Congressional Black Caucus
"The Conscience of Congress since 1969"
www.congressionalblackcaucus.net

(Washington, D.C.) - The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding (FFEU) today awarded the first annual Brenda Pillors Congressional Staff Award to Paul Brathwaite, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Executive Director, at a ceremony on Capitol Hill.  The award recognizes the work Mr. Brathwaite is doing to build relationships between ethnic members of Congress and their respective communities.

“We wanted to award an individual who has significant tenure working on Capitol Hill,” said Rabbi Marc Schneier, FFEU President.  “Like Brenda, Paul has worked diligently not only with the CBC but has worked to bridge gaps between the other Congressional ethnic caucuses.”

Ms. Pillors, who served for many years as Chief of Staff to U.S. Representative Ed Towns (D-NY) and who supported relationship building between ethnic Caucuses, died last summer of complications from asthma.

“Paul’s intelligence, strong work ethic, commitment to service, self-discipline and integrity makes him the natural choice for the Brenda Pillors Congressional Staff Award,” noted U.S. Representative Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.), CBC Chair.  “Serving as CBC executive director over the last five years, Paul has exemplified the qualities and attributes for which Brenda was prized and which are most valued in Congressional staff.”

As CBC Executive Director, Mr. Brathwaite is responsible for coordinating all domestic and foreign policy legislative initiatives for the 43-member Caucus.  He has served as executive director for three CBC members, including U.S. Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and current CBC Chairman Watt.

“Paul has been instrumental in the success of the CBC,” said Representative Cummings.  “The Caucus is where it is today because of Paul’s leadership, ingenuity and determination.”

“I can’t think of a better initial recipient of this award named for Brenda Pillors than Paul Brathwaite,” noted U.S. Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY).  “Paul handles what is rightfully regarded as the most difficult staff role in the Congress, serving 43-strong personalities as executive director of the CBC, with an excellence and style that is universally admired.”

Prior to joining the CBC, Mr. Brathwaite was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment Standards Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor.  He has also worked in the Department of Transportation’s General Counsel’s Honors Program and on Capitol Hill for then U.S. Representative Tom Carper (D-DE) and U.S. Representative Mike Castle (D-DE), and for former New York Governor Mario Cuomo.

In 2003, Mr. Brathwaite was recognized by the National Journal as one of the top congressional staffers and in 2005, he was selected as one of Roll Call’s Fabulous 50 staffers on Capitol Hill.

Mr. Brathwaite is a native of Washington, D.C. and grew up in Dover, Delaware.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Delaware State University and his Master’s in Public Policy and law degrees from Duke University.  

The Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, under the leadership of Rabbi Schneier and Russell Simmons, Chairman, is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting racial harmony and strengthening inter-group relations.  

(####)