We began a little over five years ago when Senator Dianne Wilkerson (D-MA) had the vision to convene Blacks from all across the State to engage in focused dialogue and strategies concerning the State of Black Massachusetts. Over the years, the annual 21st Century Black Massachusetts Conference targeted a host of issues — the elimination of health disparities, the role of the Black Church, the state of Black boys, and the public education system and Black children, the retention of young Black professionals in Massachusetts — to name just a few. We’ve done it all at no cost to the participants due to the generous contributions of a group of committed sponsors.

In 2006, 21st Century Black Massachusetts incorporated as a 501c(3). It is with honor that I serve as the corporation’s first President.

Our journey is not over!

This year's focus, ‘City Mothers on a Mission (CMOM) - Reclaiming the Village’, facilitates the community’s mothers much needed dialogue around the safety and future of our children. Part of the 6th Anniversary conference focus, on August 3-4, 2007, mothers of color from across the City will gather for a Mother’s Summit at the Hynes Convention Center to discuss and strategize around ways to stem the increasing tide of violence impacting our Black and Latino youth. The escalating violence has been numbing. We know that because women represent over 75% of the heads of households in our community, their involvement is critical to the development of any successful plan to turn this around. We will not be denied. If you believe, as we do, that it truly takes a village to raise up a child, then you will understand us when we say, we have come to reclaim our village.

We ask for both your support and participation.

We anticipate nearly one thousand Black and Latino women from across the City will participate in the two-day session at the Hynes Convention Center in August. We will have translation services for our Haitian, Latino and Cape Verdean sisters. Once again, we intend to provide this opportunity for our participants to attend at no cost. However, you must register.. Already key leaders such as Mayor Thomas Menino, Governor Deval Patrick, James Rooney of the Massachusetts Center Convention Authority, The Boston Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Wheelock College President, Jackie Jenkins-Scott have come on board.

We hope you will join us on August 3-4 at the Hynes Convention Center to support this important effort as well.

Regards,


Carla J. Richards, President
21st Century Black Massachusetts, Inc.
Tax exempt #20-4096130
P.O. Box 191604 , Boston , MA 02119
www.21blackma.org

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