By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
Raleigh, NC - North Carolina Black Alliance is marking its 25th year and just concluded its 20th Annual NC Black Summit, held at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley. The event brought together Black elected officials, policy experts, partners, and community advocates to exchange ideas and explore solutions to improve the lives of Black people in North Carolina. The Summit’s theme was "Unleashing OUR Power: United in Purpose.”
Prominent culture commentators and leading voices from the North Carolina General Assembly led conversations around "Connecting Clergy of Consciousness," a pre-conference session about the intersection of faith and North Carolina politics. Also, "Ballots, Battlegrounds and the Balance of Power," a session exploring redistricting and voter engagement in North Carolina’s shifting political landscape. North Carolina State Senator Kandie Smith was the keynote speaker during the opening breakfast session and participated in a legislative town hall with Black elected officials, including NC State Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch, Senator Natalie Murdock, NC State House of Representatives Minority Leader Robert Reives, Representative Zack Hawkins, and Representative Rodney Pierce. Topics referenced included energy, education, maternal health, and so much more. Senator Murdock emphasized, “Your zipcode determines if you live or die as a mom.” She shared that there are 32 counties with no Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) in the state of North Carolina. This dangerous fact reinforces the need for conferences like the NC Black Summit that create space for these important conversations.
