The Congressional Black Caucus’s For the People Jobs Commission
**** MEDIA ALERT ****
For Immediate Release: September 19, 2011
Communications Director: Stephanie L. Young o: c:
Washington, DC – This Wednesday, September 21, 2011, the Congressional Black Caucus will hold the “For the People” Jobs Commission, a part of the CBC Jobs Initiative in the Capitol Visitor Center Auditorium. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, job creators, community leaders, and experts will gather to discuss the American Jobs Act and policy recommendations to address job creation in our nation’s most vulnerable communities. The Commission will be lead by Chairman Emanuel Cleaver along with CBC “For the People” Jobs Initiative Chair Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) and Al Green (D-TX). The moderator will be MSNBC contributor and the Grio.com chief correspondent, Jeff Johnson.
The CBC just completed the travel component of the CBC Jobs Initiative, which included job fairs and town halls in Cleveland, Detroit, Atlanta, Miami and LA. Almost half of the Congressional Black Caucus traveled the country and saw firsthand how unemployment continues to devastate our communities during the “For the People” Jobs Initiative. Nearly 30,000 people from all walks of life attended the CBC Jobs Initiative events. Additionally, the CBC members have introduced over fifty job creation bills since the beginning of the 112th Congress, launched a national jobs initiative, in addition to providing the CBC’s “For the People” job creation proposals targeting our nation’s most vulnerable communities.
This discussion is open to the public and there will be a question and answer period. Press outlets are asked to RSVP to Stephanie Young: . Details are included below.
CBC “For the People” JOBS COMMISION
WHAT: The Congressional Black Caucus’s “For the People” Jobs Commission
WHO: The Commission will be lead by Chairman Cleaver along with CBC “For the People” Jobs Initiative Chair Maxine Waters (D-CA), Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH) and Al Green (D-TX) & Members of the CBC
WHEN: WEDNESDAY September 21st, 9am – 1pm
WHERE: The Congressional Visitor Center Auditorium
9:00am – 9:55am
Panel A: Job Creation For African Americans and those in our Most Vulnerable Communities
Lead: Chairman Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO)
Discussion on the differences in the needs of and the challenges confronting groups such as the chronically unemployed, underemployed, new labor force entrants, formerly incarcerated individuals, and displaced workers.
Speakers:
Algernon Austin, Ph.D., Director of the Race, Ethnicity and the Economy Program, Economic Policy Institute
James H. Lowry, Senior Advisor, The Boston Consulting Group
http://www.toyota.com/about/diversity/diversity_advisory_board/james_lowry.html
Clyde R. McQueen, President and CEO, Full Employment Council Missouri Career Center
http://www.kansascityfed.org/eventinfo/community/mcqueen-bio
10:00am – 10:55am
Panel B: Job Creation by whom and programs that aide in obtaining and creating jobs for African Americans
Lead: Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH)
Discussing job creation successes during past eras and under currently existing programs implemented by the federal government, state and local governments, small businesses and larger corporations. We will specifically focus on African Americans.
Speakers:
Larry Benders, Director of Development, Cuyahoga County
http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20110309/FREE/110309819#
David Hinson, National Director, Minority Business Development Agency
http://www.mbda.gov/main/people/david-hinson
Dr. Maya Rockeymoore, President and CEO Global Policy Solutions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_Rockeymoore
11:00 am – 11:55am
Panel D: Jobs Can be Created to Meet Today’s Needs
Lead: Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Discuss pros (effectiveness) and cons (disadvantages) of strategies such as the following: job sharing, federal public works job creation programs, tax credits, economic stimulus programs, targeted strategies (e.g. empowerment zones, renewal communities) and sector-based skill training and employment strategies and how many programs can account for opportunities in emerging industries.
Speakers:
Charles Blow, Op-Ed Columnist, the New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/opinion/CHBLOW-BIO.html
Robert Borosage, Founder and President of the Institute for America’s Future and Co-director of its sister organization, the Campaign for America’s Future
http://www.ourfuture.org/user/4/full
Dorothy A. Brown, J.D. LLM (Tax), Professor of Law, School of Law, Emory University
http://www.law.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/dorothy-a-brown.html
The Honorable Steny Hoyer, Democratic Whip, US House of Representatives
http://www.democraticwhip.gov/about/biography
12:00- 12:55am
Panel C: Job Creation Where these jobs can and need to be created:
Lead: Congressman Al Green (D-TX)
Examine the need for and effective strategies to create jobs may differ by geographic location, e.g. Inner cities, Black Belt South, Appalachia, Midwest, Southwest-and what needs to be done to ensure investment makes it into these communities.
Speakers:
Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO Green for All
http://www.greenforall.org/about-us/staff
David Rawlinson, Vice President and General Counsel, ITT
http://www.nationsbestadvocates.com/candidates/david-rawlinson-II.php
Brooks Sunkett, Vice President for Public Healthcare and Education Workers, Communications Workers of America
###
