The Crusader Newspaper Group

NBCDI conference to convene in Chicago to tackle top issues facing Black children

2020 Census Undercounting, Disproportionate Expulsions of Black Girls Among Pressing Topics Explored

The National Black Child Development Institute, Inc. (NBCDI) recently announced its 49th Annual Conference to be held in Chicago, IL from Sept. 28 – Oct. 1. Kicking-off with a 2020 Census Mayoral Roundtable featuring Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; a first-of-its kind Town Hall Meeting on the School Push Out of Black girls featuring leading political strategist Angela Rye and culminating with Georgetown University’s Dr. Michael Eric Dyson delivering the closing luncheon keynote address. The four-day conference packs more than 100 workshops, seminars and training sessions designed to educate and empower advocates, educators and communities and partners that impact Black children and families across the country.

“As we prepare to celebrate NBCDI’s 50th anniversary in 2020, we’ve carefully designed the 49th Annual Conference to celebrate progress against our mission while ushering-in the next generation of leaders, innovation and advocacy for Black children and families,” said Tobeka G. Green, president and CEO of NBCDI.

Key highlights of the 49TH Annual National Conference

Themed ‘Transforming Communities for Our Children,’ the conference is hosted at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. Key highlights include (check schedule for mobile event locations):

Saturday, Sept. 28: 2020 Census Mayoral Roundtable (Opening Plenary), 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Failure to accurately count Black children and families in the 2020 Census can have a devastating impact on communities across the country, resulting in diminished resources for education, healthcare and housing. Mayors Lightfoot and Lance Bottoms and a diverse panel of national and community thought leaders will explore the topic and mine for opportunities around this issue, which will ultimately impact families for the next decade.

Monday, Sept. 30: Town Hall Meeting on School Push Out of Black Girls, 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In 2017, NBCDI launched the Delivering on the Promise of Effective Early Childhood Education campaign to end suspensions and expulsions of young Black children. While 23 states have passed legislation to ban or limit suspensions and expulsions, the fight for our children’s access to education continues. In this unprecedented event, NBCDI fine-tunes its efforts to Black girls, which statistics show are suspended or expelled at higher rates than all other groups, including Black boys. Rye will lead the Town Hall with a keynote address and end with a state-by-state bootcamp on the issue.

Monday, Sept. 30: NBCDI Awards, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Conferees will take in a special performance by Grammy-nominated national recording artist Raheem DeVaughn during NBCDI’s Monday night Awards Ceremony, honoring distinguished leaders, ‘best-in-class’ service and achievement among constituents. Honorees include Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. of the Rainbow Coalition and Reverend Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. of Trinity United Church of Christ along with a host of supporters from leading organizations such as Bronzeville Children’s Museum, Illinois Action for Children, Lost Boyz, W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the Erickson Institute and more.

Tuesday, Oct. 1: Closing Luncheon with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Dr. Dyson, professor of sociology at Georgetown University and friend of NBCDI, will deliver the keynote address at the 49th Annual Conference Closing Luncheon. Known for his insightful, progressive rhetoric on race relations in today’s America, Dr. Dyson will rejuvenate and inspire attendees to continue their fight and challenge them to join NBCDI leadership, National Affiliate Network and Board of Directors as they lead the charge for NBCDI’s 50th Anniversary in 2020. The closing luncheon, also featuring Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago offer a powerful and engaging way to conclude.

General public can visit www.NBCDI.org for conference details, complete line-up of speakers and sessions and a full schedule. Media can contact Nichole D. Taylor at [email protected].

ABOUT NATIONAL BLACK CHILD DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, INC.

Established in 1970, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) is a national nonprofit organization with a mission “to improve and advance the quality of life for Black children and families through education and advocacy.” With our National Affiliate Network, we develop and deliver strengths-based, culturally-relevant, evidence-based, and trauma-informed curricula and programs focused on health and wellness, family engagement, and early literacy. We also support increased access to effective education by providing professional development scholarships to early childhood educators. NBCDI, our National Affiliate Network, and our members advocate for and inform education policies at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure standards, regulations, and resource allocations support equitable systems for Black children and families across the country.

Recent News

Scroll to Top