Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman Announces Inaugural ‘&Girls’ Conference, Activist & Writer Jamilah Lemieux to Keynote
Speakers include UCLA Law Professor Dr. Kimberlè W. Crenshaw, Political Strategist Angela Rye and Social Activist Marley Dias
WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12) announced that Jamilah Lemieux, Vice President of News and Men's Programming for Interactive One and outspoken champion of Black women and girls, will deliver the keynote address at her inaugural ‘& Girls’ Conference in Princeton, NJ. This event, hosted on behalf of the Congressional Caucus for Black Women & Girls, will take place on April 1 at Princeton University, McCosh Hall, 50 McCosh Circle Princeton, NJ 08540.
“Jamilah and I share a passion for the important causes of advancing women’s rights and eliminating significant and often overlooked barriers that impact Black women and girls. I look forward to her sharing the insights she has gained through both her career and activism,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “In this 115th Congress, and more importantly in a Trump Administration, this caucus and its work could not be more critical. This conference is another way we can ensure that we remain on the front lines of all issues and decisions that directly affect Black women and girls.”
Lemieux is a fierce advocate for racial equality, social justice, and LGBT rights/acceptance. Race, gender, and sexuality are her passion. Prior to her current position at Interactive One, she served as the Senior Editor at EBONY and in 2014, was named to The Root 100 list of the nation's most influential African Americans, as well as Fortune's list of the most influential women on Twitter. Attendees will also hear from Dr. Kimberlè W. Crenshaw, a leader in the intellectual movement called Critical Race Theory, Angela Rye, CNN political commentator and NPR political analyst, Emmy award-winning news anchor Stacey Bell and Marley Dias, the 12 year-old social activist behind #1000BlackGirlBooks.
The ‘& Girls’ Conference will be a day of collecting an intellectual inventory from girls ranging from 10 to 23 years of age on their daily challenges and thoughts on their standing in America. Participants will also hear from public policy experts, activists, and community influencers throughout a series of breakout sessions and panel discussions. Their input will inform their peers, Black women, elected officials at the state and local level, and Members of Congress, on how to proactively advocate for, and move meaningful policy forward and continue to break down barriers to their success. All interested participants are asked to register by March 17.
Rep. Watson Coleman, alongside her colleagues, U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY), launched the Congressional Caucus on Black Women & Girls to ensure a dedicated body in Congress worked to push forward public policy that eliminates significant, and often overlooked, barriers and disparities that affect Black women and girls. Despite more than 430 registered congressional caucuses and Member organizations, no group on Capitol Hill has sought to make Black women and girls a priority in the policy debates that occur there and this caucus will continue to fill that gap.
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