CBCF WELCOMES SIX NEW MEMBERS TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WASHINGTON – The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation has welcomed six new members – including three from Congress, a nationally known political strategist and two others with significant governmental and community relations experience – to its Board of Directors.

The members of Congress joining the Board are U.S. Reps. G.K. Butterfield and Mel Watt, both Democrats from North Carolina, and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas). Rep. Watt is immediate past chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and Rep. Jackson Lee is chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection. Rep. Butterfield is a chief deputy whip in the 110th Congress and co-chairman of the Foundation’s 37th Annual Legislative Conference, slated for Sept. 26-29 in Washington.

The other new Board members are Donna Brazile, the Washington-based strategist, author, commentator and grassroots advocate who is founder and managing director of Brazile and Associates; Kimberly Woodard, also of Washington, director of federal government relations for Wal-Mart; and Eric V. Eve, senior vice president of community relations for Citigroup Global Consumer Group in New York.

“With the addition of this diverse group of highly regarded individuals, CBCF is well positioned to continue to aggressively implement the Foundation’s overall strategic plan,” said U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-Fla.), the organization’s Board chairman.

The new members, who will each serve three-year terms, participated in the Board’s second quarter meeting this week in Washington. Chairman Meek appointed Eve to complete the term of Thurmond Woodard, vice president of global diversity for Dell Inc., who died on April 4.

“The new members bring an extensive range of experience to our Board,” said Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., the Foundation’s president and chief executive officer. “I value their added guidance as CBCF pursues its agenda to reduce poverty in America, particularly among African Americans.”

The Foundation also welcomed Paul D. Thornell of Washington, vice president of federal government affairs, Citigroup Global Consumer Group, to its Corporate Advisory Council.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc., established in 1976, is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy, research and educational institute intended to broaden and elevate the influence of African Americans in the political, legislative and public policy arenas.