2021 NC Black Summit - The Virtual Experience

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Carolina Small Business Development Fund Crowder Consulting Company Environmental Defense Fund McGuireWoods NC League of Conservation Voters North Carolina Justice Center U.S. Congressman David Price

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ABOUT THE

NC BLACK SUMMIT Black elected officials, public policy advocates and grassroots organizations from around the state will convene for the 15th Annual NC Black Summit – The Virtual Experience on Thursday, April 22 and Friday, April 23. The 2021 Summit, appropriately themed “Focus on the Fight, Facing the Future,” will be vital as we continue to advance our agenda for creating systemic change in North Carolina.

This signature event of the North Carolina Black Alliance has grown to become one of the most important and well attended conferences in the state to discuss issues of importance in communities of color. This convening is used to provide critical information that fosters the development of proactive solutions and informed advocacy. The virtual experience will prove to deliver the same level of excellence and quality content as years past.

www.NCBlackSummit.org #NCBlackSummit

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MISSION STATEMENT The North Carolina Black Alliance addresses policy and economic issues to enhance black communities by developing and promoting systemic policy change as well as youth and leadership development. We also seek to collaborate with strategic partners to advance the work of those organizations and to enhance intentional collaboration with black constituencies.

MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS • • • •

North Carolina Association of Black County Officials North Carolina Black Elected Municipal Officials North Carolina Caucus of Black School Board Members North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation

AREAS OF COMMITMENT • • • • •

Access to Health Care and Environmental Justice Crime and Justice Economic Empowerment Education Political Effectiveness and Personal Responsibility

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AGENDA

THURSDAY, APRIL 22

Mistress of Ceremonies, The Honorable Valerie Foushee North Carolina Senate District 23 Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance

4:00 p.m.

WELCOME & GREETINGS Presented by Google

• The Honorable Valerie Foushee North Carolina Senate District 23 Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance • The Honorable Roy Cooper Governor, The State of North Carolina • Lilyn Hester Google • NCBA Member Organizations • North Carolina Association of Black County Officials • North Carolina Black Elected Municipal Officials • North Carolina Caucus of Black School Board Members • North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation

VOICES OF THE HISTORY MAKERS

THE HISTORY OF NORTH CAROLINA BLACK ALLIANCE AND ADVANCE CAROLINA

4:30 p.m.

• The Honorable Valerie Foushee (Moderator) North Carolina District 23 Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance • The Honorable Moses Carey, Esq. Former, Orange County Commissioner • The Honorable Viola Harris Edgecombe County Commissioner Former Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance • The Honorable Brad Thompson Former Mayor Pro Tempore of Raleigh, NC Former Executive Director, North Carolina Black Alliance

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5:40 p.m.

NC BLACK ALLIANCE PROGRAM UPDATES COVID-19 UPDATE

• Dr. Mandy Cohen Secretary, NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)

IMPLICATION OF COVID-19 ON COMMUNITIES OF COLOR

Presented by Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) • Senator Gladys A. Robinson, Ph.D. (Moderator) North Carolina Senate District 28 • Mrs. Sharon Goodson Executive Director, North Carolina Community Action Association • Dr. Charlene Green President, Old North State Medical Society • Dr. Michelle Laws Assistant Director, Division of Mental Health Co-Lead COVID-19 Response Team • Mr. E. Benjamin Money Deputy Secretary for Health Services North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

CLOSING REMARKS

AGENDA

FRIDAY, APRIL 23

Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Courtney Crowder Executive Director, North Carolina Black Alliance

9:00 a.m.

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION

Presented by Reynolds American Inc. • Mr. Thomas Stith, III President, North Carolina Community College System • Mr. Courtney A. Crowder Executive Director, North Carolina Black Alliance

NC TASK FORCE FOR RACIAL EQUITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRESENTATION • The Honorable Josh Stein Attorney General • The Honorable Anita Earls North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice

SPECIAL UPDATE ON MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

• Mr. Marcus Bass Deputy Director, North Carolina Black Alliance; Executive Director, Advance North Carolina • The Honorable Valencia Applewhite Regional Coordinator, Advance Carolina

10:00 a.m.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SESSION I: ENHANCING VOTER TURNOUT AND ELECTION ADMINISTRATION • Mr. Marcus Bass (Moderator) Executive Director, Advance Carolina Deputy Director, North Carolina Black Alliance • Mrs. Kendra Cotton Chief Operating Officer, New Georgia Project 8 | 2021 NC BLACK SUMMIT

• Ms. Erica Porter Board Member, Wake County Board of Elections • Dr. William Munn Senior Policy Analyst, Budget and Tax Center

SESSION II: THE IMPACT OF REMOTE LEARNING Presented by AT&T North Carolina

• The Honorable Keith Sutton (Moderator) Board Member, Wake County Board of Education Vice Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance • Dr. Catherine Edmonds Deputy State Superintendent, Office of Educational Equity • Dr. Nyah Hamlett Superintendent, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools • The Honorable Jovonia Lewis Board Member, Durham Public School Board

SESSION III: LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

• The Honorable Valerie Foushee (Moderator) Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance North Carolina Senate District 23 • The Honorable Kelly M. Alexander, Jr. North Carolina District 107 • The Honorable Milton F. “Toby” Fitch, Jr. North Carolina Senate District 4 • The Honorable Robert T. Reives, II North Carolina District 54

11:45 a.m.

ENTERTAINMENT

EUGENE TAYLOR: THE DRUM PROPHET

2021 TRAILBLAZER AWARDS Presented by Smithfield Foods

INTRODUCTION OF TRAILBLAZERS

The Honorable Charles Evans Cumberland County Commissioner Chair, North Carolina Association of Black County Officials Board Member, North Carolina Black Alliance

2021 TRAILBLAZERS

• Dr. Jeannette Council Cumberland County Commissioner • Dr. Valeria Lynch Lee Retired, CEO Golden LEAF Foundation • The Honorable Virginia Tillett Retired, Dare County Commissioner

12:00 p.m.

Eugene Taylor a.k.a. the Drum Prophhas recently joined his talents JEANNE H. audiences LUCAS Taylor LUNCHEON et has been entertaining with fellow artist songwriter, Diogenes

with his musical talents for over 20 Ruiz. They’ve collaborated on Taylor’s ground-breaking debut album, The years. Born in Memphis, TN, he now KEYNOTE SPEAKER INTRODUCTION Rhythm of Life. The Rhythm of Life lives in Wake Forest, North Carolina andThe he’s increasingly becoming one album has sold out several times in Honorable Valerie Foushee of North Carolina’s most sought after various venues, and the gift shop at North Carolina Senate UNC District 23 where Eugene TayRex hospital, local performers. lor worksAlliance as a patient transporter. As a Chair, North Carolina Black solo-artist and group performer, Taylor Eugene Taylor’s soulful vocals, comcontinues to win loyal fans, climbing to bined with an eclectic mix of whistling, finger snapping, drumming, and #1 on the Reverb Nation World Music KEYNOTE ADDRESS tapping out rhythms with tap shoes on chart for the Raleigh, Durham, and Congressman HakeemWake Jeffries Forest Areas. metal plates and shaker wristbands, all come in a of mind-blowing 8th together District New York As a devout follower of Christ, Taylor’s entertainment experience. message is one of hope, reaching across religious and secular boundaries. His rhythm will hold you captive, and your heart will melt with inspiration.

IN PARTNERSHIP

JOIN THE FIGHT! www.ncblackalliance.org/Code-Red

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Congressman Hakeem Jeffries 8th District of New York

Hakeem Jeffries represents the diverse Eighth Congressional District of New York, an area that encompasses large parts of Brooklyn and a section of Queens. Serving his fifth term in the United States Congress, Rep. Jeffries is a member of the House Judiciary Committee and House Budget Committee.

Rep. Jeffries is Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, having been elected to that position by his colleagues in November 2018. In that capacity, he is the fifth highest-ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives. He is also the former Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus and previously co-chaired the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee where he helped develop the For The People agenda.

In Congress, Rep. Jeffries is a tireless advocate for social and economic justice. He has worked hard to help residents impacted by the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic, reform our criminal justice system, improve the economy for everyday Americans and protect our health care from right-wing attacks.

Prior to his election to the Congress, Rep. Jeffries served for six years in the New York State Assembly.

In that capacity, he authored laws to protect the civil liberties of law-abiding New Yorkers during police encounters, encourage the transformation of vacant luxury condominiums into affordable homes for working families and improve the quality of justice in the civil court system.

Congressman Jeffries obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from the State University of New York at Binghamton, where he graduated with honors for outstanding academic achievement.

He then received his master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University. Thereafter, Rep. Jeffries attended New York University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and served on Law Review.

After completing law school, Rep. Jeffries clerked for the Honorable Harold Baer Jr. of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. He then practiced law for several years at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, an internationally renowned law firm and served as counsel in the litigation department of Viacom Inc. and CBS. He also worked as of-counsel at Godosky & Gentile, a well-regarded litigation firm in New York City.

Rep. Jeffries was born in Brooklyn Hospital, raised in Crown Heights and is a product New York City’s public school system, having graduated from Midwood High School. He lives in Prospect Heights with his family.

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HISTORY MAKER

The Honorable Moses Carey, Jr., Esq. Former, Orange County Commissioner

Moses Carey, Jr. grew up in Tampa, Florida and has resided in Chapel Hill, NC since 1971. Moses graduated from Middleton High School in 1963 after playing football for the Tigers and attended college on a football scholarship.

Moses earned his BS Degree in Health and Physical Education at Fort Valley State College (now university) in Georgia in 1967 and a Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration at the University Of North Carolina School of Public Health in 1972. He earned a Law Degree at North Carolina Central University School of Law in 1980 and became a member of the NC Bar in 1981.

He served as an administrator and Clinical Assistant Professor in the UNC School of Public Health where he taught health law in the Department of Health Policy and Administration from 1981 to 1994.

He served as executive director of Piedmont Health Services, Inc. for 18 years until he retired in December 2004.

Moses was appointed in January 2009 by Governor Bev Perdue to chair (CEO) the North Carolina Employment Security Commission. In March 2010, he was appointed by Governor Perdue as Secretary of the State Department of Administration, which serves as the business manager for the state. He served as secretary until Governor Perdue left office in January 2013.

Moses was elected to the Orange County Board of County Commissioners in 1984 and completed his sixth and final term (24 years) in December 2008. In 1993, he was elected to serve as the President of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. At that time he became the first African American to serve as President of the association.

Moses is a member of First Baptist Church and is married to Peggy A. Richmond and has three children and four grandchildren.

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HISTORY MAKER

The Honorable Viola Harris

Edgecombe County Commissioner Former Chair, NC Black Alliance Mrs. Viola Harris has been an Edgecombe County Commissioner since 2001. In addition to serving as a county commissioner, she has been employed full-time as an Administrative Assistant II at Edgecombe Community College in the College and Career Readiness Department in Rocky Mount for 10 years. Prior to being appointed and then elected to the Board of Commissioners, she worked as a news and sports reporter for the Rocky Mount Telegram for 10 years and the Daily Southerner for 5 years. Harris is also the First Lady at Leggett Chapel Missionary Baptist Church where her husband, Mitchell Harris, serves as Pastor. She has been a member of Salem Chapel Missionary Baptist Church for 52 years where she serves as president of the Senior Choir and secretary of the Home Mission.

Mrs. Harris and her husband Rev. Mitchell Harris have been married for 41 years and are the proud parents of three adult daughters Teneshia, 43, Krystal, 39, and Shinika, 37 and grandparents to one beautiful little girl Kamille, age 9.

Harris was born and raised in Leggett, N.C., and graduated Salutatorian from North Edgecombe High School in 1976. She received a Secretarial Science Degree from Edgecombe Community College in 1978. Harris is a dedicated member of her community and state.

She serves on many local, state and national boards and committees.

• • • • • •

Edgecombe County Human Services Board of Directors Edgecombe County DSS Advisory Committee Chair Edgecombe/Nash Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors Sergeant-at-Arms of the Ebonette Club of Tarboro Past Chair of the North Carolina Alliance of Black Elected Officials Vice-Chair of National Association of County Commissioners Human Services and Education Subcommittee-Social Service • Former secretary, treasurer and two-time president of the North Carolina Association of Black Elected Officials. During her tenure as president, the organization had its highest number of dues-paying members (103) since the organization was founded in 1988.

• Appointed to the NC Local Government Commission by Governor Roy Cooper • Chair of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Risk Management Board of Trustees AWARDS • North Carolina Association of County Commissioners Commissioner of the Year – 2007 • North Carolina Alliance of Black Elected Officials Award Winner – 2014 (Vice-Chair)

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HISTORY MAKER

The Honorable Brad Thompson

Former Mayor Pro Tempore of Raleigh Former Executive Director, NC Black Alliance Brad Thompson is the former President of BTA Public and Governmental Relations, a small consulting firm located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The focus of his company was developing competency in advocacy and non-profit organizations in reaching established goals and financial stability.

Brad has more than thirty years of corporate and government experience. A Herbert Lehman Foundation Scholar and an Engineering graduate of North Carolina State University, he has had a stellar career as an administrator for some of the world’s largest corporations including IBM, Hewlett Packard, COMPAC, and Westinghouse Corporation. He has also served as a Bureau Chief for OSHA under former Labor Commissioner Harry Payne and as Special Assistant to former State Auditor Ralph Campbell.

After many years as a community advocate serving on over 30 boards and commissions, including Chair of the Raleigh Community Relations Committee in (1975-1976) and the past President of the Raleigh Wake Citizens Association (1985-1986), Brad was elected in 1993 as a City Councilman in Raleigh, representing the Southeast area. He was elected Mayor Protem in his first year and was called “the very definition of an effective councilman” by the Raleigh News and Observer. After three terms, he elected not to run and became the State Director for US Senator John Edwards, one of only two African Americans to serve in that capacity in the country.

Brad has been Co-Chair of the Southeast Raleigh Assembly, a group of 41 citizens that seeks to improve economic conditions and quality of life for those residing in the Southeast area of the city. This group makes policy recommendations to the Raleigh City Council. He also has served or is serving on the board of the Raleigh Transit Authority, The Fair Housing Hearing Board, Chair of the Southeast Raleigh CDC, the Southeast Raleigh Improvement Commission, the Raleigh Area Development Authority (RADA), Chair of the Community Alternatives for Supportive Housing (CASA), The Museum of Natural History, Vice-Chair of the Agency for Public Telecommunications, Treasurer of Democracy NC, Blueprint, and Chair of Progress NC Action. He is a member of the South Central CAC and President of the Raleigh Wake Citizens Association. He is also a Life Member of the NAACP. Brad is a very active Democrat having served at every level from Precinct Officer to National Delegate. He was recently Chair of the Second Congressional District.

Brad has won dozens of awards for his community service including the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and the African American Hall of Fame. He is a Deacon at First Baptist Church in Raleigh and is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Brad retired in 2012 but continues to be active in community affairs. He has been married to Dorothy Shaw Thompson since 1968 and they have four adult children.

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TRAILBLAZER

Dr. Jeannette M. Council

Cumberland County Commissioner Dr. Jeannette M. Council was appointed to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners in 2000 and elected in 2002.

Her current term expires in 2022. Dr. Council served four terms as the board’s vice chair and chair.

Dr. Council served as the Board of Commissioner liaison to the Mental Health Board, Cumberland County Action Program, Cumberland County Partnership for Children, Library Board of Trustees, Air Quality Stakeholders Commission, Transportation Advisory Committee, Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Board, ABC Board, BRAC Regional Task Force, Mayors’ Coalition, Fayetteville/Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce and Fayetteville/Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. She served on Cumberland County’s Facilities, Policy and Finance committees and was appointed to the Board of Health and Southeastern Economic Development Commission. Dr. Council served on the Board of Directors of the Mid-Carolina Council of Governments and received the M.H. “Jack” Brock Memorial Award.

Dr. Council was elected as the N. C. Association of County Commissioners District 6 and At-Large director and served on the Association’s Public Education and Human Services Steering Committees.

She was appointed co-chair and chair of the NCACC’s Legislative Goals Committee. Dr. Council also served on the National Association of Counties Human Services and Education Steering Committees and as Secretary, President-Elect and President of the Women of NACo. Dr. Council served as chair of the N. C. Association of Black County Officials’ Scholarship Committee and received the North Carolina Association of Black County Officials’ Outstanding Member of the Year Award. She was designated as an Honorary Trustee of Fayetteville Technical Community College and the Board of Trustees, and recognized by the Ft. Bragg Area Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority as one of the Top Ten Community Diamonds.

Dr. Council has been involved in various professional and civic organizations to include serving as the president of multiple educational organizations; president of the Fayetteville State University National Alumni Association; member of the FSU Foundation Board of Directors; member of the State Board of Community Colleges and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She served on the N. C. Democratic Party Executive Committee and was a super-delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Dr. Council attended Cumberland County Schools and graduated from E. E. Smith High School and Fayetteville State University. She received an M.S. degree from Indiana University, an Ed.S. degree from East Carolina University and an Ed.D. degree from South Carolina State University. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is a fellow of the Duke University Institute of Politics.

Dr. Council is married to Thomas Council, former president of Council Real Estate, Inc., and has a grown son, Melvin, and a grandson, Thomas Council, III. 14 | 2021 NC BLACK SUMMIT

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TRAILBLAZER

Dr. Valeria Lynch Lee

Retired, CEO Golden LEAF Foundation Dr. Valeria Lynch Lee spent her professional life in service to the state of North Carolina. She has been an advocate for North Carolina’s people, an important leader in the development of public policy in the state and a pioneer in the delivery of public broadcasting.

Her first role in philanthropy was as a program officer at the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, where she worked on issues important to minorities, women and rural communities. Earlier in her career she was co-founder/ manager of WVSP, a community public radio station based in Warrenton, NC, and one of the few such stations anchored in the African-American community.

As a leader of the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center, she was an advocate for expanded economic opportunities in rural communities. She has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina, and as a trustee of one of her alma maters, North Carolina Central University. Mrs. Lee was the first CEO of Golden LEAF Foundation, which was created out of litigation over issues related to the manufacture of tobacco products. She previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of more than 25 organizations, including BB&T, UNC-TV, and The Public School Forum of North Carolina. She was inducted into the NC Women’s Hall of Fame in 2009.

Dr. Lee earned a bachelor’s degree in business education from North Carolina Central University, a master’s degree in education from North Carolina State University and a second master’s degree in media from Ohio University’s School of Radio and TV. She was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from East Carolina University and one from North Carolina Central University.

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TRAILBLAZER

The Honorable Virginia S. Tillett

Retired, Dare County Commissioner Virginia Tillett is a professional educator and Outer Banks community leader who served the people of Dare County, North Carolina, as an elected official for more than 30 years.

She is well known for her dedication to public service and for making a profound difference in her community.

In 2002, Tillett was elected to the Dare County Board of Commissioners, where she served as a commissioner for 12 years. Prior to being elected to the Dare County Board of Commissioners, Tillett served on the Dare County Board of Education for 20 years, holding positions of both chair and vice chair.

During her time as a professional educator, she worked with the Dare County Head Start program from 1965 to 1974, and in 2006 she retired from her role as Assistant Dean and Coordinator of the Continuing Education and Workforce Development Program at College of The Albemarle - Dare County Campus, where she had served in various roles for 26 years.

Tillett has been honored as the recipient of a wide array of awards over the past several decades, including the Dare County Outstanding Citizen of the Year award and the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year award, both of which she received in 2015.

In 2006, Tillett was honored by North Carolina Governor Michael Easley, who awarded her the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award.

Tillett was married to the late William “Snooks” Tillett and has two sons, Johnny Tillett of Raleigh and Michael Tillett of Manteo. Her granddaughter, Maya, will be a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro this fall and plans to pursue a career in the medical field.

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B IOGRAP H IES » SPEAKERS + PRESENTERS The Honorable Kelly M. Alexander, Jr. North Carolina District 107

Rep. Kelley Alexander, Jr. is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, holding a Bachelor of Arts, in Political Science and a Masters, in Public Administration. He worked for two and a half decades in civil rights, serving at the local, state and national levels of the NAACP. Mr. Alexander is a licensed funeral director working at the Alexander Funeral Home, Inc., for over 30 years. He is presently the funeral home’s Vice President/CFO. While serving in the NC House (D-107) he has been a member several committees. From his earliest days in the legislature he has been interested in drug policy, working initially with Rep. Earl Jones to reform cannabis laws. Every session since 2008, he has sponsored or cosponsored legislation to create a legal cannabis industry in NC. In 2019 he founded the legislative Cannabis Caucus, which is dedicated to the growth of hemp/marijuana production, research, processing, distribution and regulation. In 2019 he led the fight in the NC House to keep Smokable hemp from being outlawed in the Farm Bill. Rep. Alexander has been an advocate for conservation of the state’s natural resources and adoption of best practices for renewable energy, and water conservation.

Rep. Alexander has made it his mission to not only serve the needs of his district constituents but of every citizen of North Carolina. He is inspired to unlock the hidden potential of our great state.

The Honorable Valencia Applewhite

Regional Coordinator, Advance North Carolina Valencia Applewhite is a proud Air Force veteran. She is a former 3-term Fayetteville City Councilwoman and has committed herself to a life of public service to advocate for Black communities. Prior to working with Advance North Carolina as a Regional Coordinator, she was a Regional Managing Organizer for Democracy North Carolina. She is currently the Vice Chair for the Fayetteville State University Board of Trustees.

Mr. Marcus Bass

Deputy Director, North Carolina Black Alliance Executive Director, Advance North Carolina Marcus Bass is the Deputy Director for the North Carolina Black Alliance and Executive Director for Advance Carolina. Marcus came to Advance North Carolina in 2017 after serving as Statewide Campaign Director for Democracy North Carolina, where he led their long-term redistricting effort, coordinated millennial and faith-based voter engagement and served as a key messenger for the organization. Marcus is currently the vice-chair of the NC State Voices, an affiliate Blueprint North Carolina.

A native of Eastern NC, Marcus has spent the past decade organizing issue-based campaigns and leading citizens to harness their own power to create change. While a student at NC A&T, he led several grassroots efforts including Greensboro’s largest student march to the polls. After graduation, he served as Campus Outreach Coordinator for Common Cause North Carolina working with HBCUs on ways to engage college students in civic participation. Marcus is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and is the is also the founder and Co-Director of Camp Lead Up, a summer leadership institute focused on facilitating the transition for minority middle school students to high school through academic support, cultural enrichment, leadership development, civic engagement and community service.

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Dr. Mandy Cohen

Secretary, NC Department of Health and Human Services Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH was appointed to the role of Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in January 2017 by Governor Roy Cooper. Secretary Cohen and her team, work tirelessly to improve the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians.

Secretary Cohen is an internal medicine physician and has experience leading complex health organizations. Before coming to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, she was the Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Secretary Cohen has been recognized as a national leader for her work at DHHS. A graduate of Cornell University, she received her medical degree from Yale School of Medicine and a Master’s in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. She trained in Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. Secretary Cohen is married to Sam Cohen, a health care regulatory attorney. They have two daughters.

Mrs. Kendra Cotton

Chief Operating Officer, New Georgia Project Kendra Cotton is a seasoned professional with more than 20 years of experience building and cultivating relationships in order to advance a favorable public image and positive strategic agenda for the individuals and organizations that she serves. Kendra attended the University of Oklahoma as a member of its National Scholars Program, receiving her undergraduate degree in public administration. She attended North Carolina State University for graduate school and was awarded a master’s degree in Public Administration in 2002.

She currently holds ABD status in the political science doctoral program at UNCChapel Hill.

Kendra is currently the chief operating officer for New Georgia Project, Inc. She assumed this role after leaving her position as the campaign manager for a US Senate race. Kendra was the founding executive director of Rep GA Institute, Inc., Georgia’s statewide c3, nonpartisan leadership training HUB, as well as its c4 arm, Represent Georgia Action Network. Prior to this role, she was the campaign manager for the successful Georgia Association of Educators’ Vote “NO” on Amendment 1 statewide ballot initiative during the November 2016 election cycle. Once a 16-year resident of North Carolina, Kendra was the policy director for the NC State Treasurer’s office under Janet Cowell where she held primary responsibility for leading the office’s education policy agenda. Before joining the Treasurer’s Office, Kendra completed a five-year tenure at UNC-Chapel Hill, serving first as the associate director of the Center for the Study of the American South and ending as the Project Director for the university’s Community-Campus Partnership initiative.

A staunch public-school advocate, Kendra is a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and resides in Powder Springs, GA with her husband Michael and their three children – Jarah, a Harvard University sophomore (19); Kael, a 10th grader at McEachern High School (15) and Rhys, an 8th grader at Tapp Middle School (13).

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Mr. Courtney A. Crowder

Executive Director, North Carolina Black Alliance A native of Southeast Raleigh, Courtney Crowder has over 20 years of experience in public affairs, government relations and strategy. Courtney honed his skills in a range of public affairs and government relations positions. As of November 2019, he is the Raleigh Managing Director for APCO Worldwide, an independent global public affairs and strategic communications consultancy.

He served as the Legislative Liaison for the North Carolina Department of Insurance and Special Assistant to Commissioner James E. “Jim” Long and was on the campaign and congressional staff for Congressman Bob Etheridge. Additionally, Courtney has been played an active role in a host of campaigns at every level - presidential, statewide, congressional and local.

Deeply involved in the community, Courtney rolls up his sleeves for a wide range of causes, including education, public safety, affordable housing, the arts, and the state’s election system. Currently, he serves on the Boards of UNC Rex Healthcare, Delta Dental, and Advance Carolina. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and currently serves as well as the executive director of the North Carolina Black Alliance.

Courtney holds degrees in English literature and French from North Carolina Central University and an M.A. in liberal studies from Duke University. He also studied at Oxford University in Oxford, England where he completed the Program of History, Politics and Society at Exeter College.

Courtney is married to Byinna A. Crowder and they have two daughters, Courtney Amaya and Camille Ayana.

The Honorable Anita Earls

North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice Anita Earls is an Associate Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. Before taking office on January 1, 2019, she was a civil rights attorney litigating voting rights and other civil rights cases for 30 years. Anita was the founder and Executive Director of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, a non-profit legal advocacy organization in Durham, North Carolina. In the Clinton Administration Anita served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.

She has served on the North Carolina State Board of Elections, and the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission. Anita has taught as an adjunct professor at UNC and University of Maryland Law Schools and in the African and African-American Studies Department at Duke University.

A graduate of Yale Law School and Williams College, Anita lives in Durham with her husband Charles Walton. She has two grown sons and two grandchildren.

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Dr. Catherine Edmonds

Deputy State Superintendent, Office of Educational Equity Dr. Catherine Edmonds is deputy superintendent of the Office of Educational Equity for the Department of Public Instruction. In this new role at DPI, Edmonds will work to ensure that the state’s education systems approach all decisions through an equity lens.

She brings more than 28 years of experience in public education in North Carolina. Prior to serving as superintendent for Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, she served as the director of educational leadership and development and director of the NC Principal Fellows Program at the University of North Carolina System. Edmonds previously had an extensive career in K-12 education on both the local and state level and was named Teacher of the Year for her local district in 2001.

She holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics education from NC A&T University, obtained her master of administration and supervision at NC State University and later received her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from NCSU as well.

The Honorable Charles E. Evans

Cumberland County Commissioner Member, North Carolina Black Alliance Chair of the North Carolina Black County Official Charles E. Evans was elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018 to the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners as an at-large representative. His current term expires in 2022. Mr. Evans served as the board’s vice chairman in 2017 and chairman in 2021. He served two terms on the Fayetteville City Council from 2005-2009.

Mr. Evans has been involved in various civic and professional associations. He was elected to serve as 2nd Vice President of the N. C. Association of Black County Officials and moved up to serve an unexpired term as 1st Vice President. He was elected in 2018 to serve a full term as 1st Vice President of the N. C. Association of Black County Officials and he was elected as President of the N. C. Association of Black County Officials in 2020.

Mr. Evans was born in Fayetteville and attended Terry Sanford High School. He is a 2019 graduate of Fayetteville Technical Community College. Mr. Evans is a disabled veteran and executive director of Life is Worth Living-Project Fresh Start.

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The Honorable Milton Frederick “Toby” Fitch, Jr. North Carolina Senate District 4

Senator Milton Frederick “Toby” Fitch, Jr. was born and reared in Wilson, North Carolina. He is a graduate of North Carolina Central University, where he received his bachelor of science degree in 1969 and his Juris Doctorate in 1972 from North Carolina Central University School of Law. For many years, Senator Fitch has devoted considerable skills and talents to serving the people of Wilson, Edgecombe and Nash Counties, and the State of North Carolina. Currently, Fitch serves as North Carolina State Senator District 4- Edgecombe, Halifax and Wilson counties. He has also served nine terms as a member of the House of Representatives in the State of North Carolina. He was the first African American in the State of North Carolina to preside over the House, the first Majority Whip and the first African American to be elected House Majority Leader. Senator Fitch has served on various boards and commissions. His accomplishments are only surpassed by his dedication.

He is a member of Mount Hebron Masonic Lodge #42 and a lifetime member of the NAACP. Senator Fitch is the proud father of Melanie Fitch and Milton Fitch, III.

The Honorable Valerie Foushee

Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance North Carolina Senate District 23 Senator Foushee first joined the legislature after her 2012 House campaign in District 50. She began her tenure in the Senate following Senator Ellie Kinnaird’s retirement from District 23 and now serves Orange and Chatham Counties. In the Senate, Valerie has advocated for bipartisan reform of education-funding policy to ensure transparency and appropriate funding for all school districts.

She was elected to the Board of Education for the Chapel Hill– Carrboro City Schools in 1997 and re-elected to a second term in 2001. She served as Chair from 2001-2003. In November 2004, Valerie was one of eight School Board members selected to the All-State School Board by the North Carolina School Boards Association. In November of 2004, she became the first African-American female elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners. She was re-elected in November of 2008 and served as Chair from 2008 – 2010.

Senator Foushee is a life-long resident of Orange County and a 1974 graduate of Chapel Hill High School.

She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she received Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and African and Afro-American Studies. She is also a 2005 Leadership Triangle Goodman Fellow. She is married to Stan Foushee, retired Fire Marshal for the Town of Carrboro and a Deacon at First Baptist Church. They have two sons.

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Mrs. Sharon Goodson

Executive Director, North Carolina Community Action Association As Executive Director of the North Carolina Community Action Association and the Southeastern Association of Community Action Agencies, Sharon C. Goodson is a humble leader whose mission is to ensure that the voice of the disadvantaged and underserved be heard on local, state and national levels.

Sharon’s reach encompasses nearly 200 agencies across an eight-state region, including the 34 community action agencies operating in North Carolina. She has been instrumental in leading collaborative initiatives with governmental entities, funders, partners and other stakeholders to improve the conditions in which marginalized communities live.

Dr. Charlene Green

Deputy State Superintendent, Office of Educational Equity Charlene Green, MD is the current President of the Old North State Medical Society (ONSMS). She is a private practice anesthesiologist with Anesthesiology Consultants of North Carolina in Greensboro at Cone Health. Dr. Green is a native of Baltimore, Maryland who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1985. Dr. Green obtained her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Maryland in 1989.

Dr. Green is Chief of Anesthesia at Cone Health in Greensboro, NC, a member of the National Medical Association (NMA), and is on the Board of the NMA Region 3. She is current First Vice Chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, current NC House of Delegate member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, and a Past President of the North Carolina Society of Anesthesiologists (NCSA), a graduate of the Cone Health Physician Leadership Academy in 2018 in Partnership with the Center for Creative Leadership, Greensboro, NC. As President of Old North State Medical Society, Dr. Green has led collectively with her Board and her strategic operational team statewide efforts to educate the communities, the public and advocated for the most vulnerable patients and people residing in North Carolina communities that particularly produce poorer outcomes.

Dr. Nyah Hamlett

Superintendent, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Dr. Nyah Hamlett is the superintendent for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. She previously served as chief of staff for Loudoun County Public Schools.

Dr. Hamlett spent twelve years with the Henrico County Public Schools at both the school and central office levels, ultimately working for five years as assistant superintendent for instructional support. Under Dr. Hamlett’s leadership, HCPS won first place in the National School Boards Association’s 2017 Magna Awards for the district’s overhaul of the code of student conduct and its development of preventative behavioral support programs.

She received her bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology and audiology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. Hamlett went on to earn two master’s degrees in K-12 reading and educational leadership from Regent University in Virginia Beach, and a doctorate in educational policy, planning, and leadership from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She also earned an urban superintendent certification from the AASA Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy.

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Dr. Michelle Laws

Assistant Director, Division of Mental Health, Co-Lead COVID-19 Response Team Dr. Michelle Laws is the Assistant Director for Consumer Policy and Community Engagement at the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services (MH/DD/SAS). Prior to returning to work for the NC Division of MH/DD/SAS, Dr. Laws served as the Director of Policy and Public Advocacy for the NC National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-NC).

She has earned the respect from diverse communities of peers, colleagues, and policymakers for being a politically astute and diplomatic leader, operating in various capacities, including policy, public affairs, advocacy, and health and human services program development and evaluation.

Dr. Laws is a native of Chapel Hill, NC, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Master of Arts Degree in Sociology from North Carolina Central (Magna Cum Laude graduate), and a Ph.D. in Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The Honorable Jovonia Lewis

Board Member, Durham Public School Board Jovonia Lewis is a nationally certified and licensed professional counselor providing mental health counseling and education. With her undergraduate degree in psychology and human development and family studies from UNCGreensboro and Master of Science degree in counseling education with a specialization in family therapy from Georgia State University, her service has always been centered around education and a growth mindset to heal, empower and liberate others. She has worked in the non-profit sector with adolescents, in a government agency with victims of domestic violence, and in community, agencies doing in-home counseling until she began a private practice, Trinity Counseling and Consulting, in 2004.

From consultant to community and education advocate, Jovonia follows her passions while lifting others.

As a daughter, sister, aunt, wife and mother of three elementary school-aged boys, Jovonia works tirelessly to share her talents and gifts with others.

Mr. Benjamin Money

Deputy Secretary for Health Services North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Ben Money is Deputy Secretary for Health Services at DHHS. His portfolio includes the Division of Public Health, Division of Health Services Regulation, the Office of Minority Health, and the Office of Rural Health. Prior to joining the department in July 2019, he led the NC Community Health Center Association. Mr. Money’s 37-year career in health care began in community mental health and includes 11 years in local public health and 18 years with community health centers. Ben is originally from Massachusetts and has lived in NC for 36 years.

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Dr. William Munn

Senior Policy Analyst, Budget and Tax Center, North Carolina Justice Center William Munn, Ph.D. is a Policy Analyst at the North Carolina Justice Center in Raleigh. Prior to joining the Justice Center, he served the constituents of the Second and Fourth Congressional Districts for nearly 15 years. William interfaced with local and state leadership and guided outreach strategy in culturally diverse and transient communities by articulating legislative priorities and connecting resources to opportunity. He often served as an intermediary between federal agencies and constituents to facilitate expeditious resolution. In addition to his role as a congressional staffer, William mastered the art of coordinated campaigning over the course of several election cycles. These often-educative experiences have positioned him to become an advocate for environmental justice. William currently serves on the Board of Directors for Sustainable Sandhills in Fayetteville.

William earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Fayetteville State University; Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke; and Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Ms. Erica Porter

Board Member, Wake County Board of Elections Erica Porter brings her fun personality, attention to detail, and desire to create equity for all to Raleigh. With her extensive background in creative marketing, event planning, and social justice activism, she works to build communities of people who want to push the edges of creativity to influence authentic change.

She has served on the Wake BOE since March of 2018. In addition to serving on the Wake County Board of Elections, Erica also serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for VAE Raleigh and is a member of the board for the LGBT Center of Raleigh.

The Honorable Robert T. Reives, II North Carolina District 54

Representative Robert Reives II has served in the North Carolina House of Representatives since 2014. He represents House District 54, serving constituents in portions of Durham County and all of Chatham County.

As a former assistant DA, Rep. Reives approaches legislation with an eye towards protecting those who are marginalized, vulnerable and oppressed. His experience as a certified mediator and attorney gives him a skill set to help opposing factions reach consensus and resolve conflict.

Rep. Reives has sponsored legislation to strengthen public schools and to help protect children, the disabled, the environment, and property rights. He listens to the needs of the citizens of Durham and Chatham Counties and has championed specific legislation to help Durham and Chatham Counties meet their vision of tomorrow.

Prior to becoming a legislator, Rep. Reives earned a renowned Pogue Scholarship while studying at UNCChapel Hill for a B.S. in Business Administration/Finance and received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law. Rep. Reives is married to the former Cynthia Taylor from Goldston and they have two children, Brianna, 14, and Robert, III, 8.

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The Honorable Gladys Ashe Robinson North Carolina Senate District 28

Senator Gladys Ashe Robinson, Ph.D. in her sixth term in the North Carolina Senate.

She is the First Vice Chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus and is a dedicated advocate for the people of North Carolina serving on several committees. Senator Robinson also serves as the North Carolina/South Carolina Co-Chair of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Region V, Chair of the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus Foundation and the Governors State Health Coordinating Council.

Senator Robinson has served in executive leadership capacities for 45 years in health and human services, a graduate of the UCLA/Johnson and Johnson Health Care Executives Program. Recently retired, Senator Robinson has served as Executive Director for Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency.

Senator Robinson has degrees from two HBCUs. She has earned both a Masters in Education and Counseling and a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from North Carolina A&T State University. She has certifications in Nonprofit Management.

As the senior democrat woman of the Senate, Senator Robinson is a strong advocate for education, small businesses, jobs, women’s rights and ensuring health and quality of life for low-income, minority, disabled and elderly populations. She served on the UNC Board of Governors for almost 10 years, she is the greatest proponent of higher education, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and the public education system in our state.

The Honorable General Josh Stein Attorney General

Josh Stein is North Carolina’s 50th Attorney General. Attorney General Stein is focused on protecting North Carolina families from crime and consumer fraud.

As the head of the Department of Justice, he oversees criminal appeals from state courts, ensures that consumers are protected by going after scam artists and corporate bad actors, and protects the taxpayers by providing legal representation to state government agencies, departments and commissions.

Prior to being elected Attorney General, Stein served as a state senator and as a Senior Deputy Attorney General in the North Carolina Department of Justice. In the State Senate, he successfully led efforts to put more violent criminals behind bars by expanding the state’s DNA database. He also wrote the School Safety Act and legislation that banned stalking using GPS tracking devices. As Senior Deputy Attorney General, Stein worked to protect kids from online sexual predators and to help run the payday lenders charging loan shark interest rates out of the state.

Attorney General Stein is a graduate of Dartmouth College and earned law and public policy degrees from Harvard University. He and his wife Anna have three children.

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Mr. Thomas Stith, III

President, North Carolina Community College System Thomas Stith, III is president of the North Carolina Community College System.

Prior to becoming president, Stith was previously district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, where he led the federal agency’s response to COVID-19 in North Carolina.

He served as chief of staff to former Gov. Pat McCrory from 2013 to 2017 and was a three-term city council member in Durham from 1999 to 2007. Stith has served on the boards of the Golden LEAF Foundation, the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, the North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership and the United Way of the Greater Triangle. He is a member of the North Carolina Leadership Forum and a deacon at Union Baptist Church.

Stith holds a bachelor’s degree in management and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from North Carolina Central University, as well as a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University. He and his wife Yolanda have three daughters – Kara, Kiah and Kira.

The Honorable Keith Sutton

Board Member, Wake County Board of Education Vice-Chair, North Carolina Black Alliance For the past decade, Keith Sutton has served as a member of the Wake County School Board where he and his colleagues are focused on increasing access to healthy schools and closing the achievement gap.

He is the founder of FocusED LLC, a firm designed to support organizations in the improvement and transformation of education. Sutton currently serves as an education innovation consultant where he specializes in providing clients with consultative services focused on developing innovative, high-quality solutions to complex challenges in the education sector.

Sutton earned his bachelor’s in industrial relations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his master’s in education entrepreneurship at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of Unity Lodge #64, Prince Hall Masons, the Iota Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., and the proud father of two beautiful daughters, Alexia and Makayla.

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2021 and BEYOND

ORGANIZING FOR IMPACT A County Commission Action Series

ABOUT THE SERIES

The NC Black Alliance and the NC Association of Black County Commissioners will host an urgent statewide listening tour designed to provide information about upcoming resources coming to your county to support relief efforts for residents.

To learn more and RSVP for an invitation to attend a tour, visit:

www.ncblackalliance.org/AndBeyond ww

DATES + LOCATIONS  April 29: Bladen County  May 6: Robeson County  May 13: Columbus County  May 20: Harnett County  May 27: Sampson County  June 3: Moore County

#AndBeyondTour

Proud sponsor of the 15th Annual North Carolina Black Summit

We share your dedication to improving the health of our community. Carolina Complete Health is a provider-led health plan offering Medicaid Managed Care in North Carolina. www.carolinacompletehealth.com

ARE YOU A FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKER? If you’re required to work in-person in certain essential jobs, you’re eligible for a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. Not sure if you are a frontline essential worker? We can help you find your spot.

Go to YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov or call 888-675-4567 to have any questions answered, or talk to your employer.

CRITICAL MANUFACTURING Any job connected to manufacturing products to support essential businesses and facilities, such as farm, food and agriculture.

GOVERNMENT & COMMUNITY SERVICES Government services, public information and social services: US postal workers and shippers, court workers, clergy, homeless shelters, news media and veterinarian services.

FOOD & AGRICULTURE

EDUCATION

ESSENTIAL GOODS

Any educator or support staff: schools, colleges, universities and child care.

Any worker in a store that sells groceries and medicine.

HEALTH CARE & PUBLIC HEALTH

PUBLIC SAFETY

TRANSPORTATION

On the frontlines of protecting and serving: firefighters, EMS, law enforcement, corrections, security officers and public agencies that work on abuse and neglect.

People helping others get where they are going: public transit workers, DMV, taxi and delivery workers, repairing transportation and supporting highways.

Public health workers and social workers: those who help others access or protect public health, or work in a variety of social services.

Anybody working farm to table: farmworkers, fishery, meat packing, food processing, restaurant workers, food distribution and supply.

Any questions? Visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov or call 888-675-4567.

NC Department of Health and Human Services • YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov NCDHHS is an equal opportunity employer and provider. • 03/2021

LEADS TO INNOVATION. At AT&T, we believe diverse perspectives lead to the best ideas.

That’s why we embed diversity into all our business planning processes, allowing a wide range of viewpoints to be heard and considered.

AT&T is proud to support the North Carolina Black Summit.

The Power of Diversity is in every watt of energy we create.

At Dominion Energy, we know diversity isn’t just good— it’s also good for business.

At Dominion Energy, diversity isn’t just something we strive for, it’s something we insist on. The bottom line is that diversity is good business—having a workforce and group of suppliers who come from different backgrounds and who have had different sets of experiences helps us generate a broader range of better ideas. As a result, our company is strengthened, our communities prosper and, most important, our customers benefit.

To learn more about Dominion Energy, our dedication to diversity, and how we help power the communities that power our business, please visit us at DominionEnergy.com.

T

hrough progressive research and advocacy,

the North Carolina Justice Center works to eliminate poverty in our state by ensuring every household in the state has access to the resources, services and fair treatment it needs to achieve economic security.

www.ncjustice.org

When small businesses succeed, everyone benefits.

Carolina Small Business Development Fund creates economic opportunities across North Carolina. We support communities by helping entrepreneurs build the businesses of their dreams. www.carolinasmallbusiness.org

NRDC works to safeguard the earth—its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends.

CLIMATE CHANGE | COMMUNITIES | ENERGY FOOD|HEALTH | OCEANS | WATER | THE WILD

LEARN MORE » www.nrdc.org

North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Foundation engages people to protect our environment and promote the well-being of our communities.

JOIN POWERUP NC TO IGNITE PEOPLE POWER.

We work to turn environmental values into NC priorities by engaging people in the democratic process, organizing to connect environmental policies to people’s daily lives, cultivating environmental leaders, and advocating for policies at the state and local level that protect the health and quality of life for all North Carolinians.

PowerUp NC is project of NCLCVF. PowerUp NC is working toward a just transition to a clean energy economy. To this end, we are organizing on the local level so that communities overburdened with environmental hazards and lack of economic opportunity are able to thrive.

PowerUp has offices in Raleigh, Fayetteville, and Winston-Salem. Get connected with us:

United, we can win good-paying green jobs; lower energy bills; more affordable homes; and cleaner air and water. Together, we can improve our quality of life and ensure equal opportunity for all.

nclcvf.org/PowerUpNC Email: PowerUpNC@nclcvf.org Phone: (919) 792-8918 Facebook: /NCLCVFPowerUpNC

You understand the strengths and assets of this community. If we’re going to be successful, we need you. Will you join our team of organizers, leaders, and community members?

PO Box 12671

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Raleigh, NC

27605

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919.839.0006

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www.nclcvf.org

McGuireWoods is a full-service firm providing legal and public affairs solutions to corporate, individual and nonprofit clients worldwide for more than 200 years collectively. Our commitment to excellence in everything we do gives our clients a competitive edge in everything they do. Working together from 24 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia, McGuireWoodsandMcGuireWoodsConsultingshareadedicationtodiverseperspectives, impeccable service, and innovative delivery of practical, business-minded solutions.

LEARN MORE » www.mcguirewoods.com

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Reynolds American is pleased to be a Gold Sponsor of the 15th Annual NC Black Summit themed Focus on the Fight: Facing the Future.

We embrace opportunities to collaborate with a wide range of people from various cultures, all with different perspectives, backgrounds and points of view because it encourages innovation, creativity and different ways of thinking.

We are committed to having a diverse workforce and inclusive culture. This is integral to our Environmental, Social and Governance efforts, which are essential to delivering A Better Tomorrow.

CROWDER CONSULTING CONGRATULATES THE

NC Black Summit 2021 Trailblazers Dr. Jeannette Council Cumberland County Board of Commissioners

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Dr. Valeria Lynch Lee

Retired (CEO Golden LEAF Foundation)

The Honorable Virginia Tillett Retired (Dare County Commissioner)

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STATE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH CAROLINA SEANC, SEIU Local 2008 salutes the Alliance of North Carolina Black Elected Officials

Thank you for making sure public employees are appreciated, and for all you do to make North Carolina great! www.SEANC.org facebook.com/seanc.local2008 Twitter: @SEANC

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Find Out More!

SEANC Central Office 1621 Midtown Place Raleigh, N.C. 27609 Phone: 919-833-6436 Email: members@seanc.org

Our Commitment to Diversity Continues to Grow Smithfield Foods is dedicated to creating a more inclusive company culture and contributing to a more equitable and just society outside of our four walls. We believe that now is a time for action.

We believe companies thrive through the people they employ. That’s why we have formed a dedicated career development program to help us create a robust pipeline of diverse candidates to fill management positions.

We believe that access to a quality education promotes equal opportunity for all people. That’s why we have committed $5 million to support education programs for communities of color.

We believe that the farms of the future should be as diverse as the growing world population that we feed. That’s why we have dedicated $10 million to support America’s minority farmers to create a more inclusive agricultural future.

smithfieldfoods.com/diversity

Builing Vibrant Rural Communities

Leaders are always, first and foremost, believers.

Spectrum is proud to support the 2021 North Carolina Black Summit.

Proud sponsor of the NC Black Summit.

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