WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Sept. 12, the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) held its 10th Annual Policy “Power of Black Women” Forum Series, in partnership with ESSENCE and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), during the opening day of the 2018 CBCF’s Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. The BWR Forum was entitled Time for a Power Shift: Follow Black Women If You Want to Win.
According to Melanie L. Campbell, President of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, “The 2018 BWR/Essence Poll and the Policy Forum discussions reflected what we are experiencing on the ground all over the nation—and that is Black women want a power shift to take place at the ballot box to the judicial system by increasing their activism and willingness to run for office. We are not waiting on anyone to invite us to their power table, we are leading and setting up our own power tables all over this country. We are leveraging our power to bring about the economic, political and social change we seek.”
One of the items of interest during the packed Public Policy Forum was the release and discussion of the results from the 4th annual “Power of the Sister Vote” (POSV) Poll conducted by the BWR and Essence, the number one media company dedicated to Black women. The goal of the annual POSV Poll is to “Collect feedback from Black women on their political outlook and the issues they consider important to their community, and to voice their opinion on the Trump presidency and share what they want the 45th president and the 115th Congress to address.” Last year, the survey generated political shock waves when it revealed a significant drop in percentage of Black women who said that “the Democratic Party best represented their interests.”
This year’s survey results indicated that political activism among African American women continues to rise and affordable healthcare is still an important issue. However, the 2018 poll revealed that the #1 issue for Black women is a rise in hate crimes & racism, up to 55% in 2018 from 33% in 2017. The #2 issue is criminal justice and policing reform. Gun violence & gun safety is the third most important issue for Black women. The lively and informative roundtable discussion on the survey was moderated by MSNBC’s Joy-Ann Reid.
In addition to the discussion about the BWR/ESSENCE survey, the Policy Forum featured three intergenerational roundtable discussions highlighting Black women that are leading the way to shift and expand their political, economic, philanthropic and social justice power for themselves, families and communities.
BWR Intergenerational Roundtable One speakers and presenters included:
- Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (Tex.-18), Chair, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
- States Attorney Angela Alsobrooks, Prince George’s County, MD
- Diane Babineaux, Vice Chair of the Board, NCBCP, Retired, IAMAW
- Ebony M. Baylor, MPA, Director, Civic Engagement, National Urban League Washington Bureau
- Salandra Benton, Convener, Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation, FL BWR, Partner, Florida Rights Restoration
Coalition
- Joi Chaney, Campaign/Executive Director, Equal Pay Today!
- Chikesia Clemons, Victim Rights Activist Against Police Brutality
- Kristen Clark, President & Executive Director, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Sabrina Fulton, Co-Founder, the Trayvon Martin Foundation
- Menna Demessie, PhD, Vice President, Research & Policy Analysis, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
- Avis Jones-DeWeever, PhD, Senior Advisor, BWR Research & Resource Development, Founder, Exceptional Women’s
Leadership Institute
- Edna Kane-Williams, Senior Vice President, Multicultural Leadership, AARP
- Tamika Mallory, Co-Chair, Women’s March
- Rev. Dr. Judith C. Moore, Convener, Pittsburgh/Mon Valley BWR, Executive Director, Sisters Saving Ourselves Now
- Ebonie Riley, Washington Bureau Chief, National Action Network
- Dr. Elsie Scott, PhD, Founding Director, Ronald W. Walters Center, Howard University
- Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Co-Chair, National African American Clergy Network
BWR Intergenerational Roundtable Two presenters included:
- Makani Themba, Chief Strategist, Higher Ground Strategies, LLC
- Shavon Arline-Bradley, Founding Principal, R.E.A.C.H. Beyond Solutions, LLC
- Lori Billingsley, Vice President of Community Relations, Coca-Cola North America
- Cora Masters Barry, Political Strategist, Board Member, NCBCP
- Clayola Brown, President, A. Philip Randolph Institute, Board Member, NCBCP
- Latosha Brown, Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter, Board Member, NCBCP
- Stefanie Brown James, Co-Founder, The Collective PAC
- Felicia Davis, Convener, Clayton County, GA BWR, Director, HBCU Green Fund
- Kristal High, Social Media Manager & Program Development Advisor, Black Women’s Roundtable, NCBCP
- Holli Holliday, Esq., Political & Data Manager, NCBCP
- Tanya Clay House, Program Officer, State Infrastructure Fund
- Janaye Ingram, Director, National Partnerships, AirBnB
- Kim Keenan, Vice President, Odyssey Media
- Patrice Lawrence, National Policy & Advocacy Director, UndocuBlack Network
- Joi Owens, Gulf Cost Policy Officer, Oxfam America
- Heather Foster, Vice President, Prek-12 Education, Widmeyer Communications, A Finn Partners Company
- Kim Keenan, Vice President, Odyssey Media
- Elizabeth Powell, Secretary Treasurer, American Postal Workers Union, Executive Board Member, NCBCP
- Rene Redwood, CEO, Redwood Enterprise, LLC
- Jennifer Tucker, Senior Advisor, Public Policy, NCBCP
- The Honorable Sheila Tyson, Convener, Alabama Coalition on Black Civic Participation/AL BWR
- Tonya Tyson, Special Assistant to CEO & Events Manager, NCBCP
- Cassandra Welchlin, Co-Convener & Lead Organizer, Mississippi Black Women’s Roundtable
The 2018 BWR Policy Forum was streamed “Live” on #RolandMartinUnfiltered and the National Coalition on Black Civic
Participation’s Facebook platform:
https://www.facebook.com/rolandsmartinfanpage/videos/270706460233944/
For a copy of the 2018 BWR/ESSENCE Poll Results and photo highlights visit:
www.unitycampaign.org