Please join Holland & Knight for our annual policy forum during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's (CBCF) 54th Annual Legislative Conference in Holland & Knight’s Washington, D.C., office. We hope you can join us for an informative discussion followed by a networking reception.
REGISTER HERE
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 | 1:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Holland & Knight's Washington, D.C., Office
Bridging the Gaps:
U.S. House of Representatives
(D-N.C.)
Rep. Alma Adams
All Speakers:
J.D., Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs and Corporate Secretary, Society for Human Resource Management
Emily M. Dickens
Education Policy Director,
Senate Health Education Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee
Alaura Ervin
Co-Founder and CEO,
Avatar Buddy, LLC
Stephanie Sylvestre
Director of Federal Strategic Alliances, American Cancer Society Action Network
Angela Sailor
President,
Grambling State University (Grambling, Louisiana)
Dr. Martin Lemelle
U.S. House of Representatives
(D-Ala.)
Rep. Terri Sewell
Executive Director, Rare Disease Diversity Coalition
Jenifer Waldrop
Dean and Vice President of Clinical Affairs, Howard University College of Medicine
Andrea Hayes Dixon
M.D., FACS, Ph.D.
A Conversation on Education, Health and Community Resilience
City Manager,
Greensboro, North Carolina
Nathaniel "Trey" Davis
Mayor,
Omaha, Nebraska
Hon. John Ewing
Support provided by:
This panel will examine how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can leverage federal investment, partnerships and innovation opportunities to lead in AI education, workforce development and digital transformation while advancing economic mobility.
Moderator:
Jasmine Wright, White House Correspondent and Reporter, NOTUS
Remarks:
Rep. Alma Adams, (D-N.C.), U.S. Congresswoman
Speakers:
Emily M. Dickens, J.D., Chief of Staff, Head of Government Affairs and Corporate Secretary, Society for Human Resource Management
Dr. Martin Lemelle, President, Grambling State University
Alaura Ervin, Education Policy Director, Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee
Dr. Robert Scott, President, Albany State University
Invited:
Brian Stone, Acting Director and Chief of Staff, National Science Foundation
Holland & Knight, 800 17th Street N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20006
Wednesday, September 24 | 2:50 – 3:50 p.m.
HBCUs at the Frontier – Higher Education, AI and the Future of Work
Panel 2:
This panel will explore strategies to improve healthcare access and outcomes in rural and urban communities by addressing provider shortages, transportation barriers and gaps in maternal, mental and chronic care, while highlighting innovative solutions such as artificial intelligence (AI), telehealth, bipartisan policy efforts and community-based models.
Moderator:
Oriana González, Reporter, NOTUS
Speakers:
Jenifer Waldrop, Executive Director, Rare Disease Diversity Coalition
Stephanie Sylvestre, Co-Founder and CEO, Avatar Buddy LLC
Angela Sailor, Director of Federal Strategic Alliances, American Cancer Society Action Network
Andrea A. Hayes-Dixon, M.D., FACS, Ph.D., Dean, Howard University School of Medicine
Invited:
Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), U.S. Congresswoman
Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, (D-Fla.), U.S. Congresswoman
Holland & Knight, 800 17th Street N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20006
Wednesday, September 24 | 1:40 – 2:40 p.m.
Health Innovation: Expanding Access and Opportunity for Communities in Rural and Urban America
Panel 1:
President,
Albany State University
Dr. Robert Scott
This panel will explore inclusive strategies for fostering economic opportunity in historically underserved communities. The conversation will center on pragmatic, community-driven approaches to economic development, including investments in small businesses, housing, workforce development programs and innovative public-private partnerships.
Moderator:
Daniella Diaz, Reporter, NOTUS
Speakers:
Hon. Van Johnson, President of the African American Mayors Association; Mayor, Savannah, Georgia
Hon. John Ewing, Mayor, Omaha, Nebraska
Nathaniel "Trey" Davis, City Manager, Greensboro, North Carolina
Jair Lynch, President and CEO, Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners
Invited:
Rep. Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.), U.S. Congresswoman
Holland & Knight, 800 17th Street N.W., Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20006
Wednesday, September 24 | 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
From Main Street to Your Street – Building Inclusive Economies in Resilient Communities
Panel 3:
President and CEO,
Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners
Jair Lynch
President, African American Mayors Association;
Mayor, Savannah, Georgia
Hon. Van Johnson
Agenda at a glance:
1:30 – 1:40 p.m. | Welcome
1:40 – 2:40 p.m. | Panel 1: Healthcare
2:50 – 3:50 p.m. | Panel 2: Higher Education
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Panel 3: Economic Development
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Rooftop Reception
Speakers
Panel Program
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White House Correspondent
and Reporter, NOTUS
Jasmine Wright
Reporter,
NOTUS
Oriana González
Reporter,
NOTUS
Daniella Diaz