The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Partners with Rep. Yvette Clark to Host Forum in New York at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Symposium to Advance Policy Agenda to Address Poverty and Criminal Justice Intrusions

New York, NY – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and Rep. Yvette Clarke will present a District-Level Forum (DLF-NYC) on Friday, February 23, 2007 from 9:30am. - 5:00pm. The forum theme is “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Criminal Justice Intrusions: Advancing a Strategic Policy Agenda.” The day-long event will be held at Harren Hall, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 899 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY.

Co-host, U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke of the 11th District of New York, will bring opening remarks, and U.S. Representative Danny Davis will deliver the keynote address at the 12:30 p.m. Luncheon. Representative Davis has been the leader in the Congressional Black Caucus on issues relating to the incarceration of African American men. He introduced the 2nd Chance Act in the 109th Congress. The Act is designed to rehabilitate and to prepare ex-offenders for a healthy and positive reentry into normal society once they are released from correctional facilities and institutions and to reduce recidivism.

“The DLF-NYC will allow us to bring a taste of our Annual Legislative Conference, which is held in Washington each year, to the New York Metro area. We think that a Forum in New York during Black History Month will provide a fitting forum for promoting civic engagement and discussing key issues of the day,” said Dr. Elsie Scott, Interim President and CEO of the CBCF.

Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, CBCF Senior Research Analyst and Howard University Assistant Professor added, “The DLF in New York will elicit specific strategies to combat poverty and criminal justice intrusions in the Black community. It’s time to move beyond rhetoric and toward a strategic policy agenda. The only way to achieve this is for constituents, activist, experts, youths, and policy makers to exchange ideas and set benchmarks. We expect the NYC-DLF to be a history making event!”

The four panels to be presented will include: 1) Policy and Poverty (10:00 a.m.); 2) Policy and Justice (2:15 p.m.); 3) Emerging Leaders Breakout: Hip Hop and Activism (2:15 p.m.); and 4) Advancing a Strategic Policy Agenda (4:00 p.m.).

The growing list of confirmed panelists include: Dr. Lance Freeman, Columbia University; Bob Law, New York City Leadership Alliance; David Jones, Community Services Society; Dr. Donna Blackwell, Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation; Holly Thomas, Esq., NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund; Deborah Peterson Small, Esq., Break the Chains; Dennis Parker, ACLU Racial Justice Project; Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, J.D., M.A., Sheron Umi Smith, motivational speaker and mother of Mos Def; Patrick Oliver, Say It Loud! Readers and Writers Series; Ras Baraka, Poet, Educator; and Felicia Pride, The BackList.

Funded by the Ford Foundation, this CBCF initiative encourages civic participation at the grassroots level while promoting a community-based learning experience model. The DLF provide an opportunity for national and local leaders to discuss important policy issues with community residents. The CBCF recently held successful DLFs with Congress Members Diane Watson, Bobbie Rush and David Scott. The event is free and open to the public. For additional information about the DLF event or to register email Dr. Toldson at itoldson@cbcfinc.org or visit the CBCF website at www.cbcfinc.org.

CBCF was established in 1976, as a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy research and educational institute. Our mission is to serve as the catalyst that educates future leaders, minority-focused organizational leaders, and organized labor to effect positive and sustainable change in the African American community.