How do you serve as the convener of the premier Black public policy conference that maintains space as a “family reunion,” while accommodating the needs of thousands of diverse attendees who spend almost a week discussing and offering solutions about issues impacting the global Black community? One day at a time for almost 365 days.
The planning never ends for the small staff at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) for the premier public policy conference for African Americans – the Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). Scheduled every September since 1971 in Washington, DC, the conference has grown from its origins at the Washington Hilton Hotel as “CBC Weekend,” acknowledging the original 13 founders of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), to the former convention center to its present home at 801 Allen Y. Lew Place – the site of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. And with its expansion, ALC now attracts thousands of multi-generational attendees, spills into almost a dozen hotels, and generates thousands of dollars in food, beverages and merchandise purchases throughout the city.
The ALC is a mixture of stakeholder and advocacy engagement, educational instructions, and family reunion. “We will take a few days off to relax after the conference and then we will begin planning for ALC 2025,” said Renata Allen, vice president of Strategic Events. “We will conduct an intense staff debriefing session to review every single aspect of ALC from security to room assignments to menus to production and set design. Everything is evaluated for its success or its improvement, and we work from October through the following September. It is an ongoing process.”
In addition to its daily responsibilities to fulfill CBCF’s mission to develop leaders through its Leadership Institute, (LI) which offers internships, fellowships, and scholarships; inform policy and educate the public through its Center for Policy Analysis and Research, (CPAR) the staff starts gathering collateral and officially begins its outreach late in the fourth quarter. By the end of the next quarter, the Communications team has started developing its marketing campaign, the Resource Development staff has shared ALC partner opportunities, and CPAR and LI have put thoughts into content sessions. “All departments are heavily involved in the planning and execution of ALC,” said Allen. In between the overall planning, the staff receives CBC member session submittals, reviews food and beverage selections, creates set designs and branding materials and of course, many meetings. “It is critical that we keep everyone apprised because one conference change can have a domino effect, which can cause a shifting of a session, or additional publicity that needs to be shared, or bringing in a new partner donor. One of the most important aspects is the sharing of information,” said Allen. “The best part of planning ALC is the opportunity to continue to improve the conference while considering attendee and staff feedback to make it better.”
This year attendees will be greeted with a pep rally welcome as they enter the convention center by a cadre of individuals who describe their passion as serving others. “We seek diverse volunteers from all age groups, backgrounds, and skill levels,” said Candice Willmore, director of CBCF Human Resources. “We intentionally recruit volunteers to reflect our wide attendee demographics, with the caveat that they must have an affinity for service.” This year more than 300 individuals applied. “Our volunteers are key to the ALC experience,” said Willmore. “Every volunteer is needed in some capacity.”
After being welcomed by cheering volunteer supporters, attendees will see several touch screen, interactive devices in the lobby, brought in to enhance the attendee experience. As they ride up the two-level escalator, registrants will see multi-layered displays of banners and signage depicting the diversity in the Black community. The noise level exceedingly rises as snatches of conversations are amplified around commitments to unity and progress. As attendees move through the 2.3 million square foot hall where more than 100 public policy sessions are staged, they will have the opportunity to advocate for economic prosperity and social justice for the global Black community.
“This year’s ALC’s theme, ‘From Vision to Victory: Amplifying Black Voices,’ is an intentional call to action,” said Nicole Austin-Hillery president and chief executive officer of the CBCF. “It embodies our ongoing march toward progress and our dedication to fostering innovation, advocacy, and collaboration. With equality and opportunity as our pillars, the CBCF is proud to host this annual convening that advances prosperity, ignites passion for change, and amplifies voices that will shape the future for us all,” she said.