On March 17, the National Bar Association (NBA), the oldest and largest association of African-American attorneys, judges and law students in the United States and the Constituency for Africa (CFA), an education and advocacy organization focused on helping build and strengthen the capacity of the diaspora’s involvement in Africa since 1990, held a brainstorming event at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill.  Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA), spoke at the event.

Congressman  Meeks said: “There is a clear role for Black lawyers and legal experts to engage in efforts to help build and promote Africa as the continent of the future!”  Also Congresswoman Bass believes that these organizations can help “shape US Policy towards Africa.”  Furthermore, she suggested that “The NBA must also work with the Congressional Black Caucus to promote US trade policies such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and policies on oil and gas, human rights and democracy, food security and other critical areas of concern.”  (The African Sun Times, April 18, 2013).

Watch the video: