WED at 11 AM: NBJC Hosts ‘The Black Institute: Charting A New Way Forward Together’
Event Part of National LGBTQ Task Force’s 2025 Creating Change Conference
LAS VEGAS – Wednesday, January 22nd, at 11:00AM PST, the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC), a leading national Black LGBTQ+/Same-gender loving (SGL) civil rights organization, will host its annual signature event, The Black Institute, a Black-led and -centered space for Black LGBTQ+/Same-Gender Loving leaders, and emerging leaders nationwide, that will inform, train, inspire, and mobilize our community ahead of a year that will require unity and resilience in the face of expected hardships brought on by the Trump administration.
The tentpole event for this year’s institute is “Charting A New Way Forward Together,” a program designed to ensure that the movements for racial equity and LGBTQ+ equity center Black people and intersectionality so we can become more connected and more collaborative in our work to defend and expand democracy and advance equity in spite of the MAGA movement. The Black Institute will feature a data briefing, a community town hall, and the kick-off of our “Surviving While Black and Queer” series featuring thought leaders, activists, and advocates committed to driving social and political change. During the institute, NBJC will launch nominations for its Black LGBTQ+/same-gender loving emerging leaders 100 to Watch List.
WHEN: Wednesday, January 22nd | 11:00 am PST to 5:00 pm PST
WHERE: Rio Hotel and Casino, 3700 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103 (Request media credentials for room locations from Cathy Renna at the National LGBTQ Task Force crenna@thetaskforce.org)
SPEAKERS:
Dr. David J. Johns
CEO/Executive Director
National Black Justice Collective
André C. Wade
State Director
Silver State Equality
Victoria Kirby York, MPA
Director of Public Policy and Programs
National Black Justice Collective
Hope Giselle-Godsey
Monica Roberts’ Senior Scholar
National Black Justice Collective
Brielle Winslow-Majette
Deputy Executive Director
Garden State Equality
Tiyale Hayes
Executive Vice President
BET
Paquita Wiggins
Founder
Tubman Survival Academy
Melanie Willingham-Jaggers
Executive Director
GLSEN
Toni-Michelle Williams
Executive Director
SNaP Co
Allen Morris
Policy Director
National LGBTQ Task Force
Sybastian Smith
Director of Organizing
Advocates 4 Transgender Equality
Jeffery T.D. Wallace
CEO
Leaders Up
REGISTER: Register for NBJC’s Black Track @ Creating Change HERE
Additional NBJC-sponsored events over the weekend include:
Black Facts: What Black Data Says About Movement & Messaging
Workshop on Friday,
January 24th, from 5:15 pm to 6:30 pm
Speakers:
Dr. David J. Johns
CEO/Executive Director
National Black Justice Collective
Surviving While Queer
Workshop on Saturday, January 25th, from 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm.
Speakers:
-Paquita Wiggins
-Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, GLSEN
-Toni-Michelle Williams, SNaP Co
-Allen Morris, National LGBTQ Task Force
-Sybastian Smith, Advocates 4 Transgender Equality
-Jeffery T.D. Wallace, LeadersUp
Good Trouble Network Presents: What That Power Do? Black LGBTQ+/SGL People Running for Elected Office and Holding Elected Leaders Accountable
Workshop on Friday, January 24th, from 10:45 am to 12:00 pm
Speakers
– Manassas Park VA Councilman Darryl Moore
-MD Del. Gabe Acevero
-Bloomington Clerk Nicole Bolden
-Dana Black, Act Blue
Additional Black Centered/Led Workshops in the Black Track can be found at:
NBJC’s resources for this year’s Black Institute include:
- Black Facts – The groundbreaking research project explicitly sampled Black people (1300 participants) in the Black LGBTQ+/SGL community, investigating the sentiments, stories, perceptions, and priorities around Black values and progressive policies. It aims to better understand how they impact Black views while providing a roadmap to increase support for Black LGBTQ+ people and issues.
- Stop HIV Together – Collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to increase the use of at-home HIV tests and HIV treatment and prevention medication.
- Benevolence Campaign- celebrates and supports Black LGBTQ+ children, youth, and young adults by making an investment in organizations that ensure our young people thrive
- U.S Trans Survey – the largest survey of trans people in the US covering health, employment, income, the criminal justice systems, etc., that provides data about trans people for the media, educators, policymakers, and the general public.
- Good Trouble Network – the first network of Black LGBTQ+/SGL elected officials that celebrates the historic number of Black LGBTQ+/SGL elected officials currently in office and advances policies and practices that will benefit Black LGBTQ+/SGL people, families, and communities.