34th Empowerment Congress Summit

Why Our Presence There Mattered?

“If you’re not at the table, you’re probably on the menu.” That truth framed our presence at the 34th Annual Empowerment Congress Summit, held last weekend at the California Science Center in Los Angeles, California, and hosted by the renowned Tavis Smiley. This year’s convening was especially significant, bringing together candidates for Governor of California, a seat currently held by Governor Gavin Newsom.

The summit included a Candidate Forum, moderated by Tavis Smiley, where a panel of esteemed journalists posed questions from the audience. Panelists included Gustavo Arellano, columnist for the Los Angeles Times; Lisa Collins, publisher of L.A. Focus Newspaper; and Frank Stoltze, Civics & Democracy Correspondent for LA!st. This setup ensured that candidates addressed real concerns from the community, including healthcare access, economic justice, and racial equity.

Policy Is Personal

As a grassroots breast cancer survivorship organization based in Southern California, our work sits at the intersection of health equity, public policy, and lived experience. Legislative decisions made at the state level determine access to healthcare, funding for early detection and research, environmental protections, and survivorship support.

The summit featured candidates for governor Betty Yee, Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Eric Swalwell, Tony Thurmond, Jon Slavet, Ian Calderon, Katie Porter, and Tom Steyer, each responding to hard-line issues raised by the journalist panel and audience members.

These conversations are not abstract. They show up in diagnosis timelines, treatment options, survivorship quality, and mortality rates—especially for communities that have historically been excluded from policy decision-making.

Why Being in the Room Matters

As an African American woman, survivor and advocate, being present in these spaces is essential. Too often, the communities most impacted by health inequities are missing from the rooms where policies are shaped.

When our voices are absent, our needs are overlooked. When we show up, we bring lived experience, accountability, and urgency into the conversation.

Being at the table allows us to ask the hard questions, challenge assumptions, and advocate for policies that reflect the real needs of breast cancer survivors in Black and Brown communities.

Why This Moment Matters

California often sets the tone for national policy. The next governor will influence:

• Healthcare funding and access

• Preventive care and early detection initiatives

• Environmental justice policies tied to cancer risk

• Long-term survivorship and caregiver support

Engaging directly with candidates is about ensuring that health equity is not treated as an afterthought, but as a priority.

Moving Forward

The 34th Annual Empowerment Congress Summit reaffirmed a core truth: policy shapes health outcomes.

We refuse to be on the menu.

We will continue to show up, speak up, and claim our seats at the table—advocating for policies that center health equity, survivorship, and dignity for Black and Brown communities, because our lives depend on it.

We will continue to show up, speak up, and claim our seats at the table—advocating for policies that center health equity, survivorship, and dignity for Black and Brown communities, because our lives depend on it. Hats of to Tavis for this platform. #HealthEquity #InThisMoment #EmpoweredCongress