From a Press Release in my email, notice of this interesting Conference this weekend — let us know if you plan on going:
A. Philip Randolph Institute of Delaware to Host Legislative Conference Featuring Public Officials, Non-Profit Organizations, the Faith Community and Community Based Organizations
Contact:
Mark Brunswick, APRI Director of Education
302-691-5816
The A. Philip Randolph Institute of Delaware has recruited a roster of public officials, non-profit organizations, the Faith Community and community based organizations to discuss legislative issues of importance to all Delawareans in a conference to be held on Saturday, February 21st at Ezion-Mt. Carmel Church, 800 N. Walnut St. in Wilmington. The all day event will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
“This is a first of its kind event hosted by an organization in the African-American community,” said Mark Brunswick, the A. Philip Randolph Institute Director of Education. “We have conducted active and effective lobbying in Dover for the past five years and have learned that our mission of social justice and change is at its best when we are able to bring together legislators, advocates, policy makers and the community to discuss issues and plan solutions to improve opportunity and quality of life for us all,” he continued.
The following panelists have committed to participate in the conference which will address the Delaware Economy, Justice System Reinvestment, Health Care and Wilmington Public Safety:
Delaware Economy
- Director Ann Vasilli or Robert Scoglietti of the Delaware Office of Management and Budget
- State Representative Dennis P. Williams, Co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee
- Wilmington City Councilman Charles Potter
- Rashmi Rangan, Executive Director of the Delaware Community Reinvestment Act Coalition (DCRAC)
- Jennifer Hill, Service Employees International Union
- A representative of the Hispanic Business Alliance
Justice System Reinvestment
- Representative of Department of Corrections Commissioner Carl Danberg
- Drewery Fennel, ACLU of Delaware
- State Representative James J. Johnson
- Denise Nix Thompson
- Elder Tyrone Johnson, Interdenominational Ministers Action Council
Lunch speaker: To be Announced
Health Care
- Honorable Rita Langraf, Secretary of Health and Human Services
- LaVaida Owens-White, Wilmington NAACP Health Care Committee
- Branch Heller, Alliance for Health Care Reform
- Leonard Young, A. Philip Randolph Institute of Delaware
Wilmington Public Safety
- Rev. Clarence Pettit, Spirit of Life Lutheran Church
- Shawn Allen, YESS
- Representative of Interfaith Building Blocks for Wilmington
- Danny Young
The event is structured to allow all participants to attend each of the 75 minute panels during the day. All panels will follow up with a half day workshop in the near future to focus on legislative strategies for each of the issue areas, build coalitions and identify emerging community leadership.
The schedule for the day will be:
8:00-8:45 Registration
8:45-9:05 Welcome/Overview/Charge
9:15-10:30 Panel A: Delaware Economy
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-12:00 Panel A: Delaware Economy (repeat)
Panel B: Justice System Reinvestment (repeat)
12:00-1:15 Lunch speaker to be announced
1:15-2:30 Panel C: Health Care
Panel D: Wilmington Public Safety
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-4:00 Panel C: Health Care (repeat)
Panel D: Wilmington Public Safety (repeat)
The A. Philip Randolph Institute is an affiliate organization of the AFL-CIO with its roots in the African-American labor community and a mission of economic equality and civil rights.
This event is free and open to the public. Please call 302-691-5816 or email deapri@mindspring.com with any questions.