FAQs
What is the Board of Governors?
The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is governed by a Board of Governors composed of a diverse group of people from the private, academic, and non-profit sectors. New members are selected by the members of the existing Board. Each member may serve two consecutive three-year terms and may return to the Board at any subsequent time. The Board elects its Chair and other officers, hires the President, and makes policy and fiscal decisions.
Where can I find the latest data and research on African Americans and other people of color?
You can access DataBank at http://www.jointcenter.org/DB/index.htm to find the latest facts and figures on African Americans and other people of color. DataBank is a tool that provides the public with current data and trends on the nation's population, including statistics on African Americans and other racial and ethnic populations, and facts and figures from the Joint Center's annual National Opinion Polls and its unique research on minority business and black elected officials.
What are the principle areas of current work?
The principle areas of work that the Joint Center focuses on are economic advancement, health policy, political participation, international affairs, social policy, leadership, and socio-demographic statistics and trends.
What are some of your current projects?
Currently, Joint Center experts are focused on a number of projects in several key issue areas:
Health Policy Institute Examining policies that limit life options for young men of color; reducing disparities in health status and health care, especially in the area of infant mortality; tracking health status improvements in communities of color; and increasing diversity in the healthcare workforce.
Economic Empowerment Raising awareness of and addressing issues surrounding income security for African American seniors; promoting more inclusive disaster-preparedness planning; addressing 21st century workforce issues; and identifying challenges that confront the next generation of African American leaders.
Political Empowerment Gathering important data and statistical trends on African Americans and other people of color through DataBank; conducting research, providing recommendations, and discussing implications of findings relating to black churches and the Faith-Based and Community Initiative; conducting national opinion polling on key public policy issues such as Medicare and Social Security reform; maintaining a roster of Black Elected Officials throughout the country; analyzing political trends and prospects, and convening an alliance of organizations representing black elected officials at every level of government.
Who are some major donors who have funded previous Joint Center projects?
The Joint Center has successfully received funding from both foundation and corporate sources. Among these funders are corporations such as Daimler-Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Amex, Fedex, UPS, Microsoft and AT&T, and foundations such as Kellogg, Ford, California Endowment, Robert Wood Johnson and Knight, just to name a few.
Do donors need to share a similar mission, philosophy or meet some kind of requirement/criteria?
Yes. The Joint Center looks for donors who are socially responsible, use good employment practices and are not doing any work that adversely affects African Americans and other people of color.