The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference launched in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, and will run through Friday, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
Suggested Reading
The goal of the three-day event is to highlight the mission of the CBCF — to develop leaders, to inform policy and to educate the public. Daily forums designed to address the challenges facing the African-American community will bring members of Congress and experts together to discuss issues including a special election-year focus on voting rights, voter identification and voter suppression.
The third installation of the research report "Breaking Barriers 3" — co-authored by Ivory A. Toldson, author of The Root's Show Me the Numbers series — will be released during the conference in an effort to further define academic success for school-age African-American males.
First lady Michelle Obama will be the featured speaker at Saturday's Phoenix Awards dinner. "We are so pleased that Mrs. Obama will serve as the keynote speaker for the awards dinner," said Elsie L. Scott, president and CEO for the CBCF. "As a former CBC spouse, Mrs. Obama is quite familiar with our mission at the foundation, and we are certain that her remarks will be both thought-provoking and, most importantly, inspire our audience to do their part to prepare the next generation of leaders," she said.
Other program highlights include an Emerging Leaders event, an exhibit hall and authors pavilion, the recognition of scholarship recipients and a community-outreach project with U.S. veterans.
Proceeds from ALC are used to fund educational opportunities and program outreach.
Read more at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.
Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Straight From 
Sign up for our free daily newsletter.