As the 2004 Presidential election approaches, history will be made twice in Boston.  Five months prior to the first Democratic National Convention (DNC) in New England’s hub city, numerous political and community leaders will gather for the National Black Agenda Convention 2004 (NBAC 2004), March 17 – 21 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place.  This milestone event marks the first such gathering in more than 20 years and another first for Boston.

The vision for NBAC 2004 is to bring together people of African descent for a common purpose: To begin to develop a comprehensive agenda and action plan designed to address 21st-century issues and policies of significant importance to black people in the United States, as well as in other parts of the world.  Plans also include developing winning strategies to organize and increase the number of black voters before critical national and regional elections in the fall, as well as this summer’s DNC in Boston and the Republican National Convention in New York City.

Among the growing number of supporters and participants are the National Black Caucus of State Legislators; the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials; the PanAfrican Council; Kenneth Gibson, first black Mayor of Newark, New Jersey; Congresswoman Barbara Lee, California; Richard G. Hatcher, first black Mayor of Gary Indiana, a host for the 1972 National Black Political Convention, and one of three co-conveners for NBAC 2004; and Minister Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam.

The Honorable Richard Hatcher joins the Massachusetts-based co-conveners for NBAC 2004:  Bill Owens, Massachusetts’ first black State Senator, and State Representatives Gloria Fox, Shirley Owens-Hicks, and Benjamin Swan.  In addition to other politicians, they have invited business and community leaders, as well as citizens from around the country to add their voices to this important and timely dialogue.  Participants will serve as presenters, facilitators, sponsors, vendors, advertisers, educational or community supporters, state delegates, and youth advocates.

At key junctures in American history, African American communities have hosted political conventions as a means to organize, focus on important issues, and demand effective action.  The NBAC 2004 Committee is building this year’s convention on the success of previous black conventions.  Outstanding among them are conventions in 1840 in Albany, NY; 1875 in New Orleans, LA; 1905 in Niagara, NY; and 1972 in Gary, IN.

Through workshops and plenary sessions — including the Youth Day kick-off on Wednesday, March 17 — NBAC attendees will examine new ways to create better educational opportunities for America’s children, address concerns about housing and economic development in black communities, improve health care for all, reduce poverty and unemployment, and support the development of new and growing black-owned business ventures.  Conveners also plan for delegates and participants to help develop a scorecard that individuals, from the largest urban centers to the smallest rural communities, can use to evaluate political candidates based on their stance on issues raised at NBAC 2004.

The NBAC Committee is creating a platform for numerous voices to be heard and a showcase for diverse points of view, representing ideas formed from hub board rooms to farm caucuses.  The conveners agree that the primary long-range goals are for the National Black Agenda Convention to become a permanent and stable organization hosting a national convention every other year, and for the action plan to become a catalyst for change across the country and around the world.

For more information about NBAC 2004, visit the NBAC website at www.nationalblackagenda.org or call 617.287.7138. Press contact is Lynn DuVal Luse, New Image Associates/NIA – 617.541.8642.