Economic Studies
Joint Center Convenes Black Organizations for COVID-19 Discussion with CBC Chair Karen Bass
On Thursday, March 26, the Joint Center convened several leading organizations that serve Black communities for an online policy discussion with CBC Chair Karen Bass (D-CA) on the implications of congressional responses to COVID-19 on Black communities. We discussed: 1) where the COVID-19 stimulus bills have likely succeeded and fallen short with regard to Black…
Joint Center Joins Panel on Tech’s Role in Upholding White Supremacy
On January 19, Joint Center Technology Policy Director Dr. Dominique Harrison joined a panel entitled “Do You See It Now? Tech’s Role in Upholding White Supremacy” to “address how tech employees, social justice, organizations, and concerned citizens can influence change.” Other speakers included Brookings Center for Technology Innovation Director Dr. Nicol Turner Lee, Congressional Black…
December Jobs Data Shows Loss for Black Women
In December, the unemployment rate for Black workers decreased slightly to 9.9 percent, down from 10.3 percent in November 2020. This rate is above the national unemployment rate of 6.7 percent and still far above the 6.0 percent unemployment rate Black workers saw in February 2020. Overall, Black workers were just slightly less likely to…
Joint Center Meets With FCC Commissioner Starks to Discuss a Plan for Sharing Critical Information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit
On January 8, Joint Center Technology Policy Director Dr. Dominique Harrison participated in a meeting with FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks to discuss a plan for sharing information on the Emergency Broadband Benefit to communities. “For the @FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit to succeed, we need an all-hands effort to get the word out to every eligible…
Joint Center President Talks to Politico About Biden Tapping Geoffrey Starks for FCC Chair
Joint Center President Spencer Overton was quoted in Politico PRO‘s article on President-elect Joe Biden tapping Geoffrey Starks to chair the Federal Communications Commission. “Commissioner Starks is the strongest candidate on issues related to inclusion, equality, and communities of color,” said Spencer in the article. “We know him; he has been with us,” he later…
Joint Center Joins Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester’s Panel at the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference
Joint Center President Spencer Overton joined Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester’s (D-DE) panel at the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference on how COVID-19 affects the future of work for African Americans. Other panelists included The Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative Executive Director Al Fitzpayne and LinkedIn Chief Economist Karin Kimbrough.
Joint Center President Joins AARP’s Panel on ‘Equity, Inclusion, and a New World of Work’ at The Atlantic Festival
Joint Center President Spencer Overton joined AARP’s panel, Equity, Inclusion, and a New World of Work, at the virtual Atlantic Festival. During the discussion, Spencer spoke about digital technologies that are transforming work, increased utilization of autonomous robots, and the significance of digital skills and remote work especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other panelists included…
Watch Joint Center Vice President on the ‘Social Security & Civil Rights: A Social Contract’ Panel
Joint Center Vice President Jessica Fulton joined the panel, Social Security & Civil Rights: A Social Contract, at AARP and Latinos for a Secure Retirement’s 9th Annual Retiring with Dignity Summit. During the discussion, Jessica talked about the importance of having universal retirement security programs to ensure Black communities aren’t counted out. She also pointed…
Joint Center Hosts ‘Pandemic Relief Priorities for Black Workers’ Twitter Chat with Experts
On September 11, the Joint Center hosted a Twitter chat with experts on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Black workers, and what should be doing about it. The experts included Joint Center Vice President Jessica Fulton, Groundwork Collaborative Managing Director of Policy & Research Janelle Jones, Center for American Progress Senior Economist Gbenga Ajilore,…
August 5 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup
Congress and Administration Continue to Negotiate Coronavirus Relief Democrats and the Trump Administration continued their negotiations in the wake of an economic crisis fueled by the July 31 expiration the $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit enjoyed by millions of Americans, the July 24 expiration of the federal moratorium on evictions, and new spikes in unemployment…
Expand Internet Access Among Black Households
As the pandemic forces many students, workers, and patients to turn to broadband for virtual learning, telework, job applications and interviews, government assistance applications, and medical services, millions of African Americans remain disconnected. In the United States, 34% of Black adults do not have home broadband,1 and 30.6% of Black households with one or more…