One Voice and Hope Policy Institute host Mississippi Black Leadership Summit

JANS – The Mississippi Black Leadership Summit (MBLS) 2025, hosted by One Voice and Hope Policy Institute, was held December 8-9 at the Jackson Convention Complex in downtown Jackson, MS. The Summit successfully concluded its opening day, drawing elected officials, community organizers, and policy experts to the Convention Center under the theme, “From Vision to Victory: Building Black Power Through Policy, Partnership, and People.”

Day 1, titled “Power of the Collective – Setting the Stage,” was marked by a powerful convergence of data, faith, and grassroots strategy, setting the foundation for co-designing a statewide Black Action Agenda. The discussions reinforced the urgent need for a unified, data-driven approach to addressing long-standing equity gaps in Mississippi.

“This is not about elected positions but local victories in communities to meet the needs of real people everyday,” said Nsombi Lambright-Haynes, Executive Director of One Voice. “The energy in this room confirms that the collective power of Black leaders in Mississippi is ready to move beyond incremental change. We are in a period of resistance, and MBLS is about celebrating victories, but also confronting hard truths, setting the stage for policy wins that will transform our communities.”

Lakeisha Hood Moise, President and CEO of MDC, delivered a powerful keynote address, “From Crisis to Resilience – The Future of Black Leadership in Mississippi,” reminding attendees that “our power is real and so is our inheritance. We are not building from scratch, but from a foundation laid in struggle, sacrifice, and brilliance.” 

The Plenary Panel, “The State of Black Mississippi: Equity, Data, and Direction,” featured a deep dive into findings from One Voice’s research, highlighting disparities in labor, health, and civic engagement, and providing data to inform targeted policy solutions.

Policy and Finance: Leaders explored practical strategies for economic empowerment in sessions like “Financing Equity: CDFIs, HBCUs, and Pathways to Community Wealth.” Separately, Michael Leachman of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities outlined actionable steps for “Translating Community Vision into Policy Wins.”

Intergenerational Leadership: Sessions focused on lifting diverse voices, including “Our Turn: Youth Voices Leading the Way” and “The Future of Black Women’s Leadership: Policy, Power & The Black Action Agenda,” ensuring the new agenda is inclusive and forward-looking.

Call to Faith and Action: Luncheon speaker Dr. C.J. Rhodes, Pastor of Mt. Helm Baptist Church, delivered an inspiring message on “Faith, Freedom & Forward Strategy,” connecting the struggle for justice to a moral and spiritual imperative for change, encouraging people to get involved in the fight.

The momentum gathered on Day 1 carried directly into Day 2’s central task: synthesizing the shared vision into the concrete Statewide Black Action Agenda.

Day 2 focused intensely on translating the day’s learning and energy into a tangible action plan. Highlights included a Mayor & Supervisor Roundtable on city-county partnerships, a dedicated Action Planning Session/Community Visioning to co-design the Black Action Agenda, and the Closing Luncheon featuring a Keynote Address and the Outstanding Local Leader Recognition Award.

MBLS 2025 culminated with the co-designing of the comprehensive framework for the Statewide Black Action Agenda.

The centerpiece of the Summit was the Action Planning Session/Community Visioning session, where participants synthesized insights and priorities from across the two days to create a clear, actionable framework for advancing Black-led policy in Mississippi.

“The spirit of this Summit was one of relentless forward motion,” said Lambright-Haynes. “We did more than just talk; we worked together to build a collective action plan that is grounded in data, community needs, and political reality. This framework ensures that our vision for equity and justice is not a dream, but a structured, implementable agenda for 2026 and beyond.”

Highlights from Day 2 included the Mayor & Supervisor Roundtable facilitated by Harvey Johnson, the first Black mayor of Jackson. Panelists included Justin Lofton, the youngest elected Supervisor in Pike County history, representing the 1st District; Gloria Dickerson from the Sunflower County Board of Supervisors; and Lesia Hemphill, Mayor of Vaiden, MS. Panelists discussed collaboration at the local level and addressed shared challenges such as infrastructure, economic development, housing stability, and unequal access to funding. 

The Plenary Panel, “Unlocking Opportunities: Practical Resources for Mississippi Black Leaders,” provided attendees with information on funding sources, technical assistance, and networks available through partners like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Women Business Center at JSU. Panelists included Monica Coleman, Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Sydney Brown, Director of the JSU Women Business Center; Richard Bradley, President of Metro Booming; and Velvet Scott from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. 

The Summit closed with the Leadership Recognition Awards Lunch. Dr. Johnny DuPree, Senator-elect MS Senate District 45, who was greeted by a standing ovation, delivered a powerful keynote address on “Leadership and the Call to Action,” urging attendees to uphold the principles of courage and service to support the people that they serve. During the luncheon the Outstanding Leadership Award was presented to longtime Hinds County Chancery Clerk Eddie Jean Carr for her contributions embodying the principles of resilience, justice, and community advancement.