New Orleans, LA, July 08, 2024 — The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR), in partnership with Mississippi BWR and Louisiana BWR Louisiana, kicked off Essence festivities with “Power Table” discussions during their 10th Annual Women of Power Jazz Brunch and Gathering during Essence Festival 2024. Held at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans on July 5, 2024, the event brought together Black women nationwide to include prominent media personalities, national civil rights, and legacy organization leaders for a series of dynamic discussions.
The event featured two compelling Power Tables:
· Achieving Racial, Economic, and Social Justice
· Unleashing the Power of the Black Youth Vote: Bold Demands for 2024
Leaders explored critical themes such as the pivotal role of Black women in the 2024 presidential election, findings from recent polling conducted by BWR in collaboration with Essence and HIT Strategies, and pressing issues affecting Black youth and adults, including economic equality, healthcare access, and reproductive rights. Attendees engaged in proactive dialogue to shape policies and mobilize voter engagement initiatives within their communities.
“We brought together Black women leaders across generations to ‘party with a purpose’ for Essence Fest’s 30th anniversary and to strategize on the importance of leveraging the power of the Black women’s vote and the Black youth vote in the 2024 Presidential Election,” said Melanie L. Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and National Convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable. “This election will determine if we have a democracy or a dictatorship. Voting rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, workers’ rights, affirmative action, access to economic opportunity, education, and the freedom to learn black history are all on the ballot. We will use the power of our ballots to fight for our rights, freedom, and opportunity for future generations, and we will win!”