DC Urban LifeStyle Magazine

   Please join Plunky Branch in his grassroots effort to increase voter participation in  our community this Election with his new song, Vote in November.    Watch the below video, then forward to your friends, family and associates the song linked below.                                                      2.  Like it on Facebook, Tweet about it, and comment on it in all your social media.   3.  Send it up the chain of command of your organizations with suggestions on its use:   Civil rights and political organizations – play it at meetings, rallies and conferences   HBCU ’s – play it on campus, on radio and television stations, electronic bulletin at football games, homecomings an...

A PROCLAMATION by President Obama The founders of our Nation's first colleges and universities for African Americans shared a fundamental belief that, with the right education, all people can overcome barriers of injustice to achieve their fullest potential. These pioneers understood that education means emancipation -- a path to freedom, independence, and success. More than 150 years later, America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) carry forward this proud legacy, and this week, we celebrate the profound impact these places of learning have made on the life of our country. For generations, HBCUs have provided students with access to higher education and instilled in them a sense of pride and history. Graduates of these institutions have played an extraordinary role in shaping the progress of our Union by championing equality and changing perspectives through the arts. They have strengthened our Nation by building our economy, teaching our children, h...

           If you were unsure why you should in this election, First Lady Michelle Obama made it plain why you should. Speaking last evening at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's ( CBCF ) Phoenix Award Dinner, the first lady gave all in attendance some tough political thoughts to take home. First Lady Michelle Obama addresses guests at CBCF Phoenix Awards Dinner.  Photo/CD Brown.             Coming off a rousing speech this month at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, and making several campaign fundraising speeches in support of her husband, President Barack Obama, the first lady's speech last night was booth encouraging and inspiring, touching on several issues that included her saying that this election "is the march of our lifetime." The First Lady wearing a floor-length, off the shoulder black Michael Kors gown with a shimmering, diamond-lik...

The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with the support of the U.S. Department of Education, will convene its annual national conference Sept. 25-26 in Washington, D.C. The theme for this year’s conference is “HBCUs: Enhancing Innovation and Advancement.” The conference will commemorate National HBCU Week and highlight the significant contributions that HBCUs have made to the nation. More than 1,200 participants, including HBCU presidents and chancellors, are registered to attend this year’s conference. John S. Wilson, executive director of the initiative, will host the conference. “This annual conference is a platform for us to tout the virtues of historically black colleges and universities, and to highlight the many dimensions of our ongoing federal investment in them,” Wilson said. “    Under the Obama administration, the U.S. Department of Education awarded grants totaling $26,164,627 to five postsecondary institutions un...

On Thursday President Obama signed into law H.R. 6336, which directs the congressional Joint Committee on the Library to accept a statue of Frederick Douglass from the District of Columbia for placement in Emancipation Hall in the United States Capitol Visitor Center. The Douglass statue will take its place in the Capitol with statues from the states, such as Colorado’s statue of Astronaut Jack Swigert, Jr. and Alabama’s statue of Helen Keller. The Joint Committee on the Library has up to two years to complete the move of the Douglass statue from One Judiciary Square to its new home in the Capitol, but Norton is pushing for an early move, complete with a big celebration when the statue arrives, the usual case when states move statues into the Capitol.   Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said today that she is already at work on plans for a big celebration for the day the District of Columbia’s Frederick Douglass statue comes to the U.S. Capitol, and noted that the...

Free health screenings available at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference. Screenings include: vision, cholesterol, blood pressure, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, and more. See dates and times above.

CBC Authors' Pavilion features the work of African American authors.  See this week's schedule below. (Caucus Pavilion Hours: 12:00pm – 7:00pm) Thursday, Sept. 20 - Saturday, Sept. 22 Highlights include; General Colin Powell , Dr. Bernice King, Congressman John Lewis , Alexis Herman, Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Dwayne Wade , Judy Smith (ABC's Show, Scandal), Zane, Ledisi, MC Lyte, Russ Parr, Etan Thomas, Lamman Rucker, Mikki Taylor , Chef Charles Mattocks, Global leader Ivy McGregor and many more. Washington, DC Convention Center, Exhibit Hall E – BOOTH – 521  Presented by The Renaissance Group, The Hurston Wright Foundation, Howard University and Master of Ceremony Patrick Oliver Founder of Say It Loud! Readers and Writers Series ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Thursday , September 20th 12:00pm – 2:00pm (AUTHOR MEET & GREETS) Congressman John Lewis - Across That Bridge: Life L...

Four to Receive Prestigious Awards Recognizing Contributions to America  The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation ( CBCF ) announced that first lady Michelle Obama will deliver the keynote address at the Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner from 6:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 22 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The dinner concludes the Foundation's 42nd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC). Mrs. Obama is scheduled to address more than 3,000 expected attendees at the evening's event and marks the first time ever that a first lady has addressed the prestigious gathering. The Phoenix Award symbolizes the immortality of the human spirit and an eternal desire to reach its full potential. Four distinguished individuals will receive the prestigious award: U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. will receive The CBCF Chair's Award.  The award is presented to an individual whose work and accomplishments stand as a role model for the African-Am...

Work of CBC Foundation to be Highlighted during Four-Day Session  The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation ( CBCF ) will host its 42nd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) from September 19-22 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. This year's conference theme is “Inspiring Leaders| Building Generations.” U.S. Representatives Gwen Moore of Wisconsin and Andre Carson of Indiana are serving as honorary co-chairs of the conference.  ALC provides an outlet to highlight the mission of  CBCF  - to develop leaders, to inform policy and to educate the public. It also provides dozens of forums to address the critical challenges facing the African-American community. The Foundation will offer numerous session tracks to present high level, thought-provoking, engaging and useful information. The town hall discussion will center around conversations about voting rights and voter suppression. The third installation of the research report Bre...