What commenced as a State Action Council formed by Michigan’s African American Thought Leaders in 2010 evolved into work-groups comprised initially of the Board Members of the Black Caucus Foundation of Michigan, then the LiUNA African American Caucus, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and now African Americans across the country, in the Caribbean , South America, Africa and around the world all focused on the design of public policy that could advance life quality. The Annual White House Policy Meeting sets that framework for the task goals in the coming year. Understanding the Presidents vision and where there is alignment, collaborating with Congressional, State and local leaders to gain support and resources for the alignments, while doing the actual work on the ground with or without federal, state or local agency support is what every member of a “State Action Council” accepts as a responsibility. People, systems and bureaucracies are slow to change, thus as most of the efforts of a State Action Council will be “new ideas”, the work requires a high level of analytics, self-sustaining fund strategies, and a relentless commitment. Each year, along with the intense sessions with federal agencies and White House staff, the National Conference of African American Thought Leaders recognizes Congressional Members that have demonstrated “life quality advocacy” for the African American community, and a local leader that has distinguished themselves is supporting the mission of a State Action Council. The State Action Council Reception is held on the Thursday of the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Week at the historic Willard Intercontinental Hotel.
In 1971, the iconic actor Ossie Davis told the Congressional Black Caucus, “It’s not the man, it’s the plan”. His challenge to leadership to create a national African American action agenda and responsible participation with the African diaspora remains “the Call”. The Annual White House Meeting honors the vision of past leadership, while celebrating current leadership, and importantly maintains a tradition of financially supporting the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation while challenging ourselves intellectually to create vehicles to uplift our people by having the “a table” assemble annually during the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Week. It is a responsibility and honored tradition. It is “Black History” and an important part of “The American Story”.
