An intergenerational and interdisciplinary group of social justice leaders who magnify and strengthen Black voices and engage the disenfranchised Black community were recently selected to serve as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) National Racial Equity Initiative (NREI) Social Justice Ambassadors.
The NREI Task Force of Social Justice Ambassadors work in collaboration with the initiative’s staff to disseminate research and information, advance policy and community-based solutions, develop relevant programming, share best practices, and raise awareness through media and mass movements for change with attention to youth activism, community organizing, and grassroots mobilization.
The newly appointed NREI Task Force for Social Justice Ambassadors are:
- Dr. Uché Blackstock, best-selling author and founder and CEO of Advancing Health Equity: A prominent advocate for health equity, Blackstock recently published her memoir, “LEGACY: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine,” which became an instant New York Times bestseller.
- Darrell Booker, corporate affairs specialist and Microsoft’s Racial Equity Tech lead: A seasoned leader in Microsoft’s Philanthropy division, Booker is celebrated for his pivotal role in spearheading the Nonprofit Tech Acceleration for Black and African American Communities initiative.
- Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, co-founder and executive director of the African American Policy Forum: A distinguished scholar and pioneering legal theorist, Dr. Crenshaw is renowned for her groundbreaking work on intersectionality, illuminating the complex ways in which race, gender, and other identities intersect to shape individuals’ experiences and opportunities.
- Marley Dias, activist, author, producer, and creator: Recognized for her #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign, Dias is a trailblazing advocate for diverse representation in literature, inspiring young readers worldwide to embrace their identities and stories.
- Tylik McMillan, the Democratic National Committee’s Youth Coalitions director: A prominent voice in civic engagement, McMillan is committed to empowering and advocating for social and economic equality, amplifying the voices of young people in the fight against systemic injustice.
- Robert Rooks, criminal justice reform advocate: With a lifelong commitment to criminal justice reform and community empowerment, Rooks has been instrumental in advocating for policies that address the root causes of systemic inequities and promote rehabilitation over punishment.
“The NREI Task Force Ambassadors represent a diverse array of perspectives and expertise, reflecting the complexity of the challenges we face in achieving racial equity,” said NREI Senior Director Olajumoke Obayanju. “Their collective leadership across multidisciplinary and intergenerational platforms will be instrumental in driving the critical work of the NREI and inspiring positive change to further empower communities across the country.”
The ambassadors will serve for two years.
Created in 2020 in response to the historically unlevel playing field for minorities and international protests around the murder of George Floyd, NREI employs an evidence-based approach to combat systemic injustice and advance racial equity, human rights, education and community/economic development opportunities for the Black community.
“The NREI framework supports CBCF’s organizational mission of developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public,” explained Obayanju. “In addition to the Ambassadors, NREI houses John R. Lewis social justice policy fellows, awards social justice scholarships for HBCU students, publishes research on critical issues impacting the Black community, and hosts a variety of programs and events that connect our work to the people and communities we represent.”
NREI program components include local community conversations, social justice summits, recognition of HBCU scholars and the Ambassador series.
For more information about NREI, go to cbfinc.org/nrei.