Events

In honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and your efforts to keep his dream of social equality and economic justice alive, the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) honored Dr. King during the Assembly and Senate Floor session.  A pictorial exhibit of the King monument was also displayed in the Capitol Rotunda in the honor of the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington.   View the CLBC celebrates MLK Day Photo Gallery

In recognition of Black History Month, Senator Roderick D. Wright (D-Inglewood) today honored a great heroine of the Civil Rights movement – Myrlie Evers – at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. Evers was recognized in both Houses of the Legislature and also met with California Governor Jerry Brown.  On June 12, 1963 – fifty years ago this summer – Evers’ husband, NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Evers, was gunned down in Jackson, Mississippi, leaving Ms. Evers widowed with three children.

On Monday, February 11, 2013 the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) will sponsor a visit to the State Capitol by educators from the Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) of Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa, a much-heralded after-school tutoring, sports and arts program led by 2012 CNN Hero of the Year Finalist, Thulani Madondo.  The visit included a very special performance of Gumboot Dance which originated in the African mines of Capetown. The miners were not allowed to talk with one another, so they developed a system where they would hit their boots.

As Black History Month drew to a close, Senator Wright and Assemblyman Isadore Hall, III -- who are both members of the CLBC and chair of the Governmental Organization Committee in their respective houses – co-hosted a reception open to everyone in the Capitol community. The crowd was shoulder-to-shoulder at this festive event, featuring wines provided by the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV).

The nine-member California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) honored two highly distinguished African American women in celebration of Women’s History Month in the State Capitol. Carla J. Peterman, recently appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as a commissioner on the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) was honored with the CLBC’s “Horizons Award” for her work in state energy policy. Peterman formerly served as a member on the California Energy Commission.

In support of the CLBC’s education initiative, on May 6, 2013, we will announce the availability of college scholarships for African American students throughout California.  The scholarship award will include $2,500 per student along with an HP laptop computer. The Summer SOULstice reception will include the announcement of the 2013 recipients. 

(Tentative dates July 8-13 at California State University Sacramento): Since 2010, the CLBC has sponsored the AALT program. AALT is a leadership training program for high achieving African American high school sophomores and juniors in California. Students are given tools to succeed in many areas including leadership, state and local government, financial literacy, and career exploration through intense hands-on training and workshops.

The CLBC will conduct a series of 5-7 town halls in member’s districts and elsewhere in the state on issues ranging from small business and entrepreneurism to education and health policy. 

Join the members of the CLBC for an intimate dinner and reception to close out the year with a preview of the CLBC 2013 annual report for stakeholders and sponsors. The CLBC will also discuss programs and policy initiatives for 2014. 

Members of the CLBC will pay tribute to Dr. King’s legacy with special guests, entertainment and a 2014 programmatic overview.