Feb. 16, 2007

VCU hosts national gathering of experts for the sixth annual Social Equity Leadership Conference

Share this story

By Mike Porter

The Hon. Roger L. Gregory, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, served as keynote speaker at the opening day luncheon of the sixth annual National Academy of Public Administration Social Equity Leadership Conference hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. Photo by Ash Daniel, VCU Creative Services
The Hon. Roger L. Gregory, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, served as keynote speaker at the opening day luncheon of the sixth annual National Academy of Public Administration Social Equity Leadership Conference hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. Photo by Ash Daniel, VCU Creative Services

Academic, government and community leaders from across the country participated in the sixth annual National Academy of Public Administration Social Equity Leadership Conference hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.

Participants in the three-day symposium discussed access and parity issues in health care and emergency response.

“Poor people don’t have much advocacy or representation,” said Rev. Dwight C. Jones, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing Richmond.  “It’s important to push on behalf of the ‘least’ and the ‘left out,’” Jones said.

Jones was a panelist for the session titled “Social Equity Solutions at the Federal, State and Local Levels.”  He was joined by Elsie Scott, interim president and CEO of the Black Congressional Caucus Foundation.

Elsie Scott, interim president and CEO of the Black Congressional Caucus Foundation, and the Rev. Dwight C. Jones, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing Richmond, served as panelists for the “Social Equity Solutions at the Federal, State and Local Levels” session. Photo by Ash Daniel, VCU Creative Services
Elsie Scott, interim president and CEO of the Black Congressional Caucus Foundation, and the Rev. Dwight C. Jones, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates representing Richmond, served as panelists for the “Social Equity Solutions at the Federal, State and Local Levels” session. Photo by Ash Daniel, VCU Creative Services

“Hurricane Katrina exposed weaknesses in the government’s ability to serve and protect the most vulnerable citizens,” Scott said.  “There’s been a lot of talk about lifting people up from poverty and yet legislation that could do so has been languishing.”

The conference brought together policy experts, public health providers, non-profit agencies and business and community leaders.  They examined examples of what’s working around the country and learned strategies for creating similar successes in their hometowns.

“When you come to a conference like this, you realize you are not alone,” Scott said.  “Forums bring people together to bounce ideas off of one another and come up with solutions that work.  You leave feeling energized and rejuvenated and full of ideas.”

The 2007 conference was dedicated to Philip J. Rutledge, who died suddenly just days before the conference.  Rutledge was elected a National Academy of Public Administration Academy Fellow in 1974 and had been scheduled to lead one of the sessions at this year’s conference. 

Hannah Sistare, vice president for academy affairs at the National Academy of Public Administration, remembered Rutledge as a man of action and a leader who pushed others to succeed.

“I think he would be pleased by what we’re doing here – but not satisfied,” said Sistare.