CBCF PRESIDENT JOINS HIGH-POWERED U.S. DELEGATION TO WORLD FESTIVAL

NEW YORK, NY - The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) President and CEO, Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., will join more than 200 African-American leaders to participate in the World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures from Dec 10-17 in Dakar, Senegal.

In all, thousands of delegates from 80 countries will converge on Dakar for the prestigious gathering of black artists, writers, filmmakers, academics, scientists, and other leaders in many fields for the historic celebration. This is only the third time in 50 years that the Festival has convened.

Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade said this will be the largest global gathering to date of black artists, writers, filmmakers, intellectuals, scientists and other luminaries. Other participants will include Dr. Julius Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey; actor Richard Gant from Men of A Certain Age; jazz legend Randy Weston; and Dr. Johnetta Cole, director of the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution; as well as representatives from the National Conference of Black Mayors, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.

While in Senegal, the delegation will meet privately with President Wade and participate in a roundtable discussion that will focus on ways that the Festival and other cultural activities can contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, including reversing the AIDS epidemic.

"It is a privilege to be selected to represent CBCF at this historic festival. I look forward to joining my colleagues from the United States, Africa, the Diaspora and the entire world as we celebrate the contributions of black cultures to humanity," said Dr. Scott. "In addition to the cultural events, we will also participate in forums on topics such as U.S./Africa Relations about efforts to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS. In 2007 CBCF participated in World AIDS Day in South Africa. The Foundation supports this type of outreach as it speaks a universal language of help and hope."

Please check the CBCF blog to read highlights from Dr. Scott about the Festival.

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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.