Speaker List

October 14th 2026 at 12:30 pm
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Marco Davis
President & CEO, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)

Marco A. Davis is President and CEO of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the next generation of Latino leaders.

CHCI provides internship and fellowship programs with an emphasis on leadership development and public policy for outstanding Latino/a/x students and young professionals, and also convenes Members of Congress, other public officials, corporate executives, nonprofit advocates, and thought leaders to discuss issues facing the nation and the Hispanic community.

Prior to joining CHCI, Mr. Davis was a partner at New Profit, a national nonprofit venture philanthropy. He served in the Obama Administration as Deputy Director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics and as Director of Public Engagement for the Corporation for National and Community Service. Previously, he was Director of Global Fellowship and Regional Manager for Latin America at Ashoka's Youth Venture, and led leadership development for UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza), where he created
the Uderes Initiative.

Mr. Davis has more than 25 years of experience in leadership development, educational achievement, community advocacy, and civic engagement, and is a frequent speaker on the Latino community and leadership. He has been an Ambassadors for Health Equity Fellow, a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, and a Hispanics in Philanthropy (HIP) Lideres Fellow. In June 2021, he was appointed by President Biden to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.

Mr. Davis serves on the boards of directors of several national nonprofit organizations and represents CHCI on the executive committee of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda and the board of the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR). He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and holds a B.A. in History and Latin American Studies from Yale University. Originally from the New York City area, he lives in the District of Columbia with his wife and daughter.



 

October 21st 2026 at 12:30 pm
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Nicholas Bassey
The African Diaspora: Engagement Beyond Remittances

Nicholas Bassey brings senior leadership experience from the Millennium Challenge Corporation, USAID, the Peace Corps, where he led programs in private sector engagement, university partnerships, and international policy. His early career was in the nonprofit sector, where he led programs at the UNCF Special Programs Corporation, Council for Opportunity in Education, Children’s Defense Fund, and Morehouse College. He has been part of ADN's network for over a decade.

 

October 28th 2026 at 12:30 pm
In-Person/Hybrid Washington DC Weekly Club Meeting
Speaker: Craig Barnard-El
Bridging the Opportunity Gap in Workforce Development

Craig Barnard-El is a strategic business development and corporate engagement leader with extensive experience building partnerships that connect employers with high-performing, emerging talent. As Director of Corporate Engagement for Year Up United in the National Capital Region, Craig leads employer acquisition efforts by developing relationships with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and growing businesses to create paid internship opportunities that address workforce needs while expanding economic mobility for young adults.

Craig specializes in consultative, skills-first workforce strategies, helping organizations strengthen their early-career talent pipelines in areas including information technology, cybersecurity, software development, business operations, finance, customer success, and project management. He works closely with executive leaders and hiring teams to align talent solutions with organizational priorities, resulting in long-term, high-impact partnerships.

Driven by a passion for creating equitable career opportunities, Craig is committed to helping young adults, ages 18–29, gain the technical and professional skills needed to launch meaningful careers while supporting employers with diverse, internship-ready talent. His work centers on relationship building, strategic collaboration, and creating sustainable workforce solutions that deliver measurable value to both employers and the communities they serve.

Known for his authentic leadership, collaborative approach, and ability to connect people and purpose, Craig is dedicated to building partnerships that strengthen organizations, transform lives, and contribute to a more inclusive and future-ready workforce.