MUSGROVE, ST. SIMONS ISLAND, GA. - Representative Xavier Becerra (CA - 30) participated in a weekend summit bringing together national and community leaders to discuss ways to strengthen multiracial coalitions. Informally called the "Black/Brown Coalition," the summit was organized and facilitated by the Civil Rights Project at Harvard University and was made possible by a grant from the Arca Foundation. The summit was titled: "Creating Multiracial Coalitions to Advance Progressive Politics: An Action Agenda."
The weekend meeting brought together nearly 20 national and community leaders who represent the country's ever-increasing diversity. Though the initial focus centered around the political dynamic between African-American and Latino communities, the broader undertaking of the summit explored ways to forge multiracial coalitions beyond the African-American and Latino communities. The participants looked for the best way to form multiracial coalitions on issues of community concern, such as K-12 reform, criminal justice, a living wage and many others.
Rep. Becerra commented, "Our country has never seen such widespread growth in its ethnic and cultural diversity as it is witnessing now. This diversity brings with it new issues, new priorities and new ideas that merit attention and consideration. Summits such as this one will not only help strengthen the already strong coalition that exists between the African-American and Latino communities, but also help forge new coalitions that will bring these ideas and issues to the forefront of the American political agenda."
Other notable participants in the weekend summit include: Christopher Edley, Co-Director of the Harvard Civil Rights Project; Maria Echaveste, former Deputy White House Chief of Staff during the Clinton Administration; Maureen Forte of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; Ralph Neas, President of People for the American Way; and Bernadette Roberts of the Arca Foundation.