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, like
- 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 Black people
- taking positions on policy issues and recommending new policies and/or programs to help Black people
- testifying before the Legislature, before advisory boards, and in other settings
- hosting policy forums and other events where Black people work to improve conditions in our community, including African American Legislative Day

Share information inside and outside of state government, like
- gathering and sharing statistics about the status of Black people
- distributing information about programs, grants, and contracting opportunities to Black people
- connecting Black people 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
- asking for and/or presenting Governor's proclamations and/or greetings
- representing the Governor at ceremonial events
- public speaking on various topics