Political Studies
The Joint Center Commends House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for Appointing Jeyben Castro as Deputy Director of the U.S. House Office of Diversity & Inclusion
WASHINGTON — The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies commends U.S. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for appointing Jeyben Castro as Deputy Director of the U.S. House Office of Diversity & Inclusion. Along with Kemba Kendrix, Castro will lead the office’s development of a House diversity plan to include policies to direct and guide…
Joint Center President Explains How to Increase Top Staff of Color on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Rev. Al Sharpton
Joint Center President Spencer Overton appeared on Rev. Al Sharpton’s MSNBC talk show, PoliticsNation, to discuss the lack of congressional staff diversity in Washington, DC personal offices and explain what can be done to fix it. People of color account for 40% of the U.S. population, but less than 14% of top staff in Congress.…
The Joint Center Co-Hosts Discussion on Policy Priorities for Black Small Businesses
The Joint Center, the US Black Chambers, and Reimagine Main Street co-hosted a Black small business focus group discussion to discuss policy priorities in the Biden-Harris Administration. Attendees included Black state and local policymakers, Black business owners, and leaders from local Black Chambers of Commerce.
Joint Center Op-Ed: After Georgia, Senators Must Prioritize Staff Diversity
Sources: CNN, NYT, Cook & Joint Center.* After Black voters in Georgia enabled Democrats to control the Senate, Morning Consult published this commentary by Joint Center Senior Fellow of Diversity and Inclusion Dr. LaShonda Brenson and Joint Center President Spencer Overton calling for the Senate to take key steps to prioritize hiring, developing, and promoting…
Joint Center President Speaks to Harvard Law School Students on Law & Tech
Joint Center President Spencer Overton virtually joined Harvard Law School’s 1L class to discuss how he first became interested in law and technology, digital technologies, Section 230, and more. During the discussion, Spencer explained how digital technologies have massive positive potential including helping small Black businesses connect with customers, and facilitating telehealth and virtual work.…
Almost Two-Thirds of Top Staff Positions Are Filled & New Members Lag in Top Staff of Color
The Joint Center released the following press release giving an update on top staff diversity among new Members of Congress. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 13, 2021 Contact: press@jointcenter.org WASHINGTON – Almost two-thirds of the top staff positions of newly-elected U.S. House and Senate Members have been filled. While freshmen Members have hired top staff…
Joint Center Commends U.S. Senator Mark Warner for Hiring Lauren Marshall as Legislative Director
Marshall is One of Only Three Black Senate Legislative Directors WASHINGTON — Today, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies commends U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) for promoting Lauren Marshall to legislative director in his personal office. Marshall is one of three current Black legislative directors in the U.S. Senate. Jasmine Dimitriou…
Stimulus Pending, Black Women Appointed to White House Spots: Dec. 24 Joint Center Roundup
Our Joint Center’s weekly roundup includes the latest updates key to Black communities on the Biden-Harris administration, COVID-19 policy, tech policy, economic policy, and Hill diversity. We’ll take a holiday break next week and will return in 2021. Happy holidays! Congress Passes Stimulus, but Unclear Whether Trump Will Sign This week, both chambers of Congress…
Joint Center Launches Interactive Tool Showing Diversity of Top Staff of New Members of Congress
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 21, 2020 Contact: press@jointcenter.org Joint Center Launches Interactive Tool Showing Diversity of Top Staff of New Members of Congress So Far, Newly-Elected House Members Hiring Fewer Top Staff of Color Than Two Years Ago WASHINGTON – The Joint Center launched its interactive tracking tool allowing users to learn how each new…
Joint Center President Joins MSNBC’s The Cross Connection Inaugural Episode
Joint Center President Spencer Overton joined the inaugural episode of Tiffany Cross’s MSNBC show The Cross Connection for a panel discussion on diversity in the Biden administration and congressional staff. Panelists included Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies President & CEO Madalene Mielke, and When We All Vote Chief…
Joint Center Vice President Talks to ‘BlackHer’ About Entering Public Policy and the Joint Center’s Work
Joint Center Vice President Jessica Fulton is this week’s BlackHer Shero of the Week. In her interview with BlackHer, Jessica discussed how she entered public policy, how others can get into public policy, and the work that the Joint Center is doing with hill diversity, tech policy, economic policy, and the future of Black workers.…