At Summer Conference, NBC-LEO focuses on helping communities through tough economic times.

NBC-LEO President Daisy W. Lynum was pleased to welcome members of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected officials (NBC-LEO) to its Annual Summer Conference, "Signed, Sealed and Delivered," held in Hartford, Conn. The conference was centered around NBC-LEO's mission to help strengthen the governance expertise of members and colleagues and to promote NLC's cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance by providing participating members with the appropriate knowledge and skills to lead their communities.

Many of the sessions were designed to help participants address and solve the current economic challenges in their municipalities with cost-saving approaches and revenue enhancing examples.

This year's program boasted a variety of talented speakers and informative workshops. Many of the area's top leaders participated, including Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez and State Representative Kenneth Green of Hartford.

The mayor and Councilmember rJo Winch held an opening reception at City Hall, welcoming NBC-LEO members to their beautiful city. Winch served as the conference host. Her efforts, along with members of the host committee and New Haven Alderman Charles Blango, made this year's great program possible. James Finley, executive director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), also participated and involved the league in supporting this year's conference.

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Speakers

Donna Brazile, adjunct professor, author, syndicated columnist, and vice chair of voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee, spoke at the luncheon. In her speech she spoke about the inaccuracy of the phrase "post-racial America," citing the changes that should continue to be made.

Dr. Steve Perry, principal, Hartford Capital Preparatory Magnet School and author of "Man Up!" spoke to NBC-LEO members about the educational achievement gap. He encouraged the audience by stating, "Powerful people in powerful positions need to show their power for the powerless- the children are the powerless."

As part of NLC's Leadership Training Institute, Dr. Todd Arwood, principal and CEO of Todd Arwood Performance Partners, kept attendees engaged with his motivational session "The Dynamics of Critical Conversations." Attendees learned how to get in touch with their communication style, effectively discuss concerns and create broad community alignment.

Leon Andrews, program director, youth development for NLC, and Thomas M. Menino Fellow Claire Libert held a special session on promoting youth participation in communities. Topics included starting a youth council, promoting youth service and working with young people, providing participating officials with the tools to return to their cities feeling able to engage young people in city government and promote their full and healthy development.

Carolyn Coleman, NLC's director of federal relations, discussed the local effects of the Recovery Act and NLC's efforts to get the federal government connected to the needs of local government. Coleman spoke about the significance of the recovery funds to states and explained that for cities and towns, "the perception of the public and how it responds to the recovery act, rests a great deal on your shoulders."

Laraine L. Davis, vice president of government and industry relations at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, an NLC Capstone Corporate Partner, gave special remarks, welcoming officials to the event.

Workshops

Workshops included "The Browning of America" with guest speakers Carlos Silva, HELO president and president pro tempore, Bridgeport, Conn.; Michael Johnson, NBC-LEO second vice president and councilmember, Phoenix; Sergio Rodriguez, HELO first vice president and alderman, New Haven; and Tomas Reyes, president, Board of Aldermen, New Haven. These leaders gave advice on what they have done in their communities as a model on how to build bridges between the African-American and Latino communities.

The session "Different Paths: From the Cradle to the Prison Pipeline, From the Cradle to Graduation Day" addressed many of the challenges that youth face on the road to adulthood. Hartford has some unique programs that set an example for how to help steer young people on the road to success and avoid or have to be rehabilitated from the fates of incarceration, limited education, homelessness, drugs and violence. Speakers included NLC's Tonja Rucker; Christine Perra Rapillo, director of Juvenile Delinquency Defense, Hartford; and Elaine Zimmerman; executive director of the Connecticut Commission on Children.

Preston Lee Jr., senior director, corporate relations and housing outreach at Freddie Mac, and NLC Corporate Partner, spoke at the session "Saving our Communities." The workshop focused on how to bring about a better quality of life for citizens. Other speakers included Jeffrey Chell, chief executive officer, National Bone Marrow Donor Program, Minneapolis, and Lester Strong, chief executive officer, Experience Corps.

The session "The Transformative Power of Broadband" helped officials to learn how these essential services are creating public/private partnerships and new business opportunities and make sure that disadvantaged residents have access to broadband. Speakers included Emilio Gonzales, vice president for strategic alliances, Verizon Communications; Antonio (Tony) Williams, government affairs manager, Comcast; Julia Johnson, president, NetCommunications, Windermere, Fla., Dane Snowden, vice president, external and state Affairs, CTIA--The Wireless Association and Kristal High, founder, Innovation Generation.

A mobile tour, coordinated by Winch and Blango, showcased the Ebony Horsewomen, a unique program for young people founded by Patricia E. Kelly, as well as Hartford's innovative Artists Collective, co-founded by Dolly McLean, the wife of renowned jazz musician Jackie McLean. The mobile tour also presented the opportunity to explore the area around Yale University and the university's efforts to strengthen their community partnerships for community improvement.

Board of Directors

The NBC-LEO Board of Directors also held a meeting to discuss economic recovery issues, fundraising efforts, plans for NBC-LEO at the Congress of Cities in November, the endorsement of candidates for the NLC Board of Directors along with the identification of candidates for NBC-LEO's 2010 Board of Directors.

Also during the conference, the NBC-LEO Policy Committee created resolutions on the topics of broadband in unserved and underserved communities, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Black Grants, bone marrow registry disparity and health and mental health disparities. NBC-LEO also supports full participation of the U.S. to attend next year's United Nations Conference on Racism.

These resolutions, and those of the other NLC constituency groups, will be shared with NBC-LEO members and forwarded to the appropriate NLC policy steering committees for consideration for resolutions to be voted upon at the San Antonio Congress of Cities.

Details: For more information about NBC-LEO and membership, upcoming activities at the Congress of Cities and sponsorship opportunities, contact NLC staff at (202) 626-3169.

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