Caring Chronicles

New York, NY - It is with great pride that HDI congratulates Congresswoman March L. Fudge (D-OH) on her swearing-in as the 18^th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Secretary Fudge was a long-time member of HDI’s Congressional Advisory Board and participated in HDI programs at the United Nations, the United Arab Republic, and Sudan.  HDI looks forward to consulting Secretary Fudge’s Office in designing new HDI programs to further HDI’s mission.

New York, NY - HDI is proud to join Congressional Black Caucus Chair Representative Joyce Beaty (D-OH) in congratulating the Congressional Black Caucus on its 50th Anniversary. We are especially proud that one of the longest serving members of HDI’s Congressional Advisory Board (CAB), former Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY) was one of the original founders of the Caucus in 1971. Today, HDI is humbled to have 14 Members of the CBC on its CAB.

New York, NY - On January 3, 2021, the 116^th Congress adjourned and with its closure two members of HDI’s Congressional Advisory Board Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Pete Olson (R-TX) retired.

HDI would like to extend its sincerest thanks to Representative Lowey and Representative Olson for the service they have given to HDI’s Congressional Advisory Board.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey was among the longest serving members of HDI’s Congressional Advisory Board. Ms. Lowey worked with HDI’s founder, Constance Milstein, to promote dialogue between the U.S. Congress and the United Nations.

Congressman Pete Olson, a more recent member, was extremely supportive of advancing HDI’s commitment to bipartisanship. Mr. Olson was also a senior member of HDI’s Congressional delegation to the port of Antwerp (Belgium).  In Antwerp, Mr. Olson forcefully advocated for U.S. maritime interests and for American business.

HDI would like to wish Representative Lowey and Representative Olson success in their new endeavors and will continue to seek their advice and guidance.

New York, NY - HDI is proud to announce that Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI) has become a member of HDI’s bipartisan Congressional Advisory Board. 

Congressman Pocan will be replacing Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) who has been selected by President-elect Biden to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Congressman Mark Pocan has represented Wisconsin’s Second Congressional District since 2013.  The Second District is located in south central Wisconsin and includes the capital of Wisconsin, Madison.  In the 116th Congress, Representative Pocan served on the important House Appropriations Committee.

Congressman Pocan has been active on HDI’s programs and has participated in HDI’s Congressional delegations with other Members to the United Nations in New York and to other countries.

Barbara Lee (D-CA) was Awarded the Elijah Cummings Award for Minority Health Equality on Word AIDS Day 2020

New York, NY - HDI Congratulates Congressional Advisory Board Member Barbara Lee (D-CA) on receiving The Elijah Cummings Award for Minority Health Equality from NMAC, the national HIV/AIDS advocacy organization for her longstanding commitment to fighting the HIV epidemic.  We are honored that Congresswoman Lee has been a member of HDI’s Congressional Advisory Board for over a decade.

https://www.metroweekly.com/2020/11/nmac-to-honor-nancy-pelosi-and-barbara-lee-with-its-first-ever-hill-champion-awards/

New York, NY - HDI is proud to work closely with the Congressional Black Caucus.  On December 3, 2020 the Caucus chose by acclamation the following leadership team for the 117^th Congress.

Chair -Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH)

First Vice Chair – Rep. Steven Horsford (D-NV)

Second Vice Chair- Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI)

Secretary – Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)

Whip – Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)

Parliamentarian – Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

Congresswoman Jackson Lee, Congressman Johnson, and Congresswoman Wilson are members of HDI’s Congressional Advisory Board (CAB).

HDI is proud to have participated for the third year in the Taihe Civilizations Forum which was held September 6-12, 2020.  Taihe Institute is an important international organization which, as does HDI, devotes itself to improving dialog among nations and peoples.  This year’s forum was based on the theme of “Science Culture, Future Ethics and Common Values”.  There were four sub-forums on International Relations, Education and Culture, Disruptive Technologies, and Security and Development of the Belt and Road. Because of the current worldwide pandemic this year’s forum was done virtually with participants from around the world discussing topics on virtual platforms.

Next year’s forum will again be held in Beijing, China.

HDI is proud to announce that it has received grants from U.S. Embassy Bahrain and U.S. Embassy Oslo to support culinary diplomacy.

Soul Food Scholar Adrian Miller will present a Virtual African American Thanksgiving Dinner in both the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Kingdom of Norway in November, 2020.  Adrian Miller is an HDI cultural envoy and the author of Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time and The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washington to the Obamas.

Mr. Miller will also travel to Bahrain and Norway to do on-site demonstrations and lectures once international exchanges resume in 2021

Under the auspices of HDI’s Music Matters program, HDI Celebrity Spokesperson Mary Wilson traveled to Slovenia and Belgium for a week of outreach and performances in honor of Black History Month, February 3-7, 2020. Working with the U.S. Mission to the European Union (USEU) and the U.S. Embassy to Slovenia, Mary Wilson and her six-person band performed at the major concert halls of Maribor, Slovenia and Brussels, Belgium. Miss Wilson also spoke at schools and at the European Parliament on the intersection of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and Motown.