Keynote Speaker

KWEISI MFUME
POLITICAL & BUSINESS LEADER

Kweisi Mfume was born, raised and educated in the city of Baltimore, and it was there that he followed his dreams to impact society and shape a more humane public policy. Forced to drop out of school at the age of 16 after the death of his mother, Mfume quickly began the process of rebuilding his life. He enrolled in the Community College of Baltimore and became politically active as editor of the school's newspaper. Mfume then went on to attend Morgan State University and graduated magna cum laude. He would later return there as an adjunct professor teaching courses in political science and communications. Mfume’s education culminated a Master’s degree in liberal arts with a concentration in international studies from Johns Hopkins University, where he currently serves as a trustee. As Mfume’s community involvement grew, so did his popularity as an activist, radio commentator, newscaster and on-air personality. He translated that experience into a grassroots election victory when he won a seat on the Baltimore City Council in 1979 by a margin of just three votes. During his seven years of service in local government, Mfume led the efforts to diversify city government, improve community safety, enhance business development and divest city funds from the then apartheid government of South Africa.

In 1986, Mfume was decisively elected to the Congressional seat that he held for the next decade. As a Congressman, Mfume was active with a broad array of committee obligations. He served on the Banking and Financial Services Committee and held the ranking seat on the General Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. He also served as a member of the Committee on Education and as a senior member of the Small Business Committee. While in his third term, he was chosen by the Speaker of the House to serve on the Ethics Committee and the Joint Economic Committee of the House and Senate of which he was later elected Chairman.

Congressman Mfume consistently advocated landmark business and civil rights legislation during his time as a member of the House of Representatives. His achievements include successfully co-sponsoring and helping pass the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as sponsoring legislative initiatives banning assault weapons and establishing stalking as a federal crime. He also served as both Vice-Chair and later Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Mfume became President and Chief Executive Officer of the NAACP in February of 1996 after being unanimously elected to the post, which he held for nine years. During that time he significantly raised the national profile of the NAACP and helped restore its prominence among the nation’s civil rights organizations. Mfume is credited with helping raise over $100 million in outside contributions for the organization while at the same time developing its national Corporate Diversity Project and establishing 75 new college-based NAACP chapters. His five-point program of advocacy included civil rights enforcement, educational excellence, economic empowerment, health advocacy and youth outreach. He negotiated for and successfully secured the NAACP’s official United Nations status as a non-governmental organization (NGO) in 2003. Beyond his work with the NAACP, Mfume’s dedication to social advocacy led to 2006 endorsements from the National Organization for Women (NOW) and the Maryland State Teachers Association (MSTA) as a candidate for the United States Senate from the State of Maryland.

Now leading the National Medical Association, Mfume brings unparalleled expertise, experience, and passion to helping ensure that the underserved have a voice in their healthcare. Dedicated to shaping a more human public policy, he works toward ending economic and social barriers and helps members navigate the ever-changing healthcare landscape.

Mfume’s additional political projects include membership in the Continuity of Government Commission funded by the Carnegie, Hewlett Packard, and MacArthur foundations. The Commission was created to study and recommend reforms related to Presidential and Congressional succession in a time of national catastrophic crisis or in the event of a terrorist attack. Mfume also proudly served as the national surrogate speaker for the Obama presidential campaign.

A highly visible voice in the political arena, Mfume’s background in broadcasting includes 13 years in radio. His television work includes nine years as the host of the locally award-winning television show, The Bottom Line and five years as the host of the nationally syndicated NBC - Hearst TV special The Remarkable Journey. He is the recipient of the 2005 Telly Award for best independent television documentary. He has made appearances as a guest commentator on ABC’s This Week and has been featured on 60 Minutes, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Meet the Press, The O'Reilly Factor, Hardball, Nightline and countless other news and public affairs programs. Mfume has also penned a bestselling autobiography entitled No Free Ride.