BIN: Our Voices

Congressman Troy Carter is passionate about mental health and is focused on bringing assistance to those in the African-American community who suffer from it. His goal is to destimatize, educate and communicate the realities of mental health. Carter believes if there is more funding for mental health issues there will be a reduction in crime and violence.

North Carolina Congresswoman Valerie Foushee talks about educating Black children in technology and science and preparing young African-Americans for the future. She also discussing the importance of getting out the vote in advance of the 2024 election.

Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett discusses criminal justice following the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement as well as .the immigration crisis in her state. She is also passionate about bringing younger Blacks into the political system.

California State Senator Steven Bradford was one of the state legislators who attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference. He has been a proponent of reparations in California, closing the wealth gap and providing educational assistance as well as financial restitution to African-Americans.

Georgia's first Black U.S. Senator talks about the challenges that he faced in his election to Congress, as well as the challenges facing lawmakers. He said that he is current focused on voting rights and the Freedom to Vote Act. He also discussed the indictments facing former President Donald Trump in Georgia and the upcoming trials

James Clyburn has been serving in the House of Representatives since 1993 and as Dean of the Black Congressional Caucus he speaks about protecting past Civil Rights victories at a time when Congress is divided.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-California) talks about health care in the Black community, and the work that is still necessary in the global battle against HIV and AIDS. She discusses the challenges on Capitol Hill to achieve bipartisan consensus on issues such as gun control.

Nigerian-American Oye Owolewa serves at the "Shadow Representative" for the residents of the District of Columbia. She speaks about the importance of statehood for the District, and the challenge of bringing representation to the city.

Representative Steve Horsman is the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and he talks about the fact that the Annual Legislative Conference and the conference theme, "Securing Our Democracy." The Conference has brought together more than 100 panel sessions on every major issue affecting Black America. From economic mobility and wealth creation to health disparities and how to defend democrac...

Congresswoman Nikema Williams (D-Georgia) said that she has an obligation to serve her constituents in achieving income equality. She says that financial education is essential for Black students so that they can build wealth for future generations and she is focused on developing programs that will allow them to achieve that goal. She also said she is focused on free and fair access to the ballot...

Don Cravins is Under Secretary of Commerce for the Minority Business Development Agency. The economy is front and center in 2024 and Mr. Cravins says that the Congressional Black Caucus is paying particular attention to economic development. He says that business owners should be heartened by the trillions of dollars that are being channeled into infrastrure development. He also said that many of...

Congressman Kweisi Mfume says the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is committed to bringing social, economic and political equity to all Americans. He says there is a great sense of urgency to protect Civil Rights victories of the past. He also discussed the 2024 election and said that it is far to early for either party to make any assumptions.

Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Maryland) spoke about the importance of Affirmative Action in light of a recent Supreme Court Decision. He says that he and others will be continuing the fight to ensure that minority busineses get their fair share of federal contracts. He also discussed crime and justice as well as the 2024 elections both on the local and federal levels.

Author Dr. Tiffany Clark's book "Being Different Makes You Unique" is written to help adopted children understand the experience and know they are special and unique. Dr. Clark wrote her personal story from the perspective of a child whose biological mother wanted her to be raised by parents who had the same racial culture as she did.

As President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Nicole Austin-Hillary is responsible for the Annual Legislative Conference which is designed to build, enhance and leverage the power of relationships across the private, public and corporate sectors.

As Special Assistant to President Joe Biden, Erica Loewe talks about the importance of the Congressional Black Caucus, and says it is the "conscience" of the Congress. Both the President and Vice President Kamala Harris are long-time supporters of the work that the Black members of Congress.

America's leading Black lobbyist talks about the importance of the Congressional Black Caucus and the key issues affecting the African American community. From business and health to social justice attendees are discussing the important topics that are impactful and allow people to engage with their members of Congress and discuss solutions to the challenges they are facing.

Author Andrew Beamon discusses implementing racial equity in the workplace. His book, "From Promises to Progress" is a leadership guide to help organizations - government and private businesses to implement equity in the workplace and to deal with systemic racism.

Tamika Dunkley of Black Farmers United, NYS talks about the struggle facing Black Farmers and how her organization uplifts and amplifies support for those who work the land and raise livestock.

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D-Washington) discusses housing discrimination and federal legislation to ensure that minorities are given the same opportunity as others. She also discusses how homeownership allows African Americans to build wealth. She is focused on addressing housing for the military.

At 26, Maxwell Frost (D-Florida) was one of the youngest Representatives seated in Congress in decades. He speaks about the issue of gun violence and how the establishment of the Federal office of Gun Violence Prevention, a bill which Rep. Frost introduced shortly after arriving in Congress.

Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Illinois) talks about the skyrocketing number of Black women who are dying in childbirth. She is sponsoring legislation that allow for additional Medicaid coverage for new mothers in the months following childbirth.

Shanique Taliaferro of Black Women New Jersey has started an organization to unite Black women to collaborate and build authentic relationships and support each other as mothers, spouses and businesswomen. After five months she has attracted 6,000 women. As a result she has started a directory called Black Women Everywhere, where female Black businesswomen can list the services that they have toge...

Congresswoman Shontel Brown of Ohio serves on the House Agricultural Committee and she is working to correct and address the disparities that black farmers have faced for decades. She participated in the first panel at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference to discuss the issues facing African American farmers.

Ebony Thomas, President of the Bank of America Foundation talks about the creation of Black wealth and the role that entreprenueurship plays inthe transfer of wealth in the community. She discusses investment in communities and investing capital into minority funds that put the money back into these businesses which hire individuals to work for them. Bank of America believes that is the ecosystem...