CLA+Cap+Day+Flyer+2021.jpg — CLA Capitol Day

Join the Chisholm Leadership Academy and students across Georgia for a virtual Capitol Day that will provide participants with an enhanced understanding of the legislative process and an opportunity to learn from and engage state policymakers.
Featured speakers include CLA Founding Board Member and Representative Yasmin Neal, Senator Tonya Anderson, Representative Zulma Lopez, and Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Executive Director Deanna Hamilton.

Featured Speakers

REPRESENTATIVE YASMIN NEAL, GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES & CLA FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER

Yasmin Neal is a native of Georgia and was born and raised in Clayton County. Yasmin Neal is currently serving her second term as a Georgia State Representative and was the youngest member of the House from 2011-2013, elected at the age of 25 years old. In the House of Representatives, Yasmin serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Juvenile Justice, and Public Safety and Homeland Security Committees.

Yasmin was a police officer on the Chief's Staff at the Clayton County Police Department and was a Detective in the Major Felony Unit. Yasmin also worked at the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department as an Internal Affairs/ Backgrounds and Hiring Investigator, and then an Investigator in the Fugitive Unit. She is a graduate of Jonesboro High School and has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and an MBA in Global Management. Yasmin also attended the Women’s Campaign School at Yale University.

Yasmin is also an award-winning writer/director/producer. She has won awards and premiered her films across the United States and Canada. Her work has been featured at Morehouse Human Rights Film Festival, Loyola University (California), and countless other venues across the nation.

SENATOR TONYA ANDERSON, GEORGIA STATE SENATE

Enthusiastic, strong, motivated, visionary are just a few powerful words to describe Senator Tonya P. Anderson. Sen. Anderson was first elected to the Georgia State Senate to represent Georgia’s 43rd Senate District in 2016. Her district includes parts of DeKalb, Rockdale, and Newton counties.

She began her elected public service as a City Councilmember for the city of Lithonia from 2006-2008, then as Mayor from 2008 to 2011. Sen. Anderson then went on to serve as a State Representative for House District 92. Sen. Anderson currently serves as the Chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus (GLBC) and as Secretary of the Senate Special Judiciary Committee. She is also a member of the Senate Economic Development and Tourism, Regulated Industries and Utilities, Reapportionment and Redistricting, MARTOC, and Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committees.

Senator Anderson retired in 2012 from the United States Air Force Reserve after more than 21 honorable years of service and continues to volunteer and advocate for veterans’ services. In addition, she volunteers in the community through local senior centers, The National Council of Negro Women, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Junior League, and United Way VIP as well as several non-profit boards. As a former board member, she continues to serve as a volunteer for the DeKalb County Board of Health through the Live Healthy DeKalb Initiative.

Senator Anderson is the recipient of numerous awards over the years by many world-renowned organizations including the National Disabled American Veterans, Women Veteran’s Social Justice, awarded the Woman of Excellence Award by The National Foundation of Women Legislators, and awarded The Who’s Who in Black Atlanta award.

During the 2020 legislative session, Sen. Anderson authored and championed a criminal justice reform bill—Senate Bill 288. This bill allows for the restriction and sealing of criminal records of most misdemeanor convictions. Previously in Georgia, any criminal record stays on record for life. SB 288 affects 4.3 million Georgians and will create additional opportunities for employment, housing, and education. SB 288 went into effect January 1, 2021.

Senator Anderson is an ordained minister and is very active in her church. She holds a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from Alabama State University as well as a Master of Divinity from Luther Rice University. In April 2018, she earned a Humanitarian honorary doctorate degree from The Global International Alliance. Currently, she is pursuing another business degree.

REPRESENTATIVE ZULMA LOPEZ, GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Attorney Zulma Lopez is the Democrat Representative-Elect for the Georgia House of Representatives District 86 in DeKalb County. A first-time candidate for office, Attorney Lopez won the runoff election on August 11, 2020 unseating a 30-year incumbent. Mrs. Lopez will assume her first two-year term in office in January 2021. Attorney Lopez is also the first in her family to go to Law School. She is the owner of Lopez Immigration LLC, a boutique immigration practice, specializing in family-based immigration law. Mrs. Lopez assists families navigate U.S. immigration law when trying to obtain Lawful permanent residency and citizenship for their loved ones. She fights daily to keep families together and to prevent children from being separated from their parents. Her niche practice within this convoluted area of the law allows her to zero in on each case’s individual needs. Zulma is passionate about keeping families together. She works with clients within the State of Georgia and the Southeast, as well as family members abroad in all parts of the world. Her clients rave about her superior customer service and attention to detail.

Mrs. Lopez graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Law in 2003. She is admitted to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Georgia Bar, including the Georgia Supreme Court and the U.S. Northern District Court of Georgia. Mrs. Lopez regularly practices before the United States Citizen and Immigration Services and the Board of Immigration Appeals. Mrs. Lopez also participates in seminars to educate the community about immigration law and has appeared on as an expert on various immigration topics and trends.

Her most recent awards and positions of leadership are listed below:

2017, 2016, 2015 Georgia Trend Magazine Legal Elite in the area of Immigration Law

2013 & 2014 – LISTA Georgia’s Latina Excellence Award

2015 - 2016 Georgia Bar Investigative Committee – Member

2012 – present - American Immigration Lawyers Association – including chairing and participating in various leadership committees.

Georgia Hispanic Bar Association – member

DEANNA HAMILTON, GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS

Deanna Hamilton served as Vice President, Partner Development for the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), where she led the organization’s fundraising and business development activities. Under the leadership of the executive team, the organization experienced unprecedented growth in the areas of development, membership, brand equity, and organizational and financial stability. A lifetime member, she has been an active member or the National Black MBA Association serving in a leadership capacity at both the local and national level.

Prior to serving NBMBAA, Hamilton was Founder and CEO of Circle One, Inc., a consumer product marketing and multi-format printing company. Circle One was quickly established as an emerging leader in the print industry. Prestigious honors bestowed upon Circle One include National Minority Supplier Development Council, Regional Supplier of the Year, and Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council Supplier of the Year.

Continuing beyond the successful start of Circle One, Inc., Deanna’s passion for The Art of the Deal drove her to launch a management consulting division under the banner, Circle One Associates. The enterprise specializes in private sector growth strategies for small, mid-cap businesses, entertainers and sports properties.

Fortune 1000 companies including Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Electric, Innerworkings, and The Interpublic Group of Companies have entrusted Deanna to skillfully drive the financial thermometer of their organizations. As a corporate leader for these companies, she created tremendous value, holding various senior-level positions, successfully developing turn-key platforms that yielded substantial financial growth.

Deanna holds a Master of Science Degree in Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Finance from Walsh College. Deanna generously donates her time as past President of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Black MBA Association, Vice-Chair of the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy, Vice President of Why Not Sports, and board member of the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council, the National Black Arts Festival, and Silence the Shame Foundation.

Deanna has been honored with National Black MBA Association, Atlanta Chapter’s Community Service and MBA of the Year Award; Diversity Magazine’s Top 50 under 50 Corporate Executives; Atlanta Business Journals’ Top 25 Influential Women in Atlanta; Lincoln Motor Company Rising Star Award; Brown Forman Woman of the Year Award, and the National Black MBA Association, MBA of the Year Award.

ARTEEN AFSHAR

Born and raised in Georgia, Arteen is the daughter of Iranian immigrants. Throughout high school, Arteen was very involved in student government and got her start working on campaigns when she interned on now Senator Jon Ossoff’s congressional campaign back in 2017. Since then, she’s worked on many different campaigns here in Georgia. At the age of 19, Arteen became the Chief of Staff for the first Muslim ever elected to the Georgia State Senate, Senator Sheikh Rahman. At 22 years old, she’s now the Vice President of the Gwinnett County Young Democrats and the Political Director for the Young Democrats of Georgia while also actively working with both local and state government agencies in multiple capacities to improve our communities and the state of Georgia.

Black History is American History

Join the Chisholm Leadership Academy for a conversation addressing the unique challenges and opportunities at the intersections of race, justice, and activism. Featured speakers will share more about their transformative work and what it means to be a young changemaker on the frontlines of history. Register for a robust conversation that will galvanize youth activists to reclaim their power and advocate for their communities.

Featured Speakers

REPRESENTATIVE PARK CANNON, GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Representative Park Cannon is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. She proudly represents the 58th District in the Georgia House of Representatives. At the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Representative Cannon said, “We need to trust Black women!” and she will continue to stand up for LGBTQ and minority visibility in the South.

In the Georgia House of Representatives, Cannon serves on the Code Revision, Insurance, Small Business Development, Ethics, and Creative Arts & Entertainment Committees. Additionally, she serves on the City of Atlanta Delegation, Fulton County Delegation, Bi-partisan Future Caucus, and the Women’s Caucus. She also serves as a member of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, the nation’s largest state black caucus.

NSE UFOT, NEW GEORGIA PROJECT

Nsé Ufot is the Chief Executive Officer of the New Georgia Project (NGP) and its affiliate, New Georgia Project Action Fund (NGP AF). Nsé leads both organizations with a data-informed approach and a commitment to developing tools that leverage technology with the goal of making it easier for every voter to engage in every election. Nsé and her team are also developing Georgia’s home-grown talent by training and organizing local activists across the state. She has dedicated her life and career to working on civil, human, and workers’ rights issues and leads two organizations whose complementary aim is to strengthen Georgia’s democracy. Under Nsé’s leadership, NGP has registered over 500K eligible Georgians to vote and has no plans of slowing down.

FENIKA MILLER, Southern Black Girls & Women's Consortium & BLACK VOTERS MATTER

Fenika Miller is an organizer, activist, and social entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in both private and governmental sectors. Currently, Fenika is the Senior State Coordinator for Black Voters Matter in Georgia. Introduced to service at a young age, Fenika is actively involved in the community. She believes that opportunities belong to all of us, and that when equipped with the right skills, each of us possesses the ability to lead change. Her advocacy centers on economic stability, educational opportunity, and gender equity. In 2012, she founded New Vision MSK, a social action organization committed to raising civic and policy awareness among Black women and girls. Annually, the organization convenes Black Women & Girls Advocacy Day at the State Capitol, and has led the charge to establish a Commission on Black Women and Girls in GA. Her vision is to live in a state and community where every woman and girl has the opportunity to lead, succeed, govern, and prosper in every area of their lives. In 2020, Fenika launched Succeed Co-work, a social action and entrepreneur incubator for women of color. Respected as a credible voice in the community, Fenika earns a seat at the table wherever she serves. Fenika holds an MBA from Wesleyan College and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from THE Fort Valley State University. She is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Robins, immediate past Chair of the Development Authority of Warner Robins, and a small business mentor for SCORE-Middle GA.

SHARLENE BATES, MY VOTE IS HIP HOP

Over the past few years, social justice and entertainment journalist Shar Bates has emerged as an outspoken and dedicated voice of her generation and a promising young community activist and leader. Affectionately known within the community as “Malcolm Luther Queen,” she has become an integral frontline leader in the revolutionary fight for the freedom and liberation of Black people, using her talent and network to galvanize fellow millennials around issues that are often overlooked by the mainstream.

Originally gaining recognition as an indie radio personality, interviewing a multitude of celebrities and dignitaries, Shar began shifting towards community work in 2011 with the launch of the nonprofit Breaking the Chains. Through a variety of mentorship initiatives, the program’s partner schools and community organizations saw attendance and engagement by middle school and high school students increase by over 30%. In 2015, after years of activism behind the scenes, using her radio platform to bring awareness to issues and causes in underserved communities, Shar took her voice and leadership skills to the streets, organizing a series of peaceful protests following the death of Nick Thomas, a 23-year-old Black man shot in the back by a metro-Atlanta area police officer. In 2018, she elevated her voice once again with the launch of the My Vote Is Hip Hop social justice campaign that merged the hip hop and community politics in an effort to bring awareness to Governor Kemp suppressing black and other minority votes. The grassroots initiative aims to provide reparations for African Americans by keeping the community which finds itself suffering the brunt of the ills of systemic racism in ongoing conversations and civic engagement, even beyond election years. My Vote Is Hip Hop was instrumental in driving young Black voters to the polls in Georgia for the 2020 presidential election, effectively helping to “turn the state blue” for the first time since the 1992 presidential election. Her community activism led to a starring role on BET’s groundbreaking docuseries, Copwatch America.

The Spring and Summer of 2020 found Shar on the frontlines in other ways. At the top of the year, she supported local organizations helping people in underserved communities with rent support as a result of the financial difficulties created by the COVID-19 lockdown, both through fundraising initiatives, Communi-tea Healing Teas, and by helping identify potential aid recipients. As America was forced to come face to face with the police brutality and violence with the deaths across the country like George Floyd, Shar was frontlines for Breonna Taylor in St. Louis. In May of 2020 Shar and other activists sparked a wave of Black Militias after visiting Ahmaud Arbery’s place of death while pouring a libation and standing with armed black Panthers as they patrolled the location of his death.

Then, not even a month later, Shar was in Atlanta, bringing the people’s voices to the streets. When the death of Rayshard Brooks put her adopted city in the spotlight, she was among the first on the scene. After advocating for Police Reform, she was selected to be on the Mayors Task Force for Police Reform after Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms accepted Obama’s 21st Century Policing Challenge. Beyond hitting the streets herself, Shar also worked diligently with many organizations and influencers to bail out protestors and provide voter rights protections during the heated 2020 Summer and electoral season. As well as given out over 600 Healing Teas to Combat Covid-19 as well as provided Rent Reparations to those suffering from financial hardships.

Holding a Certification in Television & Radio Broadcast and Production, Shar Bates is also an Indie Radio Pioneer who has interviewed a multitude of celebrities and dignitaries on her own "The Shar Bates Show." She also developed a live music event, “The Art of Radio" where she interviews music industry moguls in front of an audience. Her work has been featured in several publications and networks like MSNBC, REVOLT, Rolling Out, VH1, Getty, MediaTakeOut, Bossip, OK Magazine, and more.

MADISON CRENSHAW, BUCKHEAD FOR BLACK LIVES

Madison Crenshaw graduated from The Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia in 2019 and is currently attending college at Belmont University in Nashville, TN. Madison is a Political Science major with a minor in Spanish and is working with the American Federation for Children to help progress school choice in Tennessee.

Madison is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta-based youth activism group Buckhead 4 Black Lives. After the death of George Floyd in 2020, Buckhead 4 Black Lives organized a successful peaceful protest which led to Madison being spotlighted in Rolling Stone’s January 2021 issue. Buckhead 4 Black Lives wants to continue raising awareness about issues that the Black community faces and make activism accessible for all. Madison hopes to continue being a leader within the activism community and bring forth real change on a national scale.

Speak Up. Speak Out! Elevating The Voices of Our Sisters

An international day of the girl celebration

Speak Up. Speak Out! Elevating the Voices of Our Sisters is a tribute to the leaders of the past and the power and potential of the next generation of young women. The program will include inspiring and thought-provoking messages from women and youth leaders and a special message from 2020 Chisholm Champion Mayor Aja Brown.

Special Thanks to Our Sponsors and Partners

rsz_rsz_aka_southern_atlantic_region-removebg-preview.png

Featured Speakers

Resized Lucy McBath.jpg — Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06)

Representative Lucy McBath is a mom, a wife, an author, and an advocate.
On Black Friday in 2012, McBath’s son, Jordan Davis, was sitting in the back seat of a friend’s car at a gas station. A man pulled up next to them, complaining about the “loud music” they were playing. The man pulled out a gun and fired 10 shots into the car, hitting Jordan three times, and killing him.
After Jordan’s death, McBath dedicated her life to preventing other families from experiencing the same pain she did.
McBath left her 30-year career as a flight attendant at Delta Airlines to become the national spokesperson and faith and outreach leader for Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
In 2017, after the mass shooting that killed 17 high schoolers at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, McBath knew she had to stand up and run for Congress
Since taking her oath of office in January of 2019, McBath has sought bipartisan solutions to end gun violence, uplift small business and our economy, protect and serve our nation’s veterans, and lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs.
A two-time breast cancer survivor, Representative McBath knows how important it is to protect those with pre-existing conditions and ensure all Americans have access to quality, affordable care. McBath has supported H.R. 1425, the *Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act,* a bipartisan bill to ensure that everyone with preexisting conditions is covered. McBath also introduced legislation requiring Medicare to cover hearings aids, and her bill was included in H.R. 3, *the Lower Drug Costs Now Act*. This landmark, bipartisan legislation would lower the cost of medication, stop big pharmaceutical companies from ripping off families, and reinvest billions in innovation and the search for new cures and treatments.
McBath has also made protecting small businesses a priority, supporting legislation like the *Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement* Act, which would strengthen the Paycheck Protection Program, provide more funding for SBA disaster lending, and ensure that more small businesses have access to the money they need.
In August of 2019, McBath’s bill, the HAVEN Act, which protects veterans in need, was signed into law by President Trump. *The Washington Post* called this bipartisan piece of legislation the “biggest bill passed” by a freshman this Congress. She has been called “an effective lawmaker” during her first year in Congress, and “one of the House Democratic Caucus’ most important voices.”
To protect the education of our children, five measures led by McBath were included in the landmark *Higher Education Act*, a bill to improve the quality of education, lower the cost of college, and expand opportunity for students across America.
McBath also led bipartisan legislation in December of 2019 to modernize data collection practices and improve epidemic preparedness at the Centers for Disease Control. In March, she secured the $500 million she requested as part of the COVID-19 relief package.
In addition, she also successfully requested that $25 million in federal funds be allocated to the Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health for gun violence prevention research, the first of its kind in twenty years.
Representative McBath has made securing federal funds for Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District a priority, helping obtain a $5 million grant to fund the Akers Mill ramp project in Cobb County, as well as supporting a grant to improve the safety and security of Temple Emanu-El in Sandy Springs, which was awarded in November of 2019.
The Congresswoman proudly represents Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District, but the most important title she will ever hold is *Jordan’s Mom*.

Resized Ayanna Pressley.jpg — Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is an advocate, a policy-maker, an activist, and a survivor. On November 6, 2018, Congresswoman Pressley was elected to represent Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, making her the first woman of color to be elected to Congress from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts 7th is the most diverse and most unequal district in the state, requiring a representative whose experiences are reflective of the people.
Like many in her district, Congresswoman Pressley has endured numerous hardships throughout her life, and it is because of those experiences that she remains a dedicated activist who’s devoted to creating robust and informed policies that speak to the intersectionality of her district’s lived experiences. She believes that the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power and that a diversity of voices in the political process is essential to making policies that benefit more Americans.
Born in Cincinnati and raised in Chicago, Congresswoman Pressley is the only child of a single mother and a father who was in and out of the criminal justice system - creating an unstable household and forcing her to mature at a rapid rate. While her father ultimately overcame his addiction and went on to become a published author, Congresswoman Pressley was primarily raised by her mother Sandra Pressley, a tenants’ rights organizer who instilled in her the value of civic engagement. Thanks to her mother’s dedication to activism, Congresswoman Pressley has always been acutely aware of the role that government can play in lifting up families and communities.
Congresswoman Pressley attended the Francis W. Parker School, a private school in Chicago where her activism and commitment to public service took hold. A devoted student, Congresswoman Pressley was supported by her teachers, faculty, and peers and was elected class president every year from 7th grade through senior year of high school. She was also elected student government president, was a competitive debater through her school’s chapter of Junior State of America, was the commencement speaker for her graduating class, and was named “most likely to be mayor of Chicago.”
Congresswoman Pressley moved to Boston, MA in 1992 to attend Boston University, however, after a couple of years of enrollment, she withdrew from the University to help support her mother. She remained an activist in the community, working as a senior aide to Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, volunteering for Senator John Kerry’s reelection campaign, and working for Senator Kerry for 13 years in a variety of roles, including constituency director and political director. Senator Kerry described Congresswoman Pressley as a “force” who "believed in public service."
In 2009, she launched a historic at-large campaign for Boston City Council and won, becoming the first woman of color elected to the Council in its 100-year history. On the Council, Congresswoman Pressley worked in partnership with residents, advocates, and other elected officials to combat the inequities and disparities facing the community. In her eight-year tenure on the Council, she:
Revised and mandated enforcement of a pregnant and parenting teen policy for Boston Public Schools to strengthen pathways to graduation and to reduce the dropout rate,
Developed a comprehensive, culturally competent, medically accurate, and age appropriate sexual education and health curriculum, which was successfully adopted as a permanent part of the Boston Public Schools’ wellness policy,
Convened the first “listening-only hearing” in the Boston City Council’s history, where 300 families impacted by gun violence and trauma shared their stories with city officials,
Partnered with the National Black Women’s Justice Institute, to develop evidence-based research to reform school disciplinary policies that contribute to the school to prison pipeline for black and Latinx girls, and
Successfully pushed for the creation of 75 new liquor licenses, 80% dedicated to disenfranchised neighborhoods, resulting in the creation of dozens of new restaurants and hundreds of jobs in local Boston communities.
In 2016, Congresswoman Pressley was named one of The New York Times 14 Young Democrats to Watch. In 2014, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce named her as one of their Ten Outstanding Young Leaders, and the Victim Rights Law Center presented her with their Leadership Award. In 2015, she earned the EMILY’s List Rising Star Award and was named one of Boston Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful People. She is also an Aspen-Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership, Class of 2012.

Sadaf Jaffer.jpg — Mayor Sadaf Jaffer (NJ)

Sadaf Jaffer is a scholar, activist, and elected official. Dr. Jaffer is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University where she teaches courses on South Asian, Islamic, and Asian American Studies. She has published articles in the *Journal of Women’s History*, as well as the *Foreign Policy Research Institute*, *Huffington Post*, and Altmuslimah blogs.
Dr. Jaffer is also the mayor of Montgomery Township, New Jersey where she has focused her administration on good governance and increased transparency, communications, diversity, and inclusivity. Mayor Jaffer has been especially involved in work to combat prejudice and build connections throughout the community. In her first year on Township Committee she founded Montgomery Mosaic, a group allied with the national Not In Our Town (NIOT) movement. She serves on the board of directors for The New Agenda, an organization that promotes women's economic empowerment and combats sexual harassment and sexual assault. She is on the advisory board of Inspiring South Asian American Women (ISAAW), a group dedicated to encouraging civic engagement among South Asian American women in New Jersey. She is also on the advisory board of ARTE: Art and Resistance through Education, a non-profit that promotes human rights education and youth development through the arts.
Dr. Jaffer earned her bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and obtained her PhD in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University with a secondary field in studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality.

Cori Bush_Headshot.jpg — Activist and Pastor Cori Bush (MO)

Cori Bush is the Democratic nominee for Missouri’s First Congressional District who, on August 4th, 2020, defeated 10-term incumbent Lacy Clay in the primary election. She is a registered nurse, single-mother, ordained pastor. Following the murder of Mike Brown in St. Louis by a police officer, she became a civil rights activist fighting for justice for Black lives on the streets of Ferguson and across the country. If elected in November, she will be the first Black congresswoman from the state of Missouri.

Atlanta Board of Education Vice Chair Eshé P. Collins (GA)

An Atlanta native and former teacher in Atlanta Public Schools, Eshé P. Collins never wavered from her strong passion for education. Beginning at a young age, she always knew the value of a solid education: a challenging curriculum, a system of great teachers, and strong family and community involvement. Eshé understands the impact of quality education in realizing the potential of the city, and is excited to leverage her passion and experience to provide all students in Atlanta with the education they deserve.
Eshé has an extensive record of commitment and achievement in urban education and communities. As a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher at A.D. Williams Elementary School, 92 percent of her students met or exceeded expectations on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test for both grade levels. Eshé also led the after-school, and summer tutoring programs for the Bowen Homes community and co-founded the “Reaching Back, Bridging Gaps” reading program, a community-based literacy initiative.
Eshé’s work within urban settings has been the combination of her classroom, policy and legal experience on issues that address student achievement and equity in education. She analyzed national education issues and advocated for accessible healthcare at the Children’s Defense Fund. Also, Eshé worked in Cape Town, South Africa, where she helped refugee women and children access quality services and enrollment in local schools.
Currently, Eshé serves as Georgia State University’s project director for Jumpstart, an early education, nonprofit organization that delivers a high-quality curriculum to preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. In this role, she trains adults to teach and lead in their communities; works closely with parents to improve family involvement; and more importantly, inspires children to learn through the love of literacy. Within the program, Eshé has increased community involvement by 150 percent, which has resulted in community members’ service of more than 15,000 hours in the classroom and community each year.
In pursuit of her passion, Eshé earned a B.A. degree in psychology from Spelman College; M.S. in urban teacher leadership from Georgia State University; and J.D., *cum laude*, from North Carolina Central University School of Law. She holds Georgia educator certifications in early childhood education and educational leadership, and a license to practice law in the state of Georgia.
Eshé is a woman of many accomplishments and continues to be an avid servant throughout the Atlanta community.

Daphne Frias.jpg — Activist Daphne Frias (NY)

Daphne Frias is a 22-year-old youth activist. She is unapologetically Latina. Daphne has Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair to ambulate. She is fiercely proud to be a loud champion for the disabled community. She got her start shortly after the Parkland shooting by busing 100+ students from her college campus to the nearest March For Our Lives (MFOL) event. In July of 2019, she was appointed as the NY State Director for March For Our Lives and recently completed her one year tenure there.
Through her work with MFOL, she became passionate about increasing youth voter turnout amongst 18-29 year-olds. As a result, she created her own non-profit called Box The Ballot (BTB), which aims to harness the power of absentee ballots. By partnering with students on college campuses, BTB was able to collect nearly 470,000 absentee ballots in the 2018 midterms. Fighting the climate crisis is something she is equally as passionate about.
Born and raised in West Harlem, NYC, she has seen how minority communities are disproportionally affected by climate change. Having been an official spokesperson from the global climate strikes on September 20th, she has no intention of backing down until the health of our earth is secure. Her passion for advocacy propelled her to run from county committee women of Assembly District 70, Election District 80 in West Harlem. In June of 2019, Daphne won her election and continues to work hard to represent her constituents. In the spring of 2019, she was appointed as one of the North American Regional Focal Points for Sustainable Development Goal 16 at the U.N. Major Group for Children and Youth. In this position, she works to highlight and represent the voice of her fellow youth and the work they are doing to become pivotal peacemakers.
Currently, she serves as the Partner Outreach Director of SafeBAE, an organization that empowers Middle and High Schoolers to end dating violence; through, educational national chapter networks, and their innovative local summits. She currently supervises the Youth Outreach Coordinator, as well as working diligently to create diverse partnerships to push the movement forward.

Charitie Ropati.jpg — Activist Charitie Ropati (NY)

Charitie Ropati is an 18-year-old undergraduate student activist attending Columbia University and a 2019 Center for Native American Youth Champion for Change. She works to decolonize Western pedagogies in public education and addresses the dropout and graduation crisis of Indigenous students through Native-centric curricula.

Carolyn Randolph.jpg — Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. South Atlantic Regional Director Carolyn Randolph (GA)

Carolyn Gause Randolph is a Life Member who has been active in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated for more than 30 years. She was initiated in Alpha Psi Omega Chapter in Wilmington, North Carolina. Currently, Mrs. Randolph is a member of Gamma Tau Omega Chapter in Columbus, Georgia
Mrs. Randolph has held a number of positions on the local, regional, and international level. In her current chapter, she has served as President (two terms), First Vice President, Second Vice President, House Treasurer, Chaplain, Chair of the Connections Committee, a member of the Graduate Advisors Council, and former Chair of the Scholarship Committee. She holds the distinction of serving as the first President of the chapter’s foundation, S.I.S.T.E.R.S., Inc., founded in 2006.
For the South Atlantic Region, she served as Cluster Coordinator for Cluster IV; a member of the Regional Leadership Team; Chair of the 57th Regional Conference; Representative to the Regional Nominating Committee; and a member of the Boule Luncheon Committee.
On the international level, Mrs. Randolph is the immediate past Chair of the International Nominating Committee and a former member of the Reinstatement Task Force Committee; and the Boule Sargent-At-Arms Committee.
She is most proud of being a 2018 recipient of the Georgia Legislative Women’s Caucus Servant Leadership Award. Georgia State Representative Carolyn Hugley (District 136) presented the award to Mrs. Randolph during Women’s History Month.
Mrs. Randolph is a retired educator currently serving as a Clinical Supervisor for the Mathematics Woodrow Wilson Fellows and an adjunct instructor at Columbus State University. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Mathematics from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Master of Science degree from North Carolina A&T State University, and an Education Specialist degree from Columbus State University.
Mrs. Randolph is a member of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia, and is married to Chester Randolph. They have three adult daughters, one a sorority member, and three precious grandchildren.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Southern Regional Director Deidra Diaz (AL)

Deidra K. Diaz is the Southern Regional Director of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Diaz is a member of The Links, Incorporated and has served on the National Communications Committee and National Marketing & Branding Committee as well as the Chair of Fundraising for the Magic City (AL) chapter. Diaz has chaired the Junior League of Birmingham’s public affairs and marketing communications committees, serve as an executive committee member for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, and served on the boards for more than a dozen organizations in Birmingham and across Alabama. She is the recipient of the 2020 Hunstville Alumnae Chapter Delta of the Year Award, a Who’s Who in Black Alabama Top 40 Under 40 leader, an NAACP Outstanding Woman honoree, and was recognized by Ebony Magazine as a Top 30 Under 30 Young Leader of the Future.

Javonne Jones.jpg — Electric Violinist JaVonne Jones

JaVonne Jones is an anointed electric violinist hailing from the city of Augusta, Georgia. She began her venture as a musician at the age of 9. Now at the age of 36, she is continuously advancing in her gifting. Ms. Jones has studied the realm of instrumental music for several years; obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education as well as a Master of Education degree in Music Education. She recently obtained an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University.
As a music specialist for a decade, JaVonne Jones has received numerous homages for her service in the area of music education. She was named the 2014-2015 Deer Chase Elementary Teacher of the year. Out of 41 top teachers in the school system, Ms. Jones was then named the 2015 Richmond County Teacher of the year. She is also the proud owner of “A String Thing Instrumental Services” where she teaches private violin lessons to students in the Central Savannah River Area. In addition to her educational accolades, JaVonne was honored by the Sister’s Only Club as a SHERO in the category of entertainment. Ms. Jones graces churches and stages all across the country. She has been favored with opportunities to open for several entertainment and gospel giants including Rickey Smiley, Tamela Mann, and Dottie Peoples.

2020 Chisholm Champion

Aja Brown.jpeg — Mayor Aja Brown

Mayor Aja Brown made history at 31 as the youngest mayor ever elected in the City of Compton. A national trailblazer, Mayor Brown’s ‘New Vision for Compton’ is a revitalization strategy centered on 12-key principles that focus on family values, quality of life, economic development and infrastructural growth. She was overwhelmingly re-elected to a second four-year term in June of 2017.
Mayor Brown is focused on improving outcomes through policy reform, innovation and strategic partnerships. She proudly serves the Citizens of Compton by developing and implementing public policies that facilitate guided growth through the protection of community assets.
Since taking office, Mayor Brown has launched several community initiatives and policy changes aimed at reducing crime by tackling tough issues such as gang intervention, and domestic human trafficking head on. The Mayor’s efforts to fortify the City have been instrumental in eliminating hourly motel rentals and condemning businesses that incubate human trafficking, and other illicit activity. In June 2014, Mayor Brown started Compton Empowered, a community based gang reduction and intervention initiative focused on empowering ex-gang members to take back their neighborhoods through peace treaties, unity activities and employment opportunities. The efforts of Mayor Brown and participating community members have resulted in a nearly 50% decrease in homicides from 2014 to 2015 and continues to be the leading agency of community driven safety reform throughout the City.
Mayor Brown has been successful in reducing the unemployment rate by 50 percent in Compton from 18 percent in July of 2013, to 9 percent in the month of December 2015, while successfully attracting new companies and employment to the City. The Mayor has executed policy that improves access to Compton City employment through the First Source Hiring Agreement, adopted in October 2013, which mandates 35 percent local hiring for city assisted and funded projects that often times yield neighborhood improvement.
Mayor Brown is the recipient of the esteemed 2016 John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award, she has received the Brave Ones Leadership Award by Leadercast in 2015 and was awarded the prestigious University of Southern California 2014 Young Alumni Merit Award. Mayor Brown served on the California State Delta Stewardship Council from late 2014 to 2016, a governing body created by legislation to achieve the state mandated coequal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem. Mayor Brown has also led young women and girls empowerment efforts with her esteemed partnership with Girls Fly!, a global initiative geared at exposing young women and girls to careers in science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
Mayor Brown has received a lauded number of honors, including the National Action Network Martin Luther King Award, for her youth, women’s rights and socio-economic equality work in advocacy. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy, Urban Planning and Development, along with a Master’s degree in Urban Planning with a concentration in Economic Development from the University of Southern California. She is married to her best friend of 14 years, Van Brown.

Chisholm Leadership Academy Launch: An International Day of the Girl Celebration

Women comprise less than one-third of the Georgia General Assembly, only four women have served as justices in the 174 years since the Georgia Supreme Court was established, and no woman has ever served as governor of Georgia.

In 2020, the Chisholm Leadership Academy will embark on a mission to provide culturally responsive civic education to Georgia's girls and young women and to equip them with the tools to make tangible contributions to their local communities today.

The launch event included a networking reception and formal program featuring diverse women in public service, information on CLA, and ways that attendees can support our mission to cultivate a pipeline of middle and high school girls of color to become catalysts for change and to be inspired for bold careers in public service.

Follow the conversation: #CLAGirlsLead.

Mistress of Ceremonies

**Shiba Russell**

News Anchor for 11Alive’s Emmy award-winning morning show ‘Morning Rush ATL,’ which airs 5-7 am weekdays.

Featured Speakers

Special Thanks To Our Host Committee and Supporters

LaShandra Little

Nick Merlino

John Noel

Yvonne T. Prabhu

LaKecia Ridley

Will Sellers

LaVita Tuff

Honorable Sundra Woodford

Montierra Yates

Kathy Adams

Maria Banjo

Honorable Wenona Belton

Honorable Eshe' Collins

Honorable Wayne Howard

Jordan Johnson

Honorable Harold V. Jones II

Honorable Dar'shun Kendrick

Rochelle Lindsey

PRIDE: Celebrating & Elevating LGBTQ Women Leaders

Join the chisholm leadership academy for a virtual discussion about the representation of lgbtq women and femmes in elected office and activism and policies that protect & enrich the lgbtq+ community.

Featured Speakers

Renitta Shannon.jpeg — Representative Renitta Shannon

Representative Renitta Shannon defeated a four-term conservative Democratic incumbent with a bold progressive message in 2016. In January 2017, she was sworn into the Georgia House of Representatives, representing the 84th district. She utilizes her impactful public platform to fight stigmas and create legislation for marginalized communities. Her experience in community organizing work around economic, racial, and gender justice equipped her to serve in the Georgia House of Representatives.
Representative Shannon was raised by two hard working and, often, minimum wage-earning parents. This taught Renitta the importance of having access to economic opportunity and jobs that work for employees and employers. She worked as a server, earned scholarships, took out student loans and, with the help of her parents, graduated from the University of Florida.
At 22, Representative Shannon faced a silent crossroads that so many women are forced to face without support: abortion. Committed to ensuring that others have the infrastructure and guidance that they need, she speaks on national platforms, such as SiX and the Center for Reproductive Rights, about her personal story and the importance of abortion rights. She has been a consistent advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. In 2017, she came out as bisexual, making her the first bisexual legislator to serve in the Georgia General Assembly.
In her first year as a legislator, Representative Shannon was recognized as one of the “Most Valuable Legislators” in The Nation Magazine’s 2017 Progressive Honor Roll for her work on sexual assault policy. She continues to engage in critical conversations about justice. In 2018, she was the keynote speaker at the Center for Reproductive Rights annual conference, providing an address entitled “Why Advancing Respectability Politics Hurts the Fight for Reproductive Rights.” She has also published a piece in the The Brown Girl’s Guide to Politics, “Why It Matters to Elect Queer Black Women to Public Office.”
Representative Shannon is the co-founder of Her Term, a Georgia-based initiative committed to targeting, recruiting, and electing progressive women into office. Her work has been featured in TIME Magazine, Cosmo, and Elite Daily.

Feroza+Syed.jpg — Feroza Syed

Feroza Syed is a trans Muslim woman and activist for trans women, women of color, and human rights. In 2017, national rhetoric around immigrants, women, and transpeople began to change and Feroza felt that her identity was under attack. Despite having “passing privilege,” she decided to acknowledge her full identity by coming out on Facebook. Her post, which garnered more than 75,000 likes and hundreds of shares, led her to become engaged in activism.
In 2018, she joined Mayor Keisha Lance Bottom’s LGBTQ Advisory Board and was appointed AID Atlanta Ambassador. A year later, she served as a Grand Marshal for Pride. She is a facilitator for PFLAG John’s Creek and is on the Board of Georgia Safe Schools Coalition (GSSC). She volunteers with Asian Q&A (Queer and Adolescent), an organization that aims to create safe spaces for AAPI youth.
She worked in corporate America before becoming a successful real estate broker with Sotheby’s International Realty.

Kandice+Webber.jpg — Kandice Webber

Kandice Webber is a registered nurse who has served the Houston community for over 15 years. She believes education is the neutralizer and cornerstone to success that will bring equity to all marginalized populations. Growing up in rural Texas, she witnessed, firsthand, the disparities young Black and Brown people face due to poverty, systemic racism and implicit biases. She is dedicated to fighting for sustainable change that will balance the scales and correct the injustices that have claimed so many Black and Brown lives. Kandice is a lead organizer for Black Lives Matter: Houston and co-chair of the March for Black Women: Houston.

Women Lead: Reforming America’s Criminal Justice System

Join the chisholm leadership academy & the united state of women for a virtual town hall and primer on the key stakeholders in the criminal justice system. the discussion will address RACIAL AND GENDER disparities in criminal prosecution and sentencing and consider opportunities for WOMEN OF COLOR to REFORM THE SYSTEM AT ALL LEVELS.

Featured Speakers

Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis, *Washington State Supreme Court*

Justice Raquel Montoya-Lewis was appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court by Governor Jay Inslee in December 2019 and took the oath of office on January 6, 2020. Justice Montoya-Lewis is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta and a descendant of the Pueblo of Laguna, two federally recognized tribes in New Mexico. She is the first enrolled member of any tribe to sit on a state supreme court in the U.S. and the second Native American to sit on a state supreme court. She is also of Jewish descent. Prior to becoming an Associate Justice, she served as a Superior Court judge for Whatcom County for five years, where she heard criminal and civil trials and presided over the Whatcom County Therapeutic Drug Court. In the 15 years prior to her work on the Superior Court, she served as a tribal court judge for multiple tribes in the Pacific Northwest and the Southwest. She served as Chief Judge for the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe, the Nooksack Indian Tribe, and the Lummi Nation. In addition to her work as a tribal court judge, she was a tenured Associate Professor at Western Washington University’s Fairhaven College where she taught law-related courses and courses on cultural identity development. She has continued to use her teaching skills as a jurist, teaching a wide variety of audiences including judges, social workers, lawyers, and advocates on implicit bias, the Indian Child Welfare Act, and best practices in child welfare and domestic violence cases. Justice Montoya-Lewis graduated with her BA degree from the University of New Mexico in 1992 and completed her law degree and Master of Social Work degree at the University of Washington in 1995 and 1996 respectively.

Cassandra+Kirk.jpg — Judge Cassandra Kirk,
*Magistrate Court of Fulton County*

In 2014 Governor Nathan Deal appointed Cassandra Kirk Chief Magistrate Judge and tasked her with creating the newly independent Magistrate Court of Fulton County. In May 2018 Judge Kirk successfully defended her seat in a contested election to become the first ever elected Chief Magistrate Judge of Fulton County. Her mission is to Inform, Engage and Empower Our Community.
Serving as a Juvenile Court judge, she spearheaded Fulton County’s first Juvenile Drug Court program, which was selected to participate in a nationwide Learning Collaborative. Judge Kirk’s legal experience includes service as a jurist, prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, civil litigator and Administrative Director. She supports the community through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., North Avenue Presbyterian Church (Elder) and the Boards of Directors of The Atlanta Resource Foundation, EduHousing, the Southern Advisory Committee to Children’s Rights, and Street Grace, a non-profit aimed at eradicating domestic minor sex trafficking.
As a result of her commitment to the community and the legal profession, Judge Kirk received several awards and recognitions for service and leadership, including being named Judge of the Year (Rolling Out Magazine and Women Works Media Group), Woman of the Year (ACHI Magazine), honored with the Power of Leadership Award (Black I Am Power and Entertainment Awards) and being named one of Atlanta Business Journal’s Top 25 Extraordinary Atlantans. Judge Kirk received her B.A. from Williams College, and her J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law.

DA+Sherry+Boston+.jpg — District Attorney Sherry Boston, *Office of the DeKalb County District Attorney*

Sherry Boston stands among the elite in the world of prosecution. She is one of four African-American female District Attorneys in the State of Georgia, and among the rare one-percent of African-American females currently serving as District Attorney nationwide.
Ms. Boston assumed the role of District Attorney for the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit in January 2017. In her capacity, DA Boston oversees the prosecution of felony offenses filed in the Superior Court of DeKalb County and supervises a staff of more than 200 individuals, including attorneys, investigators, paralegals, victim-witness advocates, and administrative professionals assigned to various divisions.
Since taking the helm as District Attorney, Ms. Boston has assembled a diverse and highly experienced leadership team to assist with restructuring and redefining prosecution processes to include the development of new units and the consolidation of others. The Office has also increased its capacity to serve victims with an expanded victim services unit.
Observers have taken notice of DA Boston’s efforts. She was recently lauded by Atlanta Magazine as one of metro Atlanta’s *500 Most Influential People,* earning the coveted front cover of the publication. Through her work with the *Institute for Innovation in Prosecution* and the *Fair and Just Prosecution* initiative, DA Boston has also become an integral part of the national dialogue on criminal justice reform and innovative prosecution strategies specific to juvenile justice, reentry, and accountability initiatives. DA Boston is one of four top prosecutors recently named to the GRACE Commission, a statewide task force created by Georgia’s First Lady to combat human trafficking.
Prior to her role as District Attorney, Ms. Boston served as DeKalb County Solicitor-General, the elected prosecutor overseeing misdemeanor crimes. During her tenure as Solicitor-General, Ms. Boston was instrumental in the development of DeKalb’s revamped Traffic Division and also implemented a wide variety of innovative programming and strategies aimed at community outreach and crime prevention.
In addition to her elected positions, DA Boston has received numerous legal appointments and wide recognition for her innovative prevention/intervention initiatives and impassioned commitment to domestic violence awareness. In 2018, she received the Champion for Change Award from the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence for her leadership in the DV arena, including the development of two signature community awareness campaigns.
Among her varied involvement in community and legal organizations, District Attorney Boston is an active member of the State Bar of Georgia where she serves on the Disciplinary Board, which has the power to investigate and discipline members of the State Bar for violations of Standards of Conduct. District Attorney Boston also serves on the Board of Governors, the State Bar’s policy-making arm.
District Attorney Boston is a graduate of Villanova University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Emory University School of Law. Ms. Boston is also a dedicated member of the Tau Pi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, serving the Stone Mountain and Lithonia communities. She resides in DeKalb County with her husband and two daughters.

Kim+Foxx+photo.jpg — Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, Office of the Cook County State’s Attorney

Kimberly M. Foxx is the first African American woman to lead the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office – the country’s second largest prosecutor’s office. Her vision is to build the most just, equitable, and transparent prosecutor’s office in the country, by working proactively to make all communities safe while investing in policies to address the underlying drivers of contact with the criminal justice system. State’s Attorney Foxx has brought substantial progress in priority areas including wrongful convictions, bond reform, transparency, and gun violence. Born and raised in Cabrini Green on Chicago’s Near North Side, she is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science and a J.D. from the School of Law.

Marilyn Mosby.jpg — State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City

On January 8, 2015, Marilyn J. Mosby was sworn in as the 25th State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, making her the youngest chief prosecutor of any major American city.
Mosby, an inner-city Boston native, witnessed first-hand the impact of trauma associated with crime when her honor-roll cousin was gunned down in broad daylight outside of Mosby’s home due to mistaken identity. That horrific experience propelled Mosby to turn her pain into passion by becoming a first-generation college graduate, and pursuing her dreams of becoming an attorney and reforming the criminal justice system. Mosby received a Presidential Scholarship from Tuskegee University where she earned magna cum laude recognition and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. After leaving Tuskegee, Mosby was awarded the Council on Legal Educational Opportunity, Thurgood Marshall Scholarship, and subsequently earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Boston College Law School. While in law school, Marilyn proved to be an avid public servant, clerking at several highly-esteemed governmental agencies including the U.S. Attorney’s Office in both Boston, MA and Washington D.C., and the Homicide Unit of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Boston.
After law school, Mosby joined the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City (SAO), where she quickly advanced from District Court to General Felony. Mosby successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases and some of the most heinous felonies in the State of Maryland with an overall conviction rate of 80 percent. Driven by her love for courtroom litigation and the desire to diversify her legal experience, Mosby left the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office in 2011 and began working as a civil litigator for a Fortune 100 company. In just five months, Mosby was promoted to the Special Investigation Unit of the company, where she investigated and defended against fraudulent insurance claims throughout the State of Maryland.
From her formative years, Mosby’s passion was always to effectuate change by driving a more just, efficient, and fair criminal justice system. On June 24 2013, Mosby decided to take a leap of faith and run for Baltimore City State’s Attorney against the incumbent. After successfully completing one of the largest upsets in Baltimore City election history, Mosby assumed office and her leadership immediately transformed the State’s Attorney’s office into a national model for progressive holistic prosecution, exemplifying the mantra of not just being "tough on crime" but more importantly "smart on crime."
During Mosby’s first year in office, the SAO reached an 80 percent homicide conviction rate despite a 20 percent increase in the homicide caseload. The following year, Mosby created the Gun Violence Enforcement Division and the felony conviction rate reached 93 percent. During that same time period, Mosby’s administration secured a number of high profile convictions for various violent offenders designated Public Enemy #1 by the Baltimore Police Department, including BGF Executioners, Capone Chase who shot a man in his head in broad daylight in the presence of his pregnant girlfriend and Darryl Anderson who heinously opened fire and killed two women and critically injured another. Additionally, under her leadership: the SAO convicted former Episcopal Bishop Heather Cook who fatally struck a father of two with her vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and texting; all of the shooters responsible for the death of a one-year-old who was killed by a bullet meant for his father; and serial rapist Nelson Bernard Clifford.
While the primary focus of her administration has been and continues to be successfully targeting and convicting violent offenders, Mosby understands that the community has an integral role in realizing a safer city. Therefore, repairing the fractured relationship between law enforcement and communities remains a hallmark of her tenure. Since the start of her administration, Mosby has worked tirelessly to reinstate the community engagement division; hired and assigned 10 new community liaisons to each region of the city; personally attended more than 500 community events, churches, and schools; and has increased SAO grant funding by more than 27 percent.
In 2016, the SAO was awarded a $2.4 million grant—the largest grant it has ever received—to provide the necessary services to support victims and witnesses of crime. Under Mosby's leadership, the SAO has nearly doubled the size of the Victims/Witnesses Services Unit.
In an effort to be “smart on crime” and address crime holistically, Mosby created the Crime Control and Prevention division to tackle recidivism and deter youth violence through the implementation of innovative criminal justice initiatives such as Aim to B’More, the Junior State’s Attorney program and Great Expectations. Aim to B'More provides first-time, non-violent felony drug offenders with a second opportunity to get it right by offering life skills and educational training which ultimately leads to full-time employment and the expungement of the associated felony conviction, while the Junior State’s Attorney and Great Expectations programs expose young people to the positive aspects of the criminal justice system.
Recognizing that prosecutors must not only aggressively advocate on behalf of the victims of crime, but in the pursuit of “justice,”—when the evidence exists—to exonerate those that have been falsely accused or convicted, in her first year in office, Mosby created the Conviction Integrity Unit to bolster the Office’s efforts to review and investigate claims of actual innocence. In 2016, the unit successfully exonerated Malcolm Bryant, who had been incarcerated for nearly 18 years after being falsely convicted of second degree murder.
Finally, Mosby’s creation of the Policy and Legislative Affairs division within the SAO has made significant legislative strides under her leadership. In 2016, the Office successfully lobbied for and played an integral role in the passage of legislation that increased penalties for repeat drunk drivers and second degree murder. In 2017, the SAO helped enact major sexual assault reforms which include the classification and definition of rape; the increased retention of and notification of rape kits; and, for the 4th year in a row, made record progress in the fight against serial rapist and child molesters by championing the Serial Sexual Predator Prevention Act.
As an active member in her profession and community, Mosby has served in a number of leadership positions on several committees and boards. She is a member of the Links Incorporated; the Peer Review Committee of the Maryland Attorney Grievance Commission; and has served on the Judicial Nomination Committee for the Monumental Bar Association, as well as the Criminal Justice Committee for the Baltimore City Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Mosby is a member of the Association for Prosecuting Attorney's (APA), and was an integral contributor to the APA's reform proposals provided in the 21st Century Principles of Prosecution of Peace Officers. In 2016, Mosby revealed her own police accountability reform proposals with the APA’s support.
Mosby has received numerous professional and community awards, accolades and recognition, some of which include receiving the prestigious 2016 Newsmaker of the Year Award by The National Newspaper Publishers Association; being named the 2015 Junius W. Williams Young Lawyer of the Year by the National Bar Association; and receiving the Woman of Courage Award by the National Women’s Political Caucus. Additionally, Mosby was among the 2015 class of both The Root 100 and Ebony Magazine’s Power 100. She was named as one of the Baltimore Sun’s 50 Women to Watch twice, in 2013 and 2014; Baltimore Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 in 2014; and one of the Daily Record’s Leading Women in 2013.
Marilyn J. Mosby is married to Maryland State Delegate Nick J. Mosby, who represents the 40th Legislative District in the Maryland House of Delegates. They reside in West Baltimore and are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters. As a family, they worship at New Psalmist Baptist Church.

Nicole Porter.jpg — Nicole D. Porter, *The Sentencing Project*

Nicole D. Porter manages The Sentencing Project’s state and local advocacy efforts on sentencing reform, voting rights, and eliminating racial disparities in the criminal justice system. Her advocacy has supported criminal justice reforms in several states including Kentucky, Missouri, and California. Porter was named a "New Civil Rights Leader" by *Essence Magazine* for her work to eliminate mass incarceration.
Since joining The Sentencing Project in 2009, Porter's work has been cited in several major media outlets including the *New York Times*, *Washington Post*, and National Public Radio. She has given a number of talks on state sentencing policy, collateral consequences, and racial disparity to various audiences including the League of Women Voters, NAACP, and the United Methodist Women's Assembly.
Porter is the former director of the Texas ACLU’s Prison & Jail Accountability Project (PJAP). PJAP’s mission was to monitor the conditions of confinement in state jails and prisons. Porter advocated in the Texas legislature to promote felony enfranchisement reforms, to eliminate prison rape, and improve prison medical care. Porter received her undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. Her master’s thesis addressed exploring self-employment among formerly incarcerated African Americans. She also studied African Politics at the University of Ghana, West Africa.

Chisholm’s Legacy, the ERA, and Leading in the 21st Century

Join the chisholm leadership academy for a virtual fireside chat DISCUSSING THE IMPACT OF SHIRLEY CHISHOLM’S CONGRESSIONAL SERVICE AND PRESIDENTIAL RUN, THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, AND THE MODERN IMPLICATIONS FOR WOMEN OF COLOR.

Featured Speakers

SENATOR PAT SPEARMAN, NEVADA STATE SENATE

Senator Pat Spearman resides in North Las Vegas, Nevada. Senator Spearman holds several accredited degrees: a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Political Science from the Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA; a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from The Seminary of the Southwest; and a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) from Walden University. Senator Spearman is an ordained minister, former pastor, serving on the Global Social Justice Ministry Team of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, Retired Lieutenant Colonel (U.S. Army). She is a former part-time lecturer at the University of Louisville and currently serves as a Nevada State Senator representing Senate District 1.

Senator Spearman has served as Chair of the Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections, Vice Chair of Government Affairs, member of Revenue & Economic Development, Commerce Labor & Energy, Health and Human Service, and Transportation committees in the Nevada State Legislature. She also serves as the Chair of Active Military and Veterans Affairs subcommittee for the Counsel of State Governments, member of the Energy Resource Task Force, and the Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators Her doctoral study, Using Sustainable Development as a Competitive Strategy, provided her the opportunity to gain professional and academic expertise to facilitate improvements in the rural electric industry. In 2017, she introduced and was instrumental to the passage of a resolution to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), making Nevada the 36th state to vote to ratify the 1972 ERA. Senator Spearman is also an active member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She enjoys, travel, learning about different cultures, music, and spending time with her family.

REPRESENTATIVE KIM SCHOFIELD, GEORGIA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Representative Kim Schofield was elected to the Georgia Assembly in 2017 and serves on the Small Business Development, Interstate Cooperation and the Health and Human Service Committees. She serves as Chaplain of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus and an appointed member to the Atlanta Commission on Women. Representative Schofield holds leadership positions as State Lead for the National Caucus of Environment Legislatures and National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women. As a public servant, she lives out her core values of access, action and accountability.

Representative Schofield’s professional career spans across healthcare, financial, transportation, education and non-profit agencies. Schofield has over 15 years in consulting, coaching, teaching, training workshops and engagement seminars bringing alignment within political, corporate, community, law enforcement, healthcare and faith-based organizations.

Representative Schofield is a small business owner. As a personal development strategist, her coaching practice, Other People’s Potential coaching works with individuals and organizations to position each for maximizing their capacity.

Representative Schofield holds a Bachelors Degree and Masters in Theology and Organizational Leadership. In 2021, she will obtain a doctorate from Oral Roberts University. In her health policy work, Schofield was appointed by and Chairs Governor Nathan Deal’s, “Georgia Council on Lupus Education and Awareness.” She holds a federal appointment to the Health IT Policy Committee and crafts legislative policy recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health IT as a framework for the development and adoption of a nationwide health information infrastructure.

Representative Schofield has authored several articles and has been a reoccurring guest on television, radio and other media outlets. She is the proud mother of her daughter, Kyler, a 2012 graduate of Duke University; current Assistant Director in Film and Television and member of the Directors Guild of America.

Her recent initiatives, Crucial Conversations: Connecting Law Enforcement with the Community They Protect and Serve and Understanding Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace have been gaining traction and recognition in corporate America, academic institutions, faith based and non-profit organizations.

EBONY MURPHY-ROOT, EDUCATOR

Ebony Murphy-Root teaches middle school humanities in Santa Monica, CA, at one of the most progressive K-12 schools in the country. Her literacy and curriculum expertise at the intersection of education and social justice, grounded in discussion-based collaboration, close reading, and experiential problem solving, has taken her to schools and community based programs in Springfield, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, and New York City. Ebony is particularly interested in the cultural and political overlap of civic engagement, critical pedagogy, gender, pop culture, and social mobility. Ebony is a recent addition to the Executive Board of the Heart of LA Democratic Club and to the board of Bitch Media. A proud Connecticut native, Ebony is an alumna of UCONN and the 2012 class of Women’s Campaign School at Yale, and she previously served on the board of The Cove Center for Grieving Children. She lives in Long Beach with her partner, Jon, and two rescue cats from Ojai, Oscar and Arabella.