Delaney Policy Group

This week, the Delaney Policy Group had an incredible time at the National Conference of State Legislatures' 50th Anniversary Summit in Boston. The Summit is always an incredible convening of thought leaders and policy makers who are together learning, sharing challenges, best practices, and experiences dealing with the most pressing issues of the day.

This year was different. In addition to the the Summit, the Delaney Policy Group had the honor of launching the New England Chapter of the National Black Professional Lobbyists Association (NBPLA). Chapter co-chairs Andrea (Carter) Delaney, J.D. and Daniel Delaney welcomed over 150 attendees to the NBPLA networking event.

was an amazing event, but one thing that we heard again and again was that the NBPLA mixer was the only time that many people in the room didn't feel like they were in the minority. There aren't very many Black lobbyists working state houses across nation. Even in states where there are more than one or two Black lobbyists, they are never a critical mass.

Lobbying and government affairs are professions that rely heavily on relationships and informal information exchanges. When you are consistently in the minority, relationship building and information exchanges can be challenging. Having a safe space to share ideas and best practices is critical. That is why the NCSL Summit had four official events for women in power. Unfortunately, the options for lobbyists, legislators and staff of color was not as robust.

That's why events like the NBPLA networking mixer at NCSL are so important. Please don't miss the opportunity to attend the 4th Annual NBPLA National Membership Meeting and Conference on September 23-24, 2025.

We're entering a critical time in the nation where state-based policy making and decisions are going to be more essential than ever. We're fortunate to have the leadership of Illinois Assistant Majority Leader Marcus C. Evans, Jr. as President of NCSL. We look forward to his leadership and the many opportunities that we will have to work together at this challenging moment.

It was a pleasure and a privilege to participate in the Mass Black Expo Ballot Breakdown panel.

Thank you, Alyssa Benalfew-Ramos, Carrie Mays, and Danielle Allen for the exciting and robust exchange.

As a Black-owned business, and as Massachusetts' only state-certified lobbying and government relations firm, the Delaney Policy Group appreciates how participating as an exhibitor and a speaker provided us with the opportunity to share our mission and vision. The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Inc. (BECMA) created an environment and a platform where we were able to showcase our business and be recognized for the uniqueness of what we bring to the table.

BECMA's mission to drive economic equity and prosperity for Massachusetts to achieve inclusive growth through advocacy, programming, and strategic partnerships that enable Black-owned businesses and Black communities to thrive, aligns with ours.

Thank you to President and CEO Nicole Obi and the rest of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts, Inc. (BECMA) team for such a wonderful experience!

We'll definitely be back. 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

A journey filled with dedication and innovation unfolds as milestones are reached and insights are shared. Behind the scenes, a commitment to excellence drives every decision and action taken.

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