Photo from the Left: St. Tammany Parish Councilman, Thomas Smith, Jr., GCCLP Board member, Ranie Thompson, Esq., GCCLP staff attorney, Angela Brown, La. Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman, Rep. Katrina Jackson, GCCLP Executive Director, Colette Pichon Battle, Candidate for Slidell City Council, Glynn Pichon, Washington Parish DEPC Representative Presious Johnson and Bogalusa City Councilman, Andre Anderson.
November 9, 2013- Hammond, LA – More than 50 Black elected officials, aspiring political candidates, and church, civic and community leaders gathered in Hammond on Saturday to attend the Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy’s Leadership and Policy Summit. The event was co-sponsored by the Northshore Black Elected Officials Coalition and Associates. Presentations and workshops at the summit focused on Voting Rights, Climate Justice and Racial Equity for communities of Color in the Florida Parishes.
The Leadership and Policy Summit offered updates to participants regarding current legislative issues impacting Louisiana, the Gulf Coast and the US South. Trainings offered tools, data and information on best practices to promote political engagement and civil rights as well as strengthen the civic engagement networks in Louisiana’s Black communities. Participants engaged in conversations and workshops to help build a justice-based analysis around key social and political issues.
Presenters for the summit included: Trupania Bonner, Director of the Black Men & Boys Initiative, Jacques Morial- Political Analyst, Jordan Diamond and Teresa Chan of the Environmental Law Institute and Colette Pichon Battle, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Center for Law and Policy. A Special Keynote address was offered by Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Chairwoman, Rep. Katrina Jackson. The Group was also addressed by Dr. Charles Steele, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).
“Too often our communities must face real issues without the tools to solve problems or participate in political processes”, said Colette Pichon Battle, Director of the Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy. This was our part in finding a solution, as it was tailored to connect local leadership to crucial information on issues that impact communities of Color in rural and sub-urban Louisiana.
Photo: Hammond City Councilman, Lemar Marshall welcomes the group to his district.
The Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy (GCCLP) is a regional public interest law firm and justice center committed to advancing structural shifts toward equity in law, society and community. To strengthen the resilience of Louisiana’s communities of color, GCCLP tailored this Black Leadership and Policy Summit to serve leaders of (the Florida Parishes) St. Tammany, Washington, Tangipahoa, East Feliciana, West Feliciana, Livingston, St. Helena Parishes. For more information on the GCCLP email info@gcclp.org .