The voice of African American elected leaders since 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. lauds the efforts of individuals who lend their time, talent, and resources to positively influencing the lives of others. Recognizing that it is imperative to pass the torch to the next generation of minority women leaders, the 2009 salute will honor an emerging leader, who exemplifies outstanding scholarship and service on a college campus.
This year’s Keynote Address will be delivered by Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), United States House of Representatives, who is a member of The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., (CBCF) Board of Directors. United States Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a Brooklyn native whose roots are firmly planted in her Jamaican heritage. A product of the New York City Public School System, Rep. Clarke received a scholarship to Oberlin College and was a recipient of the prestigious APPAH/Sloan Fellowship in Public Policy and Policy Analysis.
Elected to Congress in November 2006 and representing the 11th Congressional District (Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Windsor Terrace, Borough Park, Sunset Park, Carroll Gardens, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens and Prospect Park), Rep. Clarke has served on the New York City Council representing the 40th District in Brooklyn. She succeeded her pioneering mother, former City Council Member Una S. T. Clarke, making them the first mother-daughter succession in the history of the Council.
As an activist, community organizer, and now as a legislator, Rep. Clarke’s boldness, compassion and love for humanity have allowed her to become an effective leader and an outspoken advocate on numerous issues of great importance to her constituents. Rep. Clarke sits on several committees including the House Education and Labor Committee, the House Homeland Security Committee and the House Small Business Committee.
Just two years in office, Rep. Clarke was appointed Chairwoman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology for the 111th Congress. Under her leadership, this Committee will exercise its oversight jurisdiction on a variety of issues, including cybersecurity, biodefense, pandemic influenza preparedness, nuclear detection, mitigating radiological attacks, agro-terrorism, and research and development within the Department of Homeland Security.
A strong advocate of community-building, she has worked with community groups and appropriators in order to secure several million dollars in federal funding for the district. As a result, major institutions received funds, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the Prospect Park Alliance and the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT).
In May 2009, Rep. Clarke was also presented with an honorary Doctorate Law Degree from St. Francis College. She resides in the neighborhood where she grew up in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn.
The 2nd Annual Congressional Black Caucus Minority Business Reception and Awards Gala will be held on Friday, September 25, 2009 at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 900 10th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. The reception begins at 6:30 p.m. and the awards program starts at 7:30 p.m.
Event sponsors to date include Boeing, MSTI, The Coca-Cola Company, Northrup Gruman, National Business League, and Davis Executive Associates.
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A well-recognized and highly regarded professional, Michael Bowlds is a strong advocate for small, minority, woman, and veteran owned businesses. Bowlds is Board Chairman of the U.S. Department of Commerce sponsored National Capital Area Minority Business Opportunities Center. A true champion for minority businesses, Bowlds was recently named 2009 Advocate of the Year by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (NY Region MED Week) and a finalist for the Lewis Shattuck National Small Business Advocate of the Year award by the National Small Business Association. Bowlds was named 2009 Maryland Business Champion by the Gazette of Business and Politics.
ABOUT THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION
Founded in 1976, The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy, research and educational institute that aims to help improve the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities. CBCF’s influence extends to African‐American intellectuals and others focused on policy and legislative. Each September, thousands of elected officials and industry leaders, celebrities, media, emerging leaders and everyday Americans come to Washington, D.C., for the organization’
