About Us
The Association of Black Lobbyists and Consultants, Inc. (ABLC) was created on October 27, 2020, to be a membership-based organization of Black lobbyists and consultants throughout New York State. As a 501(c)(6) membership-based organization, ABLC was formed with the specific purpose to recruit, unite, promote, enlighten, mentor, and protect its members from the common trends of discrimination.
Our vision is to create an opportunity for those in the government relations, political arena, public affairs, non-profit, and community relations sectors to come together with one voice and mission.
Our professional goals include:
Promoting unity and collaboration amongst all Black lobbyists and consultants.
Creating networking opportunities to enhance and cultivate the professional learnings for Black lobbyists and consultants to promote their businesses.
Providing technical assistance and strategic partnerships to those in need of starting an independent business and for those who are just looking for general assistance to improve their current business.
Our advocacy goals include:
Creating an organization and space designed specifically for Black lobbyists and consultants to speak about the issues and concerns that are impacting them.
Fighting against the racial disparities and barriers that are faced by our members.
Becoming a change agent for our industry.
ABLC Founders
Tunisha Walker-Miller
Tunisha is a Champion for Small Businesses, MWBE Consultant, State Lobbyist, Speaker and expert on government at all levels in New York State.
Tunisha’s long career as a Political Campaign Consultant and Community Organizer includes helping faith-based leaders and communities of color navigate government and run for offices. She was a Political Organizer for NY ACORN and was the first African American Woman to serve as Executive Director of the New York State Senate Conference of Black Senators. From her role with the NYS Senate Democrats, Tunisha was later appointed as an Affirmative Action Administrator for the NYS Department of Labor – Division of Equal Opportunity Development by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
In 2015, Tunisha launched the MWBE Consulting Group for Capalino to help MWBEs and Non-MWBEs connect/comply with City and State regulations to successfully secure government contracts. She is the creator of a NY-based MWBE Directory and co-creator of the MWBE Connect NY mobile app, which streamlines how MWBEs find government contracts that match their capabilities. Through webinars, workshops and panel presentations, she gives MWBEs the blueprint for success. Tunisha also provides technical assistance on several of the firm’s legislative and community engagements.
In 2019, Tunisha founded The Source Consulting Group, LLC., to help businesses small and big with elevating their status in the world from a business and legislative perspective.
Throughout all of her endeavors, Tunisha always maintains her motto of ensuring that “communities of color and women continue to have a voice along with equity for all.”
Tunisha is a proud member of member of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc., Founding Circle Member of Higher Heights for America, and Board Member of the NY Diversity Council Advisory Board. Tunisha is also a dedicated mother to her sons Quincy-Elton and Noah, and a devoted wife to her husband Harold C. Miller, Jr.
Rochelle Kelly-Apson
Rochelle is a government relations and political strategy expert who has spent her entire career leading efforts on projects and policies that positively impact communities of color.
Early in her career, Rochelle was a union organizer with NY Hotel Trades Council helping workers, many of whom were minority immigrants, become unionized and politically engaged. She then sharpened her organizing skills by holding key roles in over a dozen election campaigns across New York State. Rochelle’s desire to support and uplift her community led her to government where she held executive positions in the offices of the NYS Attorney General as deputy director of intergovernmental affairs, the NYS Governor as downstate director of intergovernmental affairs, and the Town of Hempstead Supervisor as deputy chief of staff. In these roles, Rochelle led the organizing and outreach efforts for several landmark initiatives including the funding of housing counselors and attorneys as part of the 2008 mortgage crisis relief efforts, the ISTOP law to help prevent prescription drug abuse, the investigations of unarmed civilian deaths by law enforcement, the review of law enforcement "stop and frisk" practices, raising the age to prevent youth being tried as adults in court, and bringing diversity to local government hiring on Long Island.
After leaving public service, Rochelle moved on to help develop political and business strategies for a myriad of clients on issues such as criminal justice reform, immigration rights, affordable housing, school bus safety, gaming, transportation, and renewable energy – all while making it a priority to protect and support the most vulnerable. She currently runs her own political consulting firm, Kelly-Apson Consulting, and is also a senior executive consultant for McBride Consulting and Business Development Group.
In her private capacity, Rochelle is the Board President of New Hour for Women & Children Long Island, Public Policy Chair for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Long Island Chapter, and the Policy and Advocacy Chair for the State of Black Long Island Council.
Rochelle has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Affairs from SUNY Empire State College and lives in Hempstead, NY with her husband Aric and her two rescue dogs, Joker and Alfred.
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