LCCR & LCCREF
Interns on Civil Rights: The Inspiring Experience of Working for LCCR/EF
July 30, 2009 - Posted by Dayo Adiatu
 Dayo Adiatu, far right, poses with fellow interns during a panel discussion on social justice that LCCR/EF interns hosted for D.C.-area interns earlier this month This summer, I had the opportunity to become a part of the ongoing civil rights movement by interning for LCCR/EF. Although I was not participating in a sit-in or a protest as people might think, my experiences with LCCR/EF still gave me the opportunity to work toward ending attacks on people's civil rights.
I spent a lot of my time researching and writing about important civil rights legislation. It was empowering to have the chance to learn more about the history of civil rights, meet and work with people who are passionate about social justice, and be a part of the continuing struggle for civil rights in which LCCR/EF is engaged.
I leave this internship with positive feelings about the future of civil rights advocacy, especially after witnessing the Senate formally apologize for slavery and Jim Crow laws.
The Senate declared a "recommitment to the principle that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and calls on all people of the United States to work toward eliminating racial prejudices, injustices and discrimination from our society."
As a Black woman, the resolution was a symbolic step towards reconciliation and puts into words my outlook on the possibilities for the future of civil rights.
Learn more about LCCR/EF internships.
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LCCR/EF Staff Member Mark Lloyd Joins the FCC in Diversity Position
July 29, 2009 - Posted by Tyler Lewis
 Mark Lloyd speaks at a November 2008 press conference sponsored by the National Association of Broadcasters on the Digital Television Transition We are pleased to report that LCCR/EF staff member Mark Lloyd has joined the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as associate general counsel and chief diversity officer.
The FCC is the federal agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. In his new position, Lloyd will help the FCC to develop communications policy that will increase media diversity and address the needs of low-income people, women, minorities, people with disabilities.
Lloyd, a communications lawyer and former broadcast journalist, was a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress before joining LCCR/EF as vice president for strategic initiatives, where he provided strategic guidance for the organization's media and telecommunications work.
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Apply by August 3 to Be an LCCR/EF Intern This Fall
July 22, 2009 - Posted by Rachel Eggleston
 (l to r) LCCR/EF summer 2009 interns Rachel Eggleston, Dayo Adiatu, and Connie Lam enjoy a brief lunch during a panel discussion on social justice that they hosted for D.C.-area interns earlier this month. Looking for an internship for the fall semester in Washington, D.C.?
LCCR/EF offers an internship program that gives undergraduate and graduate students committed to social justice an opportunity to gain valuable experience working in D.C.'s fast-paced public policy sector. LCCR/EF is a coalition of more than 200 organizations, so interns are also exposed to the challenges and rewards of working in coalition with other organizations to influence public policy.
LCCR/EF interns regularly attend congressional hearings, inter-organizational strategy meetings, and policy briefings; organize educational events for interns from coalition member organizations; and write for this website, Civilrights.org.
The application deadline for Fall 2009 interns is Monday, August 3, and internships run for the length of one school semester. Interested students should submit a cover letter describing their interest in LCCR/EF, a resume, and a writing sample no longer than three pages to to Maggie Kao, LCCR/EF intern coordinator, at kao@civilrights.org.
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LCCR/EF Interns Attend the Campus Progress National Conference
July 9, 2009 - Posted by Connie Lam
 LCCR intern Dayo Adiatu talking with a Campus Progress conference participant. Yesterday, I joined my fellow LCCR/EF interns at the Campus Progress 2009 National Conference. Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress, works to encourage young people to become engaged in the political process and express their views through media and grassroots activism.
We helped staff LCCR's table on Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. Our task was to talk with young people about the nomination and encourage them to show support for Sotomayor. Between panels on how to survive the recession and the future of independent media, we had the opportunity to meet with many young activists from all around the nation who shared our enthusiasm for Sotomayor's nomination.
The conference was a resounding success, bringing together over 1,000 young people and several prominent speakers, including former President Bill Clinton; Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D. Calif., the speaker of the House; John Oliver of "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart"; and Joel Madden of the band Good Charlotte.
The positive energy of the participants and the sharing of ideas were inspiring and we hope to participate in future Campus Progress events.
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LCCREF Summer Intern Career Series Kicks Off This Week
July 7, 2009 - Posted by Debra Cohen
This Friday, July 10, LCCREF invites interns in Washington, D.C., to attend the first event of the Summer Intern Career Series, a free panel discussion about how a law degree can prepare you for a career in the social justice field. The event will be a great opportunity to meet fellow interns working in the nation's capital and working professionals in the social justice field.
Corrine Yu, senior counsel and managing policy director at LCCREF, will be moderating the panel. The discussion will feature Mark Kappelhoff, the chief of the Criminal Section of the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division; Josh Galper, partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe; and Chanelle Hardy, chief of staff for Rep. Artur Davis, D. Ala.
The event is from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 700 14th Street, NW, Washington DC, near the Metro Center and McPhearson Square metro stations. Lunch will be provided.
Please join LCCREF as we kick off our Summer Intern Career Series and look out for more events coming soon!
RSVP to Marcus-Alexander Neil at neil@civilrights.org by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8.
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33rd Annual Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner
May 8, 2009 - Posted by Tyler Lewis
 LCCR President Wade Henderson and LCCR Chairperson Dr. Dorothy Height at the 33rd Annual Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner in Washington, D.C., on May 7, 2009. LCCR held its 33rd annual Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner last night in the Hilton Washington's International Ballroom in Washington, D.C.
"As we gather this evening, with so much to rejoice in and so much to rededicate ourselves to, we can take pride that this is still the same civil and human rights coalition, but with new victories, new constituencies, new technologies, and a wider focus than ever before. And we can take even greater pride that, thanks to our work, this is not the same America because the land we love is moving closer to the ideals we share," said Wade Henderson, LCCR president and CEO, during his opening remarks.
Former Senator Bob Dole, R. Kan., and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman introduced this year's honorees, Sheila Bair and Van Jones, who both spoke about their commitments to civil rights. Bair talked about how her background as a civil rights lawyer influences her work as the chairman of the FDIC and Jones spoke about how his commitment to finding jobs for low-income Americans in Oakland, Calif., led him to the "green jobs" movement.
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Last Chance to Get Your Tickets for the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner
April 30, 2009 - Posted by Tyler Lewis
Next Thursday, May 7, LCCR will hold its annual Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner in Washington, D.C.
The dinner is the civil rights community's biggest party. Tickets and sponsorships for the 33rd annual dinner, honoring Sheila Bair and Van Jones, are still available. Online registration closes at noon on Monday, May 4, so get your tickets now.
If you can't attend in person, we'd still love to have you celebrate with us as a virtual guest at the dinner. Support LCCR's work by making a donation now, and you'll get an exclusive first look at photos from the 2009 dinner.
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National Volunteer Week 2009
April 23, 2009 - Posted by Clarissa Peterson
In honor of National Volunteer Week, LCCR would like to say thank you to everyone who volunteers — from those who volunteer to help others in their local communities, to those who volunteer for LCCR and our more than 200 member organizations to promote social justice across the nation and around the world.
National Volunteer Week, which lasts through Saturday, was established in 1974 by former President Nixon. This year's theme, "Celebrating People in Action," recognizes individuals who take action to solve problems in their communities.
If you are interested in volunteering in your community, check out the more than 200 LCCR coalition members — many have local chapters across the country. Or visit one of these websites that list volunteer opportunities and allow you to search by location: 1-800-volunteer.org, Idealist.org, Network for Good, or VolunteerMatch.
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Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner: Civil Rights Community's Night to Shine
April 16, 2009 - Posted by Tyler Lewis
 Ilir Zherka, executive director of DC Vote, and Wade Henderson, president and CEO of LCCR enjoy a laugh at the 2007 Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner. In three weeks, hundreds of civil rights activists, civil rights lawyers, policymakers, and others will attend the 33rd annual Hubert H. Humphrey Civil Rights Award Dinner, held each year in Washington, D.C.
The dinner is the civil rights community's biggest party, a chance to celebrate the year's accomplishments and recommit to working hard on the challenges ahead. It is held in the Hilton Washington's International Ballroom, which at more than 35,000 square feet is the largest ballroom in the city.
It's also one of the few opportunities for people who work for the more than 200 member organizations of LCCR and other social justice organizations to be in the same place at the same time.
The dinner is less formal than most Washington dinners. It is not black tie and there's a video presentation about each of the honorees, showing highlights of what they have done to support civil rights. Before the dinner, guests mix and mingle at a reception -- often the most fun part of the evening.
This year's dinner, honoring Sheila Bair and Van Jones, is May 7. Tickets and sponsorships are now available.
If you can't attend in person, we'd still love to have you celebrate with us as a virtual guest at the dinner. Support LCCR's work by making a donation now, and you'll get an exclusive first look at photos from the 2009 dinner.
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Today in Civil Rights History: Birth Anniversary of LCCR Founder A. Philip Randolph
April 15, 2009 - Posted by Isha Mehmood
 LCCR founders A. Philip Randolph (seated) and Roy Wilkins with Senator Edward Brooke, R. Mass., at a LCCR dinner in the 1970s. Today is the birth anniversary of civil rights activist and LCCR founder A. Philip Randolph (1889-1979).
Known as one of the greatest Black labor leaders in America, Randolph founded the first African-American-led labor organization chartered by the AFL in 1925 – the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) – to improve the working conditions for porters of the Pullman Company, which was one of the nation's largest employers of Black workers at the time.
It took Randolph 10 years to get BSCP certified as the official representative of the Pullman porters. Two years later, Randolph helped Pullman employees win a collective bargaining agreement with the company that led to pay increases, a shorter work week, and overtime pay.
In addition to his work with BSCP, Randolph led public campaigns to end racial discrimination in the defense industry and called for integration of the military. Threatening a march on Washington of more than 100,000 citizens, Randolph helped convince President Franklin Roosevelt to sign the first federal law promoting equal opportunity, the Fair Employment Act. Issued in 1941, the executive order banned racial discrimination in the defense industry. Randolph's activism was also critical in encouraging President Harry Truman to order an end to segregation in the armed forces in 1948.
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