LA Focus on the Word Navigating Turbulence - Empowerment Congress Tackles Chaos, Democracy, and Resilience With Annual Summit
by Lisa Collins | January 25, 2025
The 33rd Annual Summit of the Empowerment Congress, hosted at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, brought together some of Los Angeles’ most influential political and philanthropic leaders to deliberate on the challenges facing the community and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Its 2025 theme, “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Democracy?,” set the stage for critical discussions about the volatile political climate, the enduring impact of misinformation, and the imperative of unity in addressing societal challenges.
KBLA owner and talk show host Tavis Smiley encapsulated the mood of the summit—which was broadcast live—by acknowledging the turbulent times and the ominous metaphor they represent for the future, pointing to a political climate saturated with chaos and disinformation. It is a strategy he attributes to Donald Trump’s influence.
“These are unsettling times,” he said. “The return of Donald Trump as president and the events of the last few weeks serve as a metaphor for a political climate characterized by volatility, uncertainty and unpredictability. Let’s hope it does not become apocalyptic.”
Smiley also noted that the recent wildfires, have exacerbated long-standing inequalities, leaving already marginalized communities grappling with heightened economic, social, and cultural disparities. “We know that these fires are going to leave in their wake even greater racial, economic, social and cultural inequality.”
Empowerment Congress Co-Chair Pastor Eddie Anderson emphasized the organization’s commitment to educating, engaging, and empowering communities.
“We do this by providing accurate information about critical issues affecting our communities,” Anderson said. “We use that information to identify active opportunities and use our agency as individuals and collectively to empower ourselves to improve our quality of life. We must make it clear our pursuit of justice is far from over and as Dr King said, 'We ain’t gonna let you nobody turn us around!'”
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan echoed the sentiment, underlining the importance of addressing systemic inequities, particularly in communities afflicted by environmental hazards, economic challenges, and racial injustice.
“Every black person in this room is the living embodiment of what resistance truly looks like,” Bryan declared. “That’s why the Empowerment Congress is so important. That’s why you are so important...We are power and we’ve got to exercise that power. If we can’t fight and protect each other, what business do we have telling others to fight and protect us.”
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove delivered an impassioned critique of Trump’s governance, describing it as an intentional and systematic dismantling of civil rights and democratic safeguards, warning that Trump’s return to prominence poses serious threats to equity and justice.
“The first term with Donald Trump, he was figuring out what it meant to be in government,” she stated. “[Now] he has had so much time and brought so many experienced chaos agents under his tent. This is the same person who, on the first day, signed more executive orders than any other president in history. That means, even though he has punked these Republicans in Congress and the Senate...even though he has had a hand at creating this corrosive, corrupted Supreme Court...he still doesn’t have faith in them. So, he has rolled back the Equal Employment Opportunity Act back to pre-1965 days. He has fired every single civil servant, mostly black, that worked for the federal government. He has cut foreign aid to every single country around the globe, except for Egypt and Israel, and was on TV the other day talking about how shameful it was that rich people have to take showers with less than 38 gallons of water."
“This has happened in less than one week,” she continued. “So, believe him when he tells you that he is coming for you.”
City leaders also voiced their perspectives on unity and community engagement. City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson asserted that resistance must begin with unity, noting how moments of crisis can unify communities against common threats.
“Resistance has to begin with unity,” Harris-Dawson observed. “That is our absolute starting point, and one of the only positive things about Trump is that he unifies us.”
Councilmember Curren Price remarked on the significance of convening like-minded individuals to tackle pressing local issues, while Councilmember Heather Hutt highlighted the Congress’ role in raising awareness about challenges that affect the wider community, advocating for a collective effort to enhance everyone’s quality of life.
L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell lauded the Empowerment Congress for its over 30 years of fostering dialogue and empowerment, a testament to its enduring commitment to community betterment. “This space allows people to come together, hear vital information, and determine how to take part in shaping a better future,” Mitchell noted.
The summit underscored the necessity of unity, public-private partnerships, and individual involvement to counteract inequality and the fragility of democracy. Said Empowerment Congress founder, Dr. Mark Ridley-Thomas, “We are exercising our choice, our autonomy, our agency and our moral muscle. That’s essentially what the empowerment Congress is about. When we say engage, we are simply saying to engage in good trouble, not bad faith.”