NCBCP's Blog

Washington, DC - The lecture hall at the Washington Convention Center was packed beyond capacity as several congresswomen, Black leaders, community organizers, and health experts assembled for the launch of The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation's Black Women's Roundtable "Healthy, Wealthy & Wise National Policy Forum Series," during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's (CBCF) 39th Legislative Conference last week.

Hosted by Black Women's Roundtable and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), the inaugural event, "A Health & Wellness Dialogue: Fixing Our Healthcare System from Black Women's Perspective," was the first of several policy discussions to be held in DC and around the country. The session allowed leading experts and the public to discuss health care reform, health information technology, H1N1 emergency preparedness, and other health related issues that impact the wellness of women and girls.

"The CBCF Legislative Conference always has several informative panels going on at the same time we did not expect to have to turn people away from the session," says Melanie L. Campbell, ceo & executive director of the National Coalition and convener of the Black Women's Roundtable. "This kind of turnout for a roundtable discussion on health demonstrates the concern women have for the health and wellness of their community."

Speakers included: Congresswoman Donna Christiansen; Congresswoman Donna Edwards; Dr. Julianne Malvaux, Bennett College for Women; Clayola Brown, A. Philip Randolph Institute; Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, Women in Ministry International; Dr. Gail Christopher, W. K. Kellogg Foundation; Eleanor Hinton Hoyt, Black Women's Health Imperative; Dr. Niva Lubin Johnson, National Medical Association; Makani Themba-Nixon, The Praxis Project; Barbara Perkins, International Black Women's Public Policy Institute; Roslyn Brock, vice chair, NAACP; and Gina Wood, Health Policy Institute, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; and Dr. Beverly Wright, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice and 2009 Heinz Foundation Recipient.

"Over the next year the Black Women's Roundtable policy forums will allow us to tap into the needs of the community," adds Melanie L. Campbell, executive director and CEO of The National Coalition and Convener of Black Women's Roundtable. "The CBCF Legislative Conference is the most appropriate place to launch a policy series. Clearly, a discussion on health and wellness was much needed. Our upcoming forums include an economic security discussion in November, and our education and energy reform will take place in December."

The Black Women's Roundtable is an intergenerational civic engagement network of the National Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing African American participation in civil society. The Black Women's Roundtable Healthy, Wealthy & Wise National Policy Forum Series is a national roundtable tour designed to provide women with strategies and tools proven effective in addressing critical issues confronting Black women and girls. In order to reach the widest audience possible, each forum will be webcast through BWR networks across the country.

The webcast was sponsored by Verizon Communications, the founding national partner for the Black Women's Roundtable Policy Forum Series and can be viewed at www.ncbcp.org. Signature sponsors included The Praxis Project and CBCF. For more information on the Black Women's Roundtable Healthy, Wealthy & Wise National Policy Forum Series visit www.ncbcp.org.

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Washington DC - The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation's Black Women's Roundtable (BWR) paused for a photo after a meeting recently with Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor and assistant to the President office of public engagement and intergovernmental affairs. The BWR  was invited to the White House to meet with Jarrett (center standing) to discuss important issues that impact African American women including: health care, education, foreclosures, mentoring, and global empowerment. The Black Women's Roundtable is a national, intergenerational network that promotes the involvement of African American women in policy discussions and works to ensure that their priority issues are communicated to policy makers.

Help the National Coalition continue to advocate for African American issues. Click here to donate $1, $5, $10, $100 or more to help us continue our work. https://ncbcp.org/donate/

Melanie L. Campbell:
Black Women's Roundtable Congratulates Past Honoree, Dr. Regina Benjamin, for Nomination as Surgeon General."Healthcare is one of our highest priorities. Dr. Benjamin clearly has the educational and professional credentials to serve as America's chief health educator; and her personal testament speaks volumes. In addition to demonstrating a commitment to providing healthcare to the poor by enduring fires and hurricanes to stay in her rural health clinic, Dr. Benjamin has family that died from preventable diseases like lung cancer, high blood pressure, and HIV related diseases. She is extrodinarily qualified to provide leadership as we work to ensure quality health care for all. We look forward to working with Dr. Benjamin to usher in an era of health, healing, and wellness."

Felicia M. Davis:
Given the enormous health disparities confronting African American women, the appointment of Regina Benjamin as Surgeon General is just what the doctor ordered. Under her leadership our nation will move to close enormous gaps in care for low income and rural communities. Dr. Benjamin's work after Katrina distinguished her as a physician dedicated to healing whole communities. President Obama has indeed selected the most qualified person for the job.

LaTosha Brown:
As a native of the gulf coast, I have served with Dr. Benjamin on the Gulf Coast Fund's board for the past few years and I can attest that she has tirelessly worked towards improving the healthcare system in America. Because of Dr. Benjamin's work in the gulf coast region and overall leadership on healthcare issues throughout the country, she offers a unique understanding of the barriers and challenges for rural and marginalized communities. This appointment is a major victory for the millions of Americans in both rural and urban communities. Read the full story here

As you know, yesterday the Senate passed its version of the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act (The Economic Stimulus Package). The next phase is the effort to reconcile the Senate and the House versions of this bill. Negotiators are hoping to seal agreement TODAY after making good progress on the first round of closed-door talks, so we need to keep up the pressure with your phone calls. Of particular concern is Senator Susan Collins' (R-Maine) opposition to keeping $3 Billion for prevention and public health in the package.

We need to continue calls to our Senators to encourage them to vote for passage of the legislation. Please call your Senator TODAY. We also need you to call Senator Collins at (202)224-2523 to urge her to keep the prevention dollars in the bill, and contact any folks you know in Maine to do the same. It is urgent that you contact your Senator and Senator Collins NOW! The decision could come as early as TODAY.

Congressional Passage of the Stimulus Package NOW will:
1) Create millions of jobs for unemployed and underemployed Americans.
2) Increase and Extend unemployment insurance.
3) Subsidize health care coverage for the nearly 5 million unemployed Americans.

Please contact your representatives TODAY by calling or emailing and ask them to do the right thing by the American people and pass the stimulus package now. To find your representatives email and phone numbers click here http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml. Call the U. S. Senate at (202) 224-3121.

Change comes when the people speak!

Melanie L. Campbell CEO & Executive Director National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Inc.

by Edrea Davis

We all want the last word, to be the final act, to close the deal. It makes you wonder why mainstream media and gay-rights activists focused so much on the opening act of the inauguration and failed to pay tribute to the man who will deliver the benediction, civil rights icon, Rev. Joseph E. Lowery.

Since President-elect Obama announced the Inauguration Day lineup there's been a lot of attention paid to Rev. Rick Warren's views on same-sex marriage. In several reports Rev. Lowery is only mentioned to underscore the opposing views of the two pastors. I don't believe these ministers were chosen for their stance on gay rights.

Obama promised to bring change to America by uniting people with differing opinions to work together on issues that impact all Americans. What better epitomizes change than a conservative evangelical minister and a social justice civil rights minister serving as bookends for the inauguration of the first Black president of the United States of America? Rev. Warren is the senior pastor of the fourth largest church in America. He is an author, fights to end poverty and disease, and champions environmental issues globally.

Rev. Lowery, the man who will have the final word on Inauguration Day, retired as pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church in Atlanta. He co-founded with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other ministers, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and succeeded Ralph Abernathy to serve as the organization's third national president from 1977-97. Affectionately known as the dean of the civil rights movement, Rev. Lowery has received numerous awards, including an NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award, and was twice named by Ebony Magazine as one of the Fifteen Greatest Black Preachers.

As fate would have it, the inauguration comes one day after the nation celebrates the birthday of Dr. King. In 1965 Dr. King, Rev. Lowery and other foot soldiers in the civil rights movement lead the historic Selma-to-Montgomery March for voting rights. Many of those leaders, including Rev. Lowery, were beaten, spit on, hosed, shot at, and jailed countless times fighting for the right to vote. Rev. Lowery's family lived under the constant threat of violence and his wife, Evelyn Gibson Lowery, was shot at by the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama.

Dr. King and many others died in the struggle to make this historic inauguration possible. The country is blessed to still have a few of the civil rights icons among us like Rev. C.T. Vivian, Dr. Dorothy Height, and Rev. Lowery. These dedicated warriors carried the torch passed on by our ancestors and helped make it possible for hands that once picked cotton to have a hand in picking the first Black president.

These freedom fighters advocated on behalf of everyone - Blacks, Latinos, and the gay and lesbian community. They deserve to be honored without self-serving distractions.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for gay rights. The election of a Black president does not stop the civil and human rights movement. However, at this moment, it's time for the nation to come together to lift up our ancestors and reflect upon the progress that African Americans have made in their long journey from slavery to the White House.

On Jan. 20, 2009 I will celebrate all that our torchbearers have accomplished for all Americans and exult in witnessing a brilliant, Harvard educated, child of a single mother and Kenyan father, husband of a strong educated Black woman, and father of two lovely young Black children, accept the responsibility of bearing the torch that will boldly lead America into the 21st century.

To borrow from Rev. Lowery, "We have marched too long, cried too bitterly, bleed too profusely, and died too young" to let anybody spoil this historic moment.

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National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) executive director and CEO, Melanie L. Campbell, released the following statement today on President-elect Barack Obama's announcement of his national security team:

"The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation applauds President-elect Barack Obama for his resolve and commitment to bring change to America. He has assembled a talented, bi-partisan and diverse national security team that will undoubtedly restore America's status around the world, and boost confidence here in the United States.

"Since 1976 the NCBCP has led the fight to eliminate barriers to civic participation, increase African American participation in the democratic process, and develop African American leadership, envisioning a nation where all people can lead our government regardless of race, gender, class or culture. Obama's appointment of three women - including Susan Rice, an African American-- to key cabinet positions signals a turning point toward the diversity we seek. An administration that reflects "the people" is a crucial component of the change America needs, especially in these turbulent times.

"We commend President-elect Obama for his bold vision to bring together a stellar team of experts. The selection of Susan E. Rice as ambassador to the United Nations, along with naming Valerie Jarrett to serve as senior advisor and assistant to president for intergovernmental relations and public liaison; and Melody Barnes as director of the Domestic Policy Council, indicates that President-elect Obama is determined to assemble an inclusive administration that is ready to serve on day one.

"The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation has complete confidence that these women will bring a wealth of experience and a unique cultural perspective to the new administration. Unquestionably, women will play a pivotal role in peacekeeping efforts and conflict resolution. As our esteemed board member, Dr. Dorothy I. Height says, African American women get it done."

This is a check in. The Blackplanet analysis of the Black agenda places Education at the top of our list surrounded by the full range of economic concerns and then all of the quality of life issues like health care and environment/energy. We agree that we need to be the change rather than waiting for Obama or anyone else to deliver our communities but we also agree that we expect help in the form of policies that work for us rather than against us. Got it. Now let's turn our attention to providing some individual check in. What are we doing? What changes have we made on the personal level? What goals are we setting for the coming year? 1. Health Care--we need coverage but a healthy diet and exercise would go a long way toward improving the length and quality of our life. We must learn to ask "Is it healty? AND Do I need it?" before eating and drinking. More water, more fresh fruit & vegetables and less processed food. 2. Finances--we have to stop shopping and start saving. It is time to pool our resources and bank with people we can trust right within our own families and networks. In other words identify people who are responsible, trustworthy, and understand money and let them hold & pool our resources that is "banking" our money. Small amounts aggregated and leveraged in this way will build capacity that we can draw upon. We must learn to trust ourselves. Why not pay a wealty person that you know to hold your money the bank will charge you at least $100 a year to use your money? We can have legal documents and protection but it is time to circulate our dollars closer to home. More on this to come. 3. Turn off the television. We need to identify a week when we will collectively turn off the TV (suggest the entire holiday season Thanksgiving until Christmas) it will save so much time and money. This way parents will notice what their kids are really doing, couples will pay attention to relationships, and we will interrupt the programming to shop until we drop--DEAD. 4. Look up & Look out--crime may be down but not in our neighborhood! The economic crisis is pushing people over the edge and those of us reading this have some responsibility for dealing with the situation. I don't have the answers but we must start checking in with people. Pay attention when greeting, pause a little longer, spend a few minutes chatting with youth. Their lives are terribly stressful. Today they can't even count on the dream of good grades, college, and a job. People are tripping thinking death is the answer we must make that answer unacceptable. In the meantime we need to hire some of these reformed ex-cons to really protect the neighborhood especially women, children, and the elderly. We need some tough guys to help bring order back. 5. Since Education is top of the list it is time for more reading circles, literacy efforts, street academies. Each one teach one. What books are must reads for Black America? that is the next post so look for it here.

You must help Black leadership identify our priorities. They are reading this blog so please state your top issues. Is it jobs? Mortgage crisis? Criminal justice, health care, education,environment? All sorts of groups are moving to declare themselves the swing vote, Latinos, white women, and the list goes on. They are very specific about what they want immediately including cabinet posts. Black America went from being the swing vote to constituting a solid base of support. Dr. Walters pointed out that in an effort to support Obama Black leadership made no demands leading up to the election. We did not want to provide fodder for conservatives but it is now time to determine our own priorities. Leadership needs to hear from you.