Congressional Black Caucus Foundation reposted this
Last week, I had the great opportunity of attending the 53rd Annual Legislative Conference hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. ALC week was better than I ever could have imagined, as me and my fellow CBCF fall interns were able to volunteer, sit in on round tables, engage in informative sessions with black leaders, and so much more. Highlights from the week included a session with McDonald's and The Coca-Cola Company, where we were each given an iPad mini! Special thanks to both companies for that token of support. Additionally, we also attended a roundtable discussion with Statefarm Insurance where we got to hear from leaders about various topics, some of which included preparation, mentorship, adaptability in the office, and more. Attending sessions and discussions was my favorite part of this week. We got to attend a session about the game “Crime no Crime”, a game created by the Johnson family, a group of five black lawyers, with the goal of spreading awareness about criminal law and how it applies in certain situations. It is the only game of its kind, and crucial to developing a better understanding of criminal law. I look forward to playing this game with my family and I am thankful to the Johnson family for taking the time to explain the game and sharing this gem with us. Additionally, we got to sit in on a discussion with Kemba Smith Pradia and Marc Lamont Hill which shed light on Kemba’s wrongful imprisonment and her empowering life story. Both of these sessions gave me necessary insight on the impact laws can have on anyone, and were extremely informative. This week provided me with a great opportunity to network with black leaders and professionals, and I am grateful for the connections I was able to create during this week. Throughout this experience, I was able to meet some professionals that I truly admire. Amongst these outstanding individuals were Benjamin L. Crump, Esq., Don Lemon, Rep. Yvette Clarke, Roland Martin, Nicole Austin-Hillery (w), Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. Eleanor Norton, Rep. Al Green and others. I am incredibly happy to have met people that I have looked up to in congressional and legislative spaces for years, and this was only possible because of the doors that CBCF has opened for me in such a short time. We wrapped up our week attending the Phoenix Awards Dinner, where none other than President Joe Biden and the future president, VP Kamala Harris both came and gave their remarks. It was a pleasant surprise seeing both of them in attendance, and I was in awe to be in the same room with some of the most powerful leaders of the free world. Overall, I am still pinching myself in disbelief of this experience. I am so grateful to CBCF for the opportunity, and will be sure to attend next years ALC!! #alc53 #cbcweek #blackexcellence
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