David A. Hinson has enjoyed a strong background in finance, spending a significant part of his career raising capital and assisting people in expanding their wealth base.
Hinson also served under President Barack Obama, where he led the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.
He helped to raise approximately $19 billion in capital and contracts for minority-owned firms.Hinson helped to restructure the agency, and those efforts led to the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.
“It was there that the opportunity was presented to me to come and take the helm of this organization,” said Hinson, who in July was named the president and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF).
The CBCF will hold its Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) from Wednesday, Sept. 11 to Sunday, Sept. 15, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Northwest, D.C.
“It’s been an interesting year and I’m so happy to have joined this organization,” Hinson said in an exclusive interview with The Washington Informer.
Diversity and inclusion for minorities across the globe have been a hallmark of Hinson’s career, and he identified several motivators for him going forward as president and CEO of the CBCF.
“There’s a lot that motivates me. We are in a very challenging time for our community and a challenging time for the world,” said Hinson, who earned an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelor’s in business administration from Howard University in D.C.”Our grandparents and great grandparents fought long and hard, and our parents fought long and hard to create an environment for us to flourish. And many of the gains that they fought so hard for are under attack.”
“So, one of the things that motivate me is to accept the role of a leader. To support turning back this effort to eliminate the opportunities that our parents and grandparents and great grandparents fought so hard.I’m motivated by the fact that I had a chance to work with the most powerful group of black legislators in the history of America,” Hinson added.
In 2019, 55 members of the Congressional Black Congress come from districts all around the country.Hinson said each is a national leader. And, they are some of the most talented and capable professionals he’s ever had a chance to engage.
“They’ve done amazing work, and many people in our community have no idea.So, I’m motivated to have the opportunity to work with them. We have, and we manage probably the most elite Capitol Hill internship program in the country,” Hinson said.”We also have fellows that are subject matter experts in different areas ranging from environmental protection to transportation and mobility, and we have several that are foreign policy experts.”
He also has an inherent desire to see the African American community achieve the breadth and depth of its potential.As the CBCF prepares for its 49th ALC, the focus for all involved will be on social, political and economic issues influencing African Americans and all individuals of African descent, Hinson said.
This year, CBCF will host two national town hall meetings which include the Commission on the Social Status of Black Boys and Men — legislation that’s being pushed by Frederica Wilson.This is an important platform, Hinson said to place the nation’s focus on the circumstances of Black boys and men.
“A lot of times when you hear people talk, they talk about this ‘plight.’ It’s as if there’s something inherently wrong with Black boys and men.If you get beyond the inequities that exist within our society, if you take that away, African American boys and men have proven to be some of the most productive people in this country, and we have to look no further than Barack Obama and many of the people that served in his administration,” Hinson said.”You have African American business owners that have some of the largest businesses in this country across industry sectors. You have African American historians who are challenging the nation to think differently about the circumstance of slavery. This year is very interesting, because our theme for this year, ‘400 Years: Our Legacy, Our Possibilities,’ allows us to see the fact that African Americans have changed this nation from the time the first 20 people of African descent landed in this country.”
Hinson said the New York Times’ celebrated 1619 Project is fascinating on many levels.
“It’s changing the narrative. And I bring that up because it’s not somebody changing the narrative for us. It’s us changing the narrative for the nation,” Hinson said.”Every day, you have black men and black boys who wake up, who strap on their armor and go about the business of making this nation better. They and we and you operate on an unlevel playing field,” Hinson said.
This year’s CBCF Annual Legislative Conference is expected to include all of the candidates for president, Hinson said. “They are going to be engaging us on issues and policies that affect our community and the nation,” he said.
And, Hinson said the 2020 Census goes hand-in-hand with the 2020 election – both are incredibly urgent.
“Every Black household must fill out the Census form.And, as you know, Black women are going to choose the next president of the United States. So, we must focus on voting, that every person of voting age stands up, and, you know, takes their rightful place in the voting booth,” Hinson said.“So, we have to have our voices heard, and the best way to do that is through the voting booth. Getting people to vote is a top priority, and it’ll be a heavy focus for 2020.”