{"id":1995,"date":"2017-12-29T05:26:21","date_gmt":"2017-12-29T10:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jointcenter.org\/blog\/2017-accomplishments\/"},"modified":"2023-06-08T15:54:12","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T19:54:12","slug":"2017-accomplishments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jointcenter.org\/2017-accomplishments\/","title":{"rendered":"2017 Accomplishments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!-- VideographyWP Plugin Message: Automatic video embedding prevented by plugin options. --><br \/>\n<strong><em> Highlights of 2017<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ujFkrEGP9Tk?enablejsapi=1\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Joint Center Community:<\/p>\n<p>2017 was a successful but challenging year. In May, we lost the most significant figure in our history, former Joint Center President Eddie Williams.<\/p>\n<p>With the support of the Ford Foundation, we also engaged in a strategic planning process, which we will complete in early 2018. The process is allowing us to sharpen our focus, identity, and effectiveness, but it is also requiring tough choices that will not please everyone.<\/p>\n<p>In 2017 our team produced work that is essential to the economic and political future of African Americans. \u00a0On <strong>economic studies<\/strong>, we published groundbreaking research on<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>race and the future of work<\/li>\n<li>the impact of wireless &amp; Smart Cities technologies on people of color<\/li>\n<li>technology use by Black and Latino businesses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>On <strong>political studies<\/strong>, our efforts resulted in:<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>Senate &amp; House Democrats adopting staff diversity rules<\/li>\n<li>a 50% increase in top Black Senate staff.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Our successes would not have been possible without your consistent support and without our committed team. 2017 was an important step in our journey. With your help, we\u2019ll do even more in 2018!<\/p>\n<p>Details are below, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AHwhuVDueF8&amp;feature=youtu.be\"><strong>click here or above to watch our 3-minute video<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks, Spencer<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/jointcenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/What-Weve-Done-2017.pdf\">Click here for a printable PDF<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Economic Studies\u2014The Future of Work and More<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/iP5IeETqO3Tkb9NzIchE5-pDb8ziiET_ELpivmegUc6cY95Xlmy9qjM1q_bvPJtumCRg8v7KX_MRaN9Un5rBQrnlEAevqulRSS3e4_fHlNJjTsZy1ySGMEMTBQEDKynRy67xDFaZ\" alt=\"\" width=\"429\" height=\"261\" \/><br \/>\nThe Joint Center released new data on Black workers and automation at Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester\u2019s <em>CBC Issue Forum<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Future of Work:<\/strong> The Joint Center published <em><a href=\"\/race-jobs-high-risk-automation\">Race and Jobs at High Risk to Automation<\/a><\/em>, which showed that 31% of Latino workers, 27% of Black workers, 24% of white workers, and 20% of Asian American workers are concentrated in just 30 jobs at high risk to automation (e.g., cashiers, drivers, cooks, and more).<\/p>\n<p>We also released an <a href=\"\/impact-automation-black-jobs\"><em>Impact of Automation on Black Jobs<\/em> data brief<\/a> at a session at the <a href=\"\/joint-center-releases-new-data-cbcf-future-work-panel\"> Congressional Black Caucus<\/a> Annual Legislative Weekend (hosted by Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester). We organized an event on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.blackpressusa.com\/the-oil-and-natural-gas-industry-offers-higher-wages-for-black-stem-professionals\/\">workers of color and STEM<\/a> with API at George Washington University. \u00a0We also spoke on the future of work at events organized by the <a href=\"\/joint-center-speaks-aabe-energy-policy-summit\">American Association of Blacks in Energy<\/a>, the <a href=\"\/joint-center-moderates-cbc-blue-collar-stem-briefing\">Congressional Black Caucus Tech &amp; Infrastructure Development and Education &amp; Labor Task Forces (Blue-Collar STEM)<\/a>, <a href=\"\/joint-center-speaks-google-future-civil-rights\">Google<\/a>, <a href=\"\/joint-center-talks-future-work-linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a>, the <a href=\"\/joint-center-talks-future-work-rev-sharpton%E2%80%99s-nan-conference\">National Action Network<\/a>, the <a href=\"\/blog\/joint-center-speaks-future-work-panel\">National Urban League<\/a>, <a href=\"\/joint-center-talks-future-work-rev-sharpton\u2019s-nan-conference\">Politic365<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/joint-center-talks-future-work-rev-jesse-jackson%E2%80%99s-rainbow-push-symposium\">Rainbow PUSH<\/a>. \u00a0We also participated in expert dinner conversations on the future of work organized by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Google, and Path Forward.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5G, Smart Cities &amp; Communities of Color:<\/strong> How can leaders in communities of color maximize new opportunities and mitigate challenges stemming from the next generation of wireless technology (5G) and Smart Cities technologies? The Joint Center\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/jointcenter.org\/5g-smart-cities-communities-of-color-2\/\">55-page report, infographics, and report video<\/a>, as well as companion videos (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\">Smart Cities, <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YjTulH05SoU\">Day of Equity-5G<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\">, and <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ivqQWx_jGjA\">Day of Equity-Smart Cities<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\">) answer these questions. The Joint Center also presented on these issues at conferences of the <\/a><a href=\"\/smart-cities-and-black-mayors\"> African American Mayors Association<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\">, the <\/a><a href=\"\/joint-center-speaks-smart-cities-issue-forum-cbcf-alc-%E2%80%9817\">Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Weekend<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\"> (hosted by Congresswoman Yvette Clarke), MMTC (<\/a><a href=\"\/joint-center-speaks-mmtc-8th-annual-broadband-social-justice-summit\">February<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\"> and <\/a><a href=\"\/joint-center-joins-mmtcs-annual-access-capital-and-telecom-policy-conference\">July<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\">), the <\/a><a href=\"\/national-organization-black-county-officials-presentation-5g-portland-oregon\">National Organization of Black County Officials<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\">, the <\/a><a href=\"\/joint-center-attends-national-organization-black-elected-legislative-women-nobel-conference-0\">National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\">, <\/a><a href=\"\/joint-center-politic365\">Politic365<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\">, and a policy forum in Napa Valley. \u00a0We also talked about the issue on <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EzDJf0OQYk8&amp;feature=youtu.be\">Roland Martin\u2019s News One Now<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\"> television show<\/a>.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mI0bx0FSBXQ\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/UV6-TNzG3oNvtawDWGaW_CqtAlEhY-w5EAhneQHnskNmvua5YkFKM0HMvTmFpVB5zfhw1K8Y6BYghlSYOha5le0Tgt-bkEn5l2mhqtE4zA-WX20rvnrHx6R3MN8tnEQ1nBvLJKzr\" alt=\"\" width=\"324\" height=\"215\" \/><br \/>\nCongresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson speaks at release of data on Business Tech Use<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Use of Digital Tools by Black &amp; Latino Businesses:<\/strong> The Joint Center partnered with the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. and U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to survey their members about technology use in September and October of 2017, and <a href=\"https:\/\/jointcenter.org\/the-use-of-digital-tools-by-black-and-latino-businesses\/\">issued this report with findings<\/a>. We released the data at <a href=\"\/joint-center-hosts-hill-discussion-new-survey-results\">this lunch event<\/a> at the U.S. House of Representatives featuring remarks from Representatives Nydia Velazquez (Ranking Member, House Small Business Committee), Eddie Bernice Johnson (Ranking Member, House Committee on Science, Space and Technology), Dwight Evans (Ranking Member, House Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access), Gregory Meeks (Senior Member, House Financial Services Committee), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (Member, Education and Workforce Committee). The Joint Center also hosted live case studies of businesses using tech tools at conferences of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=P02YhmartGY\">U.S. Black Chambers<\/a> and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. \u00a0Further, the Joint Center traveled to Dallas to participate in \u201cEqualizing the Playing Field of Black Business Ownership in the U.S.\u201d organized by ABFE-A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities and the Council on Foundations.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/Oo37o6KTNhRVdy0ktXnTlAc7CfXa77BMxTND55-sbB56sVba2CPnqYam33eoQVeMde8mdzEMgwZNQzu1Umh-Vt1Gp-O75YFLkpGvLS6WtDP4gDRyE5LqVvqubEzF1ZpXsB92wnK-\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"291\" \/><br \/>\nMidwest Roundtable participants at Focus: HOPE, a Detroit organization that aims to overcome racism and poverty by providing education and workforce training to people of color<\/p>\n<p>Elected Officials, the Future of Work &amp; Economic Development: The Joint Center partnered with the African American American Mayors Association and Comcast in hosting the <a href=\"\/joint-center-co-hosts-black-mayors-tech-day\">2nd Annual Technology Summit<\/a> in Philadelphia. Elected officials and experts discussed the role technology plays in the development, investment, and growth of America\u2019s cities. The Joint Center also convened 20 of the Midwest\u2019s most innovative and influential elected officials and economic development leaders of color for a 2-day <a href=\"\/joint-center-hosts-roundtable-midwest\">Roundtable of the Midwest<\/a> roundtable in Detroit, Michigan, which covered the future of work, equitable development, and related topics.<\/p>\n<p>Political Studies\u2014Congressional Staff Diversity<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/99Y-fx3VQdzO0m9UamxBgXtwR-H-LfyxIz0zIZHVPzmhiDI2QlZgtmq-Z_pP4nV-KLqm9x0NhCCV_8WCM_aPllxvKdTNBy_MwZPCHDWO7DqGzW5_hN7JsjScQEses_ixmGe88Pkj\" alt=\"\" width=\"261\" height=\"172\" \/><br \/>\n<em>Joint Center Black Talent Initiative Director Don Bell<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Hired Director: The Joint Center hired former Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus President <a href=\"\/don-bell-joins-joint-center-political-and-economic-studies-first-director-black-talent\">Don Bell<\/a> to be the Director of the Joint Center\u2019s Black Talent Initiative.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Established Hill Relationships:<\/strong> We had over 50 meetings on Capitol Hill with various Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Directors, Communications Directors, and staff associations, including with House Speaker of the House Chief of Staff Jonathan Burks, Senate Majority Leader Chief of Staff Sharon Soderstrom, Senate Democratic Leader Chief of Staff Mike Lynch, and House Democratic Diversity Initiative Director Kemba Hendrix. The Joint Center also supported the Washington Government Relations Group in creating its Diversity Task Force, of which Joint Center President Spencer Overton is a member.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Supported Candidates for Staff Positions:<\/strong> This year, the Joint Center had over 125 intake calls with candidates and extensive resume review for over 100 candidates. Five candidates have been hired, one to a senior staff position, and candidates have been interviewed for 34% of the jobs we have worked to fill. We advised both the Members\u2019 offices and the candidates for staff positions in many of the positions that were eventually filled by Black candidates, including many of the top Senate positions listed below.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Shared Insights from Corporate Diversity Leaders:<\/strong> We brought together <a href=\"\/joint-center-hosts-diversity-talks-hill\">senior Democratic and Republican staffers<\/a> to discuss diversity with corporate and public sector leaders in diversity.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Spread the Word through Publications and Presentations:<\/strong> Initiative Director Don Bell published three commentaries on congressional staff diversity in the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/posteverything\/wp\/2017\/04\/25\/only-5-percent-of-senate-staffers-are-black-congress-needs-the-rooney-rule\/?utm_term=.f9dc9d6ca9cf\">Washington Post<\/a><\/em> and <em>The Hill<\/em> (<a href=\"http:\/\/thehill.com\/blogs\/congress-blog\/politics\/342617-congressional-staff-should-represent-america\">July<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/thehill.com\/opinion\/civil-rights\/352499-a-call-for-diversity-on-capitol-hill?amp\">Sept<\/a>). \u00a0We spoke on congressional staff diversity at events hosted by the <a href=\"\/joint-center-joins-national-urban-league-panel-senate-diversity\">National Urban League<\/a>, IMPACT, STEM4US!, the <a href=\"\/joint-center-moderates-cbci-session-inclusion-workplace\">Congressional Black Caucus Institute<\/a> (Tunica Policy Conference), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/137959113@N06\/sets\/72157660869746838\">NBLSA<\/a> (CBC Week Power Mapping at Howard Law), and the Congressional Native Staff Association.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/yrd7a1hyVB47vCXwKStNM0SuzPfeKEwXgLZSgXXcXYNcTOvdYvpaWyqiRoMrTbSbD9DGXQSA_1GbRBnaJTwx3asa2XtglYPqoJmGyWSRCuG-hdm41WiEz60zBdXdAY_kj42esbSS\" alt=\"\" width=\"483\" height=\"261\" \/><br \/>\nRep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and NALEO Exec. Dir. Arturo Vargas at reception announcing collaboration of NALEO &amp; the Joint Center<\/p>\n<p><strong>Partnered with NALEO:<\/strong> At a <a href=\"\/joint-center-and-naleo-partner-staff-congress\">reception<\/a> we organized featuring Rep. Barbara Lee and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, we announced our new partnership with NALEO Educational Fund\u2014<a href=\"http:\/\/www.staffupcongress.com\/\">Staff Up Congress<\/a>. The collaboration will maintain a joint database of candidates, and will help identify, develop, and help place Black and Latino candidates into Hill staff positions.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Researched Diversity Among Top House Staff:<\/strong> Throughout 2017, the Joint Center researched diversity among U.S. House Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Directors, Communications Directors, and Committee Staff Directors, and we hosted a <a href=\"\/preview-diversity-among-top-house-staff\">lunch with top House staff of color<\/a> and several meetings of staff association leadership to provide updates and obtain insights. We will continue this work and release a report on the data in 2018.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Encouraged U.S. Senator-Elect Doug Jones (AL) to Advance Diversity:<\/strong> The Joint Center organized 16 other organizations to submit <a href=\"\/joint-center-letter-senator-elect-doug-jones-december-2017\">this letter<\/a> to Senator-elect Jones. We released <a href=\"\/joint-center-sends-letter-urges-senator-elect-jones-hire-diverse-staff\">this press release<\/a> and <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Senate-Staff-Diversity-Fact-Sheet-12-26-17-711am.pdf\">this updated fact sheet<\/a> on the issue. Our efforts resulted in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.al.com\/opinion\/index.ssf\/2017\/12\/black_women_and_men_voted_now.html\"><em>AL.com<\/em><\/a> and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/powerpost\/wp\/2017\/12\/20\/doug-jones-faces-pressure-to-hire-minorities-for-his-senate-staff\/?utm_term=.97e3bbded352\">Washington Post<\/a><\/em> coverage, and we are currently working with the transition team to identify strong staff candidates.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/tKMuZffYc0Re71m0jA4mAnIgPRnhMd3FwpF_m_q3stEMh0IyY0bE7pc7PgvGXEuTvNUebO_VDjLqMtPGOxumhVZcYYvm8pV21lWT-SJ_qF4dp18WAxuxEdqdHY3tjznNTyPJJ0qY\" alt=\"\" width=\"419\" height=\"275\" \/><br \/>\nRoscoe Jones, Legislative Director for U.S. Senator Feinstein<\/p>\n<p>As a Result of the Efforts of the Joint Center and Our Many Allies:<\/p>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a href=\"\/joint-center-praises-leader-schumer-staff-diversity-rules\">Senate Democrats Adopted Staff Diversity Rules<\/a><\/strong>, including a commitment to interview candidates of color for vacancies (\u201cthe Rooney Rule\u201d).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"\/joint-center-applauds-leader-pelosi-staff-diversity-initiatives\">House Democrats Created a Staff Diversity Initiative and Committed to the Rooney Rule<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<ul>\n<li>The Number of Black U.S. Senate Top Staff Increased 50%: \u00a0Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) hired a Black Chief of Staff (<a href=\"\/senator-jerry-moran-r-ks-hires-black-chief-staff\">Brennan Britton<\/a>), and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) hired a Black Legislative Director (<a href=\"\/joint-center-commends-sen-feinstein%E2%80%99s-hire-black-legislative-director\">Roscoe Jones<\/a>). These two hires increased the number of Black Republican Senate top staff from three to four, and increased the number of Black Democratic Senate top staff from one to two.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Jonathan Burks, Chief of Staff to House Speaker Paul Ryan,<br \/>\nspeaks at Joint Center\/Insight America breakfast<\/p>\n<p>Other Political Studies Activities: In addition to advancing congressional staff diversity, the Joint Center published a <a href=\"\/ensuring-energy-low-income-households-color\">policy brief and video on LIHEAP<\/a>, a federal program that provides energy to low-income households of color. We also organized policy breakfasts with <a href=\"\/joint-center-meets-jonathan-burks-chief-staff-speaker-paul-ryan\">House Speaker Chief of Staff Jonathan Burks<\/a> and <a href=\"\/joint-center-meets-hud-secretary-dr-ben-carson\">HUD Secretary Dr. Ben Carson<\/a> with Insight America. \u00a0We served as co-host of the Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus, the Black44 Conference (professional development workshop for Black Obama Administration appointee alumni), and the <a href=\"https:\/\/socialequity.duke.edu\/news\/dc-landmark-museums-cook-center-holds-conference-legacy-reconstruction-amendments\">Reflections on the Impact of the Reconstruction Amendments<\/a> research symposium with Duke University at the National Archives. We also organized a breakfast for <a href=\"\/joint-center-meets-black-foundation-executives-cbc-members\">Black foundation executives and CBC Members<\/a> with ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Legacy of the Joint Center\u2014Eddie Williams<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This year the Joint Center mourned the loss of Eddie Williams, who served as Joint Center President from 1972-2004 and passed away on May 8, 2017.<\/p>\n<p>As Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton stated, while individual Black public intellectuals existed before the Joint Center, Eddie brought them together with a platform that allowed them to collectively provide rigorous research, public policy solutions, and technical assistance. Eddie commissioned and published surveys of Black Americans, and effectively produced information about African Americans that is not available anywhere else.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/_fedNOt5Y7VaewT6Y4R3NqDIQZdbXCyAw_DP6BV7kwSh4IYeEqgdBJ-jvl1fMvn_iCzqTuzqsgKd-ZMhRfC9CsX_K8EgADOgI7I6Gu1-0sZWBpsnAAyjAHcOSVnc1mI-FtH74zQM\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"250\" \/><br \/>\nEddie also built a Black public policy infrastructure by creating Focus Magazine for black elected officials, scholars, and political activists, by building roster of over 10,000 Black Elected officials, and by helping to found the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and several Black elected official membership organizations.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/joint-center-mourns-passing-eddie-n-williams\">Click here<\/a> for a detailed overview of Eddie\u2019s life and statements from President Clinton, President Obama, and many others.<\/p>\n<p>The Future of the Joint Center\u2014Strategic Planning Process<\/p>\n<p>With support from the Ford Foundation, in late 2016 the Joint Center started a strategic planning process.<br \/>\nIn 2017, we held several in-person listening sessions about the future of people of color with groups of community activists and elected officials in <a href=\"\/joint-center-session-future-black-rural-communities\">Tunica, Mississippi<\/a>, as well as with groups of experts in <a href=\"\/joint-center-convening-top-tech-race-professors\">technology and race<\/a>, <a href=\"\/innovations-health-lunch\">health<\/a>, <a href=\"\/innovations-financial-services-lunch\">financial services<\/a>, <a href=\"\/innovations-energy-breakfast\">energy<\/a>, and <a href=\"\/innovations-transportation-lunch\">transportation<\/a>. We traveled to Seattle (once) and Silicon Valley (seven times) to meet with leaders in technology and equity and get their thoughts. Our consultant conducted extensive one-on-one interviews with top elected officials, civil rights leaders, foundation officials, and private sector representatives, as well as a top congressional staffer and a futurist.<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/X9ug9ei9tEy4JHESavVVKBqHWQXlnk-zY5v7T3YJhcBuVfCy6AJgrZKbg_PEoxhvgNBidz-MAtjOsIKjQaD_EuJqOkXwBI_ixa-lSsp4Nhd9gAFzaU3jf43hBlcJQWckjD5QQwhD\" alt=\"\" width=\"558\" height=\"299\" \/><br \/>\nThe Joint Center meets with transportation experts to discuss issues key to communities of color <em>for our strategic planning process.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>We learned several things, including that: 1) the African American community faces unique challenges and needs a think tank to provide data and actionable solutions; 2) with finite capacity, the Joint Center should master a narrow group of defined but high-impact economic and political issues \u2014like future of work (<a href=\"\/innovation-and-opportunity-program\">click here for a 2-minute video<\/a>) and congressional staff diversity \u2014and then gradually add other issues; and 3) the Joint Center should not duplicate the efforts of established Black membership organizations, but should partner with them to create briefs, videos, and other content with actionable solutions tailored to their members (e.g., Black mayors).<br \/>\nWe are continuing to receive feedback, and we are looking forward to finishing the process and starting to implement the plan in the first quarter of 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to Our Supporters<\/p>\n<p>Financial Supporters: Our 2017 financial and in-kind supporters included American Express, Annie E. Casey Foundation, American Petroleum Institute, Bank of America, BMW of Bridgeport, Comcast NBCUniversal, CTIA, Democracy Fund, DTE Energy, ExxonMobil, FedEx, Ford Foundation, Google, GW Law, Hewlett Foundation, Home Depot, Honda, Hudson-Webber Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Liliana Monge, Marguerite Casey Foundation, MasterCard, Microsoft, NAB, Open Society Foundation, Quicken Loans, the Raben Group, Sandler Reiff Lamb Rosenstein &amp; Birkenstock P.C., Skillman Foundation, UPS, Venable LLP, Verizon, and W.K. Kellogg Foundation.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/uuqapcSlEyhrI2HejVOn4FOPfIJr5-A-8iNJPIDoY5qJBKwLH2nxlG_X22Oc-x1DoN-7MhplzzTp6aYueIuYXlyjFbm6J78AWGxylB3dl5tZqu3JW-TMtRy4BYTNHpm-Yw42LIi7\" alt=\"\" width=\"624\" height=\"397\" \/>Thanks to Roland Martin and TV One for giving the Joint Center<br \/>\na regular panel spot on NewsOne Now<\/p>\n<p>Roland Martin: For over a year Roland Martin allowed us to fortify our connection to our community by giving the Joint Center a weekly panel spot on News One Now, the only daily television news show for African Americans. Roland appreciates the need for a Black think tank, and he has consistently supported the Joint Center. December 21, 2017 was the last day of Roland\u2019s award-winning show, and we look forward to his continued contributions to our community.<br \/>\nBoard: The Joint Center\u2019s board consists of Barbara Johnson (chair), Scott Bolden, Paula Boyd, Chris Kang, Robert Hagans, Chanelle Hardy, Beverly Perry, Dianne Pinderhughes, Robert Raben, Vincent Sarmiento, and Paul Thornell.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Highlights of 2017 &nbsp; Joint Center Community: 2017 was a successful but challenging year. In May, we lost the most significant figure in our history, former Joint Center President Eddie&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":831,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[]},"categories":[4],"tags":[109],"jc_blog_category":[],"hashtags":[],"ppma_author":[138],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>2017 Accomplishments - Joint Center<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/jointcenter.org\/2017-accomplishments\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2017 Accomplishments - Joint Center\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Highlights of 2017 &nbsp; Joint Center Community: 2017 was a successful but challenging year. 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