Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus

Navigating the MS Legislature “Being Blue in a Sea of Red ”

2019 Retreat - Gulfport, MS

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Navigating the MS Legislature “Being Blue in a Sea of Red ”

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n behalf the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, it is my pleasure to invite all of you to our 2019 Fall Retreat – Navigating the Mississippi Legislature: Being Blue in a Sea of Red. We should all be very proud of where we are today and excited about where we are headed. The Caucus has long been a voice for the issues that are relevant and critical to the well-being of African Americans and others in our State. Our voice is needed now more than ever!

I would like to give you an idea of what you can expect and what we hope to achieve over the next few days.

We will engage in discussions about the challenges we face – internally and externally as we prepare for the 2020 Regular Legislative Session. We will develop strategies aimed at uniting and leveraging the power of our collective constituencies. Finally, we will explore opportunities to galvanize and harness the power of the Caucus to become a formidable wave in the sea of “red” we face.

Before I close, I am most thankful you chose to attend our conference and bring your expertise to this gathering. You have the vision, the knowledge, the wherewithal and the experience to help us pave our way into the future. Throughout this conference, I ask you to stay engaged, proactive and help us shape the future of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus. My personal respect and thanks go out to all of you.

Regards,

Angela Turner-Ford Senator Angela Turner-Ford, Chair Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus

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2019 Retreat - Gulfport, MS

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s Vice-Chair of the MS Legislative Black Caucus, I take great pride in welcoming all of you to our 2019 Fall Retreat. I am struck by the importance of this year’s retreat. Our theme, Navigating the MS Legislature: Being Blue in a Sea of Red, presents each of us with the reality of the challenges that lay ahead in the upcoming session.

Yet, I am hopeful. I am confident that our united stand for what is right and good will bear witness to the unconquerable, indomitable spirit that is our legacy.

This year’s retreat is a time for us to come together through open and honest dialogue, focusing on the things that unite and divide us. I urge you to share your concerns, ideas, and solutions so that we may be strengthened and invigorated. Every successful strategy must focus on the elimination of risks and the search for opportunities. This is our time to do just that. In fact, our constituents are counting on it.

I am thankful for the leadership each of you demonstrates daily. I sincerely hope that this conference will deliberate on various issues that need to be addressed. I am excited about the exchange of inspirational and successful ideas. Lastly, I hope that you will find the retreat both valuable and enjoyable.

PEACE and BLESSINGS!

Kabir Karriem

Representative Kabir Karriem, Vice-Chair Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus

Navigating the MS Legislature “Being Blue in a Sea of Red ”

AGENDA TENTATIVE AGENDA

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Thursday, November 14, 2019

(November 14-15, 2019)

Welcome

Representative Kabir Karriem Senator Angela Turner-Ford Representative Kabir Karriem

Welcome

Legislative Ground Rules Legislative Ground Rules

4:00 P.M. – 4:15P.M.

4:15 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. 4:15 P.M. – 5:45 P.M.

Sentator Willie Commissioner-Elect WillieSimmons Simmons Representative Percy Watson Representative Omeria Scott (Special Guest)

Teambuilding Activity Teambuilding Activvity

Dinner

4:00 P.M. – 4:15 P.M.

6:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. 6:30 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.

KymFacilitator Wiggins, Facilitator Kym Wiggins, - Intrepidus, LLC

Reception

7:00 P.M. – Blue Marlin

7:00 P.M.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Friday, November 15, 2019 Navigating the Waters – MLBC Vision

9:00 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.

Senator Angela Turner-Ford, Chair - MLBC

Navigating the Waters – MLBC Vision Building Coalitions That Last

Building Coaltions That Last

Break

Senator Angela Turner-Ford

9:00 A.M. – 9:30 A.M. 9:30 A.M. – 10:45 A.M.

Nsombi Lambridght, One Voice 9:30 A.M. – 10:45 A.M. Nsombi Lambright - One Voice Allytra Perryman Allytra Perryman - East Biloxi Community Collaborative East Biloxi Community Counsel

Break

10:45 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.

10:45 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.

Building Trust Inside Your Team

11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Kym Wiggins, Facilitator - Intrepidus, LLC

Building Trust Inside Your Team

Kym Wiggins, Facilitator

Lunch – 2020 Census – Impact on MS

U.S. Census Lunch – 2020 Census – Impact onKristi MS Hicks -Kristi Hicks, U.S.Census Carroll Rhodes, NAACP

Leveraging Social Media for Policy Change Communication: Influence and Respect Kym -Wiggins, Facilitator Mr. Eddie Brown Brown Public Relations Setting aaNew - MLBC Legislative Agenda Sen. Angela Turner-Ford Setting NewCourse Course MLBC Legislative Agenda Senator Angela Turner-Ford, Chair - MLBC

11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. 12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.

12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M. 1:15 P.M. – 2:15 P.M.

1:15 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. 2:15P.M.P.M. –3:00 3:00 P.M. P.M. 2:00

Executive Session

Leveraging Social Media for Policy Change Break

3:00 P.M. – 3:15 P.M.

Issue Update: Redistricting

3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M. 3:15 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.

Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr. MS House of Representative 2019 Retreat - Gulfport, MS

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Navigating the MS Legislature “Being Blue in a Sea of Red ”

AGENDA TENTATIVE AGENDA

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Thursday, November 14, 2019

(November 14-15, 2019)

Presentation

10:00 A.M. – 10:45 A.M.

Felicia Brown-Williams - Planned Parenthood Senator Angela Turner-Ford Representative Kabir Karriem

Welcome

Welcome & Acknowledgements Legislative Ground Rules

4:00 P.M. – 4:15P.M.

11:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M. 4:15 P.M. – 5:45 P.M.

Sentator Simmons Representative KabirWillie Karriem - Vice-Chair, MLBC Representative Percy Watson Guest) 2019 Elections: What happened and where do we (Special go from here?

Facilitators: Nsombi Lambright - One Voice and Leroy Teambuilding Activvity Kym Wiggins, Facilitator District 5 Brooks, Lowndes County Supervisor,

11:15 A.M. – 12:30 P.M. 6:30 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.

Dinner Lunch

7:00 P.M. 12:30 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. Leadership Summit Discussion/Survey Yumeka Rushing, Facilitator - Social Impact Agenda

Friday, November 15, 2019

Break

1:30 P.M. – 1:40 P.M.

Navigating the Waters – MLBC Vision A Conversation with JSU

Senator Angela Turner-Ford

9:00 A.M. – 9:30 A.M.

1:40 P.M. – 2:40 P.M.

Facilitator: Dr. Sam Mozee, Jr., InterimOne Director Nsombi Lambridght, Voice JSU – Mississippi Urban Research Center

Building Coaltions That Last

Allytra Perryman East Biloxi Community Counsel

Leader-to-Leader

9:30 A.M. – 10:45 A.M. 2:45 P.M. – 4:45 P.M.

Yumeka Rushing, Facilitator - Social Impact Agenda

Break

10:45 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.

Closing Remarks

4:45 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Building Trust Inside Your Team

Sen. Angela Turner-Ford, Chair - MLBC

Lunch – 2020 Census – Impact on MS

Kym Wiggins, Facilitator

11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

Kristi Hicks, U.S.Census Carroll Rhodes, NAACP

12:00 P.M. – 1:00 P.M.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Communication: Influence and Respect

Wiggins, Facilitator 1:15 P.M. – 2:30 P.M. The MLBC would like to express its deepestKym gratitude to all who attended and participated in its 2019 Fall Retreat.aWe would like to give special thanksSen. to the speakers, the staff of One Voice, 2:00 Planned Parenthood, Setting New Course Angela Turner-Ford P.M.3:00 P.M. Jackson State University, MLBC Legislative Agendaand others. Your partnership is invaluable and serve to make this event impactful and beneficial for all. The MLBC would also like to extend congratulations to Senator Willie Simmons on Leveraging Social Policy Change 3:00ofP.M. – 4:30 P.M. becoming the Media newly for elected Transportation Commissioner for the Central District Mississippi.

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2019 Retreat - Gulfport, MS

Navigating the MS Legislature “Being Blue in a Sea of Red ”

SPEAKERS Representative Omeria Scott, District 80 Representative Scott is affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star, National Council of Negro Women, Federated Women of America, Association for Excellence in Education and Beacon of Hope Mississippi Scholarship Foundation.

Representative Scott was born November 21, 1956 in Laurel and is married to Charles Scott. She is of the Baptist faith.

Willie Simmons, Transportation Commissioner-Elect, Central District Senator Simmons is the newly elected Transportation Commissioner for Central District.

He is also the owner of Simmons and Associates Consultant Firm and the Senator’s Place Restaurant in Cleveland, Mississippi. He is active in the National Association of State Legislators, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, MLBC, Foundation for Education & Economic Development, Inc, and the Mississippi Grammy Museum. He is an Omega Psi Phi and a Life member of Alcorn State University and Delta State University Alumni Associations.

Representative Edward Blackmon, Jr., District 57 Representative Blackmon is affiliated with the NAACP, the Magnolia and American Bar Associations, and the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association.Representative Blackmon was born in Canton and is married to the former Barbara Martin. He is of the Baptist faith.

Kym Wiggins, Consultant – Intrepidus, LLC Kym has worked with state leaders to develop policy and communications strategies to increase effectiveness and efficiency. In 2000, she was appointed to serve as the Director of Communications for the MS Department of Finance & Administration (DFA). She later served as the Deputy Executive Director for Administration with the DFA. Kym also worked in the private sector assisting cities and counties in developing economic and community development strategic plans. Today, she is the owner of Intrepidus, LLC, a consulting firm focused on providing professional development and workforce training – connecting mission and people.

2019 Retreat - Gulfport, MS

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Navigating the MS Legislature “Being Blue in a Sea of Red ”

SPEAKERS Nsombi Lambright is the Executive Director of Director of One Voice, a statewide leadership

development and policy advocacy organization, headquartered in Jackson, MS. The mission of One Voice is magnify voices of traditionally silenced communities in the South. Our work is to build leadership in an effort to address structural oppressions that show up in the institutions that are significant in our lives, including the public education system, voting, the environment, and the criminal justice system.

Nsombi sits on the boards of the Center for Constitutional Rights, the National Network for Justice and the Mississippi Low Income Child Care Initiative. She is also a Life Member of the NAACP. Nsombi also serves on the City of Jackson’s Civil Service Commission and Criminal Justice Taskforce and also served on the transition teams of Jackson Mayors Chokwe Lumumba and Chokwe Antar Lumumba.

Eddie Brown, Brown Public Relations Eddie Brown is the principal and owner of Brown Public Relations. For the past 11 years, Eddie has drawn on a diverse public relations background to effectively counsel clients and execute key messages to the public via traditional and non-traditional media. He has proven success in media relations, executing non-profit and corporate communications campaigns and developing effective strategies and plans for his clients.

Felicia Brown-Williams serves as the Mississippi State Director of Planned Parenthood Southeast

and Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates. Felicia is a leader, advocate and strategist, working to develop and implement policy, organizing and community engagement programs to increase access to reproductive healthcare, to engage volunteers and supporters in meaningful ways, and to build power to leverage on behalf of the communities they serve.

Felicia is Chair of the Mississippi Federation of Democratic Women and Co-Chair of the Jackson chapter of AAUW. She is a member of Women for Progress, Inc., Hinds County Federation of Democratic Women, League of Women Voters, Hinds County NAACP, and the Leadership Team of the Mississippi Women’s Economic Security Initiative.

Leroy Brooks, Lowndes County, District Five – Board of Supervisors was born

and reared in Lowndes County. He was educated in the Columbus and Lowndes County Public School System. In 1971, Brooks graduated from Caldwell High School and enlisted in the United States Air Force. During his tenure, he served as a Law Enforcement Specialist. He was honorably discharged in 1975, earning the Air Force Commendation Medal for outstanding military service.

A graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Political Science and Master of Social Studies Degree, with a Concentration in Public Administration, Brooks became the first African-American elected to the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors in 1983 since Reconstruction.

His successful reelections has made him the longest serving Supervisor in the history of Lowndes County. Brooks served as a College Instructor at Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women and Troy State University. With his varied understanding of politics and the political system, Brooks has worked as a consultant to a number of local, state and federal campaigns.

In 1976, Brooks married Shirlet Nash. They have two children Raymond and Ramona. He serves as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church located in Lowndes County. pg. 6

2019 Retreat - Gulfport, MS

Navigating the MS Legislature “Being Blue in a Sea of Red ”

SPEAKERS Allytra Perryman is the Program Director for the East Biloxi Community Collaborative (EBCC).

The mission of the EBCC is to create a healthy, vibrant and sustainable East Biloxi for families. In this role, Allytra manages and implements activities and programs defined in the EBCC strategic plan. Prior to working for the EBCC, Allytra was a Community Organizer and Special Education Advocate for the Mississippi Center for Justice. Allytra has a long history of working toward social and economic justice on the Gulf Coast. She previously worked to ensure diversity for corporate clients and coordinated volunteers for large outreach events aimed at amplifying the role of the citizen in community planning. Allytra is actively involved in a wide variety of organizations, including the Biloxi NAACP, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, Coast Wide Martin Luther King Jr. committee and the Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). Allytra is a member of the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries, South Mississippi Housing and Development Corp. and serves as the Vice Chairman on the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority VIII Board.

Dr. Sam Mozee, Jr., Interim Executive Director at the Mississippi Urban Research Center

(MURC), earned the doctor of philosophy degree in public policy and administration from Jackson State University (JSU). Dr. Mozee has more than 20 years of experience working with state and local government organizations and local non-profits. In addition to his duties of producing and coordinating research activities for MURC, Dr. Mozee oversees MURC’s Census Information Center which makes census information available to underserved communities that may not have access to census data through other means. Dr. Mozee and MURC’s primary mission is to conduct basic and applied research for the purpose of improving the quality of life in Mississippi’s urban areas.

Yumeka Burt Rushing is the Founder and Chief Strategist at Social Impact Agenda, a consulting

firm that advises mission-driven organizations. Early in her career Yumeka worked as a litigator and later served as Advocacy Director at the Mississippi Center for Justice, a public interest law firm advancing racial and economic justice. In the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, Yumeka was Gulf Coast Policy Advisor for Oxfam America. She is a former program officer and lead for strategic programming at the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Southern Regional Office, where she leveraged the foundation’s assets to foster transformative change for children.

Yumeka is an alumna of the prestigious MIT Community Innovators Mel King Fellowship. She serves on the board of the Mississippi Children’s Foundation and Operation Shoestring. She has an undergraduate degree from Spelman College, a master’s degree in publishing from Pace University and holds a juris doctorate from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University.

Kristi Kelly Hicks is a native Mississippian from the Mississippi Gulf Coast (Gulfport, MS). She currently lives in Jackson, MS. After graduating from high school, she attended Tougaloo College and graduated with a degree in Psychology in 2002. Kristi is currently in an MBA graduate program at Belhaven College.

After graduating from Tougaloo, Kristi worked for Coca Cola in Jackson, MS as a lab crew leader.

She later worked for the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) as a Field Representative, and with the Mississippi State Department of Education as an Instructional Programs Coordinator. She is currently a Partnership Specialist for the U. S. Census Bureau for the State of Mississippi.

She attends Pearlie Grove Baptist Church in Jackson, MS and is an active member of the Young Jackson Professional Group in Jackson as well as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Kristi is the daughter of Drs. John R. & Bernell T. Kelly 2019 Retreat - Gulfport, MS

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Navigating the MS Legislature “Being Blue in a Sea of Red ”

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2019 Retreat - Gulfport, MS