Rainbow/PUSH Coalition
40th Annual Conference
“A More Perfect Union: Closing the Gap”
June 18 – 22
Chicago Hilton and Towers

The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition is led by its founder, Rev. Jesse Jackson, the longtime and internationally recognized civil rights leader and has been at the forefront of political and economic issues affecting Black Americans. The organization has its roots in Operation Breadbasket, the initiative led by Rev. Jackson under the tutelage of the late civil rights icon, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


Indiana Black Expo
41st Summer Celebration
July 7 – 17
Indianapolis, Indiana
(800) 897-2702

Originally conceived by local church and community leaders to bolster the city’s Black community, the Indiana Black Expo has become the largest event of its kind in the nation, offering a mix of top name entertainment, educational seminars, and nightlife in the city of Indianapolis.


National Medical Association
Annual Convention & Scientific Assembly
July 23 – 27
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, DC

The National Medical Association is the not-for-profit organization representing the nation’s Black physicians.


National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
102nd Annual Convention
“Affirming America’s Promise”
July 23 – 28
Los Angeles, CA


The NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Conceived out of the “Niagara Movement,” the organization initially made its mark combating the lynching of Blacks. During its storied history, the NAACP has been at the forefront of the expansion of civil rights for Black Americans. A membership organization, the NAACP has branches in communities throughout the nation and is open to individuals of all races and ethnicities.


National Urban League
Annual Conference
“Jobs Rebuild America”
July 27 – 30
Boston, MA

The National Urban League has been representing the economic interests of the nation’s Black population in urban centers since its founding over a century ago. The organization was one of the “Big Three” of the civil rights movement of the 1960’s and continues to advocate for the economic empowerment of Blacks. Currently led by Marc Morial, the former mayor of New Orleans, the National Urban League has initiated a nationwide campaign to spur job creation and will focus on that subject during its summer convention.


Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Annual Legislative Conference
“iLead/iServe”
September 21 – 24
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, DC

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is the not-for-profit public policy arm of the nation’s Black members of Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus. The Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) is the largest gathering of Black elected officials and policy makers in the nation, and each year offers a wide-range of panel discussions and “Town Hall” sessions on a variety of pertinent issues. The ALC is open to the public and is one of the best networking opportunities for Blacks who wish to be engaged in the political process.