Burgess COMMENTARY

Peter Burgess

The Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) is an intergenerational civic engagement network of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. At the forefront of championing just and equitable public policy on behalf of Black women, BWR promotes their health and wellness, economic security, education and global empowerment as key elements for success.

Who We Are

BWR comprises a diverse group of Black women civic leaders of international, national, regional and state-based organizations and institutions. Together, the BWR membership represents the issues and concerns of millions of Americans and families who live across the United States and around the world.

What We Do

BWR seeks to bring together women representing diverse views and interests within the Black and community around the theme of women’s advancement with a particular focus on motivating Black women to engage in all levels of civil society.

Through public policy forums, leadership training, and civic engagement and issue education campaigns, BWR provides women with a voice and the skills training to use the political process to improve the quality of life for themselves and their communities. Our programs include:

• Outcomes-based projects to increase the civic engagement, base-building and voter empowerment of Black women;

• Education on the political process, leadership development, and preparation of young Black women interested in running for public office; and

• Engagement of women in policy discussions to ensure significant impact of women voters in the political process.

Get Involved

BWR has outlined specific policy priorities to ensure the educational advancement, economic security, health and wellness, education and global empowerment of women, with a special emphasis on Black women and girls. Learn more about these priorities, BWR initiatives and how you can get involved. Click here to view the Black Women's Roundtable Policy Statement.

WHO WE ARE

Board of Directors

Officers

CHAIRMAN Mr. Thomas W. Dortch Jr.. Chairman, National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame

VICE CHAIRMAN Ms. Diane Babineaux General Vice President International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers

SECRETARY

Dr. Elsie Scott Public Member Director Ronald Walters Leadership & Public Policy Center, Howard University

TREASURER

Mr. Hannibal Brumskine II Certified Public Accountant

PRESIDENT & CEO

Ms. Melanie L. Campbell Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable
Melanie Campbell was a guest on C-SPAN on March 18, 2016

LEGAL COUNSEL

Mr. Derrick Humphries, Esq. Attorney-at-Law
 Humphries & Partners; Sonia Jarvis, Esq.

CHAIR EMERITUS

Mr. Eddie Williams Public Member


IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR

Ms. Richard Womack Public Member

Board Members

Dr. Lezli Baskerville President & CEO National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO)

Mr. Thomas Battle Grand Polemarch, Kappa Alpha Psi

Ms. Salandra Benton Convener, Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation and Florida BWR

Mr. Cornell Williams Brooks Interim President & CEO NAACP

Mr. Diallo Brooks Public Member

Ms. Clayola Brown President A. Philip Randolph Institute

Ms. LaTosha Brown, Director Fund for Southern Cooperatives, Neighborhood Funders Group

Mr. Michael Brown Public Member

Mr. Chaka Burgess
 Vice President, Government Relations American Gaming Association

Ms. Suzanne E. Burks President The Burks Companies

Ms. Sharhonda Knott Dawson BYV Representative Director, Chicago Coalition on Black Civic Participation

Mr. Curley M. Dossman, Jr.
 Chairman
 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

Mr. Ralph Everett
 Public Member

Mr. Eugene Hudson Secretary - Treasurer American Federation of Government Employees

Mr. Gerald Hudson International Executive Vice President Service Employees International Union

Mr. Keith A. Hunt Executive Director Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Ms. Dorothy Jackson, Esq. Public Member

Dr. Lorretta Johnson Secretary-Treasurer American Federation of Teachers

Reverend Tony Lee Convener Black Youth Vote/Gathering of Black Men & Boys Initiative Pastor, Community of Hope AME Church

Ms. Tanya Leah Lombard Assistant Vice President, Public Affairs AT&T

Reverend Joseph E. Lowery
 Public Member

Mr. Marc Morial President & CEO
 National Urban League

Mr. Spencer Overton Interim President & CEO Joint Center for Political & Economic Studies

Ms. Elizabeth Powell Secretary - Treasurer, American Postal Workers Union

Ms. Becky Pringle Vice President National Education Association

Ms. Carlottia Scott Public Member

Dr. Yvonne Scruggs-Leftwich Public Member


Reverend Al Sharpton Founder & President National Action Network

Ms. Debra J. Speed Director - Public Policy and Strategic Alliances Verizon Communications

Mr. Foster Stringer 
 Public Member

Mr. Melvin Terry
 President 
 Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

Ms. A. Shuanise Washington President & CEO
 Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

Ms. Robin Williams
 Associate Director
 Civil Rights and Community Action Department United Food and Commercial Workers International Union

FOUNDING MEMBERS

Dr. Dorothy I. Height (In-Memorium) President Emerita and Chair 
 National Council of Negro Women Co-Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable

Mr. Norman Hill President Emeritus A. Philip Randolph Institute

Mr. William Lucy Founding President Emeritus
 Coalition of Black Trade Unionists