Hill Diversity

The Joint Center’s hill diversity work is focused on analyzing staff diversity on the Hill. See below for research, analysis, and activities related to hill diversity.

Joint Center Signs Letter In Support of Establishing a Senate Office of Diversity and Inclusion

The Joint Center joined seven other organizations in signing a letter to SU.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Legislative Brand Subcommittee Chair Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Ranking Member Chris Murphy (D-CT) urging the Senate to establish a Senate Office of Diversity and Inclusion and “fund it adequately to operate in an independent and non-partisan manner.” Other signers…

Joint Center News: March 2020

This is a difficult moment for the world and the United States, and for Black communities in particular. The Joint Center is working closely with several other Black organizations to ensure that the challenges facing Black communities are considered and adequately addressed in COVID-19 policy decisions (stay updated on our COVID-19 policy page here). In March,…

March 30 COVID-19 Policy & Black Communities Roundup

The Joint Center is working closely with several other Black organizations to ensure that the challenges facing Black communities are considered and adequately addressed in COVID-19 policy decisions. On 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…

The Joint Center Commends Speaker Nancy Pelosi for Appointing Kemba Hendrix as Executive Director of the U.S. House Office of Diversity & Inclusion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 18, 2020 Contact: press@jointcenter.org The Joint Center Commends Speaker Nancy Pelosi for Appointing Kemba Hendrix as Executive Director of the U.S. House Office of Diversity & Inclusion WASHINGTON — The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies commends Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for appointing Kemba Hendrix as executive director of the newly established U.S.…

The Joint Center Signs Letter In Support of MODCOM Resolution, H. Res. 756

The Joint Center joined 14 other organizations in signing a letter in support of the Moving Our Democracy and Congressional Operations Towards Modernization (MODCOM) Resolution of 2019, H. Res. 756. The resolution includes guidelines for the U.S. House Office of Diversity and Inclusion to submit plans and reports and for recruiting from HBCUs. Other signees…

Joint Center Hosts Second Event in Breakfast Policy Series ‘Voice at the Table’

On January 24, the Joint Center hosted the second event in our breakfast policy series: A Voice at the Table. This discussion series is an opportunity to discuss critical topics such as the future of work, diversity & inclusion, the use of big data, financial capability, emerging economic trends, and other issues that affect Black…

Joint Center Senior Fellow of Diversity & Inclusion Attends Brookings Institution Event ‘Strengthening and Reinvigorating Congress’

On January 9, Joint Center Senior Fellow of Diversity & Inclusion Dr. LaShonda Brenson attended a report launch event and panel hosted by American Political Science Association, Brookings Institution, and R Street Institute. The report, which focuses on “strengthening and reinvigorating Congress,” includes a section on staff diversity (pages 12-17) informed by the Joint Center’s…

The Joint Center Commends Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for Hiring Trudy Perkins, the First Black Senate Communications Director in a Personal Office in Over a Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 6, 2020 Contact: press@jointcenter.org The Joint Center Commends Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for Hiring Trudy Perkins, the First Black Senate Communications Director in a Personal Office in Over a Year WASHINGTON — Today, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies commends U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) for hiring Trudy Perkins as communications director…

Joint Center Diversity & Inclusion Senior Fellow Attends Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus Annual Reception

On December 17, Joint Center Diversity & Inclusion Senior Fellow Dr. LaShonda Brenson attended a reception honoring Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus’s 42 years of advocating and celebrating diversity in the Senate. The reception was planned by Altria, FedEx, and PhRMA. During the event, the Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus President Jonathan Carter (above and…

Joint Center Senior Fellow of Diversity & Inclusion Participates in Partnership for Public Service Roundtable Discussion on Strengthening Congressional Resiliency

On December 9, Joint Center Senior Fellow of Diversity & Inclusion Dr. LaShonda Brenson participated in Partnership for Public Service’s roundtable discussion on strengthening congressional resiliency. The conversation’s goal was to gather input from key experts to share thoughts on “what a healthy, well-functioning Congress of the future will look like, the qualities that will…