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| Where to begin this Wednesday morning? After Sean Spicer was unable to say if the president still had confidence in his AG, Jeff Sessions reportedly offered to resign. The NYT reports that James Comey told Sessions that he did not want to be alone with the president following what he considered to be inappropriate conversations. Melania Trump is somewhere like, “welcome to my world.” Meanwhile, four of the country’s top intel officials will serve as Comey’s opening act facing the Senate Intelligence Committee this morning at 10A. We’ll be watching. And try as he might, not even Donald Trump’s Twitter fingers can distract us even as he announces his new pick to lead the FBI -- Christopher A. Wray. Really? It’s a bit like announcing your engagement to your underwhelming safety net boyfriend on the same day the love of your life is getting married. You’re not fooling anyone! With Trump lashing out at his staff, the media, and even London Mayor Sadiq Khan, it seems that no one is safe. Except of course Russia. Still no lashing out there. And when you get a chance, check out the piece in Forbes which reports that Trump allegedly used his son Eric’s charity to enrich his business at the expense of -- brace yourselves -- kids with cancer. We hope newly-elected Congressman Jimmy Gómez knows what storm he’s heading toward. There’s a lot to get to today and we’re only halfway through the week. Here’s what we’ve got:
- President Barack Obama and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau dine in Montreal and talk leadership.
- Jimmy Gómez claims victory in LA special election.
- Ice Cube joins Symone Sanders on Bill Maher on Friday.
- Michelle Obama surprises Apple.
- Speaking of Apple, one of their execs just jumped ship to Uber.
- Vietnamese immigrant plans to unseat Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA).
- Marlon Marshall, Amy Chiou, Luis Avila and others launch CHORUS.
- Former DHS Chief Jeh Johnson joins PG&E Board.
- Speaking of PG&E, their CEO is the first Latina to chair a Fortune 100.
- NJ voters not excited about a presidential run for Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ).
- SEARAC touts victories in its annual report.
- HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson heads to the Hill tomorrow.
- Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) champions students with disabilities.
- The Cuban American Washington Ballet Director heads to Hong Kong.
- BET says farewell to DC on Friday. The invite only deets are below in FOMO.
- Lastly, The Beat must know -- 4:44?! Jay, if you're reading this, hit us up.
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NUL's Marc Morial, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Essex County Urban League CEO Vivian Cox Fraser. | |  |
Voto Latino's María Teresa Kumar with girls from DC public schools celebrating voices and power. | |
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Obama Praises Local Communities For Stepping Up Amidst “Temporary Absence of American Leadership”
On Tuesday, President Barack Obama was in Canada speaking at the Montreal Chamber of Commerce where he criticized Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accord but said he believes the agreement still has a chance. "Obviously I'm disappointed with the current American administration decision to pull out of Paris," he said. POTUS44 praised states, cities, and corporations carrying on with the Paris commitments despite the "temporary absence of American leadership." Following the speech, Obama dined with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday evening. What’d they talk about? How to get young leaders to take action in their communities -- among other things, we’re sure. More here.
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Michelle Obama Surprises Apple’s WWDC
Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference gave attendees a really big surprise on Tuesday. Former First Lady Michelle Obama took to the stage to chat with developers about tech and empowerment. She was accompanied by Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator in the Obama administration and who now runs Apple’s Environmental Policy and Social Initiatives. FLOTUS44 began the conversation by describing her life after leaving the White House and then shifted to tech talk. In the chat, she called out the marketing efforts of tech companies, passionately arguing that women most definitely deserve a seat at the table. "If women aren't at the table then what you're saying is you don't really care about the dollar." She closed the talk by taking a not-so-subtle jab at Trump. "We are at a time in this country where we need problem solvers out there...who believe in the power of immigrants, believe that global warming is real. We need people out there who are operating with a level of empathy." Then Obama left the stage, walking out to Best of My Love by The Emotions, only to be stopped by Apple CEO Tim Cook, who ran onstage to offer a hug and snap a selfie. See the entire chat on Periscope here.
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Symone Sanders and Ice Cube to Appear on Bill Maher This Friday
“I know you don’t smoke weed. I know this. But it’s Friday ...” Ah, nevermind. Wrong Friday. This Friday, we’re talking about HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. Although Ice Cube was already scheduled to appear on the show with Maher before the host poorly dropped the n-word during last Friday’s show, the rapper and actor says he’s not canceling and will appear solely to discuss Maher’s use of the word. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) was supposed to appear, too, but canceled. Cube will have another media force at the table with him. CNN commentator Symone Sanders will appear on the show. “I am still planning on doing the show Friday,” Sanders wrote in an email. “I thought Maher’s comment, Ben Sasse’s reaction and the crowd’s applause were all equally distasteful, inappropriate and offensive. I am glad Maher too recognized as such and issued an apology.” More here.
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LaDavia Drane, CoS to Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY), driving around her mini me. | |  |
Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) on Monday showing support for Gun Violence Awareness Month. | |
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Carson Appears Before the House Appropriations Subcommittee Tomorrow
James Comey isn’t the only big name testifying on the Hill on Thursday. HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson is scheduled to appear tomorrow before the House Appropriations Subcommittee to defend Trump's 2018 budget request for his agency, which calls for the most dramatic cuts to his agency since President Ronald Reagan slashed the agency’s funding in the early 1980s, and leaves a wide opening for introducing work requirements for people who receive federal housing subsidies. The impact of the $4.094 trillion budget plan for the fiscal year that begins in October would be felt by poor and working-class Americans across the nation, including seniors, people with disabilities, and working families living in rural and urban communities, as well as the homeless. Carson is standing by his recent controversial comment that poverty is a "state of mind," but he says that "how a person thinks" is only one component that contributes to being poor. More here.
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Michelle Lee Resigns from Commerce
Politico reports that Michelle Lee, Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, has submitted her resignation to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Lee headed the USPTO in the Obama administration and was kept on. Prior to that, she was Deputy General Counsel for Google. The reason for her resignation was not immediately made clear, but in March rumors surfaced that Ross was interviewing replacements. In a FB post, Lee wrote, “It has been a special honor,” she wrote, “to be the first woman to hold the position of Under Secretary and Director of the USPTO in our country’s 200+ year history.” More here.
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Poll Shows NJ Voters Don't Want Cory Booker to Make a Run for the WH
Rumors about Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) making a run for the White House in 2020 have been swirling for years. But according to a recent Quinnipiac University poll, New Jersey voters don’t think the former Newark mayor should run. The poll found that 57% of participants approve of Booker’s performance, but 54% said they didn’t think he should consider a 2020 presidential bid (as opposed to the 33% who said he should). Booker’s support was higher among Democrat voters, who gave him an 85% approval rating. Overall, women were more likely than men to support Booker -- 61% of women who participated in the poll gave Booker a positive review, and 40% said they think he should run for president. About 66% of minorities surveyed approved of Booker’s performance (while 21% did not), and 41% said Booker should run for president in 2020 (while 44% said he should not). See more here.
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|  | DNC Deputy Chair Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) at the DNC Southern Caucus with State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter and friends on Friday. | |  |
The newly founded AAPI civic engagement organization RUN flexed political power in an event for VA gubernatorial candidate Tom Perriello Monday night. | |
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| Jeh Johnson Joins PG&E Board
Former DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, now a partner at Paul, Weiss, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation. PG&E’s CEO is Geisha Williams, the first Latina CEO of a Fortune 100 company. More about her further below. Politico reports that a director at that company makes between roughly $250,000 and $325,000 a year. Before serving as DHS Secretary, the Morehouse graduate was the General Counsel of the Department of Defense from 2009 to 2012. He is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. On Tuesday, House Intelligence Committee leaders said they plan to ask Johnson to testify publicly in their investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 race. More about that here.
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Apple Exec Jumps to Uber
Business Insider reports that Bozoma Saint John -- one of the more noticeable execs at Apple -- is leaving and heading to Uber to be their new Chief Brand Officer. Saint John’s track record is in marketing -- most recently at Apple but also with a long stint at Pepsi, among other places. The appointment is a key move for Uber that could help shore up confidence in the company -- both internally and externally -- as it fights to justify its $70 billion valuation by investors since they have recently been under fire for their culture and lack of diversity. The Wesleyan University graduate has the hard task of turning Uber into a brand people love as much as Apple. "Quite frankly, what has happened in the past is nothing that I can control, but I do think there is a real opportunity for the future of Uber and what the vision is going to be," The Ghanaian-born exec told Business Insider in an interview Tuesday morning, "Having a real seat at the table to be able to do that is really important at this moment in time." She will be in good company, as she will join the ranks of Hillary Clinton campaign alumnus Bernard Coleman, Uber’s Global Head of Diversity. More here.
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NEA Promotes Sole Black Lobbyist to Manage Government Relations Office
The National Education Association has promoted their sole Black lobbyist to be Manager of Government Relations. Kimberly Johnson Trinca will help oversee the labor organization’s Capitol Hill outreach and legislative agenda, and advocate on behalf of their three million members. The Tulane Law School graduate will also advise leadership and help manage relationships with members of Congress, the executive branch (good luck with that), and national policy leaders. Before landing at the NEA, Kimberly was VP of Federal Affairs for Strayer University and did stints as a staffer for Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick. First on her agenda is finding her replacement. So if you’re in the job market and have strong CBC relationships, reach out to the NEA. Congrats, Kim! More about NEA here.
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Civil rights icon Dolores Huerta stomped for Jimmy Gómez, who claimed victory on Tuesday night. | |  |
Who ya rollin with? No need to ask. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) reps the Warriors hard and is ready for Game Three. | |
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Vietnamese Immigrant Plans to Unseat Royce in California’s 39th
Pediatrician Mai Khanh Tran announced she will challenge Republican MoC Ed Royce in California’s 39th congressional district. The 51-year-old Vietnamese immigrant told the LA Times that she was motivated to run by Republican attempts to roll back the 2010 healthcare law. “He was very callous and he did not vote for the needs of his constituents,” Tran said of Royce. Tran came to America as a refugee in 1975 after the fall of Saigon and studied at Harvard while working as a janitor. She then worked as an analyst on Wall Street before completing the Dartmouth-Brown medical program, and is part of a private practice in Orange County. Tran’s entrance makes the her the second Democratic challenger alongside former chemistry professor Phil Janowicz, who backed Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in California’s primary last year. Tran volunteered for Hillary Clinton. More here.
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|  | State Assemblyman Jimmy Gómez pictured with Solidarity Strategies Chuck Rocha after claiming victory on Tuesday night. |
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CHC Gets New Member as Gómez Claims Victory in LA
California State Assemblyman Jimmy Gómez claims victory over LA attorney Robert Lee Ahn, receiving 60% of the vote in a special election Tuesday night for the congressional seat once held by state Attorney General Xavier Becerra. The sharply contested race for the 34th congressional district pitted two sons of immigrants in one of the most immigrant-heavy districts in the country and with a majority Latino population. Gómez had been endorsed by Becerra and several other state leaders and several community activists and unions. His election continues a decades-old tradition of Democratic Latino representation in the district. Had Ahn won he would have become the first Korean American Democrat in Congress and the second Korean American elected to the U.S. House. More here from the LA Times.
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California Eager to See Becerra Move on Policing
California AG Xavier Becerra positioned himself at the front of the legal vanguard against the Trump administration’s actions on immigration, healthcare and climate change. But the LA Times reports that Becerra has said little about an issue essential to his job as California’s top cop: policing. Becerra’s relative silence and thin history on law enforcement oversight after more than two decades in Congress have left civil rights advocates and police groups both hopeful and concerned about his tenure. Will Becerra become an accountability crusader, or reaffirm the longstanding deference the state has given local departments, prosecutors, and officers to manage their affairs? Already on Becerra’s plate is a civil rights investigation after years of complaints about police shootings. Becerra is also in charge of implementing a new law aimed at combating police racial profiling. Get the full story here.
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Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX) was on hand to welcome USGIF to San Antonio on Monday. | |  |
NUL's Don Cravins and commentator Bakari Sellers in a discussion at Friday's Whitney Young Dinner. | |
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Dem Ops Launch CHORUS
A number of prominent Democratic strategists are starting a group called the CHORUS Agency to provide pro-bono help for progressives looking to run for Congress or state legislatures. The group harnesses some strategic leaders and thinkers, including Marlon Marshall (pictured), Betsy Hoover, Reggie Cardozo, Lisa Conn, Max Wood, Ryane Brown, Joel Bridgeman, Luis Avila (pictured), Gabby Seay, Amy Chiou (pictured), Geoff Berman, Reggie Cardozo (pictured), and Saumya Narechania (pictured). According to their website, the pro bono advisors have committed to full-day strategy sessions and/or sustained weekly support throughout an election cycle. Their areas of expertise include strategic planning, data analytics, organizing, and digital & tech. More here.
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Lawyers and Activists Vow Fight for Haitian TPS
Lawyers and community activists in Miami are vowing not to give up on their fight for a substantial extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the more than 58,000 Haitians living in the U.S. who were displaced by the devastating earthquake in 2010. The administration recently granted a six-month extension to Haitians under TPS, but hinted that it would end soon. Haitian President Jovenel Moïse (pictured) will be in Miami on June 15th, and activists are trying to arrange a meeting to talk about TPS with Moïse and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and DHS Secretary John Kelly, who will be in Miami at the same time for a different event. More here.
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Aziz Ansari and Van Jones crossed paths on Monday and snapped this pic. | |  |
TMZ caught Rev. Al Sharpton coming out of 30 Rock and wanted to get his take on Bill Maher. | |
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Lisa Blunt Rochester Says Trumpcare Will Hurt Students with Disabilities
“Trumpcare contains billions of dollars in callous cuts to services that help students with disabilities thrive.” That’s what Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) writes in a blog. She says while many may not realize it, Medicaid is essential for our nation’s students and schools. Medicaid provides reimbursement for numerous services provided at schools and school-based health centers. “In real terms, Trumpcare puts the health and wellbeing of our nation’s students on the backburner, all while Republicans give tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans and corporations. Trumpcare will result in a loss of school personnel and reduction in the school-based services provided to our most vulnerable children.” Read the entire blog here.
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Al Green Readies Articles of Impeachment
The Hill reports that CBC member Congressman Al Green (D-TX) is readying the articles of impeachment that mark the first official step in any congressional bid to remove a sitting president. The articles have little chance of seeing the light of day in a House chamber controlled by Republicans, who have rallied behind Trump amid multiple investigations into ties between Russia and members of the president’s inner circle. But Green’s gambit highlights the growing apprehension many Dems have towards the president, and it’s sure to energize a liberal base that’s sounded the impeachment alarm with increasing volume as the Russia saga has evolved. More here.
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|  | Sherrilyn Ifill and Elaine Jones of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund pose with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser at Harvard's celebration of Black lawyers on Monday night at the NMAAHC. | |  |
Icon Vernon Jordan with DC community affairs executive Kimberly Bassett at the NMAAHC on Monday night. | |
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First Latina of Fortune 200 Company Talks Diversity
Geisha Williams serves as president and CEO of the PG&E Corporation, the parent company of Pacific Gas and Electric, a $35.2 billion, 23,000-employee firm that provides electricity and natural gas service to about 16 million people in California. She is also the first Latina CEO of a Fortune 200 company. The Hill Latino reports that on June 14th, she is being honored by the Republican Main Street Partnership in DC with the group’s Women2Women Inspiration Award commemorating her “pioneering” promotion to chief executive. Williams said she hopes to use her position to help expand diversity at her company while also overhauling PG&E’s energy generation in the face of climate change. PG&E has launched a workforce-training project called Power Pathway to develop young energy industry talent with an eye toward veterans, women and underserved communities in California. The program aims to place its participants in company jobs. More here.
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Former Washington Ballet Director Heads to Hong Kong
Just a year after stepping down from the Washington Ballet, Septime Webre is taking the reins of the Hong Kong Ballet, where next month he will become the new artistic director, the company’s board announced today. The WaPo reports that the Cuban American's first task will be overseeing the company’s season-opening production, in August, of “Don Quixote,” which has been staged by the world-renowned ballerina Nina Ananiashvili. After directing the Washington Ballet for 17 years, Webre had been looking forward to creating works for other companies, and “enjoying life as an artist. I knew I’d return to directing at some point, but I didn’t think it would be one year later. This opportunity came up and it just felt right.” More here.
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Democracy Now's Jessica Byrd gets Bad and Bougey with a friend at the Black Youth Project gathering in DC on Monday. | |  | Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA) in his district on Monday expressing support for SNAP and other programs that help to relieve food insecurity. | |
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Trump Explores Solar Panels on Border Wall
Donald Trump told congressional leaders he is exploring the idea of attaching solar panels to a wall he wants to build along the southern border. You know? Because he’s so concerned about the environment. Oh but wait. This little piece of news comes only a week after pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord. But we guess using solar panels on a useless, ineffective, expensive, taxpayer-funded border wall will even things out. Got it. More here.
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Flint Official Drops N Word Saying They Don’t Pay Their Bills
An official at an agency that manages foreclosed homes in Flint, MI has resigned after a recording surfaced Sunday in which he blames the city’s water crisis on “niggers who don’t pay their bills.” Phil Stair resigned as sales manager of the Genesee County Land Bank. Local environmental activist Chelsea Lyons recorded Stair explaining in May why he thought Flint, a city mired in debt, switched from buying Detroit’s pre-treated Lake Huron water to using Flint River water, which sparked the crisis that has left the city without safe drinking water for several years. This is part of the transcript of the recording: “Flint has the same problems as Detroit, fucking niggers don’t pay their bills, believe me, I deal with them. I don’t want to call them niggers, shit, I have, shit, I just went to Myrtle Beach, 24 guys, and I was the only white guy. I got friends, I mean, there’s trash and there’s people that do this ... They just don’t pay their bills.” More here.
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San Jose Could Be the Next to Limit Cooperation with the Feds on Immigration
The San Jose (CA) City Council sent the city attorney’s office a proposed law that would limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, saying they want to see if the city has any legal power to not cooperate with federal authorities, before taking the matter up for a vote. Some council members are worried that the proposal would provoke a response from the Trump administration that would hurt the city’s immigrant residents, with one saying it could “invite retaliation” from the White House, which has threatened to withhold federal funds to cities that fail to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. That could mean a $74 million hit in the pocketbook for San Jose. More here.
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The Joint Center's Spencer Overton, LDF's Elaine Jones, and former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer at NMAAHC on Monday night. | |  |
Congressman Lacy Clay (D-MO) hosted a career fair at Harris Stowe University on Monday. | |
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SEARAC Touts Victories in Annual Report
SEARAC’s Executive Director, Quyen Dinh, released the organization’s annual report. Facing challenges presented by the Trump administration, Dinh opens with a message. “We reminded ourselves...that we are brave people of color, immigrants, refugees, and warriors for civil rights and social justice. We vowed to honor the courage that has become before us, the fighters who paved the way for us, and who never gave up hope in the face of hatred, sexism, racism, and xenophobia. We reminded ourselves that our strength lies in our community.” The report highlights the organization’s work across the country and building new leaders. Click here to read.
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| FOMOToday, 12P: The Center for American Progress Action Fund hosts a panel discussion, "The Pulse Nightclub Shooting One Year Later: Community Impacts and Policy Proposals to End Violence Against LGBTQ Communities." Click here to RSVP.
Today, 5P: A reception with Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) in support of the Fearless for the People PAC. Click here to RSVP.
Today, 5:30P: Latino Magazine sponsors the 2017 Latino 100 Networking Reception. Capitol Hilton. RSVP at: ajestrada@latinomagazine.com
Thursday, June 8th, 7P: STARZ sponsors the DC premiere of Season 4 of the series Power. Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. By invitation only.
Friday, June 9th, 6P: BET Farewell DC party. 1235 W Street, NE. By invitation only.
Saturday, June 10th, 1P: Socialmovements.org invites you to join LGBT44, Funny or Die, and Tumblr for "NOT the White House Pride Party," a gathering of LGBTQ and allied community leaders, activists, public servants, and anyone who cares about the cause of equality. Special guests include former Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett. The Brixton, 901 U Street, NW. Click here to purchase tickets.
Monday, June 12th, 6:30P: Author Sheryll Cashin reads from her new book, Loving: Interracial Intimacy in America and the Threat to White Supremacy. Busboys & Poets, 14th & V streets, NW. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, June 13th, 11:30A: The Raben Group and The Black Church Center sponsor "Wade in the Water," a panel discussion on faith communities and the progressive movement. 1341 G Street, NW. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, June 14th, 9A: The Raben Group sponsors a policy breakfast with Vanita Gupta, incoming President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, June 14th, 5:30P: Celebrate the release of Season Five of Orange is the New Black, and support Lesley López, candidate for the Maryland General Assembly, at Orange is the New Black Trivia Night with host Jillian Rubino. Penn Social, 801 E Street, NW. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Thursday, June 15th, 8A: The Hill sponsors a Latina Leaders Summit. Participants include Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), and Jennifer Korn, Sarita Brown, Alejandra Castillo, Nina Vaca, Geisha Williams, and Mónica Gil. Click here to RSVP.
Wednesday, June 21st, 6P: Reception and fundraiser for Kia Hamadanchy for Congress. 408 East Capitol Street, NE, RSVP at: info@KiaForOrangeCounty.com
Wednesday, June 21st, 6:30P: Reception and fundraiser for David Min for Congress. Rooftop at Steptoe and Johnson, 1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW. Click here to RSVP.
Thursday, June 22nd, 6P: MALDEF hosts its 2017 Chicago Awards Gala honoring Carlos Tortolero, President and Founder of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, and Mary Meg McCarthy, Executive Director of the National Immigrant Justice Center. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Thursday, June 22nd - Saturday, June 24th: NALEO holds its 34th-annual conference in Dallas. Click here to register.
Saturday, June 24th, 4P: The DC chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) hosts its annual BBQ and fundraiser. Click here to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, July 26th - Friday, July 28th: ColorComm, Women of Color in Communications, holds its 2017 conference in Miami, FL, featuring keynote speaker Whoopi Goldberg. Click here to register.
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