Our Activities

What the Commission Does

Commission board members and staff work hard to do these things all year long:

• Recommend policies and programs that will improve service to Black people by:
  • Developing and advancing a Legislative Agenda of policy proposals that are important to the Black community
  • Relaying demands from the community to policy makers in government
  • Helping elected and appointed officials understand the needs of our community
  • Taking positions on policy issues and recommending new policies and/or programs
  • Testifying before the Legislature, before advisory boards, and in other settings
  • Hosting policy forums and other events, when allowed by statue, to improve conditions in our community, including African American Legislative Day
• Share information inside and outside of state government by:
  • Gathering and sharing statistics about the status of African Americans
  • Distributing information about programs, grants, and contracting opportunities
  • Connecting those in need to the right government programs and services
  • Referring complaints, questions, and issues to the right places and people for helpful action
• Reach out to the Black community and to government agencies by:
  • Talking with experts in various fields, such as education, health, and civil rights and carrying their recommendations to legislators, the Governor, and other policy makers
  • Working with state agency directors and managers to improve services to Black people
• Perform ceremonial and public relations duties
  • Requesting proclamations and/or greetings from the Governor
  • Representing the Governor at ceremonial events
  • Public speaking on various topics