An annual public policy conference brought national leaders, as well as a hearty breakfast and free health screenings to a local program that serves the poor and homeless.
The 8th annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Community Breakfast and Health Fair was hosted by Thrive DC, which offers meals, housing assistance and other help to the poor out of the basement of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Northwest Washington.
About 10,000 people were expected to attend the CBFC’s four-day Annual Legislative Conference, aimed at developing solutions to the challenges facing Black communities around the world through issues forums, brain trusts, a town hall meeting, networking sessions, and more. This year’s theme, “It Starts With You,” was a call to action urging individuals to champion change in public policy.
But the community breakfast, held this year on Sept 19, has come to be seen as a lynchpin of the larger event, providing a chance for lawmakers and other members of the CBCF to serve the community. .
“The breakfast is a part of our mission, the mission of the foundation, to end disparities. Here we are able to reach out to the community, and give back to the entire community, especially those who are facing challenges,” said Muriel Hairston-Cooper, a spokeswoman for the CBCF and the CBC Spouses.
Among the speakers at this year’s event was U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, who said he looked forward to attending the annual event.
“The entire Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is the conscience; they remind us every single day what why we’re in these jobs and what they’re about. If they are the conscience, the spouses are the conscience of the conscience,” he said.
Donovan added that he was happy to see the many communities represented in the room. “What you see in this room today, is one example of what we need to do in this country. If we come together we can actually solve these problems. One meal at a time, one health screening at a time, one housing at time, we can solve these problems”, he said.
In addition to the breakfast, attendees were offered free health and dental screenings, food and giveaways. The Sears Associate Gospel Choir provided rousing entertainment.
One attendee, Tyrone Chrisholm Jr said he visits Thrive DC three times a week to have breakfast. “Here they serve you breakfast and you always get a smile when you come. I also use the computer lab here, to get my resumes done”, Chrisholm explains.
He said this was his first Community Breakfast and that he was looking forward to enjoying the many offerings.
“I will go upstairs and have a look at the screenings and the gospel choir after I’ve finished this interview”, he says with a smile in his eyes.
Nick Rosenbach, President of Thrive DC, said he was happy with the event, but admitted that the attendance seemed a little light.
“Normally it’s about 200 people at the breakfast, but today there is a much lighter attendance”, Rosenbach said. He noted that he had been announcing the community breakfast every morning but added. “I think many of the clients found the big speakers a bit intimidating. However, those who are here, really take advantage of the event’s offers.”
