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Did you guys see any part of the Conservative Political Action Committee (CPAC) speeches yesterday? It’s okay. I watch so you don’t have to. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre made no attempt to moderate his message in the aftermath of yet another mass shooting. Instead, he told the crowd of conservative activists that they should fear Democratic lawmakers, and went on to name-drop Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), among others. He called them “saboteurs who don't believe in capitalism, don't believe in the constitution, don't believe in our freedom and don't believe in America as we know it." He also attacked groups like Black Lives Matter, saying they keep their movement growing by finding someone to be offended by something every minute of every day. But the number one enemy for these “Blue Lives Matter” patriots? The FBI. Their disdain comes as Special Counsel Robert Mueller filed new charges against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates. Yesterday, The Heritage Foundation’s newly appointed and first African American President Kay Cole James took the stage at CPAC to interview Labor Secretary Alex Acosta. Donald Trump takes the stage today. And later this afternoon, FCC Chair Ajit Pai and former Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke will speak. But other than that, if you’re looking to take a shot for every time you see a person of color in the audience ... you’ll be pretty sober. In campaign news, the son of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is weighing a congressional run in NH. In Poliwood news, the White House Correspondents Association dinner takes place in April, and comedian Michelle Wolf has signed on to be the evening’s entertainment. In honor of #FlashbackFriday, here’s a clip when Cedric the Entertainer took the stage during the George W. Bush administration and made then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice the butt of his jokes. She was a great sport. Congress is back next week. Until then, we’re kicking off the weekend with this...
- Canada continues its love affair with former First Lady Michelle Obama.
- USCIS says the country is no longer a “nation of immigrants.”
- Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Bob Menéndez (D-NJ) call for continued review of offshore drilling inspections.
- HBCU Caucus launches partnership challenge.
- Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) makes the case for the NBA All-Star game in Sacramento.
- Bipartisan Senate effort hopes for a World Cup ala NAFTA in 2026.
- Golden State Warriors skipping WH visit to hang with DC kids.
- Trump names Director of the Small Business Administration’s Southeast Region.
- Bernie Sanders delegate launches FL congressional bid.
- Meet the NAACP’s new Board of Directors Vice-Chair.
- Labor Secretary Alex Acosta will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Latino Coalition summit.
- Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) to speak at HRC gathering in LA.
- Power Rising Summit to honor BET Networks CEO Debra Lee.
- Ford names new North America President.
- CNN has a new Director of Social Publishing.
- “My America, too.” An Iowa TV reporter is making history as the first to wear a hijab on air. And which Governor drank a glass of chocolate milk to demonstrate his belief in diversity? Meet both in Blogs!
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English comedian and actor Guz Khan with The Daily Show's Hasan Minhaj hanging out last month in London. | |  | Noticias Telemundo & NBC Nightly News Saturday anchor José Díaz-Balart
broadcasting last week from Parkland, FL. | |
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HBCU Caucus Launches Partnership Challenge
Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC) and Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-AL), Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, announced the launch of the HBCU Partnership Challenge and engagement survey. The Challenge and survey are an effort to promote greater engagement and support from private companies with HBCUs. It encourages participating organizations to make greater investments in HBCUs. Following the issuance of the Challenge, the Caucus conducts a survey to learn more about current HBCU engagement with corporate America. After the conclusion of the survey, the Caucus will work with industry to establish best practices to continue diversifying our workforce. Intel is the first corporation to take the challenge. “Leveling the playing field for our schools and our students requires a collective approach to ensure HBCUs have access to the same federal resources and private sector opportunities as their peer institutions. HBCUs produce 40% of African American engineers; there can be no diversity in tech without engagement with HBCUs. Intel’s efforts are a great step towards this goal and towards addressing diversity in Silicon Valley,” said Adams. More here.
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Dem Senators Call on Interior to Begin Offshore Drilling Inspection Review
A group of 19 Senators, including Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), sent a letter pushing the Department of Interior to resume a study of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s inspection program for offshore oil and gas development. The final report would include recommendations for how to minimize risks associated with drilling operations and help make needed improvements to safety and environmental stewardship programs that the Government Accountability Office says have fallen short. “The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill demonstrated how devastating a leak can be from an improperly inspected and managed offshore rig. In the months following the spill, we learned the Deepwater Horizon rig had missed a third of its required federal inspections in the 28 months prior to the disaster,” the Senators wrote. “Eleven people lost their lives, 3-4 million barrels of oil spilled into the ocean, around 1,300 miles of the Gulf shoreline were oiled, and the Gulf of Mexico’s commercial fishing industry lost upwards of $1.6 billion in sales and salary.” More here.
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|  | Tetsuro Amano, Consul-General of Japan in Houston, on Wednesday meeting with Congressman Joaquín Castro (D-TX), who is Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the US-Japan Congressional Caucus. | |  | Alabama State University President Quinton Ross on Thursday in Montgomery with Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL). | |
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Doris Matsui Wants to Host NBA All-Star
Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) wants the NBA All-Star game in her district. On Thursday, she joined other local elected leaders to make a plea for Sacramento to be the host city in 2022 or 2023. “It’s time for Sacramento to take center court and host its first NBA All-Star Game," said Matsui. "With Golden 1 Center anchoring Sacramento’s downtown, I am confident that the experience for All-Star Game fans will be gratifying and memorable. I’m honored to lend my full support and work with local, state, and federal partners to make it a seamless experience." A significant hurdle to overcome is the dearth of hotel rooms for an All-Star game. According to Visit Sacramento, there are currently 1,300 hotel rooms downtown, 2,000 within three miles and 16,000 in the region. Hundreds of rooms are going to be built in the next few years, but the city will need thousands more for an NBA All-Star game. The All-Star game hosted by LA this month was expected to fill about 27,000 hotel rooms. Undeterred, the Sacramento Kings unveiled their vision for the game and related festivities. See it here.
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Bipartisan Senate Effort Aims to Bring World Cup to U.S., Mexico, and Canada
Earlier this week, 44 Senators sent a bipartisan letter to Donald Trump expressing their support for United 2026 -- a collective bid by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “Dozens of U.S. cities that we represent have already conveyed their interest in being part of the United Bid effort that will showcase America, promote tourism, and stimulate economic growth,” the letter read. “We welcome your support for the United Bid to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup to North America, and we look forward to working with you to advance this important effort.” Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto, Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) were among the signatories. More here.
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Warriors Will Skip WH and Meet DC Kids Instead
After winning the NBA championship last year, several Golden State Warriors preemptively said they would not go to the White House as is custom for professional athletes. Donald Trump then tweeted that he would not invite the Warriors to the White House, specifically after comments made by Steph Curry. Well, the Warriors have decided to make the most of their next DC visit on February 27th by going to an undisclosed location and meeting with DC kids instead. Head coach Steve Kerr left it up to the players to determine how they wanted to spend their time, and this is what they wanted to do. "It's their championship. They got disinvited to the White House, so it's up to them what they wanted to do. So they made their plans," Kerr told ESPN. "I want the players to have a good day and to do something positive and to enjoy what they're doing." While the event is closed to press, what about sports fans who cover people of color making an impact? More here.
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|  | Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) and Bounce last week wishing everyone a happy and healthy Asian Lunar New Year -- it's the Year of the Dog. | |  | Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) on Tuesday with participants of the 5000 Role Models of Excellence Project's annual Police and Youth Conference in Miami Gardens. | |
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Trump Names Director of the Small Business Administration’s Southeast Region
The Trump administration has named Ashley Bell its new Director of the Small Business Administration’s Southeast Region. He will serve as one of ten regional directors leading the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. His responsibility is to ensure small businesses thrive in the areas he serves. The former Georgia politician was most recently the Associate Director of External Affairs for the Peace Corps, and before that was a Special Assistant in the Bureau of Public Affairs at the Department of State. Prior to the 2016 election, the Georgia native was a Senior Strategist at the RNC. Ashley is a graduate of Valdosta State University, where he was President of the Student Government Association and founded the school’s chapter of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. -- before he went on to earn his law degree from Louisiana State University. He will be sworn in on Monday and will be Donald Trump’s first minority appointment to an SBA regional position. “The SBA plays a critical role in helping to start and grow businesses,” Bell said. “Now, more than ever, the economy is growing and we must do our part to help America’s small businesses.” More here.
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USCIS Removes “Nation of Immigrants” from Mission Statement
The purging of language at federal agencies continues. This time, it is the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) which has altered its mission statement and removed any reference to the U.S. as a “nation of immigrants.” The new mission statement reads: "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the nation’s lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting Americans, securing the homeland, and honoring our values." A spokesperson with USCIS said that the new statement focuses on the priorities of fairness, lawfulness, and efficiency and was developed and debuted within the agency by USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna and other senior officials. The previous mission statement read: "USCIS secures America’s promise as a nation of immigrants by providing accurate and useful information to our customers, granting immigration and citizenship benefits, promoting an awareness and understanding of citizenship, and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system." More here.
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|  | Actress Lupita Nyong'o on Wednesday with The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah. Nyong’o will star in and produce the film adaptation of Born a Crime: Stories of a South African Childhood, Noah’s best-selling autobiography.
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Neil deGrasse Tyson earlier this month likely reimagining every film he's ever seen with a more scientifically accurate script. | |
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Bernie Sanders Delegate Launches Congressional Bid in Florida
Florida Democratic State Committeeman Sanjay Patel is running for Congress hoping to unseat five-term incumbent Congressman Bill Posey (R-FL). Patel began his career in technology, strategy, and consulting roles at Deloitte, Genentech, and the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency. The UCLA graduate then launched a small consulting business in San Francisco and subsequently founded a nonprofit that used social media to raise funds for changemakers across the globe, according to his campaign site. His wife, Stacey Patel, chairs the Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee. Both were elected Bernie Sanders delegates to the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Patel is one of two Democratic challengers for the state's Eighth Congressional District that includes Brevard, northern Indian River County, and far-eastern Orange County. “I think we can win this thing,” he said of the Republican-leaning district. Patel said he is determined to raise $100,000 in the first quarter to establish his campaign. And while he has no staff yet -- except a Treasurer -- he said he’s building a team now and hopes to soon announce some of his campaign advisors and staffers. He will face Dena Grayson in the August 28th primary. More here.
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NAACP Elects Vice-Chair of the Board
The NAACP elected Karen Boykin-Towns as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors at its annual board meeting on February 17th in New York. She replaces former Board Vice-Chair Derrick Johnson, who was named NAACP President and CEO last October. Boykin-Towns was the Chair of the Board’s National Health Committee and President Emeritus of the Brooklyn, NY branch. Currently VP of Corporate Affairs for Pfizer Innovative Health, her career spans 20 years, and she served as the company’s first Chief Diversity Officer. Prior to joining Pfizer, she served as Deputy Director of the New York State Senate Democratic Conference. She also served as Legislative Director and later Chief of Staff for Senator David Paterson, who went on to become the 55th Governor of New York. The College of Mount Saint Vincent grad earned her MBA from the City University of New York. More here.
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CNN Hires Director of Social Publishing
Stephanie Clary is stepping down as Managing Editor of Mic to join CNN's social team as Director of Social Publishing. In this new leadership role within CNN Digital, Clary will lead a global social publishing team with producers in New York, Atlanta, London, and Hong Kong. She’ll also build and execute a global social publishing strategy across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and messaging apps. The 2007 University of Colorado graduate has made the rounds in various leadership roles in media. She was previously a Senior Editor at Breaking News, a startup inside NBC News. While at Breaking News, Clary led a team of editors across the globe, from Seattle to London, covering real-time news with a mobile-first mission. She worked closely with the creative development team to build breakthrough product features that emphasized user experience. Previously, she was a producer at The Seattle Times, and she shares a 2010 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news with the Times staff. She has covered political, entertainment and sports events, including the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the 2010 Winter Olympics, and the 2010 Holiday Bowl. She is a proud member of the Asian American Journalists Association. She’ll be based in NYC and will officially assume the role in March. Congrats, Stephanie! More about her here.
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Ford Names New President
Ford Motor Co. named Kumar Galhotra their new chief of North American Operations on Thursday following the abrupt departure of Raj Nair due to misconduct allegations. Galbotra had been Chief Marketing Officer while also running the Lincoln brand, a once-dominant U.S. luxury brand that has gained momentum in China. He takes the helm of Ford’s core business unit as profits are under increasing pressure. The 52-year-old University of Michigan grad has been with Ford for 29 years in a number of senior engineering and product strategy positions, including a stint working for Mazda in Japan. The India native is known for his engineering savvy and product strategy experience. Galhotra will report to Jim Farley, the company's President for Global Markets. More here.
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|  | SBA Administrator Linda McMahon meeting last week with FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. | |  | Former National Press Club President and Al Jazeera's Jeff Ballou last week with CNN and WSJ contributor Doug Heye. | |
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Michelle Obama Heads Back to Canada
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is going to back to Canada ... again. Hey Canada: get your own awesome First Lady! This time Obama will be speaking in Saskatoon, a city straddling the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatchewan, Canada. The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the event, selling premium seating for $499 and VIP meet-and-greet tickets for $2,000. All other tickets start at $79 each and can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Ticket sales open for the general public today at 10A. Organizers expect the event to sell out. This will mark FLOTUS44’s fifth speaking engagement in Canada. More here.
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Alex Acosta Joins Latino Coalition
Labor Secretary Alex Acosta will join The Latino Coalition (TLC) during their annual one-day summit in DC on March 7th. "For years, the small-business community was discouraged by its leaders in Washington, D.C., and our economy struggled as a result. Recently, there has been a resurgence in optimism in the entrepreneurial sector, which is now unleashing the best of the best and once again making their uniquely powerful economic contribution: jobs," said Héctor Barreto, TLC's Chairman and Administrator of the Small Business Administration under President George W. Bush. Secretary Acosta will be joined by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT). “We are delighted to host Secretary Acosta and Sen. Hatch, two leaders who understand the importance of the small-business sector and the Latino community. We look forward to hearing their plans of creating an environment where Hispanic entrepreneurs thrive," Barreto added. More here.
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|  | Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) on Wednesday after speaking with Capitol Public Radio in Sacramento about student activism in the aftermath of the Parkland, FL shooting. | |  | Actors Danny Trejo and Jesse Williams with Reggie Cole (center) at the premiere Wednesday of the documentary, Survivors Guide to Prison, which features the story of Cole, who served a long prison sentence for a crime he didn't commit. | |
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Maxine Waters to Speak at HRC Dinner
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced that Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) will speak at the 2018 HRC Los Angeles Dinner on March 10th. The event is slated to bring together more than 1,000 of HRC’s most active members and supporters in the greater Los Angeles area to raise crucial funds in the fight for LGBTQ equality. “Maxine Waters is a steadfast defender of equality who is fighting to reclaim the United States from the Trump-Pence agenda of hate, fear, and discrimination,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “For years, Congresswoman Waters has been standing up for the marginalized and oppressed in our society. We are truly honored to welcome her to the 2018 HRC Los Angeles Dinner.” She will be joined by the Grammy Award-winning rock band Portugal, who will perform at the event. More here.
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Power Rising Summit Honors BET CEO
Power Rising, a national summit for Black women, announced that BET Networks Chairwoman and CEO Debra Lee will receive the inaugural “Power Rising Legacy Award” to celebrate and honor her trailblazing career. “It is a very special honor to celebrate Debra at this moment where the world is acknowledging the influence and impact of Black women have (sic) on every sphere of culture and community -- from the world of politics to the C-suite, to the front lines of activism or on stage and screen,” said Minyon Moore, summit co-convener. “In addition to Debra’s many accomplishments and philanthropic work, her experience and insight make her indispensable to any conversation by and about black women." The Power Rising Summit kicked off on Thursday and will go through the weekend. The summit convenes Black women and girls from all over the country. More here.
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| FOMO
Today: The NFL, along with Morehouse College and the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE), hosts a program in Atlanta to educate athletes on how to develop and implement effective advocacy platforms that positively impact society. Click here for more information.
Today - Sunday, February 25th: The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators 15th National Summit. Westin Chicago River North Hotel, Chicago. Click here for more information.
Saturday, February 24th: The Association for the Study of African American Life and History hosts the 92nd Annual Black History Month Luncheon. Washington Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th Street, N.W. Click here for more information and to register.
Tuesday, February 27th: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) co-hosts the Second Annual HBCU Fly-in: “Advancing Opportunity and Entrepreneurship.” House Administration Committee, Room 1310 Longworth HOB. Open to press. RSVP by emailing Scott_Press@scott.senate.gov.
Tuesday, February 27th, 10A: Former AG Eric Holder will sit down for a wide-ranging interview with Jonathan Capehart for his podcast, "Cape Up." Free. Click here to register.
Wednesday, February 28th, 7:30P: The Annual Poynter Lecture presents Racial Justice & Religion in the Public Sphere, an evening with Joshua DuBois, sponsored by the Frederick Douglass Distinguished Scholars. Kay Spiritual Life Center, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information.
Thursday, March 1st, 6P: The Multicultural Media Correspondents Association launch reception, and the unveiling of AKUAREL the first-ever multicultural media stakeholder directory. Soul Hollywood, Los Angeles. Click here to RSVP.
Monday, March 5th, 5:30P: A reception and fundraiser for Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA). Kith/Kin Restaurant, The Intercontinental Hotel, 801 Wharf Street, S.W. RSVP to Brandon Neal, 202.714.3832 or Pylorus.Contact@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 6th, 12P: A lunch and reception honoring CA Attorney General Xavier Becerra. The City Club, South Flower Avenue, 51st. Floor, Los Angeles. RSVP to Elizabeth Tauro, 310.795.3977 or etauro@capstratca.com, or click here to RSVP online.
Tuesday, March 6th, 7P: The Brown Institute for Media Innovation at Stanford University welcomes NYT Executive Editor Dean Baquet as their third Media Innovator Series Speaker for 2017-2018. Free. Click here for more information and to register.
Friday, March 9th - Saturday, March 10th: The Progressive Caucus Center hosts the 2018 Strategy Summit. Baltimore, MD. Click here to register.
Tuesday, March 13th, 7P: The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials presents Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) with the 2018 Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service during the organization’s annual Edward R. Roybal Legacy Gala in DC. JW Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Tuesday, March 13th, 7:30P: National Geographic conversation, “Environmental Justice | What's Next?” Talia Buford, Robert Bullard, Jon Waterhouse, Mustafa Ali, and Adrianna Quintero on how the environmental justice movement must adapt in the face of a changing planet. National Geographic, Gilbert H. Grosvenor Auditorium, 1600 M Street, N.W. Click here for more.
Wednesday, March 14th, 9A: The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute sponsors the CHCI Energy Summit: A World in Transition. Newseum, 5 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, March 14th - Sunday, March 18th: The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation 7th Annual Black Women’s Roundtable Women of Power National Summit: Time for A Power Shift!!! Crystal City Marriott, 1999 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Friday, March 16th, 6P: The Greater Washington Urban League celebrates its 80th anniversary at the 46th annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Gala. Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) will receive the COURAGE UNDER FIRE Impact Leadership Award. Congressman Lewis will also be interviewed by retired AMEX CEO Ken Chenault in a live, one-on-one discussion. Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Thursday, March 22nd - Sunday, March 25th: The National Hispanic Medical Association 22nd Annual Conference, "Conquistando el Futuro: Clinicians Leading Latino Health Care.” Gaylord National, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD. Click here for more information and to register. Congressional staffers or federal government workers: email pmontenegro@nhmamd.org for a discount code.
Thursday, March 29th, 8P: Jazz, hip hop, and soul combine in August Greene, the newly formed supergroup featuring emcee Common, pianist and composer Robert Glasper, and percussionist and producer Karriem Riggins. Kennedy Center. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Thursday, April 12th - Sunday, April 15th: The inaugural Black Millennial Political Convention. The gathering aims to increase engagement of Black Millennials in the political sphere and shed a light on policy issues impacting the Black community. Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, April 18th, 6P: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) 2018 Gala and Awards. Mayflower Hotel, 1127 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. To purchase tickets, contact Heaven Ocampo, hocampo@maldef.org or 213.629.2512 ext. 143.
Wednesday, April 18th - Saturday, April 21st: The National Action Network hosts its annual conference, this year commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Sheraton Times Square, NYC. Click here for more information.
Thursday, April 19th: The University of North Dakota sponsors a conference on the Dakota Access Pipeline and the Standing Rock protests. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, April 25th - Friday, April 27th: The African American Mayor Association 2018 Annual Conference. DoubleTree Hotel, 300 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA. Click here to purchase tickets.
Saturday, July 7th - Tuesday, July 10th: The 2018 UnidosUS annual conference, DC. Click here for more information and to register.
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