GOP Presidential Candidates Skip Iowa Minority-Focused Forum
A majority of Republican presidential candidates declined to participate in the nation’s oldest minority-focused presidential forum, forcing its cancellation
Almost every Republican presidential candidate has declined to attend what is believed to be the nation’s oldest minority-focused presidential forum, forcing its cancellation.
NBC News reports that since 1984, Wayne Ford has organized the Iowa Brown and Black Presidential Forum, an event focusing on issues of significance during a presidential year, including crime, education and employment. It provides a platform for presidential candidates to tailor their message to communities of color.
Ford, a former Democratic state representative, said he was collaborating with Iowa republican leaders to put on the event this year but only Democratic candidates have participated so far.
Ford believed this year might be different due to gains the GOP have made in minority communities, but organizers canceled the event this year due to a low number of participants.
“We’ve reached out to the Republican Party—whether it was Bush, Reagan, it didn’t matter. We always reached out to both parties,” Ford said. “Over the years, we started recognizing that Republicans were not coming but, Democrats were. I’m disappointed that as of today, we still have not done a Republican forum from the presidential level.”
Ford, with the support of Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann, began sending invitations to every Republican presidential candidate except former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whom indicated he would not attend.
While former President Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have held numerous campaign events in the state in the last several months, the only candidate who committed to the event was Ryan Binkley, who told NBC News he accepted the invitation because he “recognized the deep need for reconciliation in our nation, not just politically, economically, but certainly racially.”
Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung suggested the former president would decline all events that would put him on a stage with other candidates.
Kaufmann told NBC News the cancellation of the event was “unfortunate.”
“Republicans have always been fierce champions of free speech and the fair exchange of ideas, and I applaud my good friend and Iowa political trailblazer Wayne Ford for attempting to provide another platform to facilitate debate and discussion,” Kaufmann said.
Democratic candidates who have attended in the past include President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Al Gore, and Jesse Jackson.
Fox 4 reports that Yarl was named to Missouri’s 2024 All-State Band as the second chair for bass clarinet, essentially marking Yarl as the state’s second-best bass clarinet player.
According to his family, Yarl, an honors student at Staley High School in Kansas City, was previously named to the All-State Band. Though Yarl was shot twice by Lester, once in the head and also in the arm, he was released from the hospital a few days after his injuries were treated. That summer, Yarl completed an engineering internship and resumed his studies at Staley High in August.
Ralph Yarl, the teen who was shot by a white man after going to the wrong house was named to the 2024 Missouri All-State Band as second chair for bass clarinet! Despite suffering a traumatic brain injury Ralph overcame his adversity! #BlackExcellencehttps://t.co/OQaXprDNTD
Now a senior, Yarl will likely testify again in the trial of Lester, which has been set for October 2024. In preliminary hearings, Yarl took the witness stand in August 2023 as one of 12 witnesses called to testify by the prosecution.
KSHB reported that during Yarl’s testimony, he told the court that after Lester told him “Don’t ever come here again,” Yarl began to back away, at which point Lester shot him in the head and again in his arm while he lay on the ground.
Lester faces one count of first-degree felony assault and one count of armed criminal action, which is also a felony, due to his alleged actions toward Yarl. Lester’s grandson, Klint Ludwig, said he believes his grandfather’s embrace of conspiracy theories may have played a role in the shooting of Yarl. “His actions are his responsibility, and falling into the fear and paranoia stoked by the 24-hour news cycle and wild conspiracies did not help his mental state.” Ludwig said.
“Ralph deserves justice, regardless of my relationship with the shooter,” Ludwig added. “Black Lives Matter always.”
In a June 2023 interview with Good Morning America, Yarl described the event from his point of view. “He points [the gun] at me … so I kinda, like, brace and I turn my head,” Yarl said. “Then it happened. And then I’m on the ground … and then I fall on the glass. The shattered glass. And then before I know it I’m running away shouting, ‘Help me, help me.’”
Happy Birthday, Mr. G!: Remembering The Legacy Of Black Enterprise Founder Earl Graves, Sr.
Magic Johnson, Rev. Al Sharpton and a host of leaders and organizations remember Earl G. Graves, Sr., the founder of BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Originally Published Apr. 17, 2020
Earl G. Graves, Sr., is a pioneering publisher, business titan, and activist best known for creating BLACK ENTERPRISE, a multimedia company that has inspired generations of Black business leaders. Graves died at the age of 85 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Launched in 1970, BE was the first magazine dedicated to the advancement of African Americans through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and career development.
“When my father started BE, his vision was creating a publication that would provide how-to information for African Americans to be successful in business as entrepreneurs,” said Earl “Butch” Graves, Jr., who became the CEO of the media company in 2006.
“My goal was to show them how to thrive professionally, economically and as proactive, empowered citizens,” Graves wrote in his 1997 best-selling book How to Succeed in Business Without Being White.
Because of his tenacious drive and resolve, he secured advertising with companies like PepsiCo and General Motors and the magazine became profitable by its ninth issue.
“He was well-dressed, his presentation was polished, he knew exactly what he wanted to say, and he was determined,” said his son in the video below.
Prior to launching the magazine, Graves served in the Army and worked as an assistant for Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. In addition to his work in media, Graves ran the Pepsi-Cola of Washington, D.C., one of the nation’s largest soft-drink distributors owned by African Americans, between 1990 and 1998. He also served on the boards of major corporations like American Airlines, Daimler Chrysler, and Rohm & Hass. Furthermore, he used his platform to promote racial justice and support the presidential bids of Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama
Following the announcement of his death, several celebrities, leaders, and civil rights organizations expressed their condolences, including Magic Johnson, the NAACP, and Bob Johnson, the founder of BET and founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies.
“It is with deep sadness that I say goodbye to my friend and mentor, Earl Graves, Sr,” wrote Bob Johnson in a statement. “Every Black entrepreneur and every Black corporate executive who reached the pinnacles of leadership in corporate America owe a salute and tribute to Earl. BE under his founding leadership was, and still is, our bible; and its stories of our achievement are, in chapter and verse, our religion. “
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 7, 2020
Rest In Peace to a great business partner, role model, and friend, Earl Graves. Earl and I owned a Pepsi bottling franchise in Washington, D.C. and I enjoyed attending Black Enterprise’s Business Conference and the Golf and Tennis Challenge.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) April 7, 2020
I woke up to the news that Earl Graves, the founder of Black Enterprise & huge Black influencer passed. Graves was a true trailblazer for Black entrepreneurs & community empowerment. He made a real, measurable difference. Here’s a photo of Caroline Kennedy, he & I. pic.twitter.com/TO8XviCi15
We’ve lost another legend: #EarlGraves, Sr., @blackenterprise founder & publisher. He passed away after a long battle w/Alzheimers.
Graves was not just a chronicler of Black businesses + entrepreneurs, but a leader & a role model for excellence in his own right. May he RIP 🙏🏾. pic.twitter.com/w7YoJCqqdd
— National Urban League (@NatUrbanLeague) April 7, 2020
A Real G: Celebrating Earl G. Graves Sr. On His Birthday, And For Creating A Blueprint On Brand-Building
Decades before today’s brand leaders in fashion, music, and sports leveraged their personas into market share, Earl Graves perfected the blueprint.
Originally Published Apr. 16, 2020
Earl Graves Sr. had a presence.
Standing at nearly 6 feet 4 inches, Graves often dominated the rooms he entered. It wasn’t just his height that commanded respect or his signature sideburns; what made the man truly legendary was his vision. Over his 85 years, the BLACK ENTERPRISE founder created an ecosystem of business empowerment, and in the process made himself synonymous with the audacity of Black entrepreneurs.
It is no understatement to say that Graves was one of the first entrepreneurs—certainly Black entrepreneurs—who embodied the ethos and aspirations of his own brand. Decades before today’s brand leaders in fashion, music, and sports leveraged their personas into market share, Graves perfected the blueprint. In the ’80s, Jordan became Brand Jordan. In the ’90s, Diddy wore jerseys emblazoned with Bad Boy. But long before that, Graves’ three-piece suits, monogrammed cuff links, full Windsor knot, and wingtip shoes were associated with his empire.
Before he started BE, Graves worked in Sen. Robert Kennedy’s office, serving with him from 1965 until the senator’s assassination in 1968. In 1970, only two years after the assassinations of Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., Graves set out on his own to launch a publication celebrating Black businesses and entrepreneurs breaking barriers, creating jobs, and building wealth in our community. BE launched with a $175,000 loan; it had turned a profit by the 10th issue and would go on to reach a peak circulation of 500,000 in the ’90s.
Graves’ secret?
He believed in Black people. Graves’ success stemmed in large part from his own version of the “five forces” business theory framework. Popularized by Harvard professor Michael Porter in 1979, the model teaches entrepreneurs and executives to make informed decisions by looking at the relationship between five areas: rivals, suppliers, cost of entry, potential substitutes, and key customers. By critically analyzing industries, this framework identifies opportunities and challenges to be mastered to not only survive but to thrive.
In the ‘80s, Jordan became Brand Jordan. In the ‘90s, Diddy wore jerseys emblazoned with Bad Boy. But long before that, Graves’ three-piece suits, monogrammed cufflinks, full Windsor knot, and wingtip shoes were associated with his empire.
Graves was his own force. If you review his life and his work, you will see that he created his own five forces model, nine years before it was widely taught at business schools.
Belief in entrepreneurs
Graves was the undisputed champion of Black business in this country. Supporting and developing Black businesses has been a hallmark of his storied career—including his own. The idea of rivals was antithetical to his mission.
While Graves had complete market dominance of Black business publications, it never stopped him from making sure the entrepreneurs he featured in the magazines—and those who hoped to be—were in the same circles. Early in my career as president and CEO of Vibe magazine, Graves embraced and acted as a mentor in the world of Black media.
Today there are more than 2.6 million Black-owned businesses in the United States. Notably, in the 21st century, Black women have been at the vanguard of entrepreneurship. Of the 2.6 million Black businesses today, 1.5 million are female-owned. Nine out of 10 Black-owned businesses are sole proprietorships. This is what Black business looks like today. Does this mean every business has Graves and BE to thank? Not necessarily. But he undoubtedly paved the way. There was no need for rivals when all had a seat at the table.
Promoting executives
For Black businesses to thrive, they have to become vital trading partners with and key suppliers to Fortune 500s and successful private companies. This means fair opportunities to compete for contracts and new ventures. BE made sure we learned about pioneering black executives of extraordinary achievement, like Kenneth Chenault of American Express and Ursula Burns of Xerox. Graves showed us what Black corporate excellence looked like, which no doubt inspired the next generation of executives like Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of Chase’s consumer banking business. He knew that to fuel Black business you had to have successful Black corporate executives. Without Black corporate executives, there is less access and opportunity for Black businesses. Without successful Black corporate executives to emulate, young Black professionals lack mentors and sponsors. Period. That information was found in the pages of BE every single month.
Business, policy, and politics
For Black entrepreneurs, the cost of entry has often been tied to skin color. In the early days of BE, the road to the C-suite was mysterious. Deals were often made in country clubs that didn’t accept people of color. (And likely, still are, in some spaces.) Graves dropped that cost of entry to zero. He made sure that his writers always had their ears to the streets and covered Black entrepreneurs from those distilling new ideas to those preparing for their IPO—and far beyond.
Corporations need accountability and governance. Black elected officials, policymakers, and civic leaders hold corporations accountable for Black hiring and equitable supplier distribution to minority businesses. When PepsiCo asked Graves to help them reach the African American community as partners and suppliers, he created the PepsiCo African American Advisory Board, which included the Rev. Al Sharpton among a host of leading civic and business leaders. Graves’ philosophy is just as relevant today—his son, Earl “Butch” Graves Jr., interviewed Donna Brazile at the last BE Women of Power Summit.
Industry knowledge
Graves and his team always believed in nimbleness and the ability to pivot. He started out handing out free issues of BE to potential subjects and advertising clients. When sales of the print issue began to slow in the internet era, BE had already bolstered a digital presence—and that presence remains strong today.
An advocate of education as well as hands-on exposure to business, Graves was a longtime champion of corporate internship opportunities. Graves understood that just as Black businesses are essential, so too are historically Black colleges and universities. Today, HBCUs produce four of every 10 Black college graduates in the United States. These students, future entrepreneurs, and executives are the talent pipeline our nation needs to remain competitive in the global economy. In recognition of his lifetime commitment to paving the way for future generations, Morgan State University named its business school the Earl G. Graves School of Business & Management.
Key customers
This one was always easy for Graves: He wasthe key customer. As long as he remained true to his own vision as a business owner, the magazine itself would do the same. He also made a point to bring his three sons into the family business; they were both customers and consumers as well. Graves knew that a family business (his wife Barbara Kydd Graves, who passed in 2012, was on board from day one) is a business that has a fighting chance to remain viable. His son Earl Graves Jr. is at the helm and ready to continue his father’s legacy.
During his upbringing, his military service, and his time in government, Graves observed that successful people network. They find ways to work together. They find ways to build each other up. This principle inspiredBEevents. Network, network, network. But the lesson that he leaves is that networking is as much for the next generation as it is for self-advancement. To sustain our Black economy, we have to give our young people access.
For decades, BLACK ENTERPRISE fueled the dreams of young entrepreneurs and professionals long before social media existed. Graves did more than chronicle successful Black businesspeople—he created a blueprint for brand-building in a multimedia world.
Black people matter. Black businesses matter. Black entrepreneurs and Black executives matter. Before we realized we needed it, Graves showed us that BE matters.
The ranking is determined based on typical rent costs, mortgage payments with a 5% down payment, and the typical home value in the area, emphasizing affordability as a driving force for market heat. Buffalo, N.Y., and Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, claimed the top three spots in Zillow’s ranking, according to WSBTV.
Anushna Prakash, a data scientist for Zillow Economic Research, highlighted the importance of affordable home prices and strong employment in fostering a healthy housing market. “I’m cautiously optimistic that the housing market will get back on stable footing in 2024 —we shouldn’t see the massive price spikes of the early pandemic or fast-rising mortgage rates of recent years.”
As of now, the average mortgage rate across the United States is 6.62% for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, according to Freddie Mac. This is a slight increase from the previous week but still relatively low compared to the rates in October 2023. Freddie Mac, a federally-backed mortgage company, reported that rates last year peaked at 7.79%, the highest since rates surpassed 8% in 2000.
Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac, suggested that despite the recent sideways movement in rates, they are expected to drift downward throughout the year.
“Given the expectation of rate cuts this year from the Federal Reserve, as well as receding inflationary pressures, we expect mortgage rates will continue to drift downward as the year unfolds. While lower mortgage rates are welcome news, potential homebuyers are still dealing with the dual challenges of low inventory and high home prices that continue to rise,” Khater said.
Amidst market fluctuations, Redfin noted a significant decline in monthly payments for homebuyers, marking the lowest levels in approximately a year. The median U.S. mortgage payment stood at $2,361 for the four weeks ending Dec. 31, a decrease of $372 from the record high observed in October.
Despite the nationwide trend reflecting a 10% surge in new listings coupled with a 3% reduction in pending sales, Redfin’s data specific to the Atlanta metro area paints a distinct picture. New listings of homes for sale witnessed an 11.5% decrease, while pending sales experienced a 10% decline, challenging the nationwide pattern.
New Book Details Late Miss USA Cheslie Kryst’s Inner Turmoil
The new book, written before the former Miss USA died, details the internal battles and mental illness she faced behind her glittering smile.
Over two years after former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst’s suicide at age 30, one of her lifelong dreams, of becoming a published author, is coming to pass.
On April 23, Forefront Books will release Kryst’s book, By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie’s Smile and Mental Illness. The work fulfills one of Kryst’s final wishes, according to her mother, April Simpkins. “She left me her final wishes in the text message that she sent to me the morning that she passed … that I see to it that her book get published, and it has been quite a journey doing that,” Simpkins told Extra.
In the first half of the book, the former Extra correspondent shares her incredible story in her own words, spanning her highest achievements, including passing two bar exams, winning Miss USA 2019 and building an entertainment journalism career. It also captures her lowest moments of “heartbreak, betrayal, and persistent depression.” The late beauty queen’s bright public persona often masked profound inner turmoil. “These are her own words. Cheslie, for most people who saw her on TV or saw her at events, she was smiling, and she was bubbly, and she was happy, and that was her true self… but there was still a lot of pain that she felt, and I do feel like the book stands right between that place of what people saw in her smile and her private battle with depression.” Simpkins toldExtra.
For Simpkins, shepherding the book to publication brings bittersweet closure while also furthering her daughter’s legacy. She herself picks up the narrative, recounting her shattering experience in the aftermath of her daughter’s death.
Simpkins hopes this firsthand account of the private struggles that led to her daughter’s suicide will inspire more compassion and support for those with mental illness.
“I hope that when people read this book that they promise themselves to seek help when they need it,” she said. “That they work to create a safe space so that their friends can share, and that they learn how to really listen.”
As previously covered by BLACK ENTERPRISE, Kryst, then 30, was found dead on January 30, 2022, on the street after jumping from a 60-story high-rise building in midtown Manhattan. She left her loved ones with an Instagram message that read, “May this day bring you rest and peace.”
Net proceeds from the book will support the Cheslie C. Kryst Foundation, established to honor the late correspondent. The book is available for preorder before its April release.
Earl Graves Sr. Had Something To Say: Cellphones, Text Messages And Social Media Has Devalued Personal Communication
We live in a world of mobile devices and social media, text messages and status updates.
It’s no doubt that Earl Graves Sr. was a forward thinking innovator, having established BLACK ENTERPRISE in 1970 for the greater good of the Black community. As a leader and family man, Mr. Graves reflected on the times. He drop gems around he’s observations of the ever changing world he lived in. Back in 2013, as technology and social media evolved, Mr. Graves recognized how communication and connection devolved and he had plenty to say.
We actually measure our communications influence over hundreds of thousands–even millions–of people, around the globe. However, in all the ways that matter to developing quality personal and business relationships, many of us are more disconnected than ever. We communicate more then everyone, but we are losing our sense of genuine connection with others. This bodes ill for our relationships, both business and personal.
Before you dismiss this perspective as merely the typical lamentations of the generation that once thought of nationwide phone service as the epitome of communication technology, hear me out. I absolutely appreciate how advances in our ability to move information in larger volumes and faster than ever has helped to drive economies, transform industries, create new job and business opportunities, and even new wealth. In fact, such innovations made BLACK ENTERPRISE‘s evolution from a single magazine publisher to a multi-platform media company both possible and even inevitable. Though I don’t claim to understand or appreciate the nuances of social media, I am proud to know that BE is recognized among the best media companies at using its influence to serve and inform, dramatically extending the reach of our audiovisual, digital, and live event content.
However, it is important to recognize that phone texts with acronyms and emojis are poor substitutes for a handwritten note, a sincere hug, or a firm handshake. Moreover, our increasing reliance on texting and other less-than-personal communication has resulted in less civility, courtesy, and consideration of others. For example, too many people (including politicians, athletes, and other public figures) choose to publicly blast one another via Twitter or Facebook, rather than speak with one another directly to personally iron out their differences. We are becoming more detached even from our loved ones, as communication via cell phones and tablets replaces more intimate, engaged, and personal conversation, even at family reunions, vacations, and the dinner table.
I often say that all business is personal, and that whoever builds the best relationships wins. Similarly, there can be nothing more important on your business agenda than establishing and maintaining healthy personal and family relationships and enjoying real communication with your loved ones. At the end of the day–or more to the point, at the end of your life–this is what truly matters. I am more convinced of this since the passing of my beloved wife, Barbara.
Social media and mobile communications are not going away, nor should they. But we can be wiser in our use of them. Let’s use them to facilitate, instead of replace, authentic personal communication in both our business and personal lives. Have more real conversations and fewer extended exchanges of text messages. Value opportunities to look people in the eye and really listen. Resist the urge to glance at your mobile device. Text fewer heart symbols; instead, call to say “I love you” more often.
When in the company of a friend, family member, or business associate, have the courage and wisdom to turn off your devices, if only for a few minutes. Honor your friend by being fully engaged and present. Trust me: the world won’t end. And all of us, especially you, will be the better for it.
Qualified New Jersey Residents To Receive $1500 Stimulus Checks
New Jersey residents may receive financial relief in the form of $1,500 stimulus checks, slated for distribution on Jan. 10.
In a development intended to bring hope to New Jersey residents, a fresh round of financial relief is on the horizon, as $1,500 stimulus checks are slated for distribution on Jan. 10, according to Marca.
This announcement marks the implementation of the ANCHOR Tax Relief Program 2024, an initiative aimed at extending economic support to individuals who meet specific income, residence, and homeownership criteria. The program’s objective is to ease the financial strain many citizens in New Jersey face, especially concerning the weighty burden of property taxes.
As outlined by the program, individuals in New Jersey who owned homes in 2019 and maintained a combined income of $150,000 or below in 2023 qualify for the $1,500 rebate. Homeowners with incomes ranging from $150,001 to $250,000 are eligible for a $1,000 benefit. Following the program’s guidelines, renters stand to receive a $450 stimulus check if their 2019 tax returns show an income of $150,000 or less.
What distinguishes the ANCHOR program is its commitment to inclusivity. It extends its benefits to residents facing unique circumstances, including those in assisted living facilities or individuals who have experienced significant life changes such as marriage or the loss of a spouse. Notably, the program caters to both homeowners and renters without imposing age restrictions or prerequisites, positioning itself as a versatile solution to address the diverse financial challenges encountered by citizens in New Jersey.
NEW JERSEY ANCHOR PROGRAM FORMERLY THE NJ STATE REBATE PROGRAM FILE YOUR NJ HOMEOWNERS OR RENTERS REBATE MISS RAYSHAWN TRENTON, NEW JERSEY NO COMMENTS PLEASE pic.twitter.com/DMh0mVGfEW
The ANCHOR program, part of the Affordable New Jersey Communities for Homeowners and Renters initiative, has received backing from the New Jersey government. To be eligible, homeowners are required to sustain an annual income of $250,000 or below, while renters must have a minimum annual income of $150,000.
ANCHOR provides a welcome form of financial support for qualified individuals in New Jersey. With its inclusive approach and commitment to easing the burden of soaring living expenses in the state, this initiative is a positive step forward in assisting citizens facing economic challenges.
Domestic Violence Network Launches ‘Beyond Equity’ Plan For Black Women
Black women are three times more likely to be fatally shot by an intimate partner compared to white women.
The Indianapolis-based Domestic Violence Network is addressing generational trauma among Black women with a three-year, communitywide plan.
Named the Beyond Equity plan, the family approach to healing and resources will debut its pilot program in March 2024, WRTV reports. Thanks to support from the community, including conversations with Black women and transwomen students at Indianapolis’ Arsenal Tech High School, the Domestic Violence Network is offering support to survivors like Jimmie Bridges.
“I want women of color to know that they do have a voice,” Bridges told the outlet.
A mother of five, Bridges was married to a man who inflicted verbal and physical abuse on her for more than a decade. She also disclosed that she was beaten in her sleep by her husband when he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“I had to choose my children, also. I didn’t want them to keep growing up in the environment of abuse because it trickles on down. It had to end somewhere, and it had to start with me,” said Bridges.
The Beyond Equity plan provides support groups, training of service providers and community members, and a “restorative justice program.” Domestic abusers can put themselves on the invite list.
Domestic violence disproportionately devastates communities of color, with some advocates calling it a racial justice issue. Black women are three times more likely to be fatally shot by an intimate partner in comparison to white women.
There may only be a handful of free spots left for our Community Wide Plan 6.0 launch event tomorrow, so grab yours now: https://t.co/TM9BPF1HXL
When: Tuesday, January 9, 2024 · 11am – 12:30pm EST Where: Martin University Gathertorium Who: All are welcome! pic.twitter.com/JQpSRgQMvY
Rebecca Berry, director of strategic initiatives with the Domestic Violence Network, told WRTV that the plan will examine the actors behind these disproportionate rates. With that, DVN can uncover societal impacts on the culture.
“This is something the survivors have asked for, like ‘I want to find my own justice, I want to speak my own truth, I want to find my own healing,’ and they weren’t finding that in the ways the criminal justice system is structured,” Berry said.
On Jan. 9, a communitywide launch event will take place at the Martin University Gathertorium in Indianapolis from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. EST.
National Women’s Political Caucus Foundation Elects 2024 Executive Board Of Directors
The National Women’s Political Caucus Foundation, led by a Black woman, is dedicated to "identifying, recruiting, training and supporting women candidates for elected and appointed office."
The National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) Foundation has elected its 2024 Executive Board of Directors, leaders who are paving the way for the next generation of women in politics.
The non-profit organization, which was created to build an endowment fund while “identifying, recruiting, training and supporting women candidates for elected and appointed office,” announced its new team of officers in a press release provided to BLACK ENTERPRISE.
I am proud to receive the endorsement of the @NWPCNational, which works to elect progressive, pro-choice women to office. On my first day in office, I plan to co-sponsor the Women's Health Protection Act and will fight to expand access to reproductive care. pic.twitter.com/e8BRaxTC6c
The new board consists of Paula Owen Willmarth, president; Dr. Carmen Estrada Schaye, vice president of grants, California; Margo McNeil, treasurer, Missouri; and Laura Goettsche, secretary, Texas.
Owen Willmarth has been a member of the National Women’s Political Caucus for several years with numerous state and national-level positions within the National Women’s Political Caucus, Inc. Notably, she transitioned from her previous role as vice president of political planning and appointments for NWPC, Inc.
“It is indeed an honor to be leading this organization. Given the state of women’s rights today, we are called to do whatever we can to empower more women to elected office,” Owen Willmarth said in a press release. “NWPC Foundation, since the inception, has been a leading organization in the important work of getting more women involved in the political process.”
Other general board members include Belinda Anderson of Tennessee, Donna Lent of South Carolina, Cindy Wu of California, Shicagolyn Hams Scroggins of Missouri, Dawn Lott of New York, and Deidre Malone of Tennessee.
