FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2026
Media Contact:
Jennifer Cho & Marc Banks
alcmedia@cbcfinc.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Against a backdrop of consequential challenges facing Black communities across America, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) will open its 55th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) today with an urgent call for leadership, civic engagement and collective action.
Annual Legislative Conference Co-Chairs, Representatives Alma Adams and Glenn Ivey, CBC Chair, Representative Yvette Clarke, CBCF Board Chair, Representative Terri Sewell and CBCF President and CEO Nicole Austin-Hillery will be joined by some of the nation’s leading civil rights voices – Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund; Melanie Campbell, President and CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation; and Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – for an opening press briefing focused not only on the start of a conference, but on the stakes of this moment for Black America and the work required to meet it.
The message: this is a moment to show up.
Across the country, Black Americans continue to confront profound challenges touching nearly every aspect of daily life from economic opportunity and health disparities to education, voting rights, and criminal justice. These are not isolated struggles; addressing these systemic barriers is essential to ensuring a fair, equitable, and prosperous future for all people. For 50 years, CBCF has worked to build the leadership, research, policy infrastructure and public engagement necessary to confront challenges like these. As the Foundation marks its 50th anniversary, CBCF and its partners will use the opening of ALC 55 to make clear that commemorating that history also demands action in the present.
“There are moments when gathering together is about celebration, and there are moments when gathering is an act of purpose. This year, it must be both,” said Nicole Austin-Hillery, President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. “The challenges facing Black America—and indeed all people—demand more than our attention. They demand our participation, our leadership, and our collective resolve. Fifty years ago, CBCF was built because our communities needed lasting institutions capable of turning knowledge into leadership and leadership into progress. That responsibility belongs to every one of us now. We are Rooted. We are Ready. And together, we are Rising.”
The press conference will bring together civil rights and community leaders to highlight what is on the line for Black America and every community, outlining clear ways that individuals and institutions everywhere can drive meaningful change.
The gathering will set the tone for five days of policy dialogue, organizing, education and engagement at ALC 55, taking place September 16-20 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The ALC opening press conference will be held at Franklin Park alongside the CBC Spouses Community Breakfast & Health Fair in the same location, demonstrating how the Foundation’s work connects directly with the needs of the communities we serve.
Under the theme Rooted, Ready & Rising, this year’s ALC marks two milestones: CBCF’s 50th anniversary and the 55th year of its Annual Legislative Conference. CBCF leaders say the anniversary is not simply an opportunity to look backward. It is a reminder of why institutions capable of sustaining leadership, knowledge, and civic engagement across generations remain essential.
Rooted in the people and movements that built the path to this moment.
Ready to confront the challenges facing Black and underserved communities and build a better future for all.
Rising to build the leadership, ideas and institutions necessary for what comes next.
That charge will carry throughout ALC 55, where more than 100, in-person issue forums and established brain trusts will bring together elected officials, policymakers, advocates, entrepreneurs, professionals, students, cultural voices and community leaders.
For five decades, CBCF has worked to ensure Black communities and all people seeking equity and opportunity have a voice in the policy conversations shaping their lives. Through its Leadership Institute, Center for Public Policy and Research, and public engagement programs, the Foundation develops leaders, informs policy, and educates the public.
This week, Washington becomes the gathering place for that work.
The invitation is not simply to attend. It is to engage. To listen. To organize. To lead. And to carry the work beyond the walls of the conference.
OPENING PRESS CONFERENCE
WHAT: ALC 55 Opening Press Conference — Rooted, Ready & Rising: A Call to Action
WHEN: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
9:30 a.m. ET
WHERE: Franklin Park
1332 I Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20005
WHO:
Nicole Austin-Hillery
President and CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Janai Nelson
President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
Melanie Campbell
President and CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Damon Hewitt
President and Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
MEDIA: Members of the press are encouraged to attend. For media access and information, contact alcmedia@cbcfinc.org.
About the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy, research, and educational institute committed to advancing the global Black and underserved community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. As a 501(c)(3), CBCF takes no position on legislation or regulatory matters before Congress or any other government agency.
About the Annual Legislative Conference
CBCF’s Annual Legislative Conference is a leading public policy convening focused on issues impacting Black Americans and the global Black community. ALC brings together elected officials, policymakers, thought leaders, advocates, entrepreneurs, professionals, students, influencers and engaged citizens for policy dialogue, leadership development, networking, cultural programming and signature events.