President Obama recently met with African American leaders in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. They discussed his plan to strengthen the economy for the middle class and to build ladders of opportunity, through increasing access to job training programs, partnering with high-poverty communities to help them rebuild, and encouraging companies to invest in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Other topics included how to expanding universal pre-K education for every child as a way to significantly decrease the achievement gap, as well as improvements to the voting process. The leaders also highlighted their goals to continue to build momentum for Congress to act in the best interests of the American people by supporting policies that help move our country forward. (Photo credit: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza).
The President praised the participants for their steadfast leadership on a broad range of issues critical to improving the economy and strengthening our country. The leaders in attendance also highlighted their goals to continue to build momentum for Congress to act in the best interests of the American people by supporting policies that help move our country forward.
Participants:
• Melanie Campbell, President, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation • Ralph Everett, President, Joint Center for Economic and Political Studies • Wade Henderson, President, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights • Ben Jealous, President, National Association of the Advancement of Colored People • Avis Jones-DeWeever, Executive Director, National Council of Negro Women • Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition • Al Sharpton, Founder and President of National Action Network • Rev Derrick Harkins, 19th Street Baptist Church • Judith Browne Dianis, Co-Director, Advancement Project
