Mayor Marvin Rees, Helen Grant MP head to White House

Mayor Marvin Rees and Helen Grant MP - both OBV alumni - will be part of a Europe delegation of minority elected officials and activists heading to the White House to talk to senior officials and grass roots activists about how best to tackle race inequality in the US and Europe.

This visit is part of a broader programme from this year’s 46th Congressional Black Caucus Foundation conference. A conference that will host nearly ten thousand African American, Senators, Congressmen, business leaders, and delegates from across the US. The conference culminates which culminates in a Presidential dinner.

Other European BME legislators will include; Chritiane Taubira, former French Minster, Said Abdu, member of Parliament for Sweden, Karamba Diaby, Azize Tank, both members of Parliament for Germany.

In regards to UK and Europe’s participation we seem to be getting bigger and better. Our goals have always been to build alliances and projects so our voices get stronger and long lasting relationship are built.

Last year we began a process of forging links with the Historically Black Howard University and London’s Queen Mayor University. Our goal is to establish a transatlantic exchange programme with UK students spending time at the White House and UK students getting to know how Parliament works.

First time visitor to the CBI Mayor Marvin Rees will also use his time to put Bristol PLC on the US map, by meeting delegates from the US equivalent to the Confederation of Business Institute - CBI.

Speaking in anticipation of his trip Rees said:

For me this is a multipurpose visit: We have to share ideas how we tackle race inequality and unlock talent, both here and abroad, along with a parallel and entwined conversation about tapping into Bristol’s creativity and dynamism that should excite multinationals to come and invest in our city."

The Europe Delegation events will begin by having a round table discussion with Senator Mendez, Congressman Alcee Hastings along with State Department officials whose work is specifically around US and European relations.

The BlackLivesMatter campaign will once again be a major discussion point at this year’s annual conference. As the days and evening events occur I’ll try and keep you up to date with this extraordinary event.

The Europe delegation has been organised by The European Network Against Racism - ENAR - and sponsered by Open Society Foundation.

Simon Woolley