With the 40th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) underway, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) has a second day of activities that will continue to highlight some of the critical issues facing Black Americans. From 9:00 am until 6:00 pm conference attendees will have a number of forums to choose from at the Washington Convention Center. The sessions are open to conference registrants.

The forums and workshops highlight the areas of legislative focus of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), organized by their individual expertise, policy interests or congressional committee assignments. One of the unique features of the ALC is that members of the CBC chair the sessions and are present throughout unless summoned back to the Capitol to cast a vote as Congress is in session. Constituents have the opportunity to interact with their representative and attendees have the chance to meet Members of Congress outside of their home congressional districts.

The Friday schedule includes several “Braintrusts,” that focus on a singular issue of importance. Long serving Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, will chair a Judiciary Braintrust that will focus on “Advancing the Civil Rights Agenda” in Room 145B of the Washington Convention Center at 9:00 am. At the same time in Room 146A, Delegate Donna M. Christensen (D-VI) will chair a Health Braintrust on “Working Together to Ensure Proper Health Care.” Later in the afternoon, at 1:30 pm, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) will chair a Young, Gifted and Black Braintrust in Room 201. Rep. Mel Watts (D-NC) will chair the Honorable Leon A. Higginbotham Voting Rights Braintrust that will focus on the 2011 legislative redistricting at 3:00 pm in Room 207B.

A luncheon in Ballroom C at 12:30 pm will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Annual Legislative Conference. In addition, there are a number of panel discussions that will touch on a broad range of economic, education and social justice issues facing Black Americans. Among them are “Is the New Right Wrong for People of Color,” led by Rep. Al Green (D-TX), “Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Bridging the Gap between African Americans and Immigrants of the African Diaspora,” led by New York’s Rep. Yvette Clarke, Rep. Andre Carson’s panel on “The Impact of Hip Hop on American Politics,” Rescuing our Youth from Chaos and Carnage: Effective Youth Strategies to Address Youth Violence,” chaired by Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), and “Africa Forging Ahead,” led by conference chairman Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ).

Capping the day will be a CBCF Chairs Reception at 5:00 pm in Ballroom C at the Washington Convention Center. For a complete listing of Friday’s sessions, visit the website of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, www.cbcfinc.org.