“This year’s Annual Legislative Conference theme, ‘From Vision to Victory: Amplifying Black Voices,’ is an intentional call to action,” said Nicole Austin-Hillery, CBCF’s president and CEO. “It embodies our ongoing march toward progress and our dedication to fostering innovation, advocacy, and collaboration. With equality and opportunity as our pillars, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is proud to host this annual convening that advances prosperity, ignites passion for change, and amplifies voices that will shape the future for us all.”
Key Democratic political figures such as Maryland Reps. Kweisi Mfume and Glenn Ivey and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker have all made statements that highlight the significance of ALC 2024. Speaking to The Washington Informer during the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago this August, these leaders emphasized the upcoming election’s critical nature and the ALC’s role in shaping its outcome.
“I think it will be exciting and energized; all of the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris team—it’s going to be exciting to build on that momentum,” Booker remarked, highlighting the significance of the conference in galvanizing support and building on the successes of the current administration.
Ivey stressed the urgency of mobilizing the Black electorate in the face of potential rollbacks on critical issues.
“It’s critical from the standpoint of making sure people understand what the issues are and how important these elections are. The Trump people have been cutting back on so many programs, and if he wins, any kind of affirmative action will be cut. At the end of the day, this is a time to frame the issues that should decide what happens in November for African Americans,” Ivey told The Washington Informer.
Mfume emphasized the role of Vice President Kamala Harris in energizing the electorate and the importance of the ALC in maintaining that momentum.
“I think we’ll see how much Kamala Harris has brought joy back, and these last days (leading up to the election) will show it,” Mfume said. “It becomes the last organized external push by an organization. “Fortunately, the [Congressional Black Caucus] (CBC) has the opportunity to send off Harris and Walz to get momentum to sustain them. Our job in the ALC is to make sure to remind people that this isn’t a popularity contest and not to pay attention to the polls. We’re going to win this on the margin, so it’s important that the CBC does everything it can to help push her through.”
The recent inflammatory comments from the twice-impeached and 34-times convicted felon and former president further amplify the significance of ALC 2024. At the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention, also in Chicago in August, Trump launched a baseless attack on Harris, questioning her racial identity in a move that many saw as a desperate attempt to sow division.
“The hostility Donald Trump showed on stage is the same hostility he has shown throughout his life, throughout his term in office, and throughout his campaign for president as he seeks to regain power and inflict his harmful Project 2025 agenda on the American people,” Michael Tyler, communications director for the Harris for President campaign, responded.
As the ALC convenes this year, lawmakers and others say it is a rallying point for Black leaders, policymakers, and community members dedicated to advancing a vision of equality and justice. The conference’s theme is a declaration of the resolve needed to confront the challenges ahead and secure a future where Black voices are heard and instrumental in shaping the nation’s destiny.
“The collective power of Black voices guides our journey from vision to victory,” said Rep. Terri A. Sewell, chair of CBCF Board of Directors. “Together, we champion progress, prosperity, and justice for all.”
