SUPPORTED BY
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Welcome Welcome to the inaugural virtual Sojourner Truth Legacy Project Program, Celebrating the Rise in Black Women’s Political Leadership. Every day, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation displays our unwavering commitment to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion on Capitol Hill and in other policymaking offices. This year, the Sojourner Truth Legacy Project Virtual Program is dedicated to honoring the accomplishments of Black women over the past year. Whether fighting to ensure equity on Capitol Hill, mobilizing our community to vote, working to provide proper personal protective equipment—or combating against systemic discriminations that have long marginalized our community, Black women continue to serve as change agents to secure a more equitable nation for the next generation of leaders. This Sojourner Truth Legacy Project virtual project will highlight the amazing work of Black women around the country who have dedicated their careers to eliminating systemic barriers and ensuring equity for all. We recognize the crucial role our nation’s most influential and trusted voices play--the Black women we honor today—in advancing the important conversations and decisions in American politics. Thank you for participating. I encourage you to stay engaged as the CBCF continues to provide opportunities to uplift and advance Black women today—and always. Sincerely,
Tonya Veasey CBCF President and CEO
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The Sojourner Truth LEGACY PROJECT
In January 2021, the Congressional Black Caucus welcomed three dynamic new women into their organization while saying farewell to a former member as she made history as the first woman and Black person to take office as the Vice President of the United States. This historic year takes place after a series of hardships like the coronavirus pandemic, the unjust deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd along with extreme economic instability. It was through the leadership of Black women in Congress, state governments and in our community were we able to organize and fight against systemic discriminations that have long marginalized our community. This Sojourner Truth Legacy Project virtual presentation will highlight the amazing work of Black women who have dedicated their careers to eliminating systemic barriers and ensuring equity for all.
Newly— elected Members of the Congressional Black Caucus 117th Congress
REPRESENTATIVE
Cori Bush
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REPRESENTATIVE
Nikema Williams
REPRESENTATIVE
Marilyn Strickland
Opening Remarks REPRESENTATIVE
Yvette Clarke U.S. House of Representatives Chair, Sojourner Truth Legacy Project
REPRESENTATIVE
Joyce Beatty U.S. House of Representatives Chair, Congressional Black Caucus
Political Leaders REVEREND
Leah D. Daughtry Presiding Prelate, The House of the Lord Churches, Harvard University Institute of Politics
Letitia James New York State Attorney General, Office of the New York State Attorney General
Minyon Moore Principal, Dewey Square Group
Moderator
Patrice S. Johnson
Vice President, Center for Policy Analysis & Research and the Leadership Institute
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Thank You TO O U R S P O N S O RS
Platinum Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
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BOARD of DIRECTORS CHAIR Lori Billingsley The Coca-Cola Company PRESIDENT AND CEO Tonya Veasey Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. SECRETARY Earle Jones Comcast, NBC Universal TREASURER Janice Bryant Howroyd ACT-1 Group Pamela G. Alexander Ford Motor Company Fund Rep. Colin Allred U.S. House of Representatives Chloe Barzy Accenture Aisha Bowe STEMBoard Kevin Brown Dell, Inc Natalie Brunson-Wheeler State Farm Insurance Companies
Rep. Alcee Hastings U.S. House of Representatives
Sean Suggs Toyota Motor North America
Fred Humphries Microsoft
Jesse Tyson The National Black MBA Association, Past President
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee U.S. House of Representatives Leonard James III J3 Advisory Group Lonnie Johnson Exxon Mobil, Retired Tammy Jones Basis Investment Group
Rondu Vincent Bristol Myers Squibb
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS CBC CHAIRPERSON Rep. Joyce Beatty U.S. House of Representatives
Rep. Robin Kelly U.S. House of Representatives
CAC CHAIRPERSON Chaka Burgess Empire Consulting Group
Rep. Brenda Lawrence U.S. House of Representatives
CBC SPOUSES CHAIRPERSON Mrs. Dianne Cleaver
Dr. Keith Magee University College London
DIRECTOR EMERITUS Hon. Kendrick B. Meek
Rep. A. Donald McEachin U.S. House of Representatives
Former Member of Congress King & Spalding LLP
Dr. Troy L. Nash Newmark Knight Frank Steve Pemberton Work Human
Rep. Dwight Evans U.S. House of Representatives
Lisa Osborne Ross Edelman
Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Harvard University
Rep. Terri Sewell U.S. House of Representatives
Markus Green Pfizer, Inc.
Julia Simon Mary Kay Inc.
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CORPORATE ADVISORY COUNCIL CHAIRPERSON Chaka T. Burgess Empire Consulting Group
Robert Harris Apple
Chris Randle Facebook
Alethia Jackson, Esq. Walgreens Co.
Nichole Francis Reynolds ServiceNow
Erica Johnson Diageo
Dontai Smalls UPS
Michone T. Johnson Verizon
Nigel Stephens Infor
Mervyn L. Jones II MLJ Strategies
Darrel Thompson theGROUP
Jeanine Liburd BET Networks
Kenny Thompson PepsiCo
Marie Long AT&T
Phillip Wallace Walmart
Ramon O. Looby Maryland Bankers Association
Shawna Watley Holland & Knight, LLP
Micaela Fernandez Allen Open Society Foundation
John Mason Altria
Brandon Webb Amazon
Isaac Fordjour Boston Scientific
Keith W. McCoy Exxon Mobil Corporation
Hilary West JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Karis T. Gutter Corteva Agriscience
Waldo McMillan Charter Communications, Inc.
Tiffani V. Williams, JD, MPH The Daschle Group
E. Monique Hall
Katelyn J. Nnake The Coca-Cola Company
Cherie Wilson General Motors Company
Chanelle Hardy Google
Jesse Price TikTok
LaKeitha Anderson Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Rontel Batie Crossroads Strategies Zafar Brooks Infoblox Engel Burns AveXis Karen S. Carter Dow Regina K. Dillard State Farm Insurance Companies
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Acknowledgments
Thank you for joining us for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s inaugural virtual Sojourner Truth Legacy Project Program, Celebrating the Rise in Black Women’s Political Leadership.
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C B C F I N C . O R G