2022 Future of Black Communities Summit

See below for an overview of the fireside chats, luncheon, and panels.

Fireside Chats

• Kristin Johnson, Commissioner, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (funding Black founders and Black investors in crypto)
  • In conversation with Spencer Overton, President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies 

• Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and National Telecommunications and Information Administration Administrator (Broadband deployment in the Black Rural South)
  • In conversation with Joseph Shepherd Miller, Founder, President, CEO, and Founding Board Chair, WashingTECH

• Charlotte Burrows, Chair, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (AI & discrimination in hiring and employment)
  • In conversation with April Ryan, Author and White House Correspondent and Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief, The Grio

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Luncheon Speakers

• Reta Jo Lewis, President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States
• Don Graves, Deputy Secretary, Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce

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Panels

Technology Policy Priorities for Black Communities

How do we ensure technology policies serve Black communities?
Black communities confront an emerging set of tech policy issues, such as discriminatory ad targeting, online disinformation and hate that prompts real life harms such as voter suppression and violence, the misuse of data in employment and lending, and lack of access to broadband. This panel will explore potential tech policy solutions.

Opening Remarks:

• Geoffrey Starks, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission

Panelists:

• Chanelle Hardy, Head of Civil Rights, Google
• Steve Newell, Assistant Director, Innovation and Equity, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Yvette Badu-Nimako, Vice President, Policy/Civil Rights, National Urban League
• Damon Hewitt, President and Executive Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law 
  • Moderator: Patrick Lucas Austin, Editor, IT Brew

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Economic Policy Priorities for Black Communities

How do we ensure economic policies serve Black communities?
As our economy recovers from the pandemic and grapples with inflation, Black communities face economic crises on various fronts — including a persistent lack of access to good jobs and workforce training; resources to grow businesses and wealth; and equitable tax policy. This panel will explore potential economic policy solutions.

Panelists:

• Natalie Madeira Cofield, Former Assistant Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration
• Angela Hanks, Chair of Programs, Demos
• Dr. Seft Hunter, Director, Black Led Organizing and Power Building, Community Change
• Dr. Alex Camardelle, Director, Workforce Policy, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
  • Moderator: Jessica Fulton, Vice President, Policy, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

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Corporate Investments in Racial Equity

Which companies are fulfilling their commitments to racial equity?
Many corporations made specific commitments to advance racial justice following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Was this commitment a moment or a movement? Which companies have made significant progress, and which have fallen short? How can allies within companies help move their institutions toward fulfilling commitments and effectively investing in Black communities?

Panelists:

• Tia Hodges, President and CEO, MetLife Foundation
• Monique Baptiste, Vice President of Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase
• Cadene Russell Brooks, Counsel, WilmerHale
• Fabrice Coles, Senior Manager of Global Public Policy, PayPal
• Jonay Foster Holkins, Senior Director, Policy Business Roundtable
  • Moderator: Gail Coles Johnson, VP and Chief Human Resources Officer, Executive Leadership Council

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Prioritizing the Black Rural South

How do we ensure Southern state governments fairly deploy federal infrastructure funding?
Black communities in the rural South face higher poverty rates, lower employment levels and wages, and less economic growth than most other regions of the U.S. Black households in the Black Rural South are also among America’s most unserved by broadband. As federal infrastructure investments – including broadband infrastructure – are deployed, how do we ensure that state governments do not overlook the needs of the Black Rural South?

Panelists:

• Clint Odom, Vice President for Strategic Alliances and External Affairs, T-Mobile
• Robert Branson, President and CEO, Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council
• Dr. Corey Wiggins, Federal Co-Chair, Delta Regional Authority
• Dr. Dominique Harrison, Director, Racial Equity Design and Data Initiative, Citi Ventures Studio 
• Oleta Fitzgerald, Board Chair, Southern Rural Black Women's Initiative 
  • Moderator: Spencer Overton, President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

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Philanthropic Investments in Racial Equity

Which foundations are fulfilling their commitments to racial equity?
Many foundations made specific commitments to advance racial justice following the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Was this commitment a moment or a movement? Which foundations have made significant progress, and which have fallen short? How can allies within foundations help move their institutions toward fulfilling commitments and effectively investing in Black communities?

Panelists: 

• Dr. Avenel Joseph, Vice President of Policy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Leslie Boissiere, Vice President of External Affairs, Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Tahira Christmon, Vice President of External Affairs, Association of Black Foundation Executives
  • Moderator: Kenneth Jones, Senior Vice President and COO, MacArthur Foundation

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Advancing Black Agency

How can we improve racial diversity among top congressional staffers and presidential appointees?

For decades, companies and foundations have invested in important internship and fellowship programs that open doors to entry-level government positions for diverse college students and early-career policy professionals. Unfortunately, more needs to be done to ensure young staffers of color have opportunities for advancement, as people of color are woefully underrepresented among top congressional staff and in many presidential appointee positions. This lack of representation among top spots adversely affects communities of color in government decision-making, and limits later opportunities for people of color in Senate-confirmed government positions, the private sector, philanthropy, and the non-profit sector. This panel will highlight recent advances and continuing challenges for Black representation among presidential appointees and congressional staff, as well as explore best practices to achieve better outcomes.

Panelists: 

• Dr. Sesha Moon, Director, House Office of Diversity Initiative
• Gautam Raghavan, Director, White House Presidential Personnel
• Mike Lynch, Chief of Staff, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Staff Director, Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee
• David Strickland, Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs and Transportation Technology Policy, General Motors
• Dr. LaShonda Brenson, Senior Researcher, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
  • Moderator: Elliot Williams, Principal, The Raben Group