#BlackWomenLead: The Role and Importance of Black Women Organizers
Session Type(s): Panel
Starts: Thursday, Jul. 14 10:00 AM (Eastern)
Ends: Thursday, Jul. 14 11:15 AM (Eastern)
From the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement to the impact Black people have on social media with platforms such as #BlackTwitter to the rising number of Black women running for office, it is clear that Black women’s work and voices in the progressive movement are monumental and significant. The discussion will focus on two elements—how Black women have shaped current social movements such as racial justice, criminal justice reform and reproductive justice; and how Black women have emerged as the largest voting bloc in the U.S. Panelists will engage the audience on why Black women matter in transforming our country.
Moderator
Anay Bickham
Anay Bickham was born in Louisiana and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, where she currently resides. Anay’s work has included c community organizing through volunteering with Black Alliance for Just Immigration and Public Allies Arizona Alumni Network. Anay co-founded and serves as Project Director for Arizona Black Voter Alliance, which was instrumental in creating Black Roots Nation during 2015 Netroots Nation conference that helped center the Black Lives Matter movement into the 2016 Presidential campaign. Currently, Anay serves as board secretary for the Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals Network. She is a Digital Campaigner through the innovative Kairos Fellowship with Citizen Engagement Lab for emerging leaders of color in digital organizing. She is active in organizing around racial justice, criminal justice, and voting rights issues both locally and nationally.
Panelists
Jessica Byrd
Jessica Byrd is a political strategist focused on recruiting and electing people of color and working with people of color centered and led organizations on strategic political programming and self-sustainability. Prior, she spent four years at EMILY’s List where she coordinated the national training program and worked with hundreds of new and seasoned candidates in the state/local program. Jessica designed and executed the first-ever homegrown candidate recruitment program in the history of the thirty year organization that utilized community coalitions to recruit non-traditional candidates.
She has spent the last decade creating new pathways for activists and elected leaders to create change. Most recently, Jessica was named the January 2015 Woman to Watch by Essence Magazine and “12 New Faces of Black Leadership” by Time Magazine. Some of her personal interests include non-airport traveling, mentorship, Black feminism, and anything with guacamole on it.
Other sessions: Black Women and Storytelling: How Centering Black Women's Experiences Can Move Policy and Shape Culture [Voter Pick]
Glynda C. Carr
Advocate and political strategist Glynda C. Carr is recognized for her innovative leadership style, commitment to expanding the civic participation of communities of color and advancing progressive public policies that build sustainable communities.
Carr co-founded Higher Heights a national organization building the political power and leadership of Black women from the voting booth to elected offices. Carr is the former Executive Director of Education Voters of New York, a leading independent voice for school reform in the state. Prior to Education Voters, Carr was Chief of Staff to New York State Senator Kevin Parker (Brooklyn), and served as campaign manager for two of his successful re-election campaigns.
A sought after speaker and trainer, Carr’s writing has also appeared on TheRoot.com, BET.com, Ebony.com and Feminist.com. She is a contributor on The SPIN: All Women’s Media Panel and has appeared on NewsOne, Fox News Live, MSNBC and several other media outlets.
Maria Chappelle-Nadal
Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal, a Democrat, represents part of St. Louis County in the Missouri Senate. Elected in 2010. Previously worked for Lt. Gov. Joe Maxwell in 2000, as Dir. of Comm. She later chose to serve as Missouri’s Senior Advocate. There she successfully helped shepherd legislation such as the Senior Care and Protection Act of 2003 and the Missouri Senior Rx Generic Drug Rebate. In addition to her legislative duties, Sen. Chappelle-Nadal is a director on the University City School Board. Memberships include: NOBEL/Women, the Natl Foundation of Women Legislators, the Natl Hispanic Council of State Legislators, and the MO Legislative Black Caucus. Sen. Chappelle-Nadal is a former member of the Democratic National Committee (2005-2009). Served three terms in the Missouri House of Representatives, 2004-2010. Maria received a dual degree in Political Science and Sociology from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Other sessions: Taking Bernie's Political Revolution to Congress
L. Joy Williams
L. Joy Williams is a political strategist and founder of LJW Community Strategies. She serves as a strategic adviser to elected leaders and organizations across the country and has been featured as a commentator on BET, Pacifica Radio in New York and Los Angeles, MSNBC, Current TV and NY1’s Inside City Hall. She is a host and producer at #TWiBNation
L. Joy is founding Chairman of Higher Heights for America, President of the Brooklyn NAACP, a National Board Member of PAC+