Black Legislative Leaders Network

Introducing the Black Legislative Leaders Network (BLLN)

The Black Legislative Leaders Network (BLLN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to empowering and equipping Black state legislative leaders with the resources, knowledge, and networks necessary to advance policies that promote equity, justice, and opportunity for Black communities nationwide. Through leadership development, policy innovation, and strategic partnerships, BLLN strengthens the voices of Black legislative leaders to drive meaningful change in state and local governance.

Vision

Our vision is to build a strong, unified coalition of Black state legislative leaders who are well-prepared, well-connected, and well-supported to lead on critical issues affecting Black communities. We strive to cultivate a new generation of transformative leadership that fosters legislative solutions for economic empowerment, healthcare equity, education reform, and social justice.

Core Pillars

Legislative Leadership Development

1. - Providing professional development, mentorship, and policy training to Black state legislators.
  - Hosting leadership summits, roundtables, and workshops to share best practices in governance and policy-making.

Community Engagement & Public Awareness

1. - Hosting town halls, forums, and public events to engage communities in the legislative process.
  - Raising awareness on key issues affecting Black communities through media outreach and digital advocacy.

Strategic Partnerships & Collaboration

1. - Building relationships with national organizations, advocacy groups, corporate partners, and government agencies to advance policy initiatives.
  - Facilitating cross-state collaboration among Black lawmakers to share legislative strategies and amplify impact.

Policy Research & Advocacy

- Conducting research on key policy areas impacting Black communities, including economic mobility, health disparities, education equity, and criminal justice reform.
- Partnering with academic institutions and policy experts to provide legislators with data-driven policy solutions.

Programs & Initiatives

Black Maternal Health State Legislative Convening – Addressing maternal health disparities through policy solutions.
Health Equity Roundtables – Partnering with healthcare leaders to tackle disparities in access to care.
Education Equity Policy Series – Developing legislative strategies to close the racial achievement gap and support HBCUs.
Economic Empowerment Forums – Creating pathways for Black wealth-building and business development.
Legislative Leadership Pipeline – Training and mentoring emerging Black legislative leaders.

On Friday, June 14, 2024, BLLN led a delegation of state lawmakers and organizational & corporate partners in ringing the Opening Bell of the New York Stock Exchange to commemorate the Juneteenth Holiday, observed on Wednesday, June 19th.

Black state lawmakers led by Tennessee State Representative Karen Camper, who also serves as the House Minority Leader, visited the New York Stock Exchange, a historic center of global finance, to commemorate Juneteenth and encourage corporations to take meaningful steps toward fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. This visit underscored the need for increased participation and investment in Black-owned businesses and economic initiatives, promoting ongoing efforts toward racial equity and economic justice. Their presence in this influential space highlights the importance of Black representation in traditionally White-dominated areas, acknowledging the significant contributions of Black Americans to the economy and reinforcing the need for inclusive practices and policies.

Who:

State Representative Karen Camper (TN), Minority Leader, Tennessee House of Representatives and Co-Founder of BLLN
State Senator Tonya Anderson (GA), President of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women
State Representative Marcus C. Evans Jr. (IL), Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives & Vice President of the National Conference of State Legislatures
State Representative Laura Hall (AL), President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators
State Delegate Jheanelle Wilkins (MD), Chair of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus
State Delegate Candi Mundon King (VA), Chair of the Counties, Cities, and Towns Committee, and Chair of Finance - Subcommittee #1 in the Virginia House of Delegates