The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) was born during another era of uncertainty, when Black political power was expanding even as many of the nation’s oldest barriers refused to fall.
More than half a century later, the institution finds itself confronting a different set of tests, but with a familiar assignment. Develop leaders. Shape public policy. Prepare Black America for battles that rarely end after a single election or a single law.
For Rep. Terri Sewell (D) of Alabama, CBCF chair, the mission has not changed, even as the political climate has.
“The greatest challenge is ensuring that every generation has both the opportunity and the preparation to lead during a period of increasing polarization and growing inequities,” Sewell told The Informer. “While the issues facing Black communities continue to evolve, our mission remains the same. We are committed to developing the next generation of leaders, informing policy, and educating the public.”
The foundation enters its Annual Legislative Conference under the theme “Rooted, Ready, and Rising.” at a time when debates over voting rights, diversity programs, civil rights protections, public education and the nation’s racial history have returned to the center of American politics.
Princeton University professor Eddie Glaude Jr., whose new book examines how race has shaped previous national anniversaries, said recent attacks on key civil rights protections mirror earlier periods when Black Americans were pushed to the margins of the national narrative.
“We’ve witnessed a simultaneous attack on two major pieces of legislation: the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965,” Glaude said in a recent interview. “Both of them fundamentally changed the trajectory of the nation. “What has to happen here in order to protect the innocence of the country? Black folks have to be disappeared. We have to be made to play minor bit parts in the story.”
Sewell argues that CBCF’s answer is not to chase each political fight individually but to strengthen the people who will eventually lead them.
“The CBCF was founded on the belief that representation matters, not only in elected office, but throughout the policymaking process and in corporate America,” she said. “Today, that means strengthening the pipeline of Black leaders through internships, fellowships, scholarships, and leadership development while producing research that helps leaders make informed decisions on the issues most affecting our communities.”
She points to the Foundation’s Center for Policy Analysis and Research, its Leadership Institute and the Annual Legislative Conference as places where elected officials, scholars, advocates and students meet not simply to debate problems but to prepare the next generation of policymakers.
Overall, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is working to celebrate the work of the past, address current challenges, and press forward toward a stronger future.
“Lasting change requires institutions willing to invest consistently over decades,” Sewell said, “and that’s exactly what CBCF has done since its inception.”
‘Strengthening the Ecosystem That Makes Progress Possible’
The foundation’s critics sometimes ask difficult questions. If racial inequities remain after decades of conferences, research and leadership programs, how much difference have institutions like CBCF really made?
Sewell rejects the premise.
“There is an important distinction between solving deeply rooted societal challenges and building the capacity to solve them,” she said. “This is not the work of one singular organization. Eliminating generations of inequity requires leaders, organizations, companies, and the greater community. Our role in this work is to strengthen the ecosystem that makes progress possible.”
She measures success differently than those looking only for immediate legislative victories.
“Success isn’t measured by a single legislative victory,” Sewell said. “It’s reflected in the thousands of alumni who now influence public policy, the research that shapes important discussions, and the sustained investment in leadership development that continues to build long-term capacity.
That long view also shapes how CBCF chooses its priorities.
Black communities continue to confront persistent gaps in wealth, homeownership, health care, educational opportunity and economic mobility. Federal funding and political consensus remain uncertain. Sewell said CBCF concentrates its work where research, leadership development and public education can produce lasting results.
“We intimately understand the work that needs to be done, and our priorities are guided by where we believe we can create the greatest impact,” she said. “The CBCF focuses on issues that have broad and lasting implications for Black communities while leveraging our strengths in research, policy analysis, leadership development, and public education.”
Looking ahead, Sewell believes the foundation’s greatest opportunity lies in turning scholarship into public action.
“Over the next year, one of our greatest opportunities is continuing to connect research with action,” she said. “We are leaning into gathering policymakers, scholars, community leaders, and emerging leaders to develop actionable solutions.”
She added that leadership development remains one of the Foundation’s strongest investments.
“At the same time, we’ll continue investing in leadership development because the development of the pipeline of individuals to serve in government, public policy, and civic life remains one of the most effective long-term investments we can make. This is the strategic investment in our future.”
‘Access, Opportunity, Authentic Engagement That Drives Impact‘
Perhaps no challenge receives more attention inside the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation than the next generation.
Many young Black Americans have grown skeptical of institutions that promise change but often appear unable to deliver it. Sewell acknowledges that winning their confidence requires more than speeches.
“We understand that young people today want more than inspiration and words,” she said. “They want access, opportunity, and authentic engagement that drives impact.”
She said CBCF’s programs place students and fellows inside the policymaking process itself.
“Participants don’t simply study public policy,” Sewell told The Informer, “they work alongside policymakers, conduct research, analyze legislation, and build the networks that prepare them for the roles and creators that will empower them to make the change they want to see.”
The CBCF chair believes the larger challenge is convincing young people that institutions still deserve their confidence.
“The biggest obstacle isn’t a lack of talent or passion,” she said. “It’s skepticism about whether institutions can create meaningful opportunities and produce real results. Trust is earned through transparency, relevance, and delivering on commitments. Our responsibility is to demonstrate that young leaders have a genuine seat at the table and that their ideas can influence the future of public policy and civic life.”
‘We Are Living In a Unique Time With Unique Challenges’
As the CBCF prepares to welcome thousands of participants to Washington, Sewell said she thinks often about what lies ahead for Black America and for American democracy itself.
“We are living in a unique time with unique challenges,” she said. “The most concerning disconnect is that young people are losing confidence in traditional institutions and leaders. Democracy is strongest when people believe their voices matter and when talented people from every community have pathways to serve.”
For so many young people voting for the first time, the process is already confusing, and now some states seem insistent on making it even harder for them to participate, offered Rebekah Caruthers, president and CEO of the Fair Election Center.
“It’s the exact opposite of what we should be doing, which is ensuring that future generations are active participants in our democracy. Yet when you throw up new barriers, you’re effectively telling young people that their voices don’t matter and the issues they care about don’t matter,” Caruthers stated. “What we’re seeing now is not normal. From the gutting of the Voting Rights Act to a federal government increasingly hostile to the freedom to vote, the institutions meant to enforce voting rights are instead creating a chilling effect designed to make people afraid to cast a ballot. Young voters deserve better.”
However, Sewell remains convinced that the foundation’s investment in people will outlast political cycles.
“This is also what gives us faith in the future,” Sewell said. “We believe that the work that the CBCF is doing and the investments we are making in the leaders of the future will prevail. The CBCF has continued its work through changing political environments because our mission isn’t tied to a particular moment or initiative. It is rooted in developing the leadership pipeline, informing policy, and educating the public.”
She concluded with the reason she believes the work continues to matter.
“It is so encouraging to see students, fellows, scholars, public servants, and community leaders who want to make a difference and are doing the work that is needed,” Sewell told The Informer. “We support research that informs better policymaking and prepare leaders who will serve for decades to come. Those investments will shape a stronger future. We know this, and we will continue to serve.”
