Alphonso David, one of America’s 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 (www.GBEF.com). Alphonso 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, Alphonso 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 & Health Equity Program to address the disproportionately high rates of HIV among black and brown communities throughout the nation.

As an advocate, Alphonso has worked on a myriad 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, Alphonso 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.

Now, as President & CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum, Alphonso is focused on reimagining what diversity, equity, inclusion, and opportunity looks like in global workspaces and marketplaces, as well as achieving the notion of economic justice for the Black diaspora globally. The Global Black Economic Forum engages business executives, policy makers, entrepreneurs, activists, and consumers globally on thought leadership; corporate and entrepreneurial career development; and advancing social and economic justice for marginalized communities across the globe. The Forum pursues these goals through an innovative multi-faceted approach, including a strategic consulting practice that partners with major corporations on leadership, skill building and diversity solutions; serving as a convener of key leaders at major conferences and summits; a non-profit foundation dedicated to social and economic justice policy; and an emerging technology platform focused on redefining equality and equity.