Ava Duvernay hires two women to join her indie film team. Meet them here!
Ava Duvernay hires two women to join her indie film team. Meet them here!
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February 20, 2018
Cedric Richmond Calls for Mass Shooting Hearings, Marco Rubio Shifts Staff, and Michelle Obama Heads to MUSE
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Congress is out all week, but the voices of the students impacted by last week’s mass shooting are reaching Members' districts. The students “call BS” and are planning a “March for Our Lives” on March 24th. Tomorrow, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will participate in a CNN town hall with his constituents, including students and educators of the Parkland community. He’ll be joined by Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL), who represents the Parkland community, and Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL). Donald Trump has also been invited. The New York Daily News ripped the president for golfing near Mar-a-Lago while funerals for those killed in the Florida high school shooting were taking place just miles away. This morning, Trump is occupied with the very important business of tweeting. To sum up his subject du jour: it’s Obama’s fault. But on Sunday, 45 chose a new target: Oprah. “Just watched a very insecure Oprah Winfrey, who at one point I knew very well, interview a panel of people on 60 Minutes. The questions were biased and slanted, the facts incorrect. Hope Oprah runs so she can be exposed and defeated just like all of the others!,” he tweeted. Yeah. Oprah is the one who sounds insecure there. On Monday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court released a new congressional district map that could help the Democratic Party pick up several seats in the battleground state. State GOP legislative leaders are expected to appeal the court's map. And Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL) surprised party leaders with his announcement that he is retiring rather than seeking a sixth term this fall. Today, Fox News is set to announce Fox Nation, a stand-alone subscription service available without a cable package. The streaming service, expected to start by the end of the year, would focus primarily on right-leaning commentary, with original shows and cameos by popular personalities such as Sean Hannity. The subscription service will likely not be available in Wakanda where, today, citizens are celebrating its King’s dominance at the box office. Hail, King T’Challa. Black Panther is breaking box office records as global ticket sales reached an estimated $387 million. Wakanda forever! We’re kicking off the week with this...
  • Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) signals support for Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy’s (D-FL) bill on gun research.
  • CBC Chair Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) calls for hearings on mass shootings.
  • Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) intros a Made in America bill.
  • NJ Democratic Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menéndez question closing of attorney access office at DOJ.
  • Indian American activist jumps into IL congressional race.
  • Pro-Trump pastor running for SC congressional seat.
  • Dolores Huerta weighs in on son’s CA congressional bid.
  • Dems push for consideration of Congressman Salud Carbajal’s (D-CA) bill on gun violence.
  • After record funding haul, DCCC adds more candidates to its 'Red to Blue' program.
  • Study says GOP anti-immigrant ads are activating voters.
  • Barack Obama returns to Rancho Mirage.
  • Dallas Mayor says stay out to NRA.
  • Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) makes her gubernatorial endorsement pick.
  • Country’s oldest Latino civil rights organization is in turmoil.
  • Veterans Affairs CoS to step down amid travel controversy.
  • Staff moves in Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) press shop.
  • The American Federation for Children has a new National Director.
  • Former First Lady Michelle Obama joins MUSE for a talk next week.
  • Ava DuVernay makes staff moves at ARRAY.
  • The Nation has a new Music Critic.
  • Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) intros resolution honoring Buffalo Soldiers.
Rev. Alvin Herring, Angela Rye, Chris Paul, Dwayne Wade, and Valerie Jarrett participated in a Sports & Society roundtable before the NBA All-Star game on Sunday.
TX congressional candidate Gina Ortiz Jones on Sunday out on the campaign trail.
Curbelo Expresses Support for Stephanie Murphy Bill on Gun Violence Research
Some Republicans are joining their Democratic colleagues in calling for some gun reform legislation following the recent deadly shooting at a Florida high school. After HHS Secretary Alex Azar and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), both signaled that they would be open to allowing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to research gun violence prevention, Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) took to Twitter to also express his support. Seeing his tweet, Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) made Curbelo aware of her bill, the Gun Violence Research Act, which would repeal the so-called “Dickey Amendment,” offered in 1996 by then-Congressman Jay Dickey which banned CDC research into gun violence. After some politics by tweet, Curbelo’s team (the Congressman has given up his personal Twitter account for Lent) told Murphy that, “he’s in!” Curbelo will become the first Republican to co-sponsor Murphy’s bill, bringing it to 123 supporters in the House. Murphy finished the exchange Saturday, with, “Thanks @RepCurbelo & #TeamCurbelo for making our bill to repeal the #DickeyAmendment bipartisan. By working together, we can address this very serious public safety crisis and save lives. I’m hopeful more Republicans will join our bipartisan effort. Let’s get this done.” More here.
CBC Chair Calls on Homeland Security Committee to Hold Hearings on Mass Shootings
Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Congressman Cedric Richmond (D-LA) says the House Homeland Security Committee needs to hold a hearing to explore mass shootings as the "domestic terrorism they are." The Congressman sent a letter Friday to Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) demanding that the Committee "live up to its name and mission" and hold a hearing that addresses mass shootings and discusses solutions that would help stop them. The letter was sent in the aftermath of the latest mass shooting in Parkland, FL that left 17 people dead. "As member[s] of Congress, there is no greater responsibility we have than trying to protect our nation. As we saw this week with the attack at Stoneman Douglas High School, we have failed. Once again, one person with a gun has shocked the nation and shattered a community. It is time that the Committee on Homeland Security lived up to its name and mission. As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, which you chair, I call on you to hold a hearing to explore these mass shootings as the domestic terrorism they are and figure out what we can do to stop them," the letter reads. More here.
Dems Push Salud Carbajal Bill
Dems are pushing a bill introduced by Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-CA) that they say could have prevented Wednesday’s mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that left 17 dead. The bill would authorize a federal grant program for states that enact Gun Violence Restraining Order, or GVRO, laws. These statutes allow law enforcement or family members to petition courts to temporarily remove guns from a person’s possession if they pose a threat to themselves or others. If passed, a separate appropriation measure would be needed to provide the funding for the grants. A handful of states such as California and Connecticut have already enacted GVRO laws, but Florida does not have one. Carbajal said a GVRO “could have been a useful tool to address the behavior and temporarily remove guns away from this individual.” The bill was not drafted in response to the Parkland shooting. It was introduced last May and has 50 Democratic co-sponsors but has gone nowhere in the Republican-led Congress. The NRA is opposed to the measure because of concerns about due process. More here.
NBC's Craig Melvin on Monday in South Korea with General Vincent Brooks, who is the current Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, United Nations Command, and ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command.
FCC Comissioner Mignon Clyburn with Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) meeting last week on Capitol Hill.
Grace Meng Intros 'Made in America' Site and Legislation
Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY)
introduced legislation to create the first-ever U.S. government website through which consumers can find information about products that are made in the United States. The “MadeInAmerica.gov Act” would require the Department of Commerce to create and maintain a MadeInAmerica.gov website listing American-made products. “It is time that the federal government did more for American businesses and American workers,” said Meng. “Consumers who wish to know which products are made in America should have a trustworthy, easy-to-use resource, and American businesses should be provided a space in which they can easily connect consumers to products that are made in America. This legislation will promote products made in the USA, support the labor behind them, and encourage people to buy American.” Meng’s legislation has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee where it is awaiting further action. Text of the bill can be found here.
Cory Booker and Bob Menéndez Question AG Sessions on Closing of Attorney Access Office
Senators Bob Menéndez (D-NJ)
and Cory Booker (D-NJ), led 13 of their colleagues in a letter to AG Jeff Sessions demanding answers as to why the DOJ appears to have closed the Office for Access to Justice (ATJ) when in more than 75% of all civil trial cases, at least one litigant does not have a lawyer. The Senators also questioned whether Congressional leaders had even been notified of the office’s closing, as required by law. “Huge swaths of the American public are unable to access an attorney due to lack of resources,” the Senators wrote, adding that the Justice Department's own website says that the ATJ’s mission “is to help the justice system efficiently deliver outcomes that are fair and accessible to all, irrespective of wealth and status" and that "it is unfortunate that you apparently do not share these laudable goals.” The Office for Access to Justice was established in 2010 by then-AG Eric Holder in order to help low-income Americans in civil, criminal, and tribal courts access the legal resources that are so far out of reach for many. According to the DOJ website, “ATJ staff work within the Department of Justice, across federal agencies, and with state, local, and tribal justice system stakeholders to increase access to counsel and legal assistance and to improve the justice delivery systems that serve people who are unable to afford lawyers.” The letter from the Senators can be read here.
Hawaii Governor David Ige on Friday signing a proclamation declaring 2018 the Year of the Hawaiian.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms on Friday at a screening of Black Panther.
Dolores Huerta Weighs in on Son’s Congressional Race
So far Emilio Huerta is the only Democrat who is challenging Congressman David Valadao (R-CA) in California’s 21st District -- and his mom, civil rights activist Dolores Huerta, wants to keep it that way. Elected officials, local activists, and other congressional sources said Huerta is having pointed conversations to try to make sure her son is the only Democrat challenging Valadao -- a local lawyer, he lost badly to in 2016. She has influenced the Central Valley race Dems view as one of their biggest pickup opportunities in the midterm elections. The LA Times reports that two Dems working in the district said Huerta's influence is so great that potential candidates opted against running after speaking with her because they fear risking her future support. The paper asked Huerta if she was discouraging Democrats from running another candidate and they report that she replied emphatically, "I would never do that. Ever." Huerta said what she did do was ask the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in September if the national party was recruiting other candidates. She said she spoke with some local politicians about whether they would run after hearing the committee might be recruiting them, but said she didn't try to dissuade anyone. Emilio is a civil rights Attorney. After graduating from California State University Bakersfield he completed law school at Santa Clara University. Before attending college, he served as a labor negotiator, representing farmworkers throughout California. More here.
Indian American Activist Aims to Unseat Fellow Dem
Indian American activist Sameena Mustafa is running for Congress in Illinois’ 5th Congressional District. She is among four Democrats running in the primary, including incumbent Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL). Mustafa, the daughter of Muslim immigrants from India who has lived in the district for three decades, has worked in business, the nonprofit sector, and the arts. Most recently she was a commercial real estate tenant advocate for 13 years representing groups, nonprofits, and small businesses that comprise the most marginalized in the community. She has served on boards and has been a volunteer for domestic violence shelters. The Northwestern graduate is refusing donations from special interests and corporate PACs. She says her priorities include reproductive choice for women, Medicare for all, a living wage and empowering workers, ensuring rights and protections for all people, providing a path to citizenship to immigrants regardless of status, fighting voter suppression, rolling back the systemic architecture of mass incarceration, revamping the corporate and individual tax system, campaign finance reform, combating climate change, and protecting net neutrality. Mustafa is a co-founder of the Symposium to Elect Women & People of Color. “I have spent my life and career championing progressive causes and actively working to make things better for the community. The other challengers in this race have neither the experience, the history and relationships in the district, nor the operation to successfully defeat Quigley and his corporate backers,” she told the Chicago Sun-Times. The other candidates vying for the Democratic nomination in the March 20th primary are Steve Schwartzberg and Benjamin Thomas Wolf. More here.
Pro-Trump Pastor Jumps Into SC Race
Mark Burns
, the evangelical Pastor who was an early and vocal supporter of Donald Trump, has entered the race to succeed retiring Congressman Trey Gowdy (R-SC). Burns is Pastor of Harvest Praise & Worship Center and co-founder of the NOW Television Network. He also is a member of Trump's Faith Advisory Council. "The president loves me," Burns said in an interview after announcing his first bid for elected office. Burns regularly introduced Trump at his presidential campaign rallies. He also spoke at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. In 2016, CNN reported that Burns listed professional accomplishments on his church's website that were not accurate, including false claims that he received a Bachelor's from North Greenville University and served six years in the Army Reserve. Burns blamed the errors on an outdated biography that he failed to correct. He said he attended North Greenville University for one semester and served for six years in the South Carolina National Guard. As a Black candidate, Burns said, he will have the freedom to discuss issues that white politicians are leery to address. "This politically correct society in which we live in and this racial divide that we are in -- it has given me the voice to say the things that white politicians want to say, used to be said, but they are afraid of being labeled a racist or a bigot," Burns said. The Pastor is the sixth Republican to enter the race. Four Democrats also are seeking the seat. More here.
Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) last week on Capitol Hill.
Congresswoman Val Demings (D-FL) with a constituent attending HRC's Time to Thrive conference in Orlando over the weekend.
Amid Record January Haul, DCCC Names Six More to ‘Red to Blue’ Program
DCCC Chairman Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) has added six more candidates to the ‘Red to Blue’ program after the Committee announced that it had its best-ever January fundraising efforts; it brought in $9.3 million just last month. With its large January haul, the DCCC increases its cash-on-hand to $43.8 million, compared with $33.2 million it had at this time two years ago. As part of its efforts to flip the House in 2018, the DCCC named six more candidates to its ‘Red to Blue’ program including Andy Kim, running in NJ’s Third Congressional District and hoping to unseat incumbent Congressman Tom MacArthur (R), as well as Xochitl Torres Small, who is running in NM’s Second Congressional District after its current Congressman, Steve Pearce (R), decided to run for Governor. “Our long run of record-breaking fundraising has been fueled by an energized and motivated grassroots base that is working every day to take back the House,” said Luján. “The huge size of the House battlefield, combined with incredible candidate recruitment and candidate fundraising, is spreading vulnerable Republicans thin and forcing them to fight for every inch.” More here.
GOP Anti-Immigrant Ads Drive Voter Attitudes
A study from the University of California-Riverside titled, "Race, Place, and Building a Base: Latino Population Growth and the Nascent Trump Campaign for President," found that ads and inflammatory language are actually "activating" voters' latent stereotypes about Latinos and immigrants and those sentiments, in turn, are influencing how voters feel about immigration policies. The study looked at the relationship between support for Donald Trump during the 2016 Republican presidential campaign and local Hispanic population growth. A second study from UC-Riverside, "Public Opposition to Sanctuary Cities in Texas: Criminal Threat or Immigration Threat?," found that Republicans in Texas were not evaluating their support for ending sanctuary cities on the basis of crime in the area. Instead, they found that support for ending sanctuary cities correlated with a higher rate of Latino population growth. The results of the analysis found that support for Trump was unrelated to Latino population growth in the poll respondents' area. But after Trump made widely publicized speeches attacking immigrants and Latinos, the relationship between local Latino growth and support for Trump became statistically significant. Republicans such as AG Jeff Sessions insist that sanctuary cities protect criminals and make cities more dangerous, a contention that is unsupported by the evidence. More on both studies here.
Kamala Harris Endorses in California Gubernatorial Race
The California gubernatorial race is shaping up to be a two-man contest. Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom just scored a win over Antonio Villaraigosa -- the endorsement of Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA). She and Newsom have connections going back years. Harris was District Attorney in San Francisco when Newsom was the city’s Mayor, and both were first elected to statewide office in 2010. They also share the same political consultant, SCN Strategies of San Francisco. As State Attorney General, Harris administered the oath of office to Newsom to begin his second term as Lieutenant Governor in 2015. Before Harris ran for the Senate, she and Newsom were both considered to be potential rivals for Governor. Newsom has denied that they cut a deal to run for the respective offices. More here.
Associate Director, State Initiatives (NYC)
Everytown for Gun Safety is seeking a full-time Associate Director of State Initiatives to run the day to day operation for the State Initiatives Department.
Click here to learn more and apply
Deputy Director, State Electoral Campaigns (NYC)
Everytown for Gun Safety is seeking a Deputy Director of State Electoral Campaigns to assist in developing and executing State & Local electoral and candidate focused work heading into the 2018 elections. 
Click here to learn more and apply
LULAC Troubles Mount
It has been a whirlwind weekend for one of the largest Latino civil rights organizations in the country. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) late on Friday announced that embattled National President Roger Rocha refused to step down after a letter he wrote in support of Donald Trump's immigration principles -- without the knowledge of LULAC’s board or CEO -- set off a series of online protests and calls for Rocha’s resignation. His refusal to step down has led to the resignation of long-time LULAC CEO Brent Wilkes, who had been with the organization for more than 30 years. NBC Latino's Suzanne Gamboa reports that Rocha filed a lawsuit against LULAC, its board, and executive committee and obtained a temporary restraining order from a Texas court, in order to keep the board from impeaching him. On Saturday, the LULAC Board of Directors adopted a motion of no confidence against Rocha. More here.
VA Chief of Staff Steps Down Amid Controversial Travel Inquiry
The third-most senior official at the Department of Veterans Affairs is stepping down amid findings she misled ethics officials to secure approval for VA Secretary David Shulkin's wife to accompany him on a taxpayer-funded trip to Europe. Viveca Wright Simpson, Shulkin's Chief of Staff, told colleagues Friday morning that she is retiring after 32 years at the agency. The announcement came two days after the VA Inspector General released recommendations that she be disciplined for doctoring an email to an ethics lawyer to show Shulkin was getting special recognition or an award during the trip to Denmark and London last year -- the criteria for clearing his wife's flights on the public's dime, according to USA Today. More here.
Dallas Mayor Says NRA Not Welcome
Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway is urging the NRA to find a new home for its annual convention, which is set to take place in Dallas at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center from May 4th through May 6th. He says the meeting is not appropriate in Dallas in the wake of last week's school shooting in Florida. Caraway also points to the past tragedies in Dallas, including the 2016 ambush that killed five Dallas officers, and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. “It is a tough call when you ask the NRA to reconsider coming to Dallas. But it is putting all citizens first and getting them to come to the table and elected officials to come to the table, and to address this madness now," Caraway said. The NRA convention is supposed to include firearms exhibits where ammunition sales are permitted, but firearm sales are not. More here.
Dolores Huerta, writer, producer, and director Dan Guerrero, and mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzmán on Saturday in LA at the premiere of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna, a mariachi opera about immigration.
Fremont, CA educator Ying Jin, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages National Teacher of the Year, with Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) on Saturday.
Rubio Adds to Press Shop
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
has added two Deputy Press Secretaries to his press shop. Anthony Cruz was promoted to the position earlier this month. The UPenn grad has been with Rubio’s office since 2015 where he first served as a Staff Assistant and then as a Communications Assistant in the Senator’s DC office. Cruz, who studied abroad in Taiwan, speaks Chinese, English, and Spanish. Previously, he interned for Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) and the Senate Committee on Finance. Arielle Mueller was also promoted earlier this month. The Hillsdale College grad, who has a Master’s from the Universidad de Alcalá in Spain, also rose through the ranks in Rubio’s DC office. Previously, she was a Staff and Press Assistant for the Senator. Mueller also interned for the Republican Study Committee. Congrats to both! More about Cruz here and Mueller here.
American Federation for Children Names New National Director
Darrell Allison, the founding President of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, announced that he will depart from the organization at the end of this month to become the National Director for State Teams and Political Strategy at the American Federation for Children (AFC). The AFC is a conservative school choice advocacy organization that was once chaired by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The group was organized and is funded by the billionaire DeVos family, who are the heirs to the Amway fortune. “About a month ago, I was presented with the opportunity to join AFC ... After much discussion, prayer, and reflection, I decided that I would take on this new opportunity. AFC has been leading the way nationally to make parental school choice a reality in many states through policy and political support of candidates who stand firm on the ideals of educational choice, but there’s still much more work still to do,” Allison said. “While almost 500,000 children in the U.S. now attend private school by way of a state-sponsored scholarship, thousands more are in desperate need of better educational options.” Allison is a former White House intern and a graduate of North Carolina Central University. He completed law school at the University of North Carolina School of Law. More here.
Joy-Ann Reid, Erika Alexander, and Jacque Reid on Saturday discussing Alexander's comic book series Concrete Park.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) on Saturday with Black Panther actress Janeshia Adams-G.
Ava DuVernay Makes Moves at ARRAY
Ava DuVernay
announced a couple of executive moves at her ARRAY film collective -- a community-based distribution collective dedicated to the amplification of films by people of color and women filmmakers. Former Producing Artistic Director of the BlackStar Film Festival Maori Holmes has been appointed Executive Director of the nonprofit Array Alliance. Additionally, longtime ARRAY Executive Director Tilane Jones had been promoted to VP of ARRAY Releasing, the film distribution unit of the eight-year-old collective. “It is a gift to have Maori Holmes join our tribe as we enter a new era of public programming and educational work at ARRAY,” DuVernay said of the ex-Director of Public Engagement at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia. “Maori brings a deep well of knowledge around artist-centered organizations and a stellar reputation in the world of artists and curators of color,” the Oscar nominee added. “She joins a passionate team here headed by Tilane Jones, who just celebrated ten years of work with ARRAY amplifying films by women and people of color,” DuVernay said. Congrats all! More here.
The Nation Names Music Critic
The Nation has names Bijan Stephen its Music Critic. Together with David Hajdu, who joined The Nation’s masthead in 2015, Stephen will expand the magazine’s web and print music coverage while contributing occasional book reviews, cultural criticism, and reporting. “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to help expand The Nation’s music coverage; it’s an incredibly exciting time in music -- genre boundaries are blurring, and listening has become so much more democratic. Which means there’s more to say than ever,” said Stephen. The 2013 Yale graduate was most recently a Cultural Correspondent at Vice News Tonight. Before that, he was the Associate Editor at The New Republic and an Assistant at Vanity Fair. He has also previously written for GQ Magazine, covering topics such as J. Cole’s admiration for Colin Kaepernick and a “bonkers” interview with Lakeith Stanfield. Stephen will be based in NYC. More here.
Michelle Obama Joins MUSE
Former First Lady Michelle Obama will speak on a variety of issues at MUSE New York on February 27th. A modern-day adaptation of the salon, MUSE is designed to inspire the life sciences community and bring together people who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the intersection of art, science, and technology. MUSE features speakers, performances, and health technology installations to spark conversations and generate new possibilities in health. Past MUSE speakers have included Margaret Atwood, Arianna Huffington, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Co-Founder Pat Quinn, Boston Marathon survivor/amputee rights advocate Adrianne Haslet, and Flint water warrior/Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards. More here.
Obama Heads Back to Rancho Mirage
Every Presidents' Day weekend since 2013, President Barack Obama has made a trip to Rancho Mirage, a resort city in Riverside County, CA. This holiday was no different. This is at least his eighth visit where Obama once again spent the weekend hitting the gym and golfing. There were six visits during his presidency -- three of them for summits with world leaders at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage. The Coachella Valley was also the Obamas' first vacation stop after the end of his presidency. When not staying at Sunnylands, the Obamas have been known to stay at the Thunderbird Estates home of friends James Costos, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain, and his partner, Michael Smith, an interior designer who decorated the White House residential quarters for the Obamas in 2009. Obama played golf at a few courses over the holiday weekend during each of the past three visits, but each year included a round at Sunnylands. With every visit come rumors that the Obamas are buying a home in Rancho Mirage -- where former President Gerald and First Lady Betty Ford lived part-time. However, The Desert Sun reports that there have been no known property purchases by the former first couple. Obama also crossed another threshold over the weekend. POTUS44 now has more than 100 million followers on Twitter. More here.
Congressman Rubén Kihuen (D-NV) last week meeting with Project 150, an organization that helps homeless, displaced, and disadvantaged students at 44 high schools in Nevada.
Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) with actor Danny Glover at a hearing on Capitol Hill last week pushing legislation to mark the "International Decade for People of African Descent.”
Kamala Harris Honors the Buffalo Soldiers
In celebration of Black History Month, Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) introduced a bipartisan resolution yesterday to honor the Buffalo Soldiers. Following the conclusion of the Civil War, the U.S. Army allowed African Americans to serve in segregated units. Two of those units, the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry, produced the “Buffalo Soldiers.” The soldiers received their nickname from Native Americans as a testament to their fearlessness in battle. In spite of being allocated inadequate resources and facing prejudice, the Buffalo Soldiers earned more Congressional Medals of Honor and had the lowest desertion rate of any unit in the Army. “Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to the Buffalo Soldiers for their heroism and serving their country with distinction,” said Harris. “Their contributions to our National Parks and our military deserve to be honored for generations to come.” Co-sponsors include Senators Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), among others. More here.
FOMO
Today, 6P: The K Street Women of Influence and Google host a Women of Color event honoring Women of Color on Capitol Hill. Invite only. 
Wednesday, February 21st, 11A: Dialogue on Diversity tenth-annual colloquium exploring the past, present, and future of the internet: “INTERNET, DATA, & PRIVACY COLLOQUIUM LAW AND TECHNOLOGY: PATHS TOWARD A HUMANE SOCIETY.” The Raben Group, 1341 G Street. N.W., 5th Floor. Click here to register.
Wednesday, February 21st, 12P: The Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program and the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program sponsor “Drivers of Opportunity: How Will Latinos Shape the Future of the American Dream.” The Aspen Institute, 2300 N Street N.W., #700. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, February 21st - Friday, February 23rd: 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
Thursday, February 22nd: The Power Rising: Building an Agenda for Black Women summit. Atlanta. Click here for more information and to register
Thursday, February 22nd - Wednesday, February 28th: The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators 15th National Summit. Chicago. Click here for more information and to register.
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.
Saturday, February 24th, 7P: Code Black, The Inaugural Tech Gala. Code Black is the culminating formal event for the Coalition of Black Excellence Week. City View at Metreon, 135 4th Street, #4000 San Francisco, CA. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets
Tuesday, February 27thSenator 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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 7th - Saturday, March 10th: The 2018 Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit. Orlando, FL. 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.
Saturday, March 10th, 9A: Latina Circle’s conference, Amplify: Moving from Intention to Acción. Northeastern University, Boston, MA. Click here for more information and 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.
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. 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.
Friday, April 6th - Saturday, April 7th: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) 2018 National Women’s Conference. San Francisco. Click here for more information and to register.
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.
Tuesday, April 24th - Thursday, April 26th: The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Legislative Conference. The Willard Intercontinental Hotel, DC. Click here for more information and to register.
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
Wednesday, June 6th - Saturday, June 9th: The Black Enterprise Entrepreneurs Summit. Charlotte, NC. More than 1,000 CEOs, investors, and business experts are expected to attend.Click here for more information and to register
Saturday, July 7th - Tuesday, July 10th: The 2018 UnidosUS annual conference, DC. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday, August 1st - Saturday, August 4th: The National Urban League 2018 Annual Conference “Save Our Cities: Powering the Digital Revolution.” Columbus, OH. Click here for more information and to register. 
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