2025 CBCF ALC | Phoenix Awards Program Book by Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

September 27, 2025 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

PROGRAM BOOK

#ALC54

The Legacy of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards

Each year, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. recognizes extraordinary individuals who, through their efforts and accomplishments, have made significant contributions to society. These individuals receive the prestigious, CBCF-commissioned Phoenix Award.

Legend says that the phoenix bird lived a solitary life in a faraway land. When the phoenix knew its time had come, it chose the tallest palm tree on which it built a nest filled with essences such as myrrh and cassia. At the next dawn, the sun ignited the fragrant spices as the phoenix expired. After nine days, a fledgling phoenix rose out of the ashes.

Like its namesake, the Phoenix Award symbolizes the immortality of the human spirit and an eternal desire to reach its full potential. As we honor this year’s awardees, we recall North Carolina Representative George Henry White’s 1901 farewell address to Congress. Born enslaved in Rosindale, North Carolina, Representative White was elected to the House of Representatives in 1896. He campaigned for increased spending on African American education and proposed a bill that would make the lynching of American citizens a federal crime.

Representative White was aware that his outspoken comments on civil rights would result in the loss of his next election. In his last speech to Congress, Representative White issued a declaration to his colleagues about the future of the Negro in the American Congress.

THIS, MR. CHAIRMAN, IS PERHAPS THE NEGROES’ TEMPORARY FAREWELL TO THE AMERICAN CONGRESS; BUT LET ME SAY, PHOENIX-LIKE HE WILL RISE UP SOMEDAY AND COME AGAIN

FORMER REPRESENTATIVE GEORGE HENRY WHITE

PROGRAM

MUSICAL SELECTIONS: 105 VOICES OF HISTORY HBCU QUARTET

National Anthem

Black National Anthem

WELCOME REMARKS AND AWARD GREETING

Aldis Hodge and Samantha Walkes, Co-Hosts

CBC CHAIR REMARKS

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke Chair, CBC

PARADE OF CONGRESS

Congressional Black Caucus of the 119th Congress

CBCF CEO REMARKS & INTRODUCTIONS

Nicole Austin-Hillery

President and CEO, CBCF

CBCF CHAIR REMARKS & INTRODUCTIONS

Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell Chair, CBCF Board of Directors

CBC BODY AND CBCF CHAIR AWARD

Presented by Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell

Awarded to Former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris

CBCF CEO REMARKS

Nicole Austin-Hillery

President and CEO, CBCF

PROGRAM

ALUMNI REMARKS

Pax Fordham & Charlyn Stanberry

CBCF Leadership Institute

MAYOR REMARKS

Mayor Muriel Bowser Mayor of Washington, D.C.

CBC CHAIR’S AWARDS

Presented by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke

Awarded to Angela T. Rye, Esq.

ALC HONORARY CO-CHAIR AWARD

Presented by Senator Angela Alsobrooks & Congressman Joe Neguse

Awarded to Jotaka L. Eaddy

REFLECTIONS

Wes Moore

Governor of Maryland

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

The Roots

CLOSING REMARKS

Aldis Hodge and Samantha Walkes, Co-Hosts

AFTER-PARTY MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

DJ KOOL

A16Z

AARP

Adtalem

Affirm

AFGE

AFSCME

AFT

Airbnb

Altria

Amazon

American Association for Justice

American Cancer Society

Amgen

API

Apple

Aramark

AT&T

AWS

Bank of America

Bayer

Blackrock

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bridge Bio

Bristol Myers Squibb

Brownstein, Farber, Hyatt and Scheck

Caesars

Capital One

Chaka Burgess

Charter Communications

Chevron

Cisco

THANK YOU SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Coca-Cola

Comcast

Conoco Phillips

Corteva

Council of Federal Home

Loan Banks

DaVita

Dell

Discovery

Disney

DNC

Dominion Energy

Dow

Eli Lilly

Entertainment Software Association

Everytown for Gun Safety

Exelon

Exxon

FedEx

Ferring Pharmaceuticals

Fidelity

Ford Motor Co.

Geico

Genentech

General Motors

Gilead

Google

Healthcare Distribution

Alliance

HK Law

Intuit

Johnson & Johnson

JP Morgan Chase

Julie & Andrew Rubenstein

KKR

LIUNA

Lowes

Major League Baseball

Match Group

McDonalds

McKinsey & Co

Merck

GOLD SPONSORS

Block

Boyd Gaming Cargill

Casey Family Programs

Charter Cigna

Common Cause CTIA

Daily Pay DCCC

Dream.org

DSCC Enact

Entergy Fanatics

FedEx

Fresenius

GSK

Home Depot

Honda

League of Women Voters

MGM

Mission RT

National Hockey League (NHL)

National Urban League

SILVER SPONSORS

AFL-CIO

Accenture

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity

America’s Credit Unions

ASC Association

Bracewell

Business Roundtable

CWA

Best Buy

Blacks in Government

Children’s Hospital Association

Delta Sigma Theta

Duke Energy

EEI

Emerson Collective Genentech

Howard University

Instacart

Kappa Alpha Psi

Kettering Foundation League of Conservation Voters

Lumina Foundation Lyft Mastercard NCNW QEM

NCTA

Pharmaceutical Care Management Assoc (PCMA)

Phi Beta Sigma

Pillsbury Law

Risepoint

Salesforce

TD Bank

Verizon

Walmart WCC

Wells Fargo

Reproductive Freedom for All SEIU - Illinois

Sigma Gamma Rho

Tractor Supply Company

UDC

UNCF

Viiv

BRONZE SPONSORS

Corn Refiners

Cornerstone Government Affairs

End Citizens United

National Association of Realtors

SEIU Taft

2025 PHOENIX AWARDS HOSTS

ALDIS

HODGE

currently headlines the hit Prime Video series Cross, bringing to life James Patterson’s iconic detective “Alex Cross.” The show has quickly become one of Amazon MGM Studios’ breakout successes, with Season 2 arriving in 2026

On the big screen, Hodge lit up the DC Universe as “Carter Hall,” aka Hawkman, in Warner Bros.’ blockbuster Black Adam opposite Dwayne Johnson. His filmography is as versatile as it is impressive: he embodied NFL legend Jim Brown in Regina King’s acclaimed One Night in Miami, went toe-to-toe with Elisabeth Moss in Blumhouse’s thriller The Invisible Man, and delivered a powerhouse performance in Clemency alongside Alfre Woodard—a film that won Sundance’s Grand Jury Prize and earned Aldis the Virtuoso Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

Television audiences know him well, too. He starred in and executive produced Showtime’s City On A Hill opposite Kevin Bacon, and he’s been a fan favorite from roles in Black Mirror , Underground , and his long-running turn as “Alec Hardison” on Leverage —a character he still revisits in Leverage: Redemption

With a career spanning action, drama, and everything in between, Hodge continues to build a body of work as dynamic and compelling as the characters he plays.

Photo credit: Kwaku Alston/Prime Video

SAMANTHA WALKES

Samantha Walkes is a dynamic actor whose career began on the stage and has flourished on both the big and small screen. Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, she was performing on Broadway in The Book of Mormon when the 2020 pandemic shifted her creative path toward film and television—a transition that has since defined her career.

She made a splash with her first major TV role as Rose King in OWN & Warner Bros.’ drama The Kings of Napa Since then, Walkes brought her talent and versatility to series like Jane (Apple TV), Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), Good Sam (CBS), The Big Cigar (Apple TV+), and The Changeling (Apple TV+). On the film side, audiences will recognize her as Dr. Segar in Paramount’s Orphan: First Kill, along with leading turns in The Holiday Switch and Deadly Estate

Walkes currently stars as Elle in Prime Video’s hit series Cross, proving she’s equally at home in drama, thrillers, and heartfelt stories. Beyond the screen, she is passionate about creating meaningful art through The Collective’s Black Pledge initiative, as well as writing spoken word poetry and music.

She makes her home in Toronto with her husband Mets, their beloved pup, Nalou and beautiful newborn daughter.

CBCF CHAIR’S & CBC BODY PHOENIX

AWARD

The CBC Body Award is presented to an individual who has contributed immeasurably to African American political awareness, empowerment and the advancement of minorities in the electoral process. The CBCF Chair’s Award is presented to an individual whose work and accomplishments serve as a role model for the African American community and the African Diaspora.

This year’s award is presented by Congressman Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell to:

FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT

KAMALA HARRIS

On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President—the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected to this position.

As Vice President, she has worked to bring people together to advance opportunity, deliver for families, and protect fundamental freedoms across the country. She has led the fight for the freedom of women to make decisions about their own bodies, the freedom to live safe from gun violence, the freedom to vote, and the freedom to drink clean water and breathe clean air. While making history at home, she is also representing the nation abroad – embarking on more than a dozen foreign trips, traveling to more than 19 countries, and meeting with more than 150 world leaders to strengthen critical global alliances.

The Vice President has been a trusted partner to President Joe Biden as they work together to deliver monumental achievements that are lifechanging for millions of Americans. Together, they have invested in the economy to create a record number of jobs and keep unemployment low. Their work has led to more small business creation in a two-year period than any previous administration.

They capped the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors, cut prescription prices, and improved maternal health by expanding postpartum care through Medicaid. They passed the first meaningful gun safety law in three decades. Forming a bipartisan coalition, they enacted a $1 trillion investment in the country’s infrastructure to remove every lead pipe in America and make the most significant investment in public transit, repairing bridges, and high-speed Internet in history.

As President of the Senate, Vice President Harris set a new record for the most tiebreaking votes cast by a Vice President in history – surpassing a record that had stood for nearly 200 years. And her votes have been consequential. This includes casting the decisive vote to secure passage of the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment ever in tackling the climate crisis. She also presided over the unprecedented vote to confirm the first Black woman, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court while working alongside President Biden to achieve historic representation of women and people of color among nominees at all levels of the federal government.

In 2017, she was sworn into the United States Senate where she championed legislation to fight hunger, provide rent relief, improve maternal health care, expand access to capital for small businesses, revitalize America’s infrastructure, and combat the climate crisis. She questioned two Supreme Court nominees while serving on the Judiciary Committee. She also worked to keep the American people safe from foreign threats and crafted bipartisan legislation to assist in securing American elections while serving on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

In 2010, Vice President Harris was elected Attorney General of California where she oversaw the largest state justice department in the country. She took on those who were preying on the American people, winning a $20 billion settlement for Californians whose homes had been foreclosed on and a $1.1 billion settlement for students and veterans who were taken advantage of by a for-profit education company. She also defended the Affordable Care Act in court and enforced environmental laws.

In 2004, Vice President Harris was elected District Attorney of San Francisco where she was a national leader in the movement for LGBTQ+ rights, officiating the first same-sex wedding after Proposition 8 was overturned. She also established the office’s environmental justice unit and created a ground-breaking program to provide first-time drug offenders with the opportunity to earn a high

school degree and find employment, which the U.S. Department of Justice designated as a national model of innovation for law enforcement. And years earlier, in 1990, she joined the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office where she specialized in prosecuting child sexual assault cases.

Vice President Harris was born in Oakland, California. As the daughter of immigrants, she grew up surrounded by a diverse community and a loving extended family. She and her sister, Maya, were inspired by their mother, Shyamala Gopalan, a breast cancer scientist and pioneer in her own right who came to the United States from India at the age of 19 and then received her doctorate the same year that Kamala was born.

Both of the Vice President’s parents were active in the civil rights movement, and instilled in her a commitment to build strong coalitions that fight for the rights and freedoms of all people. They brought her to civil rights marches in a stroller and taught her about heroes like Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and civil rights leader Constance Baker Motley.

Vice President Harris went on to graduate from Howard University and the University of California Hastings College of Law. In 2014, she married Douglas Emhoff, a lawyer. They have a large blended family that includes their children, Ella and Cole.

CBC CHAIR PHOENIX AWARD

Presented each year to an individual who exhibits the highest standards of dedication, ability, and creativity.

This year’s award is presented by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke to:

ANGELA T. RYE, ESQ.

Attorney Angela Rye is an award-winning host, lawyer, social justice advocate, and Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy, social impact, and racial equity firm. A self-described “empowermenteur” who embodies what it means to be a “bringer of truth,” her no-holds-barred commentary has resonated with audiences worldwide, sparking vital conversations about social justice, politics, culture, and history in America.

With over two decades of experience in political strategy, advocacy, and reputation management, Angela has worked with every branch of government at municipal, state, and federal levels. She previously served as Executive Director and General Counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus for the 112th Congress and as Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel for the House Committee on Homeland Security for four years.

She is the proud co-creator of State of the People, which held a streaming event during the president’s Joint Address to Congress garnering more than a million views. The coalition is made up of 200 local and national organizational partners and held a historic 12 city “Power Tour” to align the community around resources, education, empowerment, and relief supporting thousands of citizens.

Working at the intersection of purpose, justice, and equity, Angela works to create opportunities and open doors for her peers and the next generation. She is most proud of

her firm’s Professional Development Program that has touched the lives of more than 500 alumni who now work at the highest levels of government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors.

Angela is co-founder of Reasoned Choice Media with Lenard “Charlamagne tha God” McKelvey and co-host of the NAACP Image Award-winning podcast “Native Land Pod.” She has been featured across major platforms including The Breakfast Club, The Daily Show, BET, HBO, TV One, CNN, ABC, NBC, and NPR.

Recognized for her honest commentary and advocacy by prominent civil rights organizations including the National Urban League, NAACP, and National Action Network, she has been featured in leading publications such as The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Essence, The Washington Post, Glamour, Le Monde, and Ebony. Her strategic partnerships and coalitions with Capitol Hill, third-party organizations, and influencers have created award-winning collaborations between major civil and human rights organizations and their corporate and government partners.

Angela currently serves as a board member for Wilberforce University, the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, Black Futures Lab, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, and on the advisory boards of Club 61 and Boon Boona. She holds honorary doctorates from Wiley College and LeMoyne-Owen College. She is also a proud alumnus of University of Washington and Seattle University School of Law.

ALC CO-CHAIRS’ PHOENIX AWARD

Presented to an individual who exemplifies leadership and social responsibility on a national level.

This year’s award is presented by Senator Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Joe Neguse to:

JOTAKA L. EADDY

FOUNDER AND CEO OF FULL CIRCLE STRATEGIES, LLC

Jotaka Eaddy is the founder of #WinWithBlackWomen, an intergenerational, intersectional network of Black women leaders from business, sports, movement, politics, entertainment, and beyond who stand united in support of Black women. The network, credited with making significant impacts on pivotal moments, was instrumental in championing Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential bid, raising over $3 million for the Harris-Walz ticket and inspiring over 200 pro-Kamala affinity groups and Zoom calls that collectively raised more than $20 million for the campaign following a historic zoom call with 44,000 participants on zoom and an additional 100,0000 on other platforms. That night, an unprecedented 1.5 million dollars was raised in 100 minutes.

Additionally, #WinWithBlackWomen played a key role in supporting the confirmation of the nation’s first Black woman U.S. Supreme Court Justice, advocating for the safe return of Brittney Griner, and advancing the power and image of Black women in film, television, movement, and culture. The network has garnered over 1 billion organic impressions on social platforms.

Jotaka is an award-winning strategist, advocate, connector, and TV host with more than 20 years of experience in policy, advocacy, and movement building. Described by Forbes Magazine as the “Olivia Pope of Silicon Valley,” Jotaka is a highly sought-after speaker and strategist whose impactful work has shaped pivotal moments in policy, technology, and culture.

As the Founder and CEO of Full Circle Strategies, LLC, Jotaka leads a team committed to advancing transformative change and global impact for clients seeking to elevate policy, ideas, and change. Her leadership has guided initiatives such as advising Oprah Winfrey: OWN Network’s award-winning OWN Your Vote Campaign, supporting the expansion of inclusive policy and platform changes for some of the world’s largest tech companies and venture firms, and guiding the launch of Goldman Sachs’ One Million Black Women Initiative,

which created a historic one-billion-dollar investment in Black women. Her work also includes leading the historic grassroots marketing campaign for the launch of The Color Purple Musical Film, which opened with the second-highest Christmas Day release in the history of film and television.

Jotaka’s career began with her trailblazing election as the University of South Carolina’s first Black Woman Student Body President and her groundbreaking advocacy that led to the abolition of the juvenile death penalty in America through the 2005 landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roper v. Simmons. She continued to make an impact as Senior Advisor to the NAACP, where she led initiatives to expand and defend voting rights through state legislative wins and executive orders, all before her bold transition to the C-Suite of Silicon Valley and the private sector, becoming one of the first Black women executives at several high growth tech companies. Committed to diverse representation and ownership in Silicon Valley, Jotaka is an active investor in several high-growth start-ups and venture funds. Additionally, she is board director and board advisor to several start-up companies.

Her visionary leadership and advocacy have earned her widespread recognition across many publications, including being named among Time Magazine’s 2025 Closers, a Marie Claire Change Maker, and Essence’s Power 40. In 2024, she was named Associated Press’s No. 3 “People to Know” in its Guide to Democracy. She is also the recipient of the Mildred Bond Roxborough NAACP Image Award for Social Impact. She holds two Honorary Doctorate degrees from Delaware State University and Benedict College.

She is a proud native of a town of 1,400 people, Johnsonville, SC and alumni of the University of South Carolina.

Jotaka is a member of The Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and continues to inspire and empower others through her commitment to transformative change, equity, and justice.

THE ROOTS

Formed in 1987 in Philadelphia, PA, The Roots—Black Thought (MC), Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson (drums), Kamal Gray (electronic keyboards), F. Knuckles (percussion), Captain Kirk Douglas (electronic guitar), Damon Bryson (sousaphone) and James Poyser (electronic keyboard)—have become one of the best known and most respected hip-hop acts in the business. Named one of the “50 Greatest Live Acts” by Rolling Stone, The Roots became the official house band on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” where they currently perform every Monday-Friday.

They are not merely the world’s best hip-hop band — but one of the great musical outfits of our time.”

ROLLING STONE

JOHN W. BOWMAN P/K/A DJ KOOL

Better known by his stage name DJ Kool, is an American DJ and rapper who produced several popular rap singles in the late 1980s. Raised in Washington, D.C., his influence from years of working the go-go and rap circuits became apparent in his music.

In 1996, he released the single “Let Me Clear My Throat” on American Recordings, which charted around the world including the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Top 10 in the UK and Netherlands in March 1997. The song prominently featured a sample of “The 900 Number” by The 45 King, (that song featured a sample from Marva Whitney’s “Unwind Yourself”, repeated over a breakbeat for six minutes). The song also began by sampling “Hollywood Swinging” by Kool and the Gang. The song is a recognizable dance floor-filler, and the track remains popular to this day.

LEADERSHIP

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION

Board of Directors

CHAIR

REP. TERRI A. SEWELL

U.S. House of Representatives

SECRETARY ALETHIA JACKSON

REP. JOYCE BEATTY

U.S. House of Representatives

COURTNEY BILLINGTON

NATALIE BRUNSON-WHEELER

State Farm Insurance Companies

DALE BURNETT BIG Equity Investors LLC

REP. TROY CARTER

U.S. House of Representatives

URI CLINTON

Boyd Gaming Corporation

LADAVIA DRANE Amazon

NONI ELLISON Tractor Supply Company

VICE CHAIR

CHAKA T. BURGESS

Nation Strategies

TREASURER MARKUS GREEN

PAMELA EVERHART

Fidelity Investments

ISAAC FORDJOUR Walgreens

FELICIA HALE The Coca-Cola Company

QUITA HIGHSMITH, MBA Genentech

COLETTE HONORABLE Exelon

REP. STEVEN HORSFORD

U.S. House of Representatives

REP. GLENN IVEY

U.S. House of Representatives

BRODERICK JOHNSON

Comcast Corporation

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION

Board of Directors

REP. ROBIN KELLY

U.S. House of Representatives

MARCUS SEBASTIAN MASON

The Madison Group

REP. LUCY MCBATH

U.S. House of Representatives

DIRECTOR EMERITUS

FORMER CONGRESSMAN

KENDRICK MEEK

REP. STACEY E. PLASKETT

U.S. House of Representatives

NICHOLE FRANCIS REYNOLDS, ESQ.

DIRECTOR EMERITUS

FORMER CONGRESSMAN

CEDRIC RICHMOND

CBC CHAIRPERSON

REP. YVETTE D. CLARKE

U.S. House of Representatives

CBC SPOUSES CHAIRPERSON

REV. WILLIAM COLEMAN

MARTIN RODGERS

Accenture

CAC CHAIRPERSON

JOHN MASON

Altria

LISA OSBORNE ROSS

DONTAI SMALLS

UPS

JESSE TYSON

RONDU VINCENT

Bristol Myers Squibb

REP. FREDERICA S. WILSON

U.S. House of Representatives

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION

Corporate Advisory Council

CHAIRPERSON

JOHN MASON

Altria

SANDERS L. ADU

Wells Fargo

PATRICK EDMOND

CSX Corporation

LAKEITHA ANDERSON

Eli Lilly

KEVIN J. ARMSTRONG

Mitchell Hamline School of Law

CACHAVIOUS ENGLISH

Ford Motor Company

KEENAN AUSTIN REED

Alpine Group

FENIMORE FISHER

Aramark Corporation

HEATHER FOSTER

RONTEL BATIE

Batie Consulting

KARIS T. GUTTER

Corteva Agriscience

BENJAMIN BRANCH

PHIL A. HANCOCK

Norfolk Southern

ZOE CADORE

KWAME CANTY

Edison Electric Institute

CHANELLE HARDY

Google Public Policy

ASHLEY HAYES

Charter Communications

EDWARD W. HILL

ViacomCBS (Paramount)

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION

Corporate Advisory Council

CORY C. HORTON Entergy

MERVYN L. JONES II MLJ Strategies

FRANCESCA JORDAN

Dell Technologies

JACKIE KELLY, JR.

FedEx Corporation

CHRIS RANDLE

Members

of the Congressional Black Caucus of the 119th Congress

IN ORDER OF SENIORITY

Representative VALERIE FOUSHEE (NC)

Representative MAXWELL FROST (FL)

Representative GLENN IVEY (MD)

Representative JONATHAN JACKSON (IL)

Representative SYDNEY KAMLAGER-DOVE (CA)

Representative SUMMER LEE (PA)

Representative EMILIA SYKES (OH)

Representative JENNIFER MCCLELLAN (VA)

Representative GABE AMO (RI)

Representative LAMONICA MCIVER (NJ)

Senator ANGELA ALSOBROOKS (MD)

Representative WESLEY BELL (MO)

Representative JANELLE BYNUM (OR)

Representative HERB CONAWAY, MD (NJ)

Representative CLEO FIELDS (LA)

Representative SHOMARI FIGURES (AL)

Representative LATEEFAH SIMON (CA)

Representative SYLVESTER TURNER (TX) DECEASED