On October 2, 2003, The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding launched the First Annual Interethnic Congressional Leadership Forum and Reception on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The event served as the official launch of The Foundation's new Washington, DC office, which is being operated in cooperation with the World Jewish Congress. This landmark program was co-hosted by the World Jewish Congress, NAACP, National Council of La Raza and National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium.

The forum featured a panel of Congress members and leaders of lay organizations, discussing the changing demographics of the United States, and how to forge new, lasting coalitions in this environment. Speakers included Foundation President Rabbi Marc Schneier, Congress members Bob Filner (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Israeli Ambassador to the United States Daniel Ayalon, Director of the NAACP Washington Bureau Hilary Shelton, President and Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium Karen Narasaki and Foundation Executive Director Lawrence Kopp.

Leaders from the following organizations also participated:
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
American Jewish Congress
Museum of Puerto Rican Blacks
American Jewish World Service
National Jewish Democratic Council
Colombian Embassy
Project Interchange
Dominican American National Roundtable
Southern Christian Leadership Conference

The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding/World Jewish Congress Washington, DC Interethnic Caucus Office's sole mission will be to strengthen race relations with and between the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Jewish Congressional Delegation and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Changing demographics in the United States are creating a new political environment in Washington, DC. Different ethnic communities and coalitions on Capitol Hill are increasingly being challenged by these changes. The Foundation's Washington, DC office will focus on ways to forge stronger coalitions and build new bridges between the members of the four ethnic congressional caucuses and their communities.

Copyright © 2003 The Foundation For Ethnic Understanding
The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding was founded in 1989 by Rabbi Marc Schneier and the late Joseph Papp. We are committed to the belief that direct, face-to-face, dialogue between leaders of ethnic communities is the most effective path toward the reduction of bigotry and the promotion of reconciliation and understanding.

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