Changing Washington: Shakers and Policymakers

The Obama Administration | the 111th Congress | the Future of School-Aged Black Males | the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) | along with Howard University’s School of Education and others | hosted a forum at the U.S. Capitol and other activities to encourage young Black males to achieve more. It brought together a young | energetic group of movers | shakers and policymakers in Barack Obama’s Washington. Here are the some of the pics and players.

"Break Through" - The Obama Administration, the 111th Congress, the Future of School-Aged Black Males, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), along with Howard University’s School of Education were among the hosts of a forum at the U.S. Capitol and other activities to encourage young Black males to achieve more. It brought together a young, energetic group of movers, shakers and policymakers in Barack Obama’s Washington. Here are some of the pics and players.

1 / 25

"Break Through" - The Obama Administration, the 111th Congress, the Future of School-Aged Black Males, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF), along with Howard University’s School of Education were among the hosts of a forum at the U.S. Capitol and other activities to encourage young Black males to achieve more. It brought together a young, energetic group of movers, shakers and policymakers in Barack Obama’s Washington. Here are some of the pics and players.

"Break Through" - Congressional Black Caucus Foundation staff members attend the reception: (from left-right) Dr. Alana C. Hackshaw, Senior Research and Policy Analyst; Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, Senior Research Analyst; and Dr. Marjorie Innocent, Director of Research and Programs.

2 / 25

"Break Through" - Congressional Black Caucus Foundation staff members attend the reception: (from left-right) Dr. Alana C. Hackshaw, Senior Research and Policy Analyst; Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, Senior Research Analyst; and Dr. Marjorie Innocent, Director of Research and Programs.

"Break Through" - Guests mingle at “Break Through.”

3 / 25

"Break Through" - Guests mingle at “Break Through.”

"Break Through" - Shawn Dove, Manager for Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement, brings greetings at the “Breaking Barriers” policy forum.

4 / 25

"Break Through" - Shawn Dove, Manager for Open Society Institute’s Campaign for Black Male Achievement, brings greetings at the “Breaking Barriers” policy forum.

"Break Through" - Guests at “Break Through” enjoying a live band, a dessert bar and breathtaking views of Washington, DC.

5 / 25

"Break Through" - Guests at “Break Through” enjoying a live band, a dessert bar and breathtaking views of Washington, DC.

ADVERTISEMENT
"Break Through" - Joe Briggs (left) and David Johns of IMPACT enjoy the views of the US Capitol while preparing for the “Break Through” reception. Johns is a U.S. Senate policy advisor.

6 / 25

"Break Through" - Joe Briggs (left) and David Johns of IMPACT enjoy the views of the US Capitol while preparing for the “Break Through” reception. Johns is a U.S. Senate policy advisor.

"Break Through" - IMPACT Leadership (l-r), David Johns, Joe Briggs and Angela Rye, invite guests to participate in an interview for a documentary on Black success through education. IMPACT Leadership (l-r), David Johns, Joe Briggs and Angela Rye, invite guests to participate in an interview for a documentary on Black success through education.

7 / 25

"Break Through" - IMPACT Leadership (l-r), David Johns, Joe Briggs and Angela Rye, invite guests to participate in an interview for a documentary on Black success through education. IMPACT Leadership (l-r), David Johns, Joe Briggs and Angela Rye, invite guests to participate in an interview for a documentary on Black success through education.

"Break Through" - Guests mingle at “Break Through.”

8 / 25

"Break Through" - Guests mingle at “Break Through.”

"Break Through" - Jazz band, the Marcus Mitchell Project, performs for guests at “Break Through” on the rooftop of 555 Mass, a high rise condo in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood of Washington, DC.

9 / 25

"Break Through" - Jazz band, the Marcus Mitchell Project, performs for guests at “Break Through” on the rooftop of 555 Mass, a high rise condo in the Mount Vernon Triangle neighborhood of Washington, DC.

"Break Through" - Clarence Flemming mingles with Sonji Robinson, Manager, Special Projects BET Networks and Colleen Bonnicklewis, Chief of Staff, DC Housing & Community Development.

10 / 25

"Break Through" - Clarence Flemming mingles with Sonji Robinson, Manager, Special Projects BET Networks and Colleen Bonnicklewis, Chief of Staff, DC Housing & Community Development.

ADVERTISEMENT
"Break Through" - Dr. Leslie Fenwick, Dean of Howard University School of Education (left) prepares for the “Breaking Barriers” forum with Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, Senior Research Analyst for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and Associate Professor at Howard University.

11 / 25

"Break Through" - Dr. Leslie Fenwick, Dean of Howard University School of Education (left) prepares for the “Breaking Barriers” forum with Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, Senior Research Analyst for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and Associate Professor at Howard University.

"Break Through" - Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D. (right) and his wife, Marshella Toldson, Esq, celebrate the Capitol Hill discussion of his report “Breaking Barriers: Plotting the Path to Academic Success for School-age African American Males at Break Through.”

12 / 25

"Break Through" - Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D. (right) and his wife, Marshella Toldson, Esq, celebrate the Capitol Hill discussion of his report “Breaking Barriers: Plotting the Path to Academic Success for School-age African American Males at Break Through.”

Rally For Darfur - Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Rep. Donald M. Payne, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health today launched the Darfur for Life Campaign on Capitol Hill. The campaign is being led by the Congressional Black Caucus and calls the entire Congress and others to fast in solidarity with the Darfuri people who are suffering at the hands of the Omar al-Bashir regime in Sudan.

13 / 25

"Break Through" - Dr. Elsie Scott, President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, addresses a capacity audience at “Breaking Barriers” in the caucus room of the Russell US Senate Building on Capitol Hill.

"Break Through" - Dr. Elsie Scott, President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, brings greetings at “Breaking Barriers.”

14 / 25

"Break Through" - Dr. Elsie Scott, President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, brings greetings at “Breaking Barriers.”

"Break Through" - A view from the portals of the “Breaking Barriers” Educational Policy Forum. Dr. Toldson is giving an overview of the occasion.

15 / 25

"Break Through" - A view from the portals of the “Breaking Barriers” Educational Policy Forum. Dr. Toldson is giving an overview of the occasion.

ADVERTISEMENT
"Break Through" - A new class of policy professionals and other change agents network at "Break Through" with the U.S. Capitol Building in the backdrop.

16 / 25

"Break Through" - A new class of policy professionals and other change agents network at "Break Through" with the U.S. Capitol Building in the backdrop.

"Break Through" - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke from New York discusses environmental influences on academic success for Black males. Rep. Clarke sits on several committees including the House Education and Labor Committee, Homeland Security Committee and the Small Business Committee.

17 / 25

"Break Through" - Congresswoman Yvette Clarke from New York discusses environmental influences on academic success for Black males. Rep. Clarke sits on several committees including the House Education and Labor Committee, Homeland Security Committee and the Small Business Committee.

"Break Through" - Byron McKie (l) and his wife Dr. Brooke Wilson McKie enjoy time together at “Break Though.”

18 / 25

"Break Through" - Byron McKie (l) and his wife Dr. Brooke Wilson McKie enjoy time together at “Break Though.”

"Break Through" - David Johns, Senate Senior Educational Policy Advisor, prepares to moderate the 1st session at "Breaking Barriers."

19 / 25

"Break Through" - David Johns, Senate Senior Educational Policy Advisor, prepares to moderate the 1st session at "Breaking Barriers."

"Break Through" - Dr. Ivory A. Toldson reviews the major findings from the CBCF "Breaking Barriers" report, as Dr. James Moore, The Ohio State University counseling professor, prepares to address the audience.

20 / 25

"Break Through" - Dr. Ivory A. Toldson reviews the major findings from the CBCF "Breaking Barriers" report, as Dr. James Moore, The Ohio State University counseling professor, prepares to address the audience.

ADVERTISEMENT
"Break Through" - Dr. Patrick Swygert, President Emeritus of Howard University, greets Dean Fenwick at "Breaking Barriers."

21 / 25

"Break Through" - Dr. Patrick Swygert, President Emeritus of Howard University, greets Dean Fenwick at "Breaking Barriers."

"Break Through" - Dr. Margaret Beale Spencer, Educational Expert, shares recommendations to policy makers on educational reform for Black males.

22 / 25

"Break Through" - Dr. Margaret Beale Spencer, Educational Expert, shares recommendations to policy makers on educational reform for Black males.

"Break Through" - Lara Cole, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Keith Ellison, mingling with guests at “Break Through.”

23 / 25

"Break Through" - Lara Cole, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Keith Ellison, mingling with guests at “Break Through.”

"Break Through" - David Johns holds up a copy of “Breaking Barriers” while Dr. Toldson encourages young policy leaders to use the findings to promote education reform.

24 / 25

"Break Through" - David Johns holds up a copy of “Breaking Barriers” while Dr. Toldson encourages young policy leaders to use the findings to promote education reform.

"Break Through" - "Breaking Barriers" participants from left to right: Shawn Dove, Open Society Institute Campaign for Black Male Achievement; Dr. Shaun Harper, University of Pennsylvania; Bobby Vassar, Council on the Crime Subcommittee; Floyd Weatherspoon, Capital University Law School; Dr. Toks S. Fashola, Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Joseph Richardson, University of Maryland-College Park; Dr. Charles E. Lewis, Jr., Howard University School of Social Work; Dean Leslie T. Fenwick, Howard School of Education.

25 / 25

"Break Through" - "Breaking Barriers" participants from left to right: Shawn Dove, Open Society Institute Campaign for Black Male Achievement; Dr. Shaun Harper, University of Pennsylvania; Bobby Vassar, Council on the Crime Subcommittee; Floyd Weatherspoon, Capital University Law School; Dr. Toks S. Fashola, Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Joseph Richardson, University of Maryland-College Park; Dr. Charles E. Lewis, Jr., Howard University School of Social Work; Dean Leslie T. Fenwick, Howard School of Education.