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Aysia Gilbert
The Black Policy Conference at Duke University was a transformative experience that fostered dialogue, inspired action, and strengthened our commitment to addressing the pressing issues facing Black communities. It was a space where we could have transformative conversations and dream of endless opportunities for our future where equity and safety exist. From former Flint, Michigan Mayor Karen Weaver’s dynamic keynote to our phenomenal panelists, the conference was a catalyst for action and advocacy.
Looking into the crowd, I felt blessed to see the diversity of folks who came to support and learn about how to engage critically with policy that uplifts the Black community. Planning this conference has been a highlight of my experience at Duke, and I am thankful to be supported by faculty and staff that helped make this happen. As a Black girl born in Mississippi, it was amazing to see that I could work and build such an amazing event with my peers. I know my ancestors would be proud.
Carrying the torch and continuing this conference at Duke, in the South, is not just important—it is necessary. I am proud that this work is inspiring a new generation of leaders and advocates who are dedicated to continuing the legacy those who came before us built. Being part of this initiative has been an honor, and I am confident that the Black Policy Conference will continue to ignite passion, foster change, and drive progress for years to come. Together, we are shaping a future where equity and justice are not just aspirations but true realities. Thank you, Duke and the broader Durham community, for supporting and believing in the vision of the Black Policy Conference. Your unwavering support has made this transformative event possible, and together, we are paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future.
Reylan Cook
Over the past year, the Black Policy Conference Student Leadership team had envisioned attendees gathered in Sanford to share insights, exchange ideas, and forge connections that will shape the future of public policy. On February 22nd, we saw the completion of that process from seed to fruit, and it's arguably been one of my best moments at Sanford.
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Getting the opportunity to hear from brilliant minds, engage in thought-provoking discussions, and witness the spark of groundbreaking innovations that have the potential to transform public policy and every discipline it intersects with. From the breakdown of Professor William “Sandy” Darity Jr’s expertise in reparations to Reverend Dr. Starsky Wilson’s policy implementation insight in the early childhood education space and all the knowledge bestowed by our esteemed guests, the interconnection between economics and education is not clear but powerful markers in our overall sociopolitical system. Each session added a new layer to our understanding, and each interaction has enriched our professional and personal lives here in Durham and beyond.
Purpose work requires grit and tenacity. It requires people who will walk alongside you and hold the line of justice with you. Our student leadership team was the personification of that spirit in action. Working with Aysia, Zipporah, Eni, De’Omini, and Diontre has been a treasured memory of my Sanford experience, and I will take its lessons with me for the rest of my life.
I encouraged attendees to carry forward the knowledge and inspiration gained at the Black Policy Conference. We encourage those who have attended to share it with your colleagues, apply it in your work, and continue to push the boundaries of what's possible. As we were creating the Black Policy Student Association this past summer, I was reminded of a saying I heard at the Association of African American Students at the University of South Carolina during my time there but that comes from an African proverb used during the time of enslavement… it goes: “Each one teach one, each one reach one, what we don't know we must learn. and once we've learned we must teach.” I saw this ideal reflected in former Mayor Karen Weaver’s keynote. I trust policy practitioners, students, academicians, entrepreneurs, and others and recognize the role we each play in creating economies of community and care. I hope that is what we’ve fostered through the conference: an opportunity to learn from policy practitioners, reach across our academic and professional lanes, and ultimately take the information and network gained to teach and share with the world.
As we look to the future of the Black Policy Conference, let us remember that this conference is not an end but a beginning. It marks the start of new collaborations, fresh ideas, and innovative solutions that will drive our industry forward. Together, we have the power to make a lasting impact. We have a call to be stars and carry light in every policy discipline, federal agency, non-profit, local and state government, and everywhere in between, shining bright regardless of tribulations and trials. I believe that one day, these stars will illuminate the night sky, guiding future generations and paving the way for a brighter tomorrow.
Aysia Gilbert MPP’25 is a second-year Master of Public Policy Candidate, President of the MPP Student Council, and Co-Chair of the Black Policy Conference at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, Aysia attended the University of Florida (UF), where she majored in History and minored in African American Studies. At UF, she served on the Presidential Task Force for Honorary Namings, supporting racial equity initiatives in the honorary naming process of campus buildings. After graduation, Aysia returned to Jacksonville as a fifth-grade English Language Arts teacher and community activist. She became Co-Chair of the Jacksonville Community Remembrance Project’s Research Committee, working alongside the Equal Justice Initiative to uncover her community’s history of racial terror and leading a public awareness campaign to educate residents. Aysia is also a board member for 904WARD, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering racial reconciliation and social justice in Northeast Florida, where she influences initiatives like Little Free Diverse Libraries, Race Cards, and research addressing exclusionary and racist policies across the state.
Reylan Cook is a second-year Master of Public Policy student at Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy and a native of Simpsonville, South Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and African American Studies with Leadership and Distinction in Diversity and Social Advocacy from the University of South Carolina. She has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA and community advocate, focusing on combating food insecurity and expanding access to basic needs resources for marginalized communities. The basic needs hub framework and programming she has created was platformed by the White House Healthy Futures Initiative to be recreated at higher education institutions nationwide. With a personal history and a deep passion for environmental justice and agricultural sovereignty, Reylan is dedicated to making a positive interdisciplinary impact on environmental and social policy within Black Southern communities. She holds leadership positions as Student Council Second Year Representative, Vice President of Policy In Living Color, and Black Policy Student Association President. During the 2023-2024 academic year, Reylan was recognized with the Sanford Women in the Policy Emerging Leader Award.