Events

Joint Center President Testifies at Joint Congressional Hearing on Disinformation Online and Section 230

On June 24, Joint Center President Spencer Overton provided expert testimony at a joint congressional hearing entitled “A Country in Crisis: How Disinformation Online is Dividing the Nation.” During the congressional hearing, Spencer explained that both domestic and foreign actors use disinformation to divide Americans along racial lines, and mentioned a recent Gallup/Knight Foundation survey…

Joint Center President Joins Juneteenth Panel ‘From Pain to Protest to Policy’ with Senator Kamala Harris and More

On Juneteenth (June 19), Joint Center President Spencer Overton joined the From Pain to Protest to Policy panel at JusticeCon: A Path Towards Freedom on Juneteenth hosted by The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York. Other panelists included Prince George County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), Washington DC Chief Medical Examiner Dr.…

Joint Center Vice President Moderates Opportunity Finance Network Panel ‘Inequality in the Pandemic: Entrepreneurs of Color’

On June 16, Joint Center Vice President Jessica Fulton moderated Opportunity Finance Network’s Small Business Finance Forum panel, Inequality in the Pandemic: Entrepreneurs of Color. Presenters included U.S. Black Chambers President/CEO Ron Busby, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders (NALCAB) Executive Director and CEO Noel Poyo, and Business Center for New Americans Founder and…

Joint Center President Joins Knight Foundation Panel on Free Expression and Misinformation Online

On June 17, Joint Center President Spencer Overton joined the Knight Foundation’s panel, “Free expression v. misinformation online: who decides?” Read Spencer’s opening remarks here. Other panelists included University of Oklahoma College of Law Professor Evelyn Aswad, New York University’s Stern Center for Business and Human Rights Deputy Director Paul Barrett, Stanford Cyber Policy Center…

Joint Center President Joins Washington Government Relations Group for ‘Discussion of Race Relations in the Workplace and Social Justice Reform’

On June 11, Joint Center President Spencer Overton was a special guest joined Washington Government Relations Group (WGRG) for a discussion on “race relations in the workplace and social justice reform.” Spencer was joined by another special guest, National Urban League, Washington Bureau Executive Director Clint Odom.

Joint Center President Discusses ‘Health, Wealth & Longevity’ for African Americans Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic at AARP Social Innovation Summit Virtual Conference

On June 3, Joint Center President Spencer Overton joined the panel, Health, Wealth & Longevity: Is There Room For All?, at AARP’s Social Innovation Summit Virtual Conference. The discussion centered on the “unique challenges in achieving healthy longevity” especially when considering equitability and the recent challenges that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the conversation aimed…

Joint Center President Presents on Section 230 and Why Social Media Platforms Do Not Have a License to Discriminate

On May 20, Joint Center President Spencer Overton presented at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ online convening on Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. In his presentation, Spencer explained why Section 230 does not exempt social media platforms from civil rights laws when they target ads along racial lines and result…

Joint Center President Joins Knight Foundation Conversation on Elections and COVID-19

On May 28, Joint Center President Spencer Overton joined National Association of Latino Elected Officials CEO Arturo Vargas for the Knight Foundation’s conversation on “capturing the votes of all Americans” during the COVID-19 crisis. The conversation is a part of the Knight Foundation’s VISION series that is hosted by the Knight Foundation’s Senior Vice President…

Joint Center Briefing on Black Businesses, Access to Capital, and Future Stimulus Proposals

On Thursday, May 14, the Joint Center hosted an online briefing on fair and equal access to capital for Black businesses in COVID-19 stimulus legislation. The briefing addressed the structural inequities Black businesses face and explored concrete ways that future stimulus proposals can best help Black businesses thrive in the post-COVID-19 economy. The expert panelists…

Joint Center Vice President Joins Webinar Conversation on ‘Surviving COVID-19’s Economic Impact While Black’

On Wednesday, May 13, Joint Center Vice President Jessica Fulton joined other leading Black economists to discuss the COVID-19 crisis and its economic impact on Black communities. Other panelists include Groundwork Collaborative Managing Director of Policy and Research Janelle Jones and Howard University Professor in the Department of Economics and Chief Economist to the AFL-CIO…