Alphonso David

President & CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum

Alphonso David, one of the foremost civil rights attorneys and a life-long advocate for social and economic justice, serves as the President & CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum. Mr. David brings more than two decades of experience in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, where he has worked to advance the rights of marginalized communities through policy, legislation, litigation, and advocacy.

As a business leader, Mr. David was instrumental in creating one of the most sought-after addiction treatment centers in the United States. In public service, he helped to transform broken systems that impeded the lives of the most vulnerable, including restructuring the workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance systems in the State of New York to reduce inefficiencies and deficits that had plagued these vital social safety nets for decades. As a non-profit leader, he created and expanded groundbreaking programs for marginalized communities, including an impact litigation program to advance the rights of LGBTQ+ people and an HIV and Health Equity Program to address the disproportionately high rates of HIV among Black and Brown communities throughout the nation.

As an advocate, Mr. David has worked on a broad range of issues including racial and economic justice, immigrants’ rights, and LGBTQ+ equality. Notably, he and his legal team secured more than $23 million for immigrants who had been defrauded by illegitimate legal service providers, stopped a racially discriminatory rating system in broadcast radio from being implemented in the United States, and compelled all large pharmacy chain stores to provide language access services to customers. Further, during his time in public service for the State of New York, Mr. David was instrumental in drafting and advancing landmark legislation that removed legal barriers allowing same-sex couples to marry, paving the way for the United States Supreme Court to rule in favor of marriage equality nationally. His work helped actualize the Paid Family Leave Act, ensuring individuals receive paid leave to care for sick family members. His record of achievement also includes the Minority and Women Business Program, which tripled contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses throughout New York State.

As President & CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum, Mr. David engages with world leaders, business executives, policymakers, entrepreneurs, activists, and consumers globally on thought leadership; corporate and entrepreneurial career development; and advancing economic and social justice for marginalized communities across the globe. The Global Black Economic Forum’s innovative, multi-faceted organizational structure includes a strategic consulting practice that partners with major corporations and business leaders on leadership development, skill building and organizational assessments; summits and conferences that bring together key leaders from all sectors; a foundation dedicated to social and economic justice policy; and an emerging technology platform focused on redefining equity and equality. In the face of recent legal and political attacks on Black communities, the Global Black Economic Forum launched the Council for Economic Opportunity & Social Justice, which convenes major social justice and civil rights organizations in the nation.

Mr. David, a resident of Brooklyn, New York, is a prolific writer, thought leader, and sought-after media commentator on a wide range of topics.