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ART OF THE BROKEN DEAL… Economic sanctions on Iran that the U.S. lifted during the Barack Obama administration under a 2015 nuclear deal went back into effect overnight, further straining relations with America’s European allies. Some worry that pressure in Iran to resume nuclear activities will rise. PANTS ON FIRE… In his first remarks on the vast California wildfires that have killed at least seven people and forced thousands to flee, the president blamed the blazes on the state’s environmental policies and inaccurately claimed that water that could be used to fight the fires was “foolishly being diverted into the Pacific Ocean.” BORDERING ON FOOLISH… The Trump administration could potentially waste billions of dollars on the proposed border wall because the Customs and Border Protection agency failed to fully account for factors like varying terrain and land ownership along the Southwest border. POLL DANCING… Voters in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington head to the polls today. However, one Ohio district is holding a special House election that will likely dominate the headlines. If Trump’s GOP House nominee, Troy Balderson, wins, Republicans may be hopeful for midterms. However, if Democrat Danny O’Connor prevails in the long Republican-held district, the blue wave may swell. EIGHT MILE… We’ll be watching all the races but paying special attention to Michigan’s 13th Congressional District to see which of the six candidates vying to replace resigned former Congressman John Conyers Jr. prevails. Be sure to read The Beat DC tomorrow for a recap of all the results. PRESIDENT MUST HAVE MORALS TO LEAD THE COUNTRY… That’s what VP Mike Pence wrote in the late 90’s. "If you and I fall into bad moral habits, we can harm our families, our employers and our friends. The President of the United States can incinerate the planet. Seriously, the very idea that we ought to have at or less than the same moral demands placed on the Chief Executive that we place on our next door neighbor is ludicrous and dangerous.” JUDGEMENTAL… The DOJ’s second attempt to stop the $85.4 billion AT&T and Time Warner merger kicked off on Monday by attacking the judge who oversaw the first case. The government faces a steep battle to get an appeal, and this issue could eventually land in the Supreme Court. FALLING STAR… A resolution to request the removal of Donald Trump's star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unanimously adopted by the West Hollywood City Council. But the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which has jurisdiction over the iconic tourist attraction, said Trump's star was safe for the time being (sans that time last week when it was destroyed by someone with a pickaxe). STAR WARS... Comedian Rosie O’Donnell led a group of Broadway performers Monday night in a musical protest of the Trump administration in front of the White House. LOSING THE INFOWAR… Apple, Facebook, and YouTube acted in near-unison late Sunday night, banning conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from their platforms. GRAND OLD PORN… The RNC’s official website reportedly linked to a Twitter account that provides porn and left it up for months. Who was in charge of managing the site? That’s a blown job. We’re kicking off Tuesday with this...
- Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton alum joins The Wing.
- Connie Chung is penning a memoir.
- Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) takes Trump money.
- Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) wants an Ambassador.
- AAPI students convene for the 2018 Department of Education Youth Summit. Check it out in Blogs.
- Be sure to join The Beat DC’s Tiffany D. Cross today at 1:20P as she co-hosts Keepin’ It Real with Rev. Al Sharpton on SiriusXM Ch. 126.
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Writer and trans rights activist Janet Mock posing for her feature article in Man Repeller last month. | |  |
The Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui on Saturday wishing her mother Nishat Siddiqui a happy birthday, in DC. | |
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Tammy Duckworth Wants Young People to Stay Fly
Despite countless opportunities, not enough young people are getting involved in the aviation industry. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) is hoping to change that, as well as tackle other issues like pilot shortages, training, protections, and more through a bipartisan bill she introduced with Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) last month. The Securing and Revitalizing Aviation (SARA) Act includes provisions that would create an Airline Pilot Education Program, authorizing up to $5 million a year in grants through 2023 for projects that would enable high school students to take aviation-related courses for credit. A recent jobs forecast by Boeing showed that through 2037, there is a need for 635,000 pilots, 622,000 commercial technicians, and 858,000 cabin crew members for a total of 2.12 million jobs. Other measures in the bill would reform regulations to help boost availability of designated pilot examiners, strengthen due process protections for pilots, and authorize NTSB review of FAA airman certificate denials. The bill would also extend limited-liability coverage for FAA designees, modify tower marking requirements, and ensure availability of air traffic control services at major aviation events without additional fees being assessed. “The SARA Act includes a number of common-sense solutions to address many of the critical challenges facing the aviation industry,” said Duckworth. “I’m proud to join Senator Inhofe in introducing this bipartisan legislation that directly targets these problems by expanding educational opportunities for students pursuing careers in aviation, protecting volunteer pilots, and implementing safeguards that benefit the entire aviation community.” More here.
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Catherine Cortez Masto Wants to Expand Broadband Services for Rural Customers and Small Businesses
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) last week introduced legislation to establish a specific internet agency to streamline management of federal broadband services to help rural customers and small businesses. Joined in its introduction by Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), the lawmakers say their bill will create a simpler process for small businesses and local economic developers to access federal broadband resources, including informational workshops for local businesses and economic developers. The Advancing Critical Connectivity Expands Service, Small Businesses Resources, Opportunities, Access, and Data Based on Assessed Need and Demand Act would require the Department of Commerce to establish the Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. That office would then be responsible for connecting with communities that need access to high-speed internet and improved digital inclusion efforts; providing regional workshops to share best practices and effective strategies for promoting broadband access and adoption; developing targeted broadband training and presentations for demographic communities through media, and more. “Better coordination between federal agencies and local governments to streamline broadband access will help ensure that every Nevadan will have the information and resources they need to gain the important benefits of Internet access while improving the transparency and oversight of federal dollars spent,” said Cortez Masto. More here.
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CNN’s Van Jones at the #WakandaCon convention in Chicago over the weekend. | |  |
NY congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D), Latino Victory Fund’s Cristóbal Alex, former HUD Secretary Julián Castro, CA senatorial candidate Kevin de León (D), and guests having dinner on Friday in New Orleans. | |
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Tim Scott Urges Trump to Nominate OECD Ambassador
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) on Thursday led 11 members on the Senate Finance Committee in a letter to the president urging him to nominate a U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) -- the Paris-based research body comprised of 36 countries, designed to promote global economic progress. OECD recently released figures that show global inflation hit its highest level in four years during June. More than 500 days have passed since the U.S. has had an Ambassador to the OECD, which Scott says has left the U.S. with no advocate for the “pro-growth” tax reforms and put a target on U.S. based companies. In the letter, the lawmakers express how the nomination of an Ambassador to the OECD will help protect U.S. competitiveness, and ensure American jobs, businesses, and innovation are defended against European aggression. “The United States has seen unprecedented growth and regained its reputation of being the most competitive nation in the world in which to do business in,” Scott said. “With that comes the important task of ensuring that our tax interests abroad are aimed at keeping America first. We have already seen the European Union (EU) take steps to target U.S. companies because they see this administration’s pro-growth policies as a threat to their own economy.” More here.
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Michelle Luján Grisham Intros Bill to Prioritize Funding to States With High Crime Rates
Congresswoman Michelle Luján Grisham (D-NM) on Friday introduced the Start Allocating Funds Efficiently to States Act (SAFE States Act) to prioritize Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funding to states with higher crime rates. The Byrne JAG Program helps tribal, state, and local law enforcement agencies reduce and prevent violent and drug-related crimes. Under the current structure of the JAG program, 50% of the funding is based on the state’s violent crime rates and the other 50% is based on a state’s population. The SAFE States Act would modify the formula so that 70% of the funding is determined by a state’s violent crime rate, while 30% of the funding is contingent on a state’s population. “The current structure of the Byrne JAG Program has shortchanged smaller states with high crime rates like New Mexico for far too long,” Luján Grisham said. “This legislation will ensure that our state receives its fair share of federal funding to not only train law enforcement and combat crime, but also make investments in drug treatment, mental health, education, and reentry programs.” More here.
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Congresswoman Mia Love (R-UT) on Friday welcoming new naturalized citizens in Utah. | |  |
Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA) on Saturday with Ladyface Ale brewery’s Robyn Britton and Cyrena Nouzille in California. | |
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PepsiCo’s Leader Passes the Baton
PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, one of few women of color to lead a Fortune 500 company, will step down on October 3rd. The 62-year-old has been with Pepsi for 24 years, serving 12 of those years at the helm. During her tenure as CEO, sales grew 80% and she spearheaded Pepsi's transition to a more environmentally aware company. Before becoming CEO, she led the company's expansion through acquisitions, including its 2001 purchase of Quaker Oats. She earned $31 million last year, and $87 million over the last three years. She will remain as the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors until early 2019. Beginning her career in India, Nooyi held product manager positions at Johnson & Johnson before being admitted to the Yale School of Management in 1978, where she earned her Masters. She will be replaced by Pepsi's Global Operations Chief Ramon Laguarta. The 52-year-old Barcelona native has held a number of executive and general management roles in his 22 years at PepsiCo including as CEO of Europe Sub-Saharan Africa, one of PepsiCo’s most complex businesses with operations spanning three continents. Prior to that, he served as President of PepsiCo's Eastern Europe region and served in a variety of sales, marketing, and other commercial roles across Europe. Fluent in English, Spanish, French, German, Greek, and Catalan, Laguarta followed consumer trends and helped promote the company’s sugar-free drinks. He has an MBA from Spain’s ESADE business school and worked at Chupa Chups SA, a candy company based in Spain, before joining PepsiCo in 1996. More here.
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Obama Alum Joins The Wing
Zara Rahim is joining The Wing, a network of co-working and community spaces designed for women, as their first Director of Communications. In her new role, she will focus on The Wing’s expansion and civic and community engagement. She will also spearhead the September launch of the company’s app that will allow members of The Wing to connect digitally, as well as at the company’s physical spaces. Rahim was most recently the Communications Director at Vogue, serving as a leader for the publication’s diversity initiatives. Before that, the trilingual strategist -- who is fluent in English, Bengali, and Spanish -- was the National Spokeswoman for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She also previously directed public policy and communications efforts for Uber. The University of South Florida graduate is an Obama alum, having served as the Florida Digital Content Director for Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. "In a time when it's more important than ever, I was drawn to The Wing’s mission of creating new opportunities, ideas and conversations that will lead to greater mobility and prosperity for women — I'm looking forward to helping them tell their story," Rahim said in a statement. More here.
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AWIS Names New Board President
The Association for Women in Science has named Susan Windham-Bannister as their new National Governing Board President. In this role, she’ll continue the organization’s work of breaking down barriers that impede women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, and encourage them to achieve their full potential in management, leadership, and governance roles. Windham-Bannister currently serves as the President and CEO of Biomedical Growth Strategies, a boutique strategic advisory firm serving the life sciences industry, as well as the Managing Partner of Biomedical Innovation Advisors. From 2008 to 2015, she was the President and CEO of the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, a state-funded investment organization created by former MA Governor Deval Patrick, where she was responsible with administering a $1-billion Life Sciences investment fund. Prior to that, the Wellesley College graduate, who also has a Ph.D. from Brandeis University, and DSc from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in London, served in a number of roles advising major biopharma companies on the tough strategic decisions needed for market access, growth optimization, and portfolio management. She is the author of Competitive Strategy for Health Care Organizations, and Medicaid and Other Experiments in State Health Policy, and several articles on the healthcare marketplace. More here.
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Wes Moore Joins Board of Directors of Cannabis Company
Wes Moore has joined the Board of Directors for Green Thumb Industries Inc. -- a national cannabis cultivator, dispensary operator, and consumer packaged goods company that produces and distributes a portfolio of cannabis branded products. The 40-year-old decorated combat veteran, social entrepreneur, and best-selling author is currently CEO of Robin Hood, New York City’s largest poverty-fighting organization. Prior to being named Robin Hood’s CEO, Moore served on Robin Hood’s Veterans Advisory Board, which brought together leaders from the military, nonprofits, and government to connect veterans and their families living in poverty to housing, job training, education, counseling, and health services. The Baltimore native was the founder and CEO at BridgeEdU, an innovative platform addressing the college completion and job placement crisis. He also is the Executive Producer and Host of PBS’s Coming Back with Wes Moore, focusing on the reintegration of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. His books, The Other Wes Moore and The Work, became instant New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, capturing the nation’s attention on the fine line between success and failure in our communities. Despite childhood challenges, Moore graduated Phi Theta Kappa from Valley Forge Military College in 1998 and Phi Beta Kappa from Johns Hopkins University in 2001. He earned a Master’s degree in International Relations from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar in 2004. Moore then served as a Captain and Paratrooper with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan. He later served as a White House Fellow to then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “I’m thrilled to join GTI’s board and help empower its efforts to revitalize neighborhoods that have been disproportionately affected by the failed war on drugs,” says Moore. “As a veteran, I applaud GTI’s efforts to expand access to medical marijuana for those who have found relief from PTSD, chronic pain and other conditions via cannabis’ medicinal benefits. I’m also impressed with the company’s entrepreneurial success story and look forward to being a part of the team that leads the company’s strategic growth going forward.” More here.
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NBC’s Tamron Hall getting close up for an episode of Deadline: Crime in Florida last month. | |  |
The Latino Briefing’s Adrian Carrasquillo on Sunday having dinner in Miami. | |
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LeBron James to Executive Produce Shut Up and Dribble
Lebron James is serving as Executive Producer on a three-part documentary series on the changing role of athletes in the current political environment on Showtime. The series is titled Shut Up and Dribble, taken from conservative Fox News pundit Laura Ingraham’s remarks in February when players from the Golden State Warriors declined an invitation to the White House after the 2018 NBA Finals. The controversy serves as a prologue to the series as it chronicles the modern history of the NBA and its players. Joining James as EPs are Maverick Carter, Rich Paul, Martin Desmond Roe, Chris Uetwiller, Datari Turner, and Gotham Chopra, who will also direct. This news comes on the heels of Donald Trump insulting the NBA champion’s intelligence after he taped an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon. More here.
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Jim Acosta to Address Latino Lawyers
CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta will serve as this year's Hispanic National Bar Association Convention Gala Keynote Speaker. The convention in Philadelphia next month will attract more than 1000 Latinx attorneys, judges, and law students from across the country, including public officials, business leaders, and General Counsels from many Fortune 100 and other corporations. "Mr. Acosta is an ideal fit for our ‘Breakthrough’ theme as his career has demonstrated a determination and passion that has led to his current post as Chief White House Correspondent for CNN,” said HNBA National President Erica Mason. “If there is another profession that is currently in the spotlight as much as our legal profession, it is without a doubt the news media. We look forward to Jim's insight on the fourth estate as well as hearing about his own personal breakthrough story." More here.
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Connie Chung Penning a Memoir
Connie Chung is working on a memoir about her life and work in journalism, according to Politico. The 71-year-old former anchor and reporter for CNN, MSNBC, and all three main broadcast networks said her book will detail some 'Me Too' moments. Back in February, the second woman to ever co-anchor a network newscast appeared with her husband Maury Povich on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, when a viewer asked her about sexual harassment. “Well, let me say for the record that anybody who sexually harassed me is now dead,” Chung replied. When Cohen followed up and asked if Chung ever felt harassed throughout her decades long career, Chung declared, “Oh yeah, sure, every day. I mean, a lot, especially when I started out.” The book will also touch on her parents' journey from China, her Chinese American upbringing, and the 'parallels' between the Watergate investigation and the Mueller investigation. More here.
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The Daily Show's Trevor Noah on Monday backstage with GA gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams in NYC. | |  |
Former NBA player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf with former NFL player and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick last week in Oakland, CA. | |
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HuffPost Names New Editor
HuffPost has announced that Saba Hamedy will join the team as a News Editor. She is currently a Breaking News Reporter for CNN Politics, and Co-Author of The Point with Chris Cillizza newsletter. Prior to CNN, Hamedy was a Digital Entertainment Reporter at Mashable, where she covered YouTube, streaming services, digital influencers, and the overlap between traditional/digital entertainment and consumer viewing habits. The Los Angeles native was also previously a Reporter at the LA Times where she wrote about TV, the box office, and digital entertainment. She also covered the Iranian community, national news, and the business of Hollywood. The Boston University graduate began her journalism career as a Fellow at the Arizona Republic. The trilingual storyteller -- who is fluent in English, Farsi, and Spanish -- is also a member of the Asian American Journalists Association. She starts her new role on August 20th and will be based in LA. More about her here.
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Washington Post Promotes Virginia Singarayar to Senior Designer
Virginia Singarayar, Designer and Art Director for WaPo’s Sports section, has been promoted to Senior Designer. In this new role, she will help lead, plan, execute, and elevate the paper’s sports design across platforms. Prior to joining The Post in 2014, Singarayar was the News Designer at the Star Tribune, where she was responsible for designing the front page, news, sports, business, and features sections. Before that, she was the Layout Designer for the Longmont Times-Call. The 2010 Colorado State University graduate has also served as a Chief Designer, Copy Chief, and Editor-in-Chief of the university’s student newspaper, The Rocky Mountain Collegian. She began her career as a news design intern at the Denver Post. More here.
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FCC Chair Blames Obama Appointee for Questionable Net Neutrality Comments Challenges
Federal Communications Commision Chair Ajit Pai says a forthcoming Inspector General report exonerates the agency in an incident last year in which the FCC was accused of hampering the collection of public comments regarding the proposed rollback of Obama-era net neutrality rules. Pai says the report “debunks the conspiracy theory” that his office had something to do with the shutdown of its public comment servers after May 7th, when HBO talk show host John Oliver appealed to his millions of viewers to express their support for net neutrality. The FCC’s comments server suddenly choked after the broadcast and became unavailable into the next day. Pai blamed a cyberattack at the time. Not everyone was convinced. He now acknowledges there was no cyberattack and is laying the blame on his former Chief Information Officer, David Bray, saying he was not aware that the attack was fabricated. He also pointed out that he inherited Bray, who’s now the Executive Director for the San Francisco-based People-Centered Internet, from the Barack Obama administration. A spokesperson to Bray responded saying, “Dr. Bray has not been contacted by the FCC IG and has not seen their reported findings. There has not been any outreach to ask what he had seen, observed, or concluded during the events more than a year ago in May 2017.” Some argue that this alone should call into question the thoroughness of the IG’s investigation. More here.
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Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV) and Fox News’ Jason Feinberg at the 30th Annual Obon Festival in Las Vegas over the weekend. | |  |
WI gubernatorial candidate Mahlon Mitchell talking with Milwaukee residents at the Bronzeville Week festival over the weekend. | |
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Carlos Curbelo Gets Trump Money Despite Criticism
Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) didn't vote for Donald Trump in the 2016 election, but the Miami Herald reports that his campaign is about to get a cash bump from POTUS45 as he fights for re-election. Same for Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL) (who did vote for Trump) and is also facing a competitive re-election. The Florida Republicans are part of a group of 100 Republicans nationwide that are receiving direct financial support from the president as the GOP seeks to maintain control of Congress. Curbelo, in fact, was one of the first Republicans to raise the issue of impeachment. He has also been critical of the president's stance on DACA and climate change. “We have neither solicited nor received said contribution,” said Joanna Rodríguez, a spokesperson for Curbelo. His Democratic-leaning district is nearly 70% Hispanic and more than 60% of voters in Miami voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. And despite this cash infusing from the leader of the party, Curbelo was not supported by the GOP over the summer. Despite touting his “What a Country!” political action committee as a way to support like-minded Republicans on immigration and dishing out $152,600 to 61 House Republicans over the past three years -- he still got played. When Curbelo needed just 25 Republicans to support his push in June for a discharge petition -- a parliamentary move designed to bypass House leadership and bring the issue of immigration reform to the House floor -- they did not return the favor. Only 20 of the 61 Republicans he contributed to signed on, leaving the effort two votes short of the necessary threshold. Thirteen of those who received funds both refused to sign the discharge petition and also voted against the compromise legislation. Curbelo will likely best Souraya Faas in the August 28th primary. It’s the general election that likely has him worried. More here.
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CBC Releases ‘Must Do’ Policies for First 100 Days of Democratic Congress
The Congressional Black Caucus released 10 “must-do” policies for Democrats to address should they gain control of the House and Senate after November’s midterm elections. The lawmakers focused on issues affecting communities of color and rural communities, and insist that each policy is passed within the first 100 days of a new Congress. On the agenda are policy shifts that would reinforce the Affordable Care Act and eliminate racial disparities in healthcare; expand the protections of voters’ rights; advance criminal justice reform and ban private prisons; boost educational opportunities for tribes and HBCUs; raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2025, and more. Their agenda also included gun violence prevention and ending the federal prohibition of marijuana. “Republicans have shown again and again this Congress with their budget proposal, tax proposal, healthcare proposal, and other policies, that they want to reward the richest of the rich and penalize everybody else,” said Chairman Cedric Richmond (D-LA). “Here’s the reality: If we want to truly help people of color, women, those in rural communities, workers, the poor, and others, then we have to put people in charge who share those values.” See the rest of the policies here.
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| FOMO
Wednesday, August 8th - Saturday, August, 11th: AAJA National Convention. Marriott Marquis Houston. 1777 Walker St., Houston, TX. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, August 8th - Thursday, August 9th: Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan HBCU Caucus, will host executives from over 30 major corporations and leaders from Historically Black Colleges and Universities at the Inaugural HBCU Diversity in Tech Summit. North Carolina A&T State University, 1601 E Market St, Greensboro, NC. Click here for more information.
Thursday, August 9th, 9A: HBCU Diversity in Tech Summit Press Availability. North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University Alumni Foundation Event Center. 200 N Benbow Rd. Greensboro, NC, 27411.
Friday, August 17th - Sunday, August 19th: Martha’s Vineyard celebrates Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s (D-CA) 20 years of service. Special guests include House Assistant Minority Leader Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA), and more. Harbor View Hotel, 131 North Water Street Edgartown, MA. Kelley House, 23 Kelley Street Edgartown, MA. Click here for more information.
Tuesday, September 11th - Wednesday, September 12th: CHCI's Annual Leadership Conference. Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, September 12th - Saturday, September 16th: Congressional Black Caucus Foundation 48th Annual Legislative Conference. Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Click here for more information.
Thursday, September 13th: CHCI's 41st Annual Anniversary Awards Gala. Marriott Marquis Washington, DC. 901 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
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