Black Political Leadership in the 21st Century

A Conversation with
Representative Cedric Richmond (D-LA-02)
Congressman, Louisiana
Chairman, Congressional Black Caucus
Symone Sanders (Moderator)
2018 Spring Fellow, Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School
Strategist, Priorities USA
National Press Secretary, Bernie Sanders 2016

The JFK Jr. Forum aims to educate, inspire debate, and foster conversation at the Institute of Politics. Unless otherwise specified, members of the Harvard community and general public are encouraged to attend Forum events.

To learn more about events like this one, sign up for the JFK Jr. Forum newsletter HERE

Congressman Cedric Richmond represents Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives. Cedric currently serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Committee on the Judiciary. Outside of Committee service, he is an active member and Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and a member of the New Democrat Coalition.
As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Cedric works to ensure New Orleans and surrounding communities are adequately prepared for any emergency through oversight of the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA). He also works to ensure the security of the nation’s critical infrastructure, borders, and ports.
As a member of the Committee on the Judiciary, the second oldest standing committee in Congress, Cedric works with committee members to exercise oversight responsibility for the U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Cedric is a strong believer in the value of mentorship in his hometown. He is a graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School, earned his undergraduate degree from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, and his Juris Doctorate from the Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans.  Cedric is also a graduate of the Harvard University Executive Education Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Symone D. Sanders is a strategist and CNN political commentator who rose to prominence during her tenure as the national press secretary for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. At 25, she became the youngest presidential press secretary on record and was named to Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of 16 young Americans shaping the 2016 election.
Currently she is a strategist for Communications and Political Outreach at Priorities USA. She also serves as principal of the 360 Group LLC where she provides strategic communications guidance to organizations, businesses, individuals, campaigns and candidates and helps clients find sound solutions to tough political and social problems.
A communicator with a passion for juvenile justice, Sanders is the former chair of the Coalition of Juvenile Justice Emerging Leaders Committee and former member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Juvenile Justice, where she worked to raise the profile of young voices in the fight for juvenile justice reform and bring millennial perspectives to policy conversations.
She has been featured on multiple news networks and profiled in national newspapers and magazines.