About Black Men on the Hill:
Black Men on the Hill seeks to foster a community of support. Our organization provides resources and connections to help Black men achieve their professional goals on and off Capitol Hill, navigate their careers, and form meaningful relationships with colleagues. Joining Black Men on the Hill means joining a network of brothers, committed to not only supporting one another but also making positive change in the workplace.
Meet the Executive Board
Kyle Bligen
Kyle is the Policy Advisor for Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee and Co-Chair of the Sustainable Investment Caucus. Prior to serving Rep. Vargas, Kyle worked at the House Homeland Security Committee, Department of State, Department of Defense, and Cornerstone Government Affairs. He has a track record of briefing members of Congress and senior military staff on the economic, political, and military relationship between the United States and it's strategic position in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific.
Mark Hamilton
Mark currently serves as Legislative Constituent Liaison with Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-05). Prior to his current role, he served as Executive Scheduler for Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (OH-13).
Toussaint Mitchell
Toussaint works in the Senate Democratic Cloakroom as a Cloakroom Assistant and Page Coordinator. Prior to his role, Toussaint served as an Executive Staff Assistant to House Speaker Emerita, Nancy Pelosi (CA-11) and held the role of Parliamentarian for the Congressional Black Associates.
Marcus W. Robinson
Marcus currently serves as Director of Public Affairs at SKDK. Prior to his current role he served as Press Secretary for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee under Chairman Tom Carper (DE). Before his tenure in the Senate, he served as Press Secretary for Congressman Jerry Nadler (NY-12) and as a Communications Advisor with the DCCC.
Nate Robinson
Nate serves as an Energy and Environment Legislative Assistant for Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-at-large). In the 117th Congress he was a Legislative Assistant in the Office of House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (SC-06).
Ryan Washington
Ryan currently serves as a Legislative Correspondent for Senator Cory Booker
(NJ) covering climate, energy, transportation infrastructure and housing issues. Prior to joining Team Booker, Ryan served as Staff Assistant for Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-at-large).
Meet the Advisory Board
Didier Barjon
Didier works for Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer (NY), on telecommunications, technology, space and intellectual property policy. He previously worked for Sen. Gary Peters (MI), Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-11) and Xavier Becerra. He spent three years on the Executive Board for the Congressional Black Associates, ending as president of the organization.
Christopher Cox
Christopher is the Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09). Prior, he worked on her legislative team as Senior Policy Advisor, overseeing her health care and tech/telecommunications portfolios. He was also recently selected as one of the National Minority Quality Forums 40 under 40 Leaders in Health Award for his work in health care policy.
Nicholas Johnson
Nicholas currently serves as the House Director in the Bureau of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. He directs a team, advises senior leadership, and interacts with the U.S. Congress. Prior to this role, Nicholas served for the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, House Committee on Homeland Security, and Congressman Al Green (TX-09).
Paul Nicholas
Paul serves as the Congressional Relations Specialist at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Prior to this role, Paul served in the U.S. House of Representatives for over 6 years, most recently as a Legislative Assistant for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-05). Paul also proudly served as an Executive Board Member for the Congressional Black Associates.
Maalik Simmons
Maalik currently serves as Floor Director to Sen. Dick Durbin (IL), the Senate Majority Whip, where he runs the whip operation for the Senate Democratic conference. Prior to joining Sen. Durbin’s office, Maalik served in the Senate Democratic Cloakroom under leadership of the then-Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY). He began his career in the Senate as a staff assistant in Sen. Schumer’s personal office.