Kentucky Black Caucus of L.E.O holds first summit in Bowling Green

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – The Kentucky Black Caucus of Locally Elected Officials is hosting their Summer Summit for the first time in Bowling Green Thursday and Friday.

This summit places an emphasis on leadership and civic activism, though a particular emphasis was placed on the youth.

“My session was about building bridges in the community and that starts with the youth,” said Gatton Academy graduate and incoming Emory University Freshman Albert Mbanfu. “I just spoke about the issues that we have right now in Kentucky, and how the solution is not always with the older folk, that the youth has a part in that and the youth has a place to where we can start making changes.”

Along with bolstering Black leadership and tenacity, Thursday and Friday’s panels will also speak on community engagement and overcoming adversity.

“I feel that I still see some microaggressions along the way, even though racism, it’s gotten better. There’s still some people that, they just don’t change,” said Jonesville Academy eighth grader Aiden Elois-Griffith. “You just have to get past that. You have to think about it and be persistent.”

While Elois-Griffith said these incidents can bring him down, he credits his family and his education, for his persistence.

“They’re always telling me tips, how to do better, how to be a better person, how to interact. Jonesville is the number one. They really try to get involved with the school and help us become better men, especially since we’re already at a disadvantage.”

When asked what were some of the greater issues affecting black youth, Mbanfu discussed education.

“I know Kentucky is ranked pretty low with the education rankings, so I’m making sure that and in education areas that we’re uplifted. When we’re able to be seen in that light, we’re able to improve other areas dealing with housing, the community, drugs, where we’re not seen as much. I feel that being able to get that spotlight on this is the most important right now.”

Both Mbanfu and Elois Griffith said their advice for overcoming adversity, is finding camaraderie in community.

“I think Black people do a good job of bolstering together, using each other to support each other,” Mbafu said. “When we have one person on the top, we’re able to uplift everybody else, which is very nice. So I think having that leadership with others is the most important.”

“We work hard, we try our best, we try to give 120%, so I feel that if you keep on trying, you’ll get there someday,” said Elois-Griffith. “It may take a while, it may take one year or 100 years, but you will get there.”

Governor Andy Beshear will be at the summit Friday to give a presentation in remembrance of the honorable J. Michael Brown.

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