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Interviews from The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) held September 11-15, 2024 in Washington, D.C.
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18 SEP. 2026 · Bill Preston, Global Legacy Ambassador for the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, discussed the ongoing mission to protect Rosa Parks’ legacy while addressing the disproportionate impact of Alzheimer’s disease on the Black community. Preston reflected on Parks’ life of quiet, extraordinary service alongside her time working with Congressman John Conyers, noting that she herself succumbed to Alzheimer’s in her later years. He emphasized that common chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity, and untreated sleep apnea significantly elevate Alzheimer’s risk, pointing out that women comprise two-thirds of those living with the disease. Sharing the personal loss of his mother and sister, Preston cautioned that early warning signs—such as unusual agitation, repetitive comments or questioning, combativeness, and confusion while navigating familiar routes—are too often overlooked by families until a crisis occurs.
To address these challenges, Preston stressed the critical importance of early and accurate diagnosis, advocating for increased access to newly approved blood-based biomarkers alongside confirmatory CT-PET scans. He noted that while blood tests offer a high degree of diagnostic accuracy and serve as an accessible entry point akin to mammograms, securing reimbursement and broader access through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) remains an ongoing hurdle. Moving beyond diagnosis, Preston highlighted his global advocacy and consulting work with startup biotechs like Innovative California Biosciences, which is developing promising treatments for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s with backing from the Michael J. Fox Foundation and Health and Human Services. He urged greater participation of Black patients in clinical trials and called on faith-based communities to help dismantle the stigma surrounding cognitive decline, carrying forward Rosa Parks’ spirit of collective action to improve healthcare equity worldwide.
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18 SEP. 2026 · Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, former president of Tennessee State University (TSU), CPA, and attorney, discussed the systemic underfunding of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Drawing from her book, How Dare You, Glover detailed how the State of Tennessee deprived TSU—its only public land-grant HBCU—of $544 million over several decades while fully funding the predominantly White University of Tennessee. She noted that on a per-student basis, the state allocated nearly double the funding to UT compared to TSU, and when compounding interest is considered, the total owed to TSU reaches approximately $3 billion. Glover explained that this issue extends nationwide, citing a 2023 federal study showing that 16 of the 18 states with land-grant HBCUs underfunded these institutions, leaving major schools like TSU, North Carolina A&T, and Florida A&M collectively shortchanged by billions of dollars.
Glover stressed that despite being denied these vital resources, HBCUs have adapted to newer performance-based state funding models centered on student retention and graduation rates. She highlighted how TSU restructured academic support, introduced intrusive advising, assigned mentors, and raised admissions criteria to support students through degree completion. Emphasizing the broader role of higher education, Glover urged Congress to dramatically increase federal research funding for HBCUs, pointing out that only one HBCU (Howard University) has reached Level 1 research status. Concluding with encouragement for aspiring academic leaders, Glover affirmed that leading an HBCU requires passion, preparation, and a commitment to fighting for institutional equity, maintaining that the state's historical debt to TSU must remain on the public record until it is paid.
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18 SEP. 2026 · At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, Negelle Morris, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Vantive, discussed the critical and disproportionate impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on the Black community. She highlighted that while Black Americans make up roughly 13% of the U.S. population, they represent approximately 36% of individuals living with CKD and develop the condition at about four times the rate of White Americans. Morris explained that CKD frequently coexists with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, but remains dangerously under-recognized. Because early-stage symptoms are often silent and typically detectable only through lab testing like urinalysis, many patients are not diagnosed until reaching end-stage renal disease, forcing them into emergency, high-stakes medical interventions.
To address these disparities, Morris detailed Vantive’s emphasis on proactive patient education and flexible treatment modalities, particularly home peritoneal dialysis. She contrasted the disruptive nature of traditional in-center hemodialysis—which requires multiple long visits each week—with home dialysis that can be done overnight, allowing individuals to maintain their careers, family routines, and overall lifestyle. Supported by a connected digital health platform with dedicated nurse navigators and home equipment delivery, home care also better positions patients for successful long-term transplant outcomes. Emphasizing community-level intervention, Morris underscored Vantive's grassroots educational initiatives with organizations like The Links and the National Kidney Foundation, as well as the online resource CKDeducation.com, to empower individuals to recognize early risks and make informed choices about their kidney health.
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18 SEP. 2026 · Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-MD) serving as an honorary co-chair, described the event as a powerful and energetic gathering focused on organizing and community resilience. Ivey underscored the importance of preparation for the upcoming elections, arguing that civic efforts must extend beyond simply casting ballots to include post-election legal defense, election protection, and safeguarding the peaceful transfer of power. In particular, he addressed concerns regarding potential attempts to disrupt the transition of congressional leadership, pointing to past efforts surrounding the certification of presidential results as reason for vigilance. He framed voter turnout as the most effective defense against attempts to contest legitimate outcomes, stressing that decisive margins and diligent legal planning are essential to upholding democratic procedures.
Turning to economic and governance issues, Ivey emphasized that voters are largely focused on kitchen-table concerns such as the high cost of groceries, gas prices, and healthcare. He criticized policies such as broad tariffs and federal cuts to Medicaid, noting that they burden working-class families and strain healthcare systems across both parties. Ivey also called for heightened scrutiny of potential ethics violations, public spending, and presidential pardons, stating that the House of Representatives maintains independent subpoena authority to investigate executive branch actions regardless of Senate or agency control. He concluded by urging attendees to channel the conference's momentum back into their local communities, drawing on the historical legacy of the civil rights movement to inspire sustained engagement and civic action.
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18 SEP. 2026 · Congressman Wesley Bell (D-MO) reflected on his primary victory and his roots in community-driven public service, tracing his path from Ferguson City Councilman following the 2014 killing of Michael Brown to St. Louis County Prosecutor and now the U.S. House of Representatives. Bell emphasized that his legislative focus remains centered on comprehensive criminal justice reform, pointing to his track record of equipping police officers with body cameras, dismantling exploitative municipal debtor's courts, and establishing innovative diversion programs that connect individuals with substance abuse treatment, mental healthcare, housing, and job training. Drawing comparisons to international models like Germany's rehabilitative system, he argued that true public safety requires alternatives to incarceration, highlighting that effective diversion programs lower Missouri's steep recidivism rates from nearly 80% over ten years down to single digits.
Discussing his legislative panels, Bell underscored the vital link between the judiciary and civil rights, expressing deep concern over Supreme Court decisions that weakened the Voting Rights Act and the ongoing partisan gridlock preventing its renewal. As a former college professor, he also cautioned against political restrictions on educational curricula, defending the classroom as a necessary space for free discussion and critical thinking. Looking ahead to the November elections, Bell emphasized the priority of flipping the House majority to elect Hakeem Jeffries as the first African American Speaker of the House, while remaining focused on addressing governmental corruption and easing the burden of soaring healthcare and living costs for working-class families.
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18 SEP. 2026 · t the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) spoke about the challenges facing her Los Angeles-area district, highlighting the ongoing impact of federal immigration enforcement. She addressed aggressive ICE operations, detailing cases of constituents being detained or mistreated—including an individual who was shot in the elbow and held without adequate medical care—and pushed back against facilities like Adelanto that resist congressional oversight. Kamlager-Dove outlined legislative measures she has introduced to protect detained individuals, particularly pregnant women, ensuring they receive necessary prenatal care, basic hygiene products, and humane treatment. She also discussed the launch of the "Moments Caucus" to address the intersections of entertainment, sports, and artificial intelligence, warning against the threat AI poses to creative jobs and cultural representation while calling for national guardrails and greater executive branch leadership.
Looking ahead to the upcoming elections, Kamlager-Dove expressed serious concern over the potential loss of senior Black leadership in Congress and on crucial committees like House Judiciary. She emphasized that losing seniority means forfeiting committee gavels, staff hiring authority, and the direct power to shape national legislative agendas. Pointing to Republican redistricting efforts in states like Texas and California's counter-responses, she stressed that retaining congressional representation requires relentless battles against gerrymandering in the courts and active voter mobilization across diverse districts. Concluding with an urgent call to action, Kamlager-Dove urged voters to exercise their power at the ballot box in November, reminding constituents that civic engagement is essential to protecting their rights and holding government officials accountable.
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18 SEP. 2026 · Yusef Jackson, President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, reflected on the enduring legacy of his father, the late Reverend Jesse Jackson, who passed away in February
. Jackson expressed profound gratitude for the outpouring of prayers and stories from around the world, sharing how his father’s relentless optimism and core belief in every individual's inherent, God-given value continue to guide him
. He touched upon his father's personal history—including being adopted, managing family complexities, and boldly desegregating libraries in South Carolina at just 19 years old—while acknowledging the family sacrifice required by Reverend Jackson's lifelong dedication to public service and civil rights
.
Looking ahead, Jackson outlined a strategic vision for Rainbow PUSH, noting that the organization is taking an intentional 12-to-18-month period to assess its structure, invest in media and communication, and build sustainable, measurable initiatives rather than simply attempting to replicate his father's singular pace
. Introducing the concept of "cultural maturity," Jackson emphasized the necessity of long-term planning focused on voter engagement, financial savings, homeownership, and educational excellence to navigate contemporary challenges
. Drawing historical parallels to Biblical transitions and the institutions built after Reconstruction, he highlighted the growing curiosity, intelligence, and energy of today's youth—reflected in record HBCU applications—affirming that future progress will rely on collaborative, dispersed leadership
.
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18 SEP. 2026 · At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 55th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., BIN News Anchor Vanessa Tyler spoke with Congresswoman Terri Sewell, the first Black woman elected to Congress from Alabama and the CBCF Chair. Sewell emphasized the significance of the conference's theme, "rooted, ready, and rising," as an opportunity to empower and inspire Black communities. Addressing the upcoming November 3rd midterm elections, she highlighted their critical importance for establishing checks and balances on the executive branch. Sewell expressed concerns over voter suppression and disenfranchisement, detailing how the House Administration Committee is actively preparing election protection measures to ensure free, fair, and accessible voting. Looking ahead to potential Democratic control of the House, Sewell outlined immediate priorities, starting with electing Hakeem Jeffries as the first Black Speaker of the House. As co-chair of the health working group, she pledged that Democrats would act within their first 100 hours to restore Affordable Care Act tax subsidies and counteract cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. Sewell stressed the need to address the broader affordability crisis by lowering costs for everyday Americans and restoring Congressional oversight over trade and foreign policy, framing the party's goal as demonstrating proactive governance rather than merely opposing the current administration.
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18 SEP. 2026 · Nevada Congressman Steven Horsford emphasized the power of the gathering to inform and mobilize Black Americans across the nation with the November election just 45 days away. Pushing back against efforts to dismantle such caucuses, Horsford reflected on the CBC’s origins in 1971 and affirmed that its mission is to build community and advocate for policies that uplift not only Black America, but working-class and diverse communities nationwide. He also addressed the heightened security presence at the event, pointing to political tensions that have escalated since the January 6th Capitol attack as an unfortunate but necessary reality for public service and high-profile gatherings today.
Horsford stressed that voters want concrete solutions to economic burdens rather than partisan rhetoric, pointing to high housing costs, groceries, and healthcare alongside the local impact of federal tariff policies on Nevada's tourism economy. He highlighted the bipartisan Road to Housing Act as a critical step to counter out-of-state hedge funds pricing families out of homeownership. Looking forward, Horsford underscored the momentum of diverse, working-class coalitions in Nevada—exemplified by Attorney General Aaron Ford’s historic run for governor and the state’s key role in early presidential primaries—urging voters and young people to remain engaged and ensure their voices shape the future.
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18 SEP. 2026 · Maryland Congressman Kweisi Mfume highlights the enduring importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), noting that questioning their necessity is hypocritical when predominantly White or religious institutions are readily accepted, especially since HBCUs produce 40% of the country's PhDs. Aligning with the event's theme, he reiterated that the Congressional Black Caucus remains grounded in the principle of having "no permanent friends, no permanent enemies, just permanent interests" to drive progress. Looking toward upcoming elections, Mfume emphasized that attendees must actively organize rather than socialize, warning of rollbacks in rights and institutions by Donald Trump's administration and urging citizens to exercise the power of the ballot, as non-voters hold no leverage over elected officials.
Shifting focus to local governance, Mfume commended Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott as one of the best mayors in the nation, applauding the city's significant reductions in violent crime, homicides, and gun violence. He highlighted the collaborative "Baltimore model" that researchers and sociologists are now studying, as well as their joint efforts on panels addressing youth issues, safe gun storage partnerships, and positive community interventions. Mfume concluded by reinforcing the need for ongoing guidance and resources for young people, celebrating Baltimore's progress and the continuing work being done across the city.
Interviews from The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) held September 11-15, 2024 in Washington, D.C.
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