CBCF to Honor Shirley Sherrod and Sojourner Truth's Legacy at Annual Legislative Conference

CBCF Brings Powerful Women Together to Celebrate Past and Future

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) will hold a women's forum Bridging the Gap: An Inter-generational Gathering of Women from 9-10:30 a.m. on September 17 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (Room 144) during  CBCF's 40th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC).  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100913/DC63615LOGO)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100913/DC63615LOGO)

The panel is the follow-up to last year's launch of the Sojourner Truth Project, an initiative by CBCF designed to develop leadership abilities among African-American women. The Foundation saw a need to create a networking event for African-American women to connect and support each other.  The event will honor the legacy of abolitionist Sojourner Truth as she is the embodiment of strength, intelligence, service and perseverance of the black woman as well as bridging the gap between more seasoned professional women and younger women who are new to the workforce.

Shirley Sherrod, former, Georgia State Director of Rural Development for the USDA, will be honored with the Woman of Truth Award during the event.  Kim Nelson, senior vice president of General Mills and Georgia State Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan, the youngest person to ever be elected to the Georgia House of Representatives, will serve as panelists along with women ranging from their 20's through 60's. Other panelists will include Reps. Carolyn Kilpatrick, chair of the Sojourner project, Barbara Lee, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and Yvette Clarke of New York. TV One's "Makeover Manor" life coach Dee Marshall and the dynamic, inspirational Bishop Vashti McKenzie will serve as moderators.

"We want to provide a forum, which will begin an intergenerational roundtable that will allow participants to speak freely, give advice, and trade experiences," said Elsie L. Scott, president and chief executive officer for CBCF. "So many successful women attribute their success to women who have come before them, as well as those who are currently helping them in new fields of endeavors."

Onsite general and media registration opens on September 15 at 8 a.m. at the Convention Center on September at the Convention Center.

Twitter – www.twitter.com/CBCFInc (#40thALC); Facebook – www.facebook.com/CBCFInc  

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc., established in 1976, is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy, research and educational institute intended to broaden and elevate the influence of African Americans in the political, legislative and public policy arenas.

SOURCE Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc.