for Indiana’s 7th Congressional District at the highest levels of political leadership. Congressman Carson has consistently fought for the middle class, securing more than $500 million for investments in public safety, education, infrastructure, and the creation and protection of thousands of good paying jobs. Additionally, the Congressman has made accessibility a priority for his office, holding regular meetings around the district and hosting Congress on Your Corner events to ensure constituents have access to the resources and information they need. In Washington, Carson fought to pass the historic health care reform law, which provides families and business with better health insurance options and makes health care more affordable and accessible for tens of millions of Americans. As a former member of the House Financial Services Committee, he also helped pass Wall Street Reform, which protects con- sumers by ending government bailouts and the risky lending practices that almost destroyed our economy. In the 113th Congress, Rep. Carson will serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. Congressman Carson is also the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastruc- ture Economic Development Subcommittee. Rep. Carson has already experienced legislative success for those who have served our nation in the armed forces. In 2011, President Obama signed two pieces of Carson legislation into law: The Service Members Mental Health Screening Act, which ensures comprehensive evaluation of mental health assessments before and after deployment, and the Military Families Financial Preparedness Act, which provides service members and their spouses with financial counseling before leaving the military. Congressman Carson is a proud Indianapolis native, having grown up on the city’s east side. He is a graduate of Arsenal Tech High School, and he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Management from Concordia University-Wisconsin and a Masters in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. Before taking office, Congressman Carson served on the Indianapolis City-County Council and worked full-time in law- en forcement. Carson previously worked for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security in the anti-terrorism unit. Congressman Carson is married to local educator Mariama Carson. They are the proud parents of a six-year old daughter, Salimah, and live in Center Township.

JEFF JOHNSON Activist and Host, “The Intersection”

Mr. Johnson is an award-winning journalist, strategist, social activist, and author. From his powerful weekly commentaries to his grass-roots work inspiring the next generation of leaders, Jeff Johnson continues to be a trailblazing social entrepreneur and an authentic voice for change.

Mr. Johnson has spent the last decade merging the worlds of politics and popular culture including his work as Senior Advisor for Media and Youth Outreach at People for The American Way, National Director of the Youth & College division of the NAACP, and an appointment by Russell Simmons as the Vice President of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network. Johnson is currently Partner and Chief of Strategy for Illume Communications, a Baltimore based firm. He tackles politics, entertainment, and social policy providing opinion for the Rickey Smiley Morning Show and hosting his own weekly internet show titled, The Intersection. CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL ND 43 14 JUDITH BROWNE DIANIS Co-Director, Advancement Project

Judith Browne Dianis has an extensive background in civil rights litigation and advocacy in the areas of voting, education, housing, and employment. She has protected the rights of people of color in the midst of some of the greatest civil rights crises of our modern times, including in Florida after the 2000 election and in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Under Dianis’ leadership, Advancement Project has been dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline in school districts throughout the country since 1999. Dianis has authored groundbreaking reports on the issue including: Opportunities Suspended (2000) and Derailed: The Schoolhouse to Jailhouse Track, detailing the unnecessary criminalization of students by their schools. Working closely with grassroots organizations, Advancement Project’s work has significantly decreased student suspensions and arrests in Denver, Baltimore and Florida. Additionally, Advancement Project has worked to build and support a growing national movement on this issue. Dianis’ commitment to racial equity in public schools carries over to her positions on the Board of FairTest, and she is a founding Convener of the Forum for Education and Democracy. In recognition of Dianis’ work on these issues, she was recently named a Black Male Achievement Social Innovator by the Leadership & Sustainability Institute. Dianis’ efforts to protect voters of color spans years of dedication. From filing one of the first-ever lawsuits to enforce the “Motor Voter” law to litigating on behalf of Black Floridians after the 2000 election, Dianis has established herself as an expert in voting rights. She continued her litigation efforts in 2004, stopping the Republican National Committee from engaging in voter suppression in Ohio and requiring Virginia in 2008 to ensure equitable allocation of voting machines. As Advancement Project has continued its aggressive voter protection efforts effectively blocking voter suppression efforts in 2012, Dianis has also been leading an effort to develop a campaign to secure an explicit right to vote in the U.S. Constitution. In 2013, she was awarded a Prime Movers Fellowship for trailblazing social movement leaders to further develop this campaign. Dianis joined Advancement Project at its inception in 1999, after serving as the Managing Attorney in the Washington, D.C. office of the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. She is a graduate of Columbia University School of Law, was awarded a Skadden Fellowship, served as a Tobias Simon Eminent Scholar at Florida State University Law School, and as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center. She was named one of the “Thirty Women to Watch” by Essence Magazine and has written and commented extensively in the media about race, voting rights, and education issues, appearing often on MSNBC, CNN, BET, TVOne and various radio shows.

PHILLIP AGNEW Executive Director, Dream Defenders

Phillip Agnew is a native of Chicago, IL, and a 2008 graduate of Florida A&M University’s School of Business and Industry, where he served as Student Body President, and member of the University Board of Trustees and Faculty Senate. His life was changed when he became an organizer with the Student Coalition for Justice: a cadre of students from Florida A&M University, Florida State University, and Tallahassee Community College angered at the murder of Martin Lee Anderson in a Florida Youth Boot Camp. EMERGING LEADERS SERIES After four years in Charlotte, NC working in Sales, he returned to Florida to work as Executive Director with the Dream Defenders, a network of black, brown, and poor youth and students across the State of Florida fighting criminalization and for equal rights for the next generation of black brown and poor youth. Last month, they held a 31 day occupation of Florida’s State House demanding the passing of “Trayvon’s Law.” They are building on 8 campuses across the state of Florida for the passing of this Act and are moving to register and engage 61,550 before 2014.

15 REV. DR. JAMAL H. BRYANT Pastor, Empowerment Temple AME Church

Jamal Harrison Bryant was born for this season, living on purpose and dying to empower a generation. A third generation preacher with a 21st century approach, he is redefining ministry, defying odds and revitalizing the movement. The epitome of Dr. Bryant’s energy and interest is evident with the supernatural success of his ministry and the Empowerment Temple Church (ET). ET began on Easter of 2000, when 43 people attended Bible study in his home. Within a few short years, ET skyrocketed to a membership of 12,000, making it the fastest growing church in the history of the AME church. The church has grown, reflecting a strong membership with a difficult demographic to reach, 18-45 year-olds. They have registered more voters than any church in the state of Maryland. He has also launched the Empowerment Academy (grades k-6) one of the most sought after elementary schools in the city, with a curriculum based on the arts. Prior to pastoring, Dr. Bryant served as the national youth and college director of the NAACP for 6 years. He brought a fresh wind of enthusiasm while leading almost 70,000 young people worldwide on non-violent campaigns and social activism. Dr. Bryant is a leader who has been able to relate to people from all walks of life. He dropped out of high school, became a single parent, secured a GED and was able to achieve a Bachelors degree from and a Masters of Divinity at Duke University. He then studied at Oxford University in Great Britain and earned a doctorate from The Graduate Theological Foundation. Although Dr. Bryant is a local pastor, he maintains a global perspective. At age 17, he went with his family to serve as missionaries in Liberia, West Africa. Giving back to his adopted second home, Dr Bryant has established the JHB Hope Academy elementary school to expose young students to the use of technology. He also built a 1000 seat sanctuary in that country. In his last year of college, he studied abroad in Johannesburg, South Africa where he participated in voter mobilization for the first free election, whereby Nelson Mandela was elected. Dr. Bryant’s commitment to the gospel has put a demand for his ministry in many countries, universities, conferences and churches each year. Dr. Bryant has written 4 books with over 100,000 copies sold. Most notably, World War Me won the African American Publishers Award. He has such a commanding presence on the Internet that over 8,000 watch his services online from around the world as well as over 150,000 follow him on Facebook and Twitter. After leading the Occupy the Dream movement with Russell Simmons and Ben Chavez in January of 2012 toraise awareness about economic inequity in the black community, a group of 30 black mainline denominations and reformations unanimously elected Dr. Bryant as President of the Empowerment Movement, an interdenominational alliance to advocate civil rights and the agenda of the .

Out of all of Dr. Bryant’s accomplishments his greatest passion & joy is being a devoted father to his daughters. Dr Jamal Harrison Bryant is the voice that was born to empower this generation!

MICHAEL SKOLNIK Political Director to Russell Simmons and President of GlobalGrind.com

Michael Skolnik is a 21st century civil rights leader. As the Political Director to hip-hop pioneer Russell Simmons and President of GlobalGrind.com, an online destination founded by Simmons with over 4.5 million viewers per month, Michael is a leading voice for young America.

A trailblazer of social media with 120,000 followers on twitter, Michael has led national conversations about the death of Trayvon Martin and the subsequent trial of George Zimmerman, the Marathon bombings, the rise of violence in Chicago, America’s relationship with race and the Obama presidency, amongst many other topics. Michael regularly discusses the aforementioned topics, current events, and how they affect his generation on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NPR CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL

ND and HLN, to name a few media outlets. 43 Michael serves on the Board of Directors for The Trayvon Martin Foundation and the Drug Policy Alliance. He is a graduate 16 of UCLA and the proud father of Mateo Ali. 11:00AM-12:00PM STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS RACIAL PROFILING, STAND YOUR GROUND LAWS, AND GUN VIOLENCE Panelists:

· Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL) · Florida State Rep. Alan Williams · Florida State Sen. Oscar Braynon · Brandon Davis, Political Director, SEIU · LaDavia Drane, Executive Director, CBC · Chanelle Hardy, SVP, National Urban League · Janaye Ingram, Executive Director, National Action Network EMERGING LEADERS SERIES

Questions: Response to Trayvon Martin Tragedy 17 CONGRESSWOMAN ROBIN KELLY (D-IL) Representing Illinois’ 2nd District

Congresswoman Robin Kelly was elected to represent Illinois’ 2nd District on April 9, 2013. As a former State Representative, Kelly brings extensive legislative experience to the 2nd District. She successfully sponsored bills to protect consumers from fraud, support economic development and increase the minimum wage. She also led the fight for landmark legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and improve public safety. During her tenure in the Illinois Legislature, Kelly mentored progressive candidates and encouraged new leaders, including one of her colleagues, Barack Obama, in his successful 2004 bid for U.S. Senate. Most recently, Kelly was Chief Administrative Officer of Cook County, where she was responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and implementing policy for the second largest county in the United States. Kelly has also served as chief of staff in the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office. As the first African American woman to serve as chief of staff for a constitutional officer in Illinois, Kelly pursued a progressive agenda rooted in promoting small business job creation, investment strategy innovation, eliminating food deserts and advancing financial literacy in underserved areas. She also helped to transform the Treasurer’s Office – an agency that manages as much as $17 billion in state funds – by improving efficiencies, streamlining expenses and demanding stronger ethical guidelines. A New York native, Kelly moved to Illinois after high school to attend Bradley University in Peoria, where she earned her B.A. in psychology and a M.A. in counseling. She later received a Ph.D. in political science from Northern Illinois University. Kelly serves on a number of boards, including the Northern Illinois University Political Science Advisory Board, Rich Township Food Pantry, the Board of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and serves as a Bradley University Trustee. In 2009, she was inducted into the university’s Centurion Society for honored alumni. She also is an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. Kelly lives in Matteson with her husband, Dr. Nathaniel Horn and has two adult children, Kelly and Ryan. CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL ND 43 18 REPRESENTATIVE ALAN WILLIAMS Florida State Representative

State Representative Alan Williams has represented the District 8 (Leon & Gadsden) of Florida House of Representative since November 2008. Williams serves as Chairman of the Florida Conference of Black State Legislators (FCBSL). Since its inception in 1984, the FCBSL has been on the cutting edge of issues that might otherwise have been ignored, a current membership of 28 members which reside from the northern part of Pensacola, FL to the southern part of Key West, Florida with a constituency population of 3.2 million. Williams has served on Appropriations, Ethics & Election Subcommittee, Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, and Joint Committee on Public Counsel Oversight, Senate Redistricting Subcommittee, Regulatory Affairs, State Affairs Committee, and Transportation & Highway Safety Subcommittee. Williams was picked by the Democratic Leadership to serve as Democratic Whip, a pivotal position that ensures the Democratic Caucus agenda is enforced and protected. A champion for the issues of energy and economic development, Rep. Williams has served as Ranking Member on the Economic Affairs and Energy & Utilities Committee. He has taken a special interest in the issues of civil justice. His tireless efforts has resulted in successfully passing legislation creating the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame that recognizes and honor those persons who have made significant contributions to the ever expanding struggle for civil rights in the State of Florida. He is also committed to improving the quality of public and higher education. Prior to his tenure, Rep. Williams served as Tallahassee Mayor John Marks, Aide as a liaison between the community and the Office of the Mayor. He is the founder of MW Land & Investments, a Florida based property management and business development firm. As President and CEO, he promotes business ownership and drives business back into the local community. Rep. Williams earned a bachelor’s degree and M.B.A. from Florida A&M University. Williams has been featured in several national publications and periodicals, participated on several national panels/roundtables as an expert on several issues such as, Green Energy Economy, convergence of Cable and Telecommunications, Stand your Ground laws and Voting Rights Act. Most recently, Rep. Williams was invited to the White House to meet with President Barack Obama and U.S. Attorney General on the critical issue of Voting Rights. Just as family was a great influence in the beginning of his life, it continues to impact him now with his own family. Alan is married to Attorney Opal McKinney-Williams and they work together to instill those same characteristics in their two children, Adriana and Alan-Louis. Alan is committed to the people he serves and his life affirms Dr. Martin Luther King’s powerful conviction that, “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” EMERGING LEADERS SERIES

19 SENATOR OSCAR BRYANON II Florida State Senator

Oscar Braynon, II was elected to the Florida Senate to represent Senate District 36 in March of 2011. District 36 encompasses the majority of Northeast Miami-Dade County and parts of Southern Broward County. Prior to being elected in his current position, Senator Braynon served as the State Representative for District 103. Senator Braynon credits his interest in politics to his parents, Oscar and Patricia, who took him to local government meetings as a child. He quickly learned that the only way to make a difference in the lives of others was to be an active participant in the political process. His life-long dream became a reality in July of 2003, when at the age of 26 he was elected to serve as a City Councilman of Miami-Dade County’s third-largest populated city (Miami Gardens). He made history by becoming one of the youngest politicians ever elected in Miami-Dade County. On June 27, 2005, he was unanimously appointed Vice Mayor of the City of Miami Gardens. Constituents of Senate District 36 would describe the Senator as an honest and committed public servant; however, he has long been recognized as a shining star in South Florida for his efforts in giving back to the community’s most vulnerable citizens. Senator Braynon hosts an annual youth invitational basketball tournament, helping children in his community constructively enjoy spring break. He has also served as a City of Miami Summer Youth Employment Counselor, providing pre-employment training to disadvantaged youth, and has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, 100 Black Men of America, the United Way and he is a mentor for the 5000 Role Models. Senator Braynon is always working hard in and out of the legislature to ensure fairness for not only his constituents but every resident of Florida. When he is not working to improve the lives of the citizens of Senate District 36, Senator Braynon serves as a Governmental Consultant for LSN Partners and is a wonderful husband to Melissa Fung Braynon and father to Brandon and Oscar Braynon III. He is a graduate of Florida State University and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

BRANDON DAVIS Political Director, SEIU

Brandon L. Davis is the National Political Director SEIU – the nation’s fastest-growing union, representing 2.1 million workers in healthcare, public and property services. As National Political Director, Brandon leads SEIU’s political program and is tasked with mobilizing SEIU members in a national community-based movement to win key elections while building permanent political infrastructure across the country in order to create and sustain real policy change for working families. Before he became the National Political Director, Brandon served as the Deputy National Political Director for Member Engagement and worked on the fight to win historic national healthcare reform. He joined SEIU in 2007 and first served as the Political Director for SEIU’s Missouri State Council. Prior to joining SEIU, Brandon worked extensively on electoral campaigns. Among other races, he helped lead Senator Claire McCaskill’s campaign to victory as Political Director and Deputy Campaign Director, giving middle-class Missourians a strong voice in the Senate. CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL ND 43 20 LADAVIA DRANE Executive Director, Congressional Black Caucus

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, LaDavia Drane learned the importance of hard work and public service. LaDavia earned her B.S. from Miami University’s Richard T. Farmer Business School and her J.D. from Cleveland State University’s Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Following law school, LaDavia practiced law at Ulmer & Berne LLP in Cleveland where her areas of practice were business litigation, employment law, real estate, ERISA, and regulatory compliance.

LaDavia has served as Director of Legislation and Regulatory Affairs for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, where she worked to expand access to basic banking services and advocated for affordable housing and job development for low- and moderate-income communities. She also served as Senior Director of Government Affairs at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), a member organization representing the world’s largest food manufacturers, grocers, and restaurants. LaDavia advocated for GMA’s members before Congress, the White House, and federal agencies on policy issues related to health and nutrition, product labeling, and hunger policy.

LaDavia’s tenure on Capitol Hill began in 2009 when she joined the office of her hometown Member of Congress, Rep. Marcia L. Fudge. LaDavia first served Congresswoman Fudge and the people of Ohio’s Eleventh Congressional District as Legislative Counsel and was later promoted to Legislative Director. While on Capitol Hill, LaDavia has been recognized as one of Cleveland’s 40 under 40, she was selected as one of Loop 21 and IMPACT’s first ever 40 or 40: Capitol Hill Edition, and she was recently chosen as one of National Journal’s 25 most influential women under 35.

LaDavia is anchored by a loving husband, devoted family and strong faith in God. It is with great humility and pride that she serves as the Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus under the leadership of Chair Marcia L. Fudge.

CHANELLE P HARDY, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR POLICY AND Executive Director of the National Urban League Policy Institute Chanelle P. Hardy is the National Urban League’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Executive Director of the National Urban League Policy Institute, the organization’s policy, research and advocacy arm in Washington, DC. Ms. Hardy is charged with directing the League’s public policy strategy and advocacy efforts in the areas of housing, jobs and workforce development, healthcare and education. She also directs the Policy Institute’s research initiatives, and serves as Editor-in- Chief of The State of Black America, the League’s signature publication. Prior to joining the Policy Institute, Ms. Hardy served as Chief of Staff and Counsel to former a Congressman, who served on the House Ways and Means Committee and the Committee on House Administration. Before her tenure on the Hill, Ms. Hardy was a staff attorney at the Federal Trade Commission, a Policy Fellow and Legislative Counsel at Consumers Union, EMERGING LEADERS SERIES and a member of Teach for America, instructing fifth graders in Washington, DC. Ms. Hardy received her JD from Howard University School of Law, where she finished fifth in her class, and was a member of the Huver I. Brown Trial Advocacy Moot Court Team. Ms. Hardy is a member of the board of Excel Academy Public Charter School, the first all-girls public school in Washington, DC; the board of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute and a member of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va.

21 JANAYE INGRAM Executive Director, National Action Network Janaye Ingram is the Acting National Executive Director of National Action Network (NAN) and oversees NAN’s action agenda and legislative advocacy work under Founder and President, Rev. Al Sharpton. In this role, she focuses on various issues including education, criminal justice, housing, technology, economic development and healthcare among others. Janaye has been with the organization for two years, previously serving as the Washington, DC Bureau Chief, during which she led the organization’s efforts around the 2012 Voter Engagement Tour, coalition work on issues like Stand Your Ground, planning of the 2012 and 2013 conventions and most recently planning the “National Action to Realize the Dream Rally and March” in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. Through her work with NAN, she has become a recognized voice on politics and activism with a weekly blog on Loop21 (www.loop21.com), a weekly segment on the syndicated radio show, “Keepin’ It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton” as well as appearances and features in other media including MSNBC, TVOne’s “Washington Watch with Roland Martin”, The Huffington Post and TheGrio.com. Prior to joining NAN, she held various positions with nonprofits inNewYorkand New Jersey focused on fundraising and development, marketing, communications and government relations for several nonprofits. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Clark Atlanta University and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from The New School University. Her strong leadership skills and commitment to diversity have landed her in the exclusive fellowships of National Urban Fellows America’s Leaders of Change and Give1 Project. While not working on NAN issues, Ms. Ingram serves as a National Board Member for the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (www.weenonline.org), an Editorial Board Member for emPower Online Magazine (www.empowermagazine.com) and a mentor for Brown Girls Lead. Her commitment to giving back led to the founding of Ambassadors of Hope, a scholarship and volunteer involvement campaign that benefits various national and international nonprofit organizations. CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL ND

43 Questions: Strategies to address racial profiling, Stand Your Ground laws, and gun violence 22 YOUNG ELECTED OFFICIALS ROUNDTABLE

MODERATOR

JAMAL SIMMONS Principal, The Raben Group

Jamal Simmons has worked at the nexus of politics and media for nearly 20 years. At The Raben Group, a Washington, D.C. consulting firm, he provides communications and strategic counsel to corporate and nonprofit clients. During the 2010 congressional election, he was the Democratic political analyst for CBS News and, before that, a fixture on CNN during the 2008 election. A graduate of Morehouse College, where he received the Presidential Award of Distinction in 2009, Simmons has a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University.

PANELISTS YOHANNES ABRAHAM Chief of Staff, White House Office of Public Engagement

Yohannes Abraham is the National Political Director of Organizing for America (OFA), the President’s grassroots organization housed in the Democratic National Committee. EMERGING LEADERS SERIES Prior to joining OFA, Yohannes served in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs as part of the team tasked with shepherding the President’s agenda through the House of Representatives. Yohannes first started working for President Obama in May 2007, when he joined the President’s Iowa Caucus campaign staff. He went on to serve in leadership positions in five other primary contests, including service as GOTV Director in the 2008 Virginia primary. He was the Virginia Field Director during the general election, helping turn that state blue for the first time in 44 years. After the campaign, Yohannes was part of the team tasked with writing the campaign’s grassroots post-mortem and thinking through the early stages of what would become Organizing for America. 23 VIRGIL A. MILLER Chief of Staff, Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) Virgil Miller, a West Palm Beach, FL, native and graduate of Florida A&M University, left his hometown to pursue constituent service on Capitol Hill as an aide toHouse Democrats. After interning with the Florida Department of Health and the Florida House of Representatives, Miller witnessed what he felt was the positive impact these agencies had on constituents and became addicted to politics. During summer 2005, he worked as a health care intern in the office of state Rep. Curtis Richardson. Miller arrived on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation fellow during the height of the 2006-midterm elections.

NINA SMITH Deputy Director, IMPACT

Nina Smith is currently the Publicist for The Root.com, the nation’s premier source of news, culture and commentary for thought leaders of color. Having received her B.A. in Political Science from Morgan State University, Nina worked for the MD Democratic Party during the 2006 cycle. For the next four years, Nina worked for Governor Martin O’Malley in his communications office, coordinating media events, conducting strategic communications and stakeholder management. Later, Nina left Maryland state government to work on faith and nonprofit issues for Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker’s office. Nina went on to receive a presidential appointment to the Obama Administration working at the U.S. Small Business Administration as Deputy Press Secretary in 2012.

SHAWNA WATLEY Senior Policy Advisor, Holland & Knight

A senior policy professional and strategist, with more than 16 years of public policy and political experience, Shawna Francis Watley has cultivated strong relationships that includes ties to the Obama Administration, leaders in the House of Representatives and the Senate, moderate Democrats and the Congressional Black Caucus. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Watley was the founder and president of the Francis Group LLC, which specialized in government relations consulting and advocacy on transportation issues. Her transportation experience began in her role as the manager of federal relations for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Authority where she led their efforts in reauthorization and other federal legislative matters.

STEPHANIE YOUNG National Press Secretary, Office of Democratic Whip

Stephanie most recently served as Director of Constituency Press for the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee and, prior to that, as the Director of Regional Press in Florida for President Obama’s re-election campaign. She returns to Capitol Hill, having earlier served as Communications Director for the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). In that position,

CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL Stephanie helped promote the CBC’s agenda and raised their profile in national policy ND

43 debates as a strong voice on issues important to American families. She’s previously worked at PBS NewsHour and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and 24 holds a B.A. from Hampton University in Broadcast Journalism. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SHARING

NNAMDI KALU EZERA, Senior CounselU.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP). Nnamdi Kalu Ezera is a Senior Counsel in charge of both Sub-Saharan Africa and Europe/Eurasia programs for the U.S. Department of Commerce Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP). CLDP provides training and consultative services to developing countries and those in economic transition. This technical assistance supports legal and regulatory reforms and capacity building that encourages market-driven trade and investment, and economic growth. Mr. Ezera has developed and managed both regional and country specific programs for CLDP in Southern Africa, West and Central Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Southeast Europe, and Eurasia. The programs have encompassed a broad range of subject matter areas, including,inter alia: standards and conformity assessment, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, customs, public procurement, judicial capacity building, WTO accession, legal ethics and transparency, and intellectual property. A primary area of expertise and focus in Sub-Saharan Africa is intellectual property reform. Mr. Ezera worked throughout Sub-Saharan Africa on improving the protection and utilization of intellectual property on both a national and regional basis. From capacity building to legislative drafting, Mr. Ezera has worked with African regional IP organizations (ARIPO and OAPI), regional economic communities (ECOWAS, EAC, COMESA, and SADC), IP practitioners and government officials to foster more efficient and effective IP regimes, beneficial to Africa’s economic development. Mr. Ezera was born in Nigeria. He received a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations/ Political Science from Johns Hopkins University and a Juris Doctor from the Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley. He is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia.

LAWRENCE E. JONES, PH.D.,Vice President, Utility Innovations & Infrastructure Resilience, Alstom Grid North America Dr. Lawrence E. Jones has over 20 years of experience in the energy industry. He joined Alstom Grid in 2000, and is currently North America Vice President for Utility Innovations and Infrastructure Resilience, and serves on the company’s global Business Development team for Smart Grids and Smart Cities. He was previously Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, Policy and Industry Relations. He also served as Director of Strategy and Special Projects, Worldwide, in the Network Management Systems business and led its global Renewable Energy Integration activities. Dr. Jones is an advocate for the use of smart, clean, and renewable energy technologies around the world. In September 2010, he was appointed by the United States Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to a three-year term on the 15-member Federal Smart Grid Advisory Committee established to carry out duties authorized by section 1305 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. He also serves on the Advisory Boards of several industry conferences and smart grid research programs within the Americas and Europe. He is co-founder and EMERGING LEADERS SERIES President of the Board of Directors of the Center for Sustainable Development in Africa (CSDA), and a member of the Board of Chess Challenge in DC. Dr. Jones was the principal investigator of the 2010/11 Global Survey on Renewable Energy Integration in Power Grids funded by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at U.S. Department of Energy. In 2000, he co- founded the International Workshop on Large-Scale Integration of Wind Power and Transmission Networks for Off Shore Wind Farms which has become one of the prominent wind energy conferences held today. He received the Renewable Energy World Network 2012 Excellence in Renewable Award for Leadership in Technology, and the Utility Variable- Generation Integration Group 2012 Achievement Award. He holds patents for technologies that can enhance situational awareness in power system operations, and is Editor of the forthcoming book, “Renewable Energy Integration: Practical Management of Variability, Uncertainty and Flexibility in Power Grids.” 25 Dr. Jones is a recognized thought leader and is frequently an invited speaker on a range of energy systems and technology innovation topics at industry conferences, symposia and meetings for diverse audiences, including electric NOTES utilities, executives, investors and policy makers around the world. Sample titles of his speeches and presentations include, Harnessing Cold Climate Wind Energy in a 4 Degree Warmer Planet; Energy and Information Consumption on a Smart Carbon-Constrained Planet; Evolution and Disruption of Value Chains; Energy Storage, Renewables and Smart Electric Grid: Pillars for a De-Carbonized World; Coping with the Insatiable Demand of 8.5 Billion “Enervores”; Eliminating Energy Poverty in Africa; Illuminating Africa’s Nights & Fuelling Sustainable Development in 2030: Smart Resilient Electricity Grids and Innovative Human Talent; Climate Change and Security Implications of Electricity Network; Climate Change Impacts on Utility Business & Regulation; Grid 2030: Hyper- Connectivity, Multi-Speed, Nanothings and Data Tsunamis. Dr. Jones has appeared on TV & Radio around the world including Sky News Business (Australia); E&E TV (USA); Chris Laidlaw Show (Radio New Zealand); and AfroGenisis (USA). His work has also been published and cited in the following trade publications and newspapers, Utility Automation; Power Grid International; RenewGrid; Electric Light & Power; Platts Insights; Hart Energy Markets; ERA Magazine (Sweden); Energy News (New Zealand); The Australian; and Business Day (South Africa). Dr. Jones received his MSc, Licentiate and PhD degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. He resides in Washington DC.

JOHN T. LUCAS, Assistant General Counsel for Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) John is the Assistant General Counsel for Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Washington, D.C. He is responsible for conducting the DOE’s intellectual property and technology transfer programs and formulating DOE policy in those areas. Throughout his career at DOE, he has counseled program clients on issues concerning patent, trademark, and copyright law, as well as licensing, litigation, and technology transfer. Before joining DOE in 1994, John was in private practice in Chicago, IL. Prior to entering law school, John worked as an engineer in the fields of air pollution consulting, semi-conductor manufacturing, and manufacturing R&D. John holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia, a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, and a LL.M. in Intellectual Property with honors from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He is a member of the Illinois and District of Columbia Bars, and he is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court. John has served as President of the Government Intellectual Property Law Association and has chaired the Interagency Working Group on Alternate Dispute Resolution and Intellectual Property. He is currently a faculty member for the District of Columbia Bar Association where he teaches a Continuing Legal Education program on intellectual property rights and government contracts.

URSULA MOJKOWSKA, Liaison Officer, European Parliament Office with the U.S. Congress Graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw, Poland, with a Master Degree in Law; English and European Law School of the University of Cambridge.Ursula completed her barrister traineeship and was admitted to the bar in Warsaw, Poland. Urszula started her career as a corporate advisor and attorney at law in 1996, providing legal services to corporate clients in commercial law, business acquisition, commercial contracts handling, and court litigation. She then joined the European Court of Justice as a civil servant in 2004. As from 2008 Urszula has been working for the European Parliament, first within the Directorate General for Presidency, then as a staffer at the Budgetary Control Committee. Since July 2013 she has been an EP Liaison Officer with the US Congress with responsibility over a wide spectrum of EU’s internal policies. CONFERENCE LEGISLATIVE ANNUAL ND 43 26 NOTES 1720 Avenue, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036 | 202.263.2800 | www.cbcfinc.org

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