Foundation For Ethnic Understanding

The Foundation Hosts First Annual
New Ethnic Members of Congress Reception on Capitol Hill

Photos from New Ethnic Members of Congress Reception on Capitol Hill

On February 2nd, Rabbi Marc Schneier and Russell Simmons hosted The Foundation's First Annual New Ethnic Congressional Members Reception on Capitol Hill, in Washington D.C. The event was covered in the The Washington Post and The Jewish Week.

Representatives Charlie Rangel, new CBC chairman Mel Watt, Sylvestre Reyes and Jerrold Nadler represented the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Jewish Congressional Delegation. We were pleased when they offered remarks and welcomed their new colleagues. Ambassador Daniel Ayalon of Israel, Ambassador Jose Octavio Bordon of Argentina and former Cabinet Secretary and MPAA President Dan Glickman were on hand to participate in the program as well. Leaders from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, the World Jewish Congress and the NAACP spoke and co-hosted the event with The Foundation.

The Reception welcomed and honored the following new ethnic members:

Senator Barack Obama
Senator Mel Martinez
Senator Ken Salazar
Congressman Al Green
Congressman Bobby Jindal
Congresswoman Gwen Moore
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver
Congressman John Salazar
Congressman Jim Costa
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Congressman Henry Cuellar
Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz
Congressman Luis Furtuno

By honoring the new ethnic members of Congress The Foundation is recognizing the changing demographics in the United States and encouraging these new members to join our efforts to strengthen interethnic relationships on Capitol Hill.

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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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