ALC Daily Wednesday Preview - (Page 10)

Page 10 wednesday preview ALC Daily Wednesday, September 19, 2012 ALC DAILY PROFILE: Mereda Davis Johnson looks to the future in her role as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses. There, she sees many opportunities to influence—and serve the needs of—the next generation through education and scholarship programs. The wife of Rep. Hank Johnson, a third-term Congressman from Georgia, she understands the importance of education. She received her law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University and quickly established a reputation as one of the premier family law practitioners in the Metropolitan Atlanta area. In 1985, after just three years of practicing law, she was named the first African-American female Mereda Davis Johnson, CBC Spouses Chair We need to encourage our youth, to be proactive and become a part of the political process. We yell out to them, to encourage their families and friends to vote! For as John Lewis so elegantly stated, “We must go out and vote like we never have before!” What do you hope people will come away with after attending a CBC Spouses event? The impact our scholarships have in recipients’ lives and their commitments to help others as they were helped. I would also hope the public and our sponsors will leave knowing that they have helped us make a difference, and we all leave ALC with a stronger commitment to increase our efforts in obtaining financial resources to help our youth continue their education. What are this year’s CBC Spouses events? This year the CBC Spouses are sponsoring an array of informative and entertaining events: the 16th Annual Celebration of Leadership in the Fine Arts, today at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue, NW; the Community Breakfast and Health Fair for homeless veterans at Community Please see “JOHNSON ” on page 16 Look for ALC Daily profiles with CBCF Chair A. Shuanise Washington; CBCF President and CEO Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D; and ALC 2012 Co-Chairs Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and André Carson of Indiana in our Thursday, Friday and Saturday issues. judge in Dekalb County, Ga. She currently is a partner in Burroughs Johnson Hopewell LLC law firm near Atlanta, a firm she helped form. Here, she talks about her hopes for ALC and for the scholarships raised. What does it mean to you personally to chair the CBC Spouses? I think it’s a great opportunity to continue the work from previous administrations in financially assisting, physically encouraging, and spiritually motivating our youth to continue their education. For me it’s an honor and blessing to be in a position where I can have such a direct impact on a child’s life. What we do now with our youth is an investment in the future of our nation. What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing the African-American community today, and how do you think ALC can help? One of the most pressing issues in our community today is lack of resources for our schools, both public and post secondary, in nurturing our kids to be all that they can be. All over the country, school systems are cutting back on teachers and resources that are desperately needed if we are able to prepare our students to compete in a global economy. Chilturnout and civic participation. Roundtable with Young Elected Officials, 10:30 a.m. – noon Saturday, Room 143-C. Young elected officials, policy professionals 40 years of age and under, and a select group of African-American leaders from the Obama administration will gather to engage in important conversations about accessing federal resources, communicating effectively with White House and other federal officials, monitoring and accessing federal funds and promoting civic engagement in local communities. CBC Spouses Chair Mereda Davis Johnson dren must be challenged and their creative juices should be encouraged to flow. We must challenge them in the areas of science and math, of arts and education, of health and medicine, and technology. I think ALC should be a “drum major” for education. It should focus on the needs of our public schools and find ways for our nation to assist and work with school systems all across this nation to better prepare our youth. Also, our vote is being challenged by those who would want to silence us. Emerging Continued from page 6 Kaya Henderson, Chancellor, D.C. Public Schools; Jeff Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Jeff’s Nation; Will Walters, Founder and Publisher, Monarch Magazine; and E. Ivan Zapien, Esq., Vice President of Federal Government Relations at Walmart. Emerging Leaders Town Hall Meeting, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Friday, Room 207-A. Acknowledging the role that emerging leaders play in advocating for and affecting change, attendees will learn strategies to help young leaders navigate the political process, influence public policy and excel in corporate America. Ready. Set. Engage! Our Voice, Our Vote, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Friday, Room 140-B. This panel will explore different forms of civic activism as well as give session participants the tools they need to combat voter suppression, address disenfranchisement and encourage strong voter New Attendee Reception Provides Networking Newcomers to ALC may be overwhelmed by the many benefits and opportunities of the conference. That’s why the New Attendee Reception is designed for first- and secondtimers to gather, network with CBCF alums, connect with other newcomers and get the lay of the land. Networking is the top reason that attendees give for choosing to invest their time at ALC. In 2011, 42 percent of attendees attributed the opportunity to make important connections as their reason for attending. Participating in policy sessions (27.5 percent), educational opportunities (10.8 percent) and interaction with members of Congress (10.3 percent) were other top motivators. Employees of non-profits (21.1 percent) and government agencies (17 percent) make up the bulk of attendees, though business owners (11.3 percent), corporate representatives (7.8 percent) and educators (6.2 percent) also have a significant presence. No matter where they work, though, ALC attendees are a more learned group with 41.3 percent possessing a master’s degree, 37.8 percent with a bachelor’s degree and 13.9 percent having earned a doctorate. The reception is just prior to the National Town Hall, at 8-9 a.m. Thursday in Room 201. The event is by invitation only. Avoice Studies Women in Congress African-American women have made a tremendous—though often overlooked—impact on legislation in Congress. It may not always make the history books, but has made an important difference to the lives of those positively affected. That’s why the Avoice Student Workshop will focus on “Black Women in Culture & History” as part of its invitation-only event. This intensive workshop for high school students celebrates the 2012 Black History theme. The event is from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday at the National Archives. http://www.cbcfinc.org/cbc/cbc-spouses.html http://www.cbcfinc.org/cbc/cbc-spouses.html

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ALC Daily Wednesday Preview