National public defense advocate to keynote Black History Month event
Michigan Legislative Black Caucus and Michigan Campaign for Justice co-sponsor Black History Month Luncheon

LANSING - The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC) and the Michigan Campaign for Justice will celebrate Black History Month with a special luncheon event on Feb. 10 at 11:30 a.m., in the Speaker's Library, 2nd floor of the State Capitol.

The event, "Public Defense: How Safe is the Public?" will feature guest speaker Jo-Ann Wallace, president and chief executive officer for the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA). In 2007, the NLADA was commissioned by the Michigan Legislature to examine public defense in Michigan. In 2008, the group issued a scathing review of the state's system entitled, "Race to the Bottom."

The luncheon event is free and open to the public and will also include a panel discussion with Tracey Brame, assistant dean of Cooley Law School - Grand Rapids, and Harold Wells, a man who was wrongfully incarcerated in part due to ineffective defense representation.

"This is a perfect fit for our February programming of "Moving Forward...Turning Knowledge into Action," said State Rep. Robert Jones (DKalamazoo), MLBC chairman. "The Black Caucus is dedicated to empowering members of the community by providing information that will improve their quality of life. Our constitution guarantees every citizen the right to effective legal representation within our legal system. Sadly, our state has failed to keep that obligation and the African American community has been disproportionately impacted by the failures of Michigan's public defense system."

Wallace has devoted her career to advocacy for individuals with limited means and has a proven track record as a leader in building equal justice institutions and initiatives. Her passion and commitment to justice for low-income people is crystallized in a number of successes: the founding of the American Council of Chief Defenders; the establishment of the National Defender Leadership Institute and the Equal Justice Leadership Initiative for legal aid advocates; and the launch of technical assistance initiatives that have led to expanded capacities in civil legal aid programs and the reformation of indigent defense systems in states such as Louisiana and Montana.

"We're extremely pleased to have Jo-Ann Wallace visit Michigan," says Laura Sager, executive director, Campaign for Justice. "Her commitment and passion for equal justice and upholding the Constitutional rights of all to effective legal representation is unwavering. She understands that, because of our broken public defense system, too many innocent people are wrongly convicted with the real perpetrators allowed to remain free."

The NLADA is the oldest and largest national, nonprofit membership organization devoting all of its resources to advocating equal access to justice for all people. NLADA champions effective legal assistance for people who cannot afford counsel, serves as a collective voice for both civil legal services and public defense services throughout the nation.

###

The Campaign for Justice heads a broad-based coalition of organizations and individuals from across the political spectrum fighting for a fair and effective public defense system in Michigan. The Campaign believes that legislative reform is needed to improve cost effectiveness, protect the public's safety and uphold Constitutional right to counsel for all Michigan residents. For more information, go to www.mijustice.org.

The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus is a coalition of 25 state legislators committed to ensuring that all citizens of our state have equal opportunities. The caucus includes members of both the state Senate and the state House of Representatives. Since its modest beginnings more than three decades ago, the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus has been at the forefront of the fight for social and economic justice for all Michigan residents. The Black Caucus serves as a partnership between residents and legislators.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 11, 2009

LANSING – Members of the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus will host a reception to honor the NAACP's Centennial Anniversary on Thursday, February 12, 2009 in Room 424 of the State Capitol from 10:30 until 12:00. Members of the organization will also be recognized during Senate session.

The event kicks off many celebrations happening throughout the state of Michigan in honor of one of the United States' oldest civil rights organizations.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was founded on February 12, 1909. The organization's mission has been to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. In the state of Michigan, there are several NAACP Branches, NAACP Youth Councils, NAACP College Chapters, and NAACP Prison Chapters that strive to protect and preserve civil rights.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 04, 2008

Representative Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo) Will Lead the 2009 -2010
Michigan Legislative Black Caucus

LANSING – today, The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus held elections to select their officers for 2009 -2010. Rep. Jones (D-60) will replace Rep. Brenda Clack (D-Flint) as Chairperson for the caucus. Rep. Clack is completing her third term and will be leaving the legislature at the end of the year.

The Officers for the upcoming term (2009-2010) are as follows;

Rep. Robert Jones (D-Kalamazoo), Chairperson
Rep. Shanelle Jackson (D-Detroit), Executive Vice Chairperson
Rep. Fred Durhal (D-Detroit), First Vice Chairperson
Rep. Woodrow Stanley (D-Flint), Second Vice Chairperson
Rep. Robert Dean (D-Grand Rapids), Secretary
Rep. Jimmy Womack (D-Detroit), Treasurer
Rep. George Cushingberry (D-Detroit), Historian
Rep. Coleman Young (D-Detroit), Parliamentarian

The current caucus consists of twenty one members; fifteen State Representatives and six Senators:

Rep. Brenda J. Clack (Chair), Rep. Shanelle Jackson (1st VC), Rep. John Espinoza(2nd VC), Sen. Martha G. Scott (Exe VC), Rep. Marsha Cheeks, Rep. George Cushingberry, Jr., Rep. Robert Dean, Rep. Lee Gonzales, Rep. Morris W. Hood III, Rep. Bert Johnson, Rep. Robert Jones, Rep. LaMar Lemmons, Jr., Rep. Bettie Cook Scott, Rep. Alma Wheeler Smith, Rep. Virgil K. Smith III, Rep. Coleman A. Young II, Sen. Hansen Clarke, Sen. Irma Clark-Coleman, Sen. Bill Hardiman , Sen. Tupac A. Hunter, Sen. Samuel Buzz Thomas III

The caucus will lose four members to term limits, Rep.'s Clack, Cheeks, Hood, and Virgil Smith. The caucus will gain the following members: Larry DeShazor (R- 61), Fred Durhal, Jr. (D-6), Vincent Gregory (D-35), David E. Nathan (D-11), Paul Scott (R-51), Woodrow Stanley (D-34), Rashida Tlaib (D-12), James A. Womack (D-7)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Feb. 19, 2008

Black Caucus Plans Event to Celebrate Black History Month
First female bishop of the AME church to give keynote speech

LANSING – State Representative Brenda Clack (D-Flint) today announced that the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus (MLBC) will hold a Black History Month celebration in the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

"We're honored to have such a distinguished keynote speaker at this year's program," said Clack, who is chair of the MLBC. "The Black History Month celebration offers the chance to enjoy a soul-stirring, enlightening experience."

The 22nd annual Michigan Legislative Black Caucus' Black History Celebration will be held on Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Capitol rotunda. The keynote will be delivered by Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, the first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal church.  When asked about the significance of her election to the office of bishop, McKenzie reportedly told Ebony magazine that the "stained-glass ceiling had been broken." Her great-grandfather, John H. Murphy, started the Afro-American Newspaper in 1892 and her grandmother, Vashti Turly Murphy, was a founding member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, which currently has a national membership of more than 250,000.

The theme of the event is "Embracing Our Future by Nurturing Our Youth." The event will also feature the Earl Nelson Singers, the Michigan State University Praise Singers, Peaceful Authority, dance groups and more.

The Black History Month celebration is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Feb. 15, 2008

Film, Art at Capitol Mark
Celebration of Black History Month
Everyone welcome to watch documentary about Detroit's role in America on Feb. 19

LANSING – The Michigan Legislative Black Caucus cordially invites members of the public to visit the Capitol on Tuesday, February 19, to watch "Black Bottom and Paradise Valley: The Forgotten Legacy," a documentary written and directed by Sharon-Elizabeth Sexton of Detroit.  

There will be two showings of the movie, both in the Speaker's Library, Room 252 of the Capitol Building.

The showings will take place at 11:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. A display of photographs, quilts and paintings by Michigan artists will also be featured, and refreshments will be served.

"Black Bottom and Paradise Valley: The Forgotten Legacy" highlights Detroit from 1701 through 2007 and reveals little-known facts about the city’s role in American history.  The film features information about Black Bottom (one of Detroit’s early African-American neighborhoods from the 1920s through the 1940s) and Paradise Valley (Detroit’s entertainment district during segregation times).

In addition, the documentary also exposes the ups and downs of pre-WWII African-American life in a major northern city and shines a light on Jim Crow segregation, Prohibition and the Depression, as well as live jazz music, the Underground Railroad, race riots and more.