2^nd Annual African American Leadership Summit Convened in Washington, D.C.
 

COLUMBUS - African Americans throughout Ohio recently attended the second annual African American Leadership Summit.    Ohio had the greatest number of attendees with over 30 leaders statewide.  Making up the Ohio delegation were company presidents and CEO’s, non-profit and state agency directors, small business entrepreneurs and local elected officials.  The two-day conference provided a forum for more than 500 African American participants from across the country to continue the dialogue on a range of policy issues with senior members of the United States Congress and the Bush Administration.  The conference participants were nominated to attend by their members of Congress. 

“Continuing to build bridges of communication between African American leaders and federal officials is an important priority for me and my colleagues.  This dialogue produces an exchange of ideas that help Congress and the Administration to better understand and address the most pressing issues affecting all of our families and communities,” said Congresswoman Deborah Pryce.

U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige welcomed the delegates to the reception.  Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee opened the session and updated attendees on the Congressional agenda, while Vice President Dick Cheney offered the White House perspective during his keynote address.

Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, and Howard University President Patrick Swygert discussed education; and Franklin Raines, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fannie Mae led the economic development panel.

“I had an opportunity to see things from a larger lens,” said Barbara Bryson with Nationwide Foundation in Columbus, Ohio.  She was nominated to attend by Congresswoman Deborah Pryce.  “I gained additional passion and understanding of the top issues that affect African Americans such as education and how they are all so co-related.  For example, your level of education can measure your level of healthcare, affordable housing and the neighborhood you are most likely to live in.  The information was valuable regarding the national state of our children’s education experience and has stirred my desire to fight for our children’s right to a quality education,” says Barbara.