Miami turns into the epicenter for county leadership and policy discussion as Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee presides over the National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO) 2024 Leadership Summit & Retreat. From April 25 to April 27, elected and appointed African-American county officials across the nation will converge at the InterContinental Miami to exchange ideas and strategies for driving change across communities.

According to a Miami-Dade County official release, the retreat aims to empower and strengthen leadership within black communities, with McGhee at the helm. Having taken the NABCO presidency in July 2022, McGhee is now tasked to seamlessly blend networking opportunities with policy discourse. The summit kicked off with a rooftop party last night, setting a collaborative tone for the eventful days to follow.

Friday's itinerary featured the “Politics vs Policy Panel,” moderated by Bill Diggs, and saw the likes of Rodney Ellis, Mary Estimé-Irvin, Stanley Moore, and Victoria Siplin engaging in rigorous debate. The deep conversations are to continue into the evening, as District Attorney Fani Willis is slated to headline "Cocktails & Conversation" event, inviting further dialogue amongst peers.

The summit is not just a think tank but also a networking hub, with a session featuring notable business and social leaders such as Kneeland Youngblood, Desmond Meade, and Freddie Figgers on the final day. Highlighting the importance of melding commerce with community, these speakers are expected to offer invaluable insights into their respective fields. A closing night party promises to leave attendees inspired, with a live band and parting words from journalist Jeff Johnson, signaling the end of an event designed to truly make a difference.