Civil Rights Advocates and Leaders Discuss the State of Civil Rights at CDU’s 11th Annual President’s Breakfast
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) hosted its 11th Annual President’s Breakfast on Friday, February 27, at the Colburn School in downtown Los Angeles.
Convening nationally recognized civil rights leaders and advocates to examine this year’s theme: “Civil Rights in the 21st Century?”
President and CEO Dr. David M. Carlisle opened the conversation by acknowledging the tension shaping the national climate and the enduring role CDU has played in shaping history since its founding in the aftermath of the 1965 Watts uprising.
“CDU’s 60th anniversary carries such profound meaning because sixty years later, and against all odds, we are still here, blocks away from the epicenter of an uprising that demanded we exist,” said Dr. Carlisle. “Still training physicians, nurses, and public health professionals who return to serve the communities that need them most; and still advancing health equity as a daily responsibility because health equity is a civil rights issue.”
His remarks underscored a defining truth that CDU and institutions alike are not passive observers of history, they are instruments of change.
Legendary civil rights leader and community organizer Dolores Huerta energized the audience with a direct call to organize and protect democracy.
“We have such a big fight on our hands,” Huerta said. “In 2026, we’re going to have midterm elections and every one of us has got to get out there to recruit, organize, and get more people on the ground.”
Her message echoed throughout the program reminding guests that democracy is not self-sustaining, it requires participation, vigilance, and people power.
Connie L. Rice, nationally acclaimed civil rights attorney delivered a keynote that served as both warning and blueprint. Drawing parallels between today’s political polarization and the civic collapse of the 1850s, Rice argued that the nation is no longer operating within a traditional civil rights framework.
“We must become builders of a rule-of-law democracy that radically reconstructs society to put human well-being first, end necrocapitalism that kills people, and put universal opportunity and upward mobility at its core,” said Rice. “We must become the architects of E Pluribus Unum, out of many, one democracy.”
A distinguished panel moderated by President Carlisle further explored what civil rights leadership must look like in this era.
Tavis Smiley, managing editor and host of the nationally syndicated “Tavis Smiley” show, reflected on the kind of servant leadership required in this moment.
“You can’t lead people unless you love people and you can’t save people unless you’re serving people,” said Smiley. “By love, I simply mean that everybody is equally worthy just because. When we tap into that definition of leadership, leadership that loves us and serves us, then we can have a different kind of conversation.”
Philanthropic leader Joanna S. Jackson emphasized the responsibility philanthropy has to stand courageously with communities.
“Movements and servant leaders are going to do the work whether philanthropy shows up or not,” noted Jackson. “The question is how is philanthropy going to show up and move in partnership.”
“Are we going to stand up and be courageous the way people in the community are being courageous because they have no choice?” she added. “We have the responsibility to fund in a way that allows people to be in the work for the long haul.”
Thomas Saenz, President and General Counsel of Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), addressed the judiciary’s critical role in protecting civil rights and called for boldness.
“We depend on the courts today because they’re the only branch that is not wholly owned by the White House,” said Saenz. “The responsibility of all of us is to support good judges and make sure more judges gain courage. This is the chance to revisit the long established limitations on civil rights in the courts that have no application today.”
To close the panel discussion, President Carlisle invited each panelist to offer final reflections. Their responses converged on the defining moment our nation faces.
“We are the ones right now who have to show up and make sure that we protect elections and continue to build forward,” urged Jackson. “Future generations will look back at this moment in history. It is our responsibility to show up with courage, with love, with hope, and do the work in a way that invites people in to build a bigger ‘we.’”
For over a decade, the CDU President’s Breakfast has served as a vital platform for informed dialogue and collective strategy. This year, the gathering moved decisively beyond reflection. It offered a clear blueprint to build institutions that center human well-being, to defend democratic norms, to support courageous leadership, and to expand opportunity for all.
The 11th Annual CDU President’s Breakfast was made possible through the generous support of its sponsors. CDU extends heartfelt gratitude to gold sponsor The Weingarten Family; silver sponsors Dignity Health, AltaMed, and Western Alliance Bank; bronze sponsors USI and MLK Community Health Foundation; and community sponsors bakertilly, Infinite Circulation, RFP Insurance, and AOE Consulting for their commitment to our mission and dedication to advancing health equity.