Black Officials Gather In Denver For Confab

WASHINGTON – Members of the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) will gather in Denver, Colo., at the 2010 National League of Cities’ (NLC) Congress of Cities & Exposition this week to discuss innovative solutions to many of the issues facing cities, including economic development, immigrant integration, public safety and helping children and families.

Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb and Terrance D. Carroll, Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, will address members of NBC-LEO during their annual membership luncheon on Thursday, December 2.

During the luncheon, NBC-LEO will also honor Sid Wilson, former chair of the Black America West Museum and Charleszine “Terry” Nelson of the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library. Additionally, NBC-LEO will honor Charleta Tavares, Councilwoman from Columbus, Ohio, for her service to NBC-LEO. Tavares recently won her election to the Ohio State Senate.

NBC-LEO,an NLC constituency group, will also elect their next president during their general membership meeting on Friday, December 3.

NBC-LEO Activities

Thursday, December 2, 11:30am – 1:30pm

National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Membership Luncheon

Friday, December 3, 4:00pm – 5:00pm

National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials General Membership Meeting
- Includes elections of 2011 NBC LEO Board of Directors

General Sessions

Thursday, December 2, 8:45am – 11:00am

· Ronald O. Loveridge, NLC President, Mayor, Riverside, Calif.

· Chuck Hagel, former US Senator (R-Neb.)

Friday, December 3, 8:45am – 10:15am

· L. Hunter Lovins, president and founder, Natural Capitalism

Saturday, December 4, 9:00am – 10:15am

Jeb Bush, former Florida Governor
Robert D. Putnam, Malkin Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University

Saturday, December 4, 12:30pm – 2:30pm

Secretary Tom Vilsack, US Department of Agriculture

Workshops of Note

Thursday, December 2, 1:00pm – 2:30pm

Smarter Public Safety: Innovating to Boost Your Efforts
Leading for Results: How to Make Real Change for Local Children and Families

Thursday, December 2, 3:00pm – 4:30pm

An Ounce of Prevention: Building Healthier Cities and Towns

Friday, December 3, 11:00am – 12:30pm

Prisoner Reentry: How to Ensure Safe Communities and Successful Citizens After Arrest

Friday, December 3, 2:00pm – 3:30pm

Civic Engagement and Recent Immigrant Communities

Friday, December 3, 3:45pm – 5:15pm

Pathways Out of Poverty: Building Bridges to the Middle Class

Saturday, December 4, 10:30am – 12:00pm

Immigrant Integration: Listen, Reflect, Act

The National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO) was established in 1970 as a constituency group of the National League of Cities to advocate for the interests of African-American local elected officials. Its mission is to provide African American municipal officials and their colleagues with forums to share ideas, discussion groups to develop strategies for improving municipal governance, debates on policy issues, and programs that contribute to the success of America’s cities and towns.

The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.