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The 2006 NVLP Summit on the State of Black America honored and brought together seven extraordinary African American elders who have made major contributions to American history, culture and society. Each received the Visionary Leadership Award for their unparalleled body of work which serves as a priceless legacy for generations to come.

After the Awards Ceremony, the Honorees were joined by two college students who are participating in NVLP’s Visionary Heritage Fellows Program for a 90-minute panel discussion. Moderated by Renee Poussaint, the discussion included questions from the audience—approximately 200 high school students, 100 college students, and 150 invited guests. As in past years, the 2006 Summit was a provocative exchange about contemporary issues, such as activism, class, crime, economics, education, health and family.

One Essay Contest Winner from each school read their brief essay aloud during the award ceremony as the formal introduction of their Honoree, had lunch with their honoree during the pre-ceremony luncheon at the Library of Congress, welcomed their Honoree to their school assembly, and was a part of the 2006 Summit program which was videotaped for educational television broadcasts.