Today, June 20th, in conjunction with the Birmingham Urban League and the Birmingham Business Resource Center, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-07, will host a Black Entrepreneurship Roundtable at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The event will feature a panel discussion with Senior Advisor to the President and White House Director of Public Engagement Steven Benjamin, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairman Steven Horsford, NV-04, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and local leaders. Panelists will discuss the role of entrepreneurship in closing the Black wealth gap and celebrate the progress made under President Biden to advance Black economic empowerment.
WHO: Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell, AL-07; Steven Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and White House Director of Public Engagement; Rep. Steven Horsford, NV-04, Chair, Congressional Black Caucus; Rep. Yvette Clark, NY-09, Vice Chair, Congressional Black Caucus; William Barnes, President & CEO, Birmingham Urban League; Bob Dickerson, Executive Director, Birmingham Business Resource Center; Naila Jackson, Director, Network Navigator
WHAT: Black Entrepreneurship Roundtable: Closing the Black Wealth Gap
WHEN: Thursday, June 20, 2024
- Roundtable begins: 1 p.m. CDT
WHERE: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; 520 16th St. N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Since taking office, President Biden has committed to leveraging the full force of the federal government—including with the signing of two executive orders on advancing racial equity—in order to ensure the promise of America for all communities, including Black Americans. Under President Biden:
- The Black unemployment rate and gap between Black and white unemployment hit record lows.
- Black wealth is up 60 percent relative to pre-pandemic levels.
- The share of Black business owners more than doubled between 2019 and 2022.
- Black-owned businesses are being created at the fastest rate in 30 years.
Find more information on President Biden’s efforts to close the Black wealth gap here.
