The NCBW 15th biennial conference closed on October 8, 2011 to resounding applause and pure energy born of four full  days of information sharing from national experts, successful business meetings and sister-networking. All who attended from Indianapolis and across the country continue to share positive feedback reflecting a similar tone of the many testimonials received, to date.

NCBW extends its sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the many national and local sponsors who made the 15^th national biennial conference possible!

And, I must admit: the NCBW Indianapolis Chapter, Inc. simply outdid itself! From start to finish every detail—BIG and SMALL—was successfully addressed to ensure every member and sponsor would feel their investment in this conference was “well worth it”!

From the conference opening at the historic and majestic Madame Walker Theatre, to the conference closing with the installation of national officers and announcement of the national chapter awards, to the content of each and every plenary session which all found to be timely, relevant and rich, the conference can be stamped “HUGE SUCCESS”. The speakers were stellar and our membership stayed on their feet with applause and excitement about the quality of the information they shared that helps us in framing the national and local advocacy initiatives and our continuing efforts to build the pipeline of Black female leadership in America.

The biennial conference also provided the stage for us to hear more from our 2011 national program sponsor: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, on the outcomes of the recent results of their major outreach through ESSENCE Magazine who partnered with the Campaign to conduct a nationally representative survey of African-American youth to better understand their ideas about sex, love, and relationships. NCBW distributed 500 copies of its 2011 White Paper titled, “Babies Having Babies: The Imperative for Ending the Epidemic of Teen Pregnancy in the Black Community”; a project wholly-funded by the National Campaign and supported through the input of twelve other national Black women’s organizations. Continue to “tune in” as our national program committee and Teen Pregnancy Prevention champions work to define and share multiple strategies for local chapters to drive the teen pregnancy prevention campaign. And please take a moment to listen to, Makeda, one of the two NCBW teen representatives to the Campaign’s national teen advisory council. Makeda is sponsored by NCBW NoVa (northern Virginia) chapter). Makeda represents herself, teens and the NCBW so very well; listen in as Makeda talks about how conversations with her mother help her think more critically about the decisions that she makes, and how parents can support teens in their relationships.

In closing, I thank the delegates and membership for the privilege of serving again as the national president for 2011-2013. It was with great pride that I stood with the other elected officers to take the oath of office administered by Federal Judge Tanya Walton-Pratt. Judge Pratt made history earlier this year when she was appointed by President Obama, and making this 50 year old Black woman the first African-American to serve as a federal judge in Indiana’s history.

All of the “NCBW Nation” applauds the outstanding performance of the NCBW Bergen Passaic chapter, who won chapter of the year. Other chapters were awarded for their work in the areas of health, education, or economic development. Please read who they are and why they won here. The national leadership also commends the 11 chapters who achieved the “model chapter” rating accomplished this very first year of implementation of the new annual performance standards.

The year ahead promises to be busy and rewarding; the plan-forward was shared with our members and guests on the last night of the conference and I hope each of you will take the time to review the power point presentation and to listen to this message.

With best regards,

Dee Dee

“I must say, the 15th Biennial Conference was so exciting and informative! The Southern New Jersey Chapter participants returned home with contagious energy and so honored to be a member of NC100BW!

Thank you.

Lillie Wells

President, Southern NJ Chapter”