Resources,
Programs, Opportunities
00:00:00.96\00:00:03.67
Our guest today is
going to inform us of
00:00:03.70\00:00:06.07
what's available to
make our lives better.
00:00:06.10\00:00:08.37
My name is Yvonne Lewis
and your watching Urban Report
00:00:08.40\00:00:12.47
Hello and
welcome to Urban Report
00:00:34.00\00:00:36.46
I am excited
about our program today
00:00:36.50\00:00:38.97
my guest is Cy Richardson
Senior Vice President of
00:00:39.00\00:00:42.80
Programs for the
National Urban League
00:00:42.84\00:00:44.97
Welcome to Urban Report Cy...
00:00:45.01\00:00:47.88
Thanks very much for having
me. Absolutely, this is such
00:00:47.91\00:00:51.25
a blessing... it's so
great to finally meet you too...
00:00:51.28\00:00:54.52
I've talked to you on the phone
but I've never placed a face
00:00:54.55\00:00:57.35
with the voice... So I
get to meet you today...
00:00:57.39\00:01:01.22
Cy, I want to
start out by saying that
00:01:01.26\00:01:05.63
I have a personal
history with the Urban League
00:01:05.66\00:01:09.36
my mom, before she died,
was the Controller of the
00:01:09.40\00:01:13.07
New York Urban
League... and my first job
00:01:13.10\00:01:16.00
the very first, kind of official
job outside of babysitting
00:01:16.04\00:01:19.74
that I ever had...
was with the Urban League
00:01:19.77\00:01:22.48
The New York Urban League...
so I have... go ahead...
00:01:22.51\00:01:26.61
Yes... many folks can trace
their employment opportunities
00:01:26.65\00:01:30.72
back to our local
Urban League affiliate
00:01:30.75\00:01:32.59
so that's a wonderful
story it doesn't surprise me
00:01:32.62\00:01:35.46
as our
affiliates... over the years
00:01:35.49\00:01:36.99
have done a wonderful job of
getting folks on the appropriate
00:01:37.03\00:01:40.53
career path... obviously,
you've come a long way.
00:01:40.56\00:01:43.60
Well... praise the Lord...
it was such a great opportunity
00:01:43.63\00:01:47.10
for me because I got to see
my mother doing what she did
00:01:47.14\00:01:50.61
in her role as an
executive with the Urban League
00:01:50.64\00:01:53.14
and I also got... to get a
taste of what goes on in the
00:01:53.17\00:01:57.21
grassroots level...
with the Urban League
00:01:57.25\00:01:59.91
and so it was a
great, great opportunity
00:01:59.95\00:02:02.68
and I have a great
affinity for the Urban League
00:02:02.72\00:02:05.95
So, tell us a little
bit about the Urban League
00:02:05.99\00:02:09.19
because some people
really might not know
00:02:09.22\00:02:11.79
anything about its
history and its mission
00:02:11.83\00:02:14.00
tell us a little bit
about it if you would...
00:02:14.03\00:02:18.13
Right... so we are a
103-year-old Organization
00:02:18.17\00:02:22.27
an historic Civil
Rights Organization
00:02:22.30\00:02:25.07
the Nation's oldest
and largest civil rights
00:02:25.27\00:02:28.54
organization dedicated
to helping African-Americans
00:02:28.58\00:02:32.75
to enter and sustain themselves
in the economic and social
00:02:32.78\00:02:35.75
mainstream... and
so we run programs
00:02:35.78\00:02:37.75
through our 95 affiliates
00:02:37.79\00:02:39.19
across the country...
and we also have a voice
00:02:39.22\00:02:42.59
in Washington...
weighing in on Federal Policy
00:02:42.62\00:02:45.93
policies that are helpful...
00:02:45.96\00:02:49.46
and hinder the economic
00:02:49.50\00:02:51.90
prospects of African-Americans
and those who live in
00:02:51.93\00:02:54.44
urban places... so we
weigh in and regularly
00:02:54.47\00:02:57.31
kind of contribute and seek
to influence public policies...
00:02:57.34\00:03:00.98
that boast both boost and block
00:03:01.01\00:03:02.98
the economic life chances of
00:03:03.01\00:03:04.88
African-Americans... and
we've been fairly successful
00:03:04.91\00:03:06.92
at that...
recently... That's tremendous...
00:03:06.95\00:03:09.02
and what exactly do you
do... for the Urban League?
00:03:09.05\00:03:11.82
Right... so I've been with the
League for 12 years now, Yvonne,
00:03:11.85\00:03:15.46
and I initially joined the
Organization as.. essentially...
00:03:15.49\00:03:19.09
a Policy Analyst working
in the housing and community
00:03:19.13\00:03:22.06
development space... I
rose to the ranks to become
00:03:22.10\00:03:25.03
the Vice President of
that portfolio and just
00:03:25.07\00:03:27.37
early this
year... I was promoted to
00:03:27.40\00:03:28.60
Senior Vice President
and Chief Program Officer
00:03:28.64\00:03:31.04
for Economic
Programs... that would be our
00:03:31.07\00:03:33.61
Small
Business-Development Programs
00:03:33.64\00:03:35.18
our Housing Home
Ownership Programs
00:03:35.21\00:03:36.68
and I work for those
development programs as well
00:03:36.71\00:03:38.61
and so... my role here is
to kind of design programs,
00:03:38.65\00:03:42.85
to implement
them... in terms of funding
00:03:42.88\00:03:45.12
our affiliates will
executive the programs
00:03:45.15\00:03:47.29
and to take and analyze data
and evaluate the efficacy of
00:03:47.32\00:03:50.46
those programs... and
kind of report and narrate
00:03:50.49\00:03:52.76
to our Funders and those
interested parties across
00:03:52.79\00:03:54.96
the country... the
impact of the Urban League
00:03:55.00\00:03:57.57
at large... Wow! you're kind of
00:03:57.60\00:04:01.77
a slouch eh?
Well yeah... I mean...
00:04:01.80\00:04:05.87
there's no rest for the
weary, they say, but... yeah
00:04:05.91\00:04:08.34
there's a lot of work...
given that the most recent data
00:04:08.38\00:04:10.75
in terms of the
disproportionality of the
00:04:10.78\00:04:12.98
economic crisis on
the Black Community
00:04:13.01\00:04:15.15
we have a lot of work to do...
Well, let's talk a little bit
00:04:15.18\00:04:17.82
about that... if we may,
Cy, because a lot of people
00:04:17.85\00:04:22.06
might not really
know... about that disparity
00:04:22.09\00:04:25.46
or what some of the
figures are, can you share some
00:04:25.49\00:04:28.66
information about
the disparity with us?
00:04:28.70\00:04:31.90
Sure... well... I'll
give you just a macro sense...
00:04:31.93\00:04:34.57
right... so from 2008
when the sub-prime crisis
00:04:34.60\00:04:38.57
gave way to a
larger economic crisis...
00:04:38.61\00:04:41.11
both here... in this country
00:04:41.14\00:04:42.51
and abroad...
around the world...
00:04:42.54\00:04:44.08
you know, the old
adage that you know,
00:04:44.11\00:04:47.92
when America catches a cold, the
Black America catches the Flu
00:04:47.95\00:04:52.89
and I think that did play
out... in the last period of
00:04:52.92\00:04:56.73
unpleasantness... in
all of the indicators that
00:04:56.76\00:04:59.69
we employ to assess the
00:04:59.73\00:05:01.93
economic viability of
00:05:01.96\00:05:04.10
communities...
whether it be home ownership,
00:05:04.13\00:05:06.27
business ownership,
whether it be College readiness
00:05:06.30\00:05:10.34
and enrollment...
whether it be Work Force
00:05:10.37\00:05:12.74
the unemployment rate...
in some of the largest cities
00:05:12.77\00:05:15.58
in this country...
well, it's obviously reported
00:05:15.61\00:05:18.75
8 to 10 percent... but
for the African-American
00:05:18.78\00:05:21.18
Community... it was
double and triple that...
00:05:21.22\00:05:23.52
in Detroit... the unemployment
rate is still somewhere
00:05:23.55\00:05:26.89
hovering around 20 percent...
which... it's mind-boggling...
00:05:26.92\00:05:30.69
two or three out of
ten African-Americans...
00:05:30.73\00:05:32.66
unemployed... in
fact... many of them
00:05:32.69\00:05:34.30
have stopped looking for
work... so demoralized and
00:05:34.36\00:05:37.17
beaten down...
so it's part of the
00:05:37.20\00:05:39.17
Urban League to
kind of uplift...
00:05:39.20\00:05:41.57
raise the
stakes... prepare people...
00:05:41.60\00:05:43.87
for their chance to
meet their potential...
00:05:43.91\00:05:47.44
but also to really
show how the crisis...
00:05:47.48\00:05:50.95
disproportionately
affected communities of Color,
00:05:50.98\00:05:53.45
disproportionately
affected African-Americans...
00:05:53.48\00:05:55.58
which in 2005...
we just were able
00:05:55.62\00:06:00.16
in the history of this Country
to reach 50% home ownership rate
00:06:00.19\00:06:04.26
which 50.1% and that was a
historic milestone, for example,
00:06:04.29\00:06:08.96
because home
ownership is the chief way,
00:06:09.00\00:06:10.93
in this Country, as you
know, to build wealth and safer
00:06:10.97\00:06:13.57
retirement and to fund
children's education, etc. etc.
00:06:13.60\00:06:16.17
So 51% of African-Americans
were homeowners?
00:06:16.20\00:06:20.21
were homeowners in 2005
we've now since rolled back
00:06:20.24\00:06:24.58
6 percentage points
which doesn't sound a lot
00:06:24.61\00:06:27.28
like a lot... to most people
but it's hundreds of thousands
00:06:27.32\00:06:29.42
of families... who
either lost their home
00:06:29.45\00:06:33.19
through the period of
foreclosure or were so
00:06:33.22\00:06:36.89
bewildered and overwhelmed...
just stopped trying...
00:06:36.93\00:06:39.53
stopped endeavoring
and which... for me...
00:06:39.56\00:06:41.43
I travel around the
Country talking to folks
00:06:41.46\00:06:44.40
about the
prospects for our clients...
00:06:44.43\00:06:47.24
the foreclosure piece...
00:06:47.27\00:06:48.70
we can speak
about that... but...
00:06:48.74\00:06:50.17
the lack of endeavor is
far more troubling for me
00:06:50.21\00:06:53.27
when we're trying to
develop a generation of those
00:06:53.31\00:06:57.28
who take their full
stake in American life...
00:06:57.31\00:07:00.22
in the ownership
society... and for those...
00:07:00.25\00:07:02.68
to actively and willingly
sit on the sidelines because
00:07:02.72\00:07:05.45
they don't deem the marketplace
to be safe.. that's troubling...
00:07:05.49\00:07:08.82
because in many
ways... information exchange,
00:07:08.86\00:07:11.33
in our community happens
within the household... so
00:07:11.36\00:07:14.20
so the mom tells the daughter,
00:07:14.23\00:07:15.26
the daughter
tells the kids around
00:07:15.30\00:07:17.30
how to tap into home ownership
00:07:17.33\00:07:19.30
or how to find... a loan...
00:07:19.33\00:07:20.64
for small businesses or
mortgages etc... you know,
00:07:20.67\00:07:23.27
so to have a relatively placid
00:07:23.30\00:07:26.04
consumer base...
it's troubling...
00:07:26.07\00:07:29.34
because... that tends
to be passed on to children
00:07:29.38\00:07:32.31
and their children...
and so we're trying to arrest
00:07:32.35\00:07:34.25
that decline... So...
let me ask you this...
00:07:34.28\00:07:37.75
are you saying that
this lack of endeavor
00:07:37.79\00:07:41.49
is due to... primarily...
to being overwhelmed
00:07:41.52\00:07:45.23
and kind of a
sense of depression
00:07:45.26\00:07:46.73
or are you saying
that it is a kind of
00:07:46.76\00:07:50.37
defeatist attitude?
00:07:50.40\00:07:52.20
Yes... well... I think
it's a little bit of both
00:07:52.23\00:07:54.94
Yvonne... really... I mean...
you look at the historical arc
00:07:54.97\00:07:58.24
and the trajectory of the
African-American experience
00:07:58.27\00:08:01.24
in this Country and, you
know, many of our folks...
00:08:01.28\00:08:04.11
myself included... have
been... what's called...
00:08:04.15\00:08:06.82
trying to get to the
"Yes"... trying to find someone
00:08:06.85\00:08:09.08
who will give us a
mortgage, trying to find someone
00:08:09.12\00:08:11.12
who will give us a
loan... trying to find someone
00:08:11.15\00:08:13.39
who will take a chance
on us for employment...
00:08:13.42\00:08:16.06
and after generation
and generation of being
00:08:16.09\00:08:18.73
told "No" you
know, we went through
00:08:18.76\00:08:21.13
a period in the early 2000's
00:08:21.16\00:08:22.56
of really trying
to get to the "Yes"...
00:08:22.60\00:08:26.63
trying to find
someone who will...
00:08:26.67\00:08:28.60
take that
economic risk with us...
00:08:28.64\00:08:30.51
and there were a
number of unscrupulous players
00:08:30.54\00:08:33.51
in the Marketplace...
that the sub-prime marketplace
00:08:33.54\00:08:36.71
in particular...
that all tended to prey on
00:08:36.75\00:08:39.68
folks who were
looking for the "Yes"
00:08:39.71\00:08:40.85
who were all too
accustomed to getting the "No"
00:08:40.88\00:08:43.35
and so... that has
a psychological effect
00:08:43.39\00:08:45.72
to risking... getting out there
00:08:45.75\00:08:49.52
taking a mortgage...
00:08:49.56\00:08:51.79
taking a loan...
and then... you know...
00:08:51.83\00:08:53.73
defaulting or having
otherwise having the cards
00:08:53.76\00:08:55.66
stacked against you...
and then falling back...
00:08:55.70\00:08:57.63
it's more than...
just one step forward...
00:08:57.67\00:08:59.47
two steps back...
because... that is passed on...
00:08:59.50\00:09:01.70
you know... inter-generationally
and so it's a combination
00:09:01.74\00:09:06.11
of... you know,
kind of group depression
00:09:06.14\00:09:08.98
a combination of a
lack of sophistication
00:09:09.01\00:09:11.81
in terms of decision-making...
and that's what the Non-Profit
00:09:11.85\00:09:14.22
space has to do...
to continue to create
00:09:14.25\00:09:16.25
an informed Constituency...
which brings efficiency
00:09:16.28\00:09:19.15
to all Market Places...
but I do think... your question
00:09:19.19\00:09:22.22
it's a combination of...
psychological depression...
00:09:22.26\00:09:25.26
at the Group Level but also...
00:09:25.29\00:09:27.46
it's folks who just
don't believe it's safe
00:09:27.50\00:09:30.90
to enter into a Market Place...
home ownership... for example...
00:09:30.93\00:09:34.57
which will be... for most of
us, the most expensive purchase
00:09:34.60\00:09:38.21
that we'll make
in our lifetimes...
00:09:38.24\00:09:39.64
and so... that is just
overwhelming for a large
00:09:39.67\00:09:41.71
majority of people...
not just African-Americans
00:09:41.74\00:09:43.98
but for many low-and-moderate
income citizens of this country
00:09:44.01\00:09:47.62
and that's deeply troubling
because, I think they've
00:09:47.65\00:09:51.19
understood that the
playing field is not level
00:09:51.22\00:09:54.16
and the odds are
rigged against communities
00:09:54.19\00:09:57.13
of color...
against... moderate and
00:09:57.16\00:09:59.43
working-class people...
to really succeed and advance
00:09:59.46\00:10:02.10
in this Country...
that's the kind of narrative
00:10:02.13\00:10:04.00
we're trying to
tell right now...
00:10:04.03\00:10:05.23
And that's very, very important
00:10:05.27\00:10:07.34
you said... several
things that I'd like to
00:10:07.37\00:10:09.47
touch on... one is that...
00:10:09.50\00:10:12.14
there is a certain...
lack of sophistication
00:10:12.17\00:10:15.48
in terms of financial
literacy, that we really need to
00:10:15.51\00:10:20.75
get some information to be
00:10:20.78\00:10:24.29
equipped because
there were these predators
00:10:24.32\00:10:27.82
that did take
advantage of people...
00:10:27.86\00:10:29.99
with the sub-prime
lending... and all that...
00:10:30.03\00:10:33.06
but the other
side of that... was...
00:10:33.09\00:10:35.76
that inability to
defer gratification
00:10:35.80\00:10:38.37
you know that you
can't afford a $500,000 home
00:10:38.40\00:10:42.60
but yet... you go for that
home because, as you had said,
00:10:42.64\00:10:47.11
you're so used to getting a "No"
00:10:47.14\00:10:49.04
and you finally
getting a "Yes" and it's like,
00:10:49.08\00:10:50.91
"Oh man... maybe I
can get this house"
00:10:50.95\00:10:53.28
and it is... the most expensive
expenditure that you're
00:10:53.31\00:10:59.05
going to make... so
I think that there is
00:10:59.09\00:11:01.36
personal responsibility
here and then I think
00:11:01.39\00:11:03.59
there's a systemic issue
an institutionalized issue
00:11:03.63\00:11:07.40
as well... that we
really need to look at
00:11:07.40\00:11:09.56
would you agree?
Yes, I would agree...
00:11:09.60\00:11:11.73
that's well said and I
don't think I really can
00:11:11.77\00:11:13.60
improve upon that
assessment... that's correct...
00:11:13.64\00:11:15.40
I think we have a
combination of the predatory and
00:11:15.44\00:11:19.54
unscrupulous characters
that prey upon our Community
00:11:19.57\00:11:22.08
that actively reach
out for those who lack that
00:11:22.11\00:11:25.08
sophistication and
understanding and conversancy
00:11:25.11\00:11:28.48
on financial issues
and prey upon them...
00:11:28.52\00:11:30.89
you know peddling
products that cause harm...
00:11:30.92\00:11:34.49
at a neighborhood
level so that's one thing...
00:11:34.52\00:11:38.06
but when you have that in
combination to your point,
00:11:38.09\00:11:40.50
around faulty and
flawed decision making...
00:11:40.53\00:11:42.76
I think that's a perfect
storm for economic crisis
00:11:42.80\00:11:45.43
and that disproportionately
affects communities
00:11:45.47\00:11:48.07
that systemically...
again to your point...
00:11:48.10\00:11:50.87
kind of lack the
underlying kind of success and
00:11:50.91\00:11:53.84
confidence in making
these economic choices
00:11:53.88\00:11:56.71
and decisions...
and again... you know
00:11:56.75\00:11:58.55
the concept for us is...
in our Financial Literacy
00:11:58.58\00:12:00.88
Programming is... you don't know
00:12:00.92\00:12:02.52
what you don't know and
taken to a large extreme...
00:12:02.55\00:12:07.06
that is what we're
having to cope with now...
00:12:07.09\00:12:09.39
that is... starting
back from square one...
00:12:09.42\00:12:11.63
the basics and concepts...
budgets, savings, credit...
00:12:11.66\00:12:15.50
asset-building,
asset preservation...
00:12:15.53\00:12:17.90
compound interest,
deferred gratification
00:12:17.93\00:12:20.04
these concepts that
you're talking about...
00:12:20.07\00:12:22.10
are... maybe...
not sexy... necessarily
00:12:22.14\00:12:24.61
from a Program
Development Standpoint
00:12:24.64\00:12:27.04
but are really influential
and impactful for communities
00:12:27.08\00:12:30.48
that simply do not have the
hundred or two hundred years'
00:12:30.51\00:12:33.88
experience with owning
and preserving assets...
00:12:33.92\00:12:36.02
Oh... that is such a good
point, that is such a good point
00:12:36.05\00:12:39.99
that you just
made... that we don't have,
00:12:40.02\00:12:42.82
as a Community... experience in
00:12:42.86\00:12:46.90
handling money... we just
don't and handling it wisely...
00:12:46.93\00:12:51.57
when we get it...
even many of our athletes
00:12:51.60\00:12:54.80
and people who are
making huge amounts of money
00:12:54.84\00:12:58.61
people in the Entertainment,
in Business, Medicine, whatever
00:12:58.64\00:13:01.34
if there is not that
history of financial literacy...
00:13:01.38\00:13:06.15
then... you can kind of
just... not to mention the fact
00:13:06.18\00:13:10.95
that you end up
having to help everybody...
00:13:10.99\00:13:12.82
mom and them... everybody...
so... you know... if you don't
00:13:12.85\00:13:18.66
have that history... you
have to start from scratch
00:13:18.69\00:13:21.66
one of the things
that we're doing... here on
00:13:21.70\00:13:23.60
Dare to Dream... is...
we have a Financial Literacy
00:13:23.63\00:13:25.80
Program... it's
called, "Take it to the Bank"
00:13:25.83\00:13:27.70
where we teach... budgeting
where we teach... information
00:13:27.74\00:13:31.91
about managing your
credit and all of these things
00:13:31.94\00:13:34.88
because...
people just don't know
00:13:34.91\00:13:37.81
and the Bible
says that, you know...
00:13:37.85\00:13:40.08
"My people perish
for lack of knowledge"
00:13:40.12\00:13:42.28
so... we have to know...
what to do... with money...
00:13:42.32\00:13:46.65
when we get it...
what do we do with it?
00:13:46.69\00:13:49.22
I think that's part of the
discrepancy... the disparity
00:13:49.26\00:13:52.56
that we have...
in our Society...
00:13:52.59\00:13:54.66
with Communities of
Color and White Communities
00:13:54.73\00:13:58.17
because... we have
not had the experience
00:13:58.20\00:14:00.44
of knowing how to handle it...
That's exactly right and I think
00:14:00.47\00:14:04.71
there's another
variable there at play...
00:14:04.74\00:14:06.57
which is... the kind of nuances
around money conversations
00:14:06.61\00:14:11.08
and gender in
the Black Community
00:14:11.11\00:14:12.55
in many ways... it's a
very male-dominated space
00:14:12.58\00:14:15.78
particularly for
older African-Americans...
00:14:15.82\00:14:18.79
and so this is what we're
seeing just a little anecdote...
00:14:18.82\00:14:22.89
we're seeing a number of mature
senior citizens... females...
00:14:22.92\00:14:26.96
coming to our affiliates
for this kind of assistance
00:14:27.00\00:14:30.50
because perhaps... they were
married for 30, 40, 50 years
00:14:30.53\00:14:32.93
and their husbands had always
taken care of their household
00:14:32.97\00:14:35.37
finances... and
they've... maybe passed on...
00:14:35.40\00:14:39.04
and so... the
widow... has a home,
00:14:39.07\00:14:42.44
may have some accounts
but doesn't really feel
00:14:42.48\00:14:46.78
fully economically empowered
because they just don't have
00:14:46.82\00:14:49.62
that experience...
so... when you overlay the
00:14:49.65\00:14:52.49
African-American deficiencies
historically as we talked about,
00:14:52.52\00:14:55.22
with the kind of
gender deficiencies
00:14:55.26\00:14:57.16
that we talked about,
you have a really vulnerable
00:14:57.19\00:14:59.89
class of folks... and
we have here stories in
00:14:59.93\00:15:03.10
New York of
unscrupulous entities
00:15:03.13\00:15:05.93
scouring the Obituary Ads
00:15:05.97\00:15:07.90
looking for
African-American surnames
00:15:07.94\00:15:11.37
folks living in
African-American Communities...
00:15:11.41\00:15:13.14
where the male of the household
will have passed away...
00:15:13.17\00:15:15.84
and they're really
scouring these Obituary Ads
00:15:15.88\00:15:20.28
to find these elderly widows
00:15:20.32\00:15:22.75
to prey upon and
many of them have lost
00:15:22.78\00:15:25.12
their homes or entered
into very shady arrangements
00:15:25.15\00:15:28.52
given that lack of
economic preparation...
00:15:28.56\00:15:30.73
because, again, the historical
context that we mentioned
00:15:30.76\00:15:33.29
but also the gender
differences that are prevalent
00:15:33.33\00:15:36.03
in our community as
well. You know, I had no idea,
00:15:36.06\00:15:40.77
of the gender differences...
in terms of unscrupulous
00:15:40.80\00:15:44.64
people... trying to prey
upon these older women...
00:15:44.67\00:15:48.44
I had no idea about that
that's a real new insight for me
00:15:48.48\00:15:53.01
because... we really need
to.. and... that's what you guys
00:15:53.05\00:15:57.55
are doing in Urban League
which I just so appreciate...
00:15:57.59\00:16:01.69
you are equipping people
to deal with... the crises
00:16:01.72\00:16:05.86
I noticed on your website,
that you have programs for
00:16:05.89\00:16:09.93
jobs, housing,
health and education
00:16:09.96\00:16:12.90
so you've done... what
God has laid on our hearts
00:16:12.93\00:16:16.87
here to do... and that is...
00:16:16.91\00:16:18.04
to look at the crises
confronting minorities
00:16:18.07\00:16:22.51
and
African-Americans and then...
00:16:22.54\00:16:24.91
design
programming around that...
00:16:24.95\00:16:27.25
tell us about some of
the programs that you have
00:16:27.28\00:16:30.15
not just housing, but jobs,
and some of the initiatives
00:16:30.19\00:16:34.02
Sure.. so first I'll
say that... you're right...
00:16:34.06\00:16:36.99
we are a historic
civil rights organization
00:16:37.03\00:16:39.49
that is an enduring institution
in the Black Community
00:16:39.53\00:16:43.23
and so... we provide
services free of charge, Yvonne,
00:16:43.26\00:16:46.94
that are certified
by Federal Agencies
00:16:46.97\00:16:51.14
and we do provide those programs
00:16:51.17\00:16:53.14
and design and
evaluate those programs...
00:16:53.17\00:16:54.64
but in order to be credible...
to be a credible voice
00:16:54.68\00:16:57.88
in Washington... for
example... you need...
00:16:57.91\00:17:00.18
to... they're big
right now on measurement
00:17:00.22\00:17:02.45
and metrics...
So they... want...
00:17:02.48\00:17:05.59
they're really big on
quantitative analysis.. correct?
00:17:05.62\00:17:11.06
Yes... they are...
and so we've couched our
00:17:11.09\00:17:14.10
programmatic
interventions along the lines of
00:17:14.13\00:17:17.13
empowerment goals... the
state of affairs we'd like
00:17:17.17\00:17:19.57
to see by 2025...
there are four goals
00:17:19.60\00:17:21.70
in the Health care area...
it's.. every American has access
00:17:21.74\00:17:24.97
to quality and
affordable health care solutions
00:17:25.01\00:17:27.61
in the Education Space,
our goal is... for every
00:17:27.64\00:17:30.21
American child to be
ready for College, Work and Life
00:17:30.25\00:17:34.32
in the Workforce Area and
the Economic Empowerment area
00:17:34.35\00:17:37.89
is... every American has access
to jobs with a living wage
00:17:37.92\00:17:41.39
and good benefits...
and in the Housing and Asset
00:17:41.42\00:17:44.09
Building Space... it's
every American lives in
00:17:44.13\00:17:46.46
safe, decent, affordable
and energy-efficient housing
00:17:46.49\00:17:49.43
on fair terms...
those are the four areas
00:17:49.46\00:17:51.67
and we have a number of programs
that cascade from those goals
00:17:51.70\00:17:54.47
so for example... in
the Health Care Space
00:17:54.50\00:17:56.67
we've just launched
a new program called
00:17:56.71\00:17:58.97
Health Care
Navigators which essentially is
00:17:59.01\00:18:01.24
kind of case-managed assistance
helping people to understand
00:18:01.28\00:18:05.91
the Affordable Care Act...
Obamacare... if you will...
00:18:05.95\00:18:09.95
and to ensure maximum
uptake and full understanding
00:18:09.98\00:18:13.96
conversancy of the
Affordable Care Act
00:18:13.99\00:18:16.52
so the Health
Navigator's Program...
00:18:16.56\00:18:19.03
working one-on-one to
ensure that lower-and-moderate
00:18:19.06\00:18:23.40
income people have
access to all the parameters
00:18:23.43\00:18:26.20
of the program...
In the Education Space
00:18:26.23\00:18:28.34
One second... one second...
let me just ask you about that
00:18:28.37\00:18:31.87
and that is so great because
I remember when Obamacare
00:18:31.91\00:18:35.38
first was launched
and nobody really knew
00:18:35.41\00:18:38.45
and still... don't
know what's in it...
00:18:38.48\00:18:41.42
and how can I
access... what's good for me...
00:18:41.45\00:18:44.99
so, what you're saying
is that in this Program...
00:18:45.02\00:18:48.26
you're letting people
know just what is there
00:18:48.29\00:18:51.49
and how they can access
the benefits of this program.
00:18:51.53\00:18:55.36
That's exactly right
and understanding their
00:18:55.40\00:18:57.50
obligations under
it... and I think...
00:18:57.53\00:18:59.87
the Administration...
for all of its strengths and
00:18:59.90\00:19:01.87
success... has done a very
poor job of doing the kind of
00:19:01.90\00:19:05.71
marketing and outreach
and communications strategies
00:19:05.74\00:19:08.68
around ensuring
smooth implementation
00:19:08.71\00:19:11.21
for their Affordable Care
Act. In fact, this morning,
00:19:11.25\00:19:13.28
I just read the newspaper...
that they are now delaying
00:19:13.31\00:19:15.25
implementation by one year
because they've not done that
00:19:15.28\00:19:17.82
early work and so...
Non-Profits... such as the
00:19:17.85\00:19:20.69
Urban League are really trying
to assist and be helpful to the
00:19:20.72\00:19:23.06
Administration to want to ensure
that folks know what's in there
00:19:23.09\00:19:26.49
but two, that they are prepared
and poised to make use of the
00:19:26.53\00:19:29.86
benefits that are embedded
in the program and to also
00:19:29.90\00:19:31.67
make sure... they are
compliant with the program
00:19:31.70\00:19:33.77
and that Program that we
are administering is called
00:19:33.80\00:19:35.87
The Health Care Navigators.
That's great, that's great OK...
00:19:35.90\00:19:39.17
all right... that's awesome...
Sure, sure, so I mean the
00:19:39.21\00:19:42.71
Education Space... we
have a number of programs
00:19:42.74\00:19:44.55
but the chassis... as it
were that we build our programs
00:19:44.58\00:19:48.92
around is what's
called "Project Ready"
00:19:48.95\00:19:50.69
which is a kind of supplemental
education program...
00:19:50.72\00:19:54.06
post-secondary... which allows
folks to prepare for College,
00:19:54.09\00:19:59.83
Work and Life...
really... whether it be...
00:19:59.86\00:20:02.56
the two-or-four-year
College, whether it be
00:20:02.60\00:20:05.13
vocational training,
jobs skills readiness,
00:20:05.17\00:20:07.64
certification
training for skills such as
00:20:07.67\00:20:10.91
construction trades or
healthcare industry jobs
00:20:10.94\00:20:13.71
and so Project Ready is
implemented by a number of
00:20:13.74\00:20:17.95
affiliates across the Country
and we've actually had a number
00:20:17.98\00:20:20.28
of Third-Party Evaluators
conclude that the program
00:20:20.32\00:20:25.89
Project Ready is one
of the most influential
00:20:25.92\00:20:28.49
supplemental education programs
that any Non-Profit runs
00:20:28.52\00:20:32.19
and we are seeing a great
investment and interest in
00:20:32.23\00:20:35.86
Foundation Space and
Government Space and also
00:20:35.90\00:20:38.13
Private Sector interests as
well that's... Project Ready
00:20:38.17\00:20:39.47
That is so
great... on your website...
00:20:39.50\00:20:42.50
I saw a young man and
perhaps he had gone through this
00:20:42.54\00:20:46.27
Project Ready... but he said...
If it weren't for this Program,
00:20:46.31\00:20:50.65
he would have been either
incarcerated... or dead...
00:20:50.68\00:20:54.75
because of this... he
is on his way to College
00:20:54.78\00:20:57.79
That's right... and so...
that's a wonderful example
00:20:57.82\00:21:01.12
as to how we try to actually
build... not programs in
00:21:01.16\00:21:04.43
isolation but a
continuum of programs...
00:21:04.46\00:21:07.40
that vignette that you saw
in our website comes from a
00:21:07.46\00:21:09.66
young man and a
present young man
00:21:09.70\00:21:11.47
from Cleveland, Ohio...
We're just... I mean, in May...
00:21:11.50\00:21:14.20
of announcing the
jobs We Build America
00:21:14.24\00:21:16.27
to really focusing the
conversation on jobs and
00:21:16.30\00:21:19.37
education as the key building
blocks for the African-American
00:21:19.41\00:21:22.68
Community... and
so... we did meet this
00:21:22.71\00:21:24.75
young man who was a
product of Project Ready
00:21:24.78\00:21:27.48
and I was also moved
into another program called
00:21:27.52\00:21:30.82
UYEP which stands for "The
Urban Youth Empowerment Program"
00:21:30.85\00:21:34.56
which is essentially a training
and preparatory program for
00:21:34.59\00:21:38.23
young people 18-25 who
may have been adjudicated
00:21:38.26\00:21:42.40
in the Criminal Justice System
may have had some early problems
00:21:42.43\00:21:46.47
that they are turning it
around, on the right track
00:21:46.50\00:21:49.57
and the Urban
League is assisting them...
00:21:49.60\00:21:51.54
in getting all
their money straight...
00:21:51.57\00:21:53.27
getting their
decision-making straight...
00:21:53.31\00:21:54.91
and connecting them
with employment opportunities
00:21:54.94\00:21:56.88
that's called UYEP... and
it's a demonstration program
00:21:56.91\00:21:59.58
we've been running with
the Department of Labor support
00:21:59.61\00:22:02.75
and other private-sector
interests for over 15 years
00:22:02.78\00:22:05.92
and so that young man...
who provided that testimonial
00:22:05.95\00:22:09.06
and I was there in the
audience and it was quite moving
00:22:09.09\00:22:11.63
he did say, absent of that
kind of intervention from the
00:22:11.66\00:22:13.80
Urban League... he fears
for... that he would have been
00:22:13.83\00:22:15.93
incarcerated... dead...
or... just certainly not on the
00:22:15.96\00:22:18.53
right track... and so... that
is a very nice tidbit as to...
00:22:18.57\00:22:21.17
you know, how we are empowering
communities and changing lives.
00:22:21.20\00:22:23.77
And you know... see...
this is so good... Cy...
00:22:23.81\00:22:27.28
because so many
people want to make changes
00:22:27.31\00:22:30.68
but they don't know
where the resources are...
00:22:30.71\00:22:33.88
you know... one of the
things that happened...
00:22:33.92\00:22:37.39
years and years ago...
when my younger son, Jason,
00:22:37.42\00:22:40.86
was coming up...
I had a friend...
00:22:40.89\00:22:42.99
that just knew
where everything was...
00:22:43.02\00:22:45.26
Oh... let's take
the kids over here
00:22:45.29\00:22:47.36
there's going to be
this... or... that... or
00:22:47.40\00:22:49.50
and if you don't
know... where things are...
00:22:49.53\00:22:51.57
if you don't know
where the resources are
00:22:51.60\00:22:53.57
to help improve your life...
then you just kind of float...
00:22:53.60\00:22:58.14
you're just kind of...
floating but if you know that,
00:22:58.17\00:23:01.44
"Hey, the Urban League has
this Program and that Program"
00:23:01.48\00:23:04.68
I can tap into that... and
it's free... there's no cost
00:23:04.71\00:23:10.39
That's exactly
right... and let me say this...
00:23:10.42\00:23:12.22
so, we spend a
little bit of time just now,
00:23:12.25\00:23:13.92
on your Program,
talking about some of the
00:23:13.96\00:23:15.59
pathologies and deficiencies
in the Black Community and
00:23:15.62\00:23:18.06
they are real and
everyone knows about them...
00:23:18.09\00:23:20.03
but there are a
number of strengths as well
00:23:20.06\00:23:21.90
and I want to
really focus on those,
00:23:21.93\00:23:23.16
Good... let's...
This concept that you just
00:23:23.20\00:23:25.50
introduced... and we
understand it best as...
00:23:25.53\00:23:27.80
A Social Capital Formation...
which essentially is...
00:23:27.84\00:23:30.94
a kind of Networks
of Trust and Reciprocity
00:23:30.97\00:23:35.18
within communities...
that allows for information
00:23:35.21\00:23:38.15
exchange... and have a positive
net effect and outcome...
00:23:38.18\00:23:41.58
for folks who are sharing
and receiving information...
00:23:41.62\00:23:44.45
so, for example, I
mean, in this context...
00:23:44.49\00:23:46.69
Social Capital can be measured
and it is very strong and
00:23:46.72\00:23:50.93
prevalent in the
African-American Community
00:23:50.96\00:23:53.26
think of the institutions that
really facilitate and grease
00:23:53.29\00:23:56.87
that kind of
information exchange...
00:23:56.90\00:23:58.17
the Barber Shop... the
Church... to a point...
00:23:58.20\00:24:01.37
HBCUs... these are institutions
that are designed to facilitate
00:24:01.40\00:24:06.17
the exchange and
flow of information
00:24:06.21\00:24:07.78
and in this regard, we
talked about the gender
00:24:07.81\00:24:10.08
differences
earlier... we see high levels of
00:24:10.11\00:24:12.31
African-American
females who are the chief portal
00:24:12.35\00:24:15.45
and point of contact for
these services and resources
00:24:15.48\00:24:18.55
that they then... in
turn... bring those back...
00:24:18.59\00:24:21.19
to their friends...
to their networks...
00:24:21.22\00:24:22.99
to their families...
to say, "You know what?
00:24:23.02\00:24:24.63
you need to go down to
the Urban League... they have
00:24:24.66\00:24:26.36
some wonderful
programs going on...
00:24:26.39\00:24:27.60
they have some
programs for your children...
00:24:27.66\00:24:29.56
some programs for
your colleagues...
00:24:29.60\00:24:32.13
and so that kind of
Social Capital leveraging...
00:24:32.17\00:24:34.64
is quite a strong dynamic
in the Black Community...
00:24:34.67\00:24:37.87
and we're really trying
to tap and leverage that...
00:24:37.91\00:24:39.57
that is... each
one... teach one... really...
00:24:39.61\00:24:41.64
Yes... ... and
that is... the informal
00:24:41.68\00:24:44.31
network that sears
through our community
00:24:44.35\00:24:46.88
and can be built
upon... and it's an area that...
00:24:46.92\00:24:50.59
in the
African-American Community...
00:24:50.62\00:24:53.49
is stronger than any other
00:24:53.52\00:24:55.19
including Main
Stream White America...
00:24:55.22\00:24:56.56
That is tremendous...
that is tremendous...
00:24:56.59\00:24:59.96
and I'm so glad
that you did that...
00:25:00.06\00:25:01.86
that you focused... you
know.. we do... often...
00:25:01.90\00:25:05.30
look at the deficiencies
because we want to address those
00:25:05.33\00:25:08.07
but we also... have to
look at the strengths...
00:25:08.10\00:25:10.91
and buttress those...
and reinforce those...
00:25:10.94\00:25:13.71
so that's
really... a great point...
00:25:13.74\00:25:15.81
that we do have
strengths... that we can really
00:25:15.84\00:25:19.01
take advantage of... and use...
00:25:19.05\00:25:20.95
for the betterment
of the Community...
00:25:20.98\00:25:22.75
That's right... and
there's one other Program
00:25:22.78\00:25:25.05
that I just want to mention...
because it's a major focal point
00:25:25.09\00:25:27.39
of ours... right now...
it's the Entrepreneurship Work
00:25:27.42\00:25:31.09
and our
Small-Business-Development Work
00:25:31.13\00:25:32.36
we've punched a lot of
numbers and researched data
00:25:32.39\00:25:34.86
that suggest that...
small business formation
00:25:34.93\00:25:38.37
still remains quite
high in the Black Community
00:25:38.40\00:25:41.80
however, the
knowledge and understanding
00:25:41.84\00:25:44.17
and success with tapping
into Federal and State Level
00:25:44.41\00:25:47.98
small-business assistance
programs and loan programs
00:25:48.01\00:25:51.51
lags behind...
Main Stream America
00:25:51.55\00:25:54.85
significantly... and so...
we have an initiative called
00:25:54.88\00:25:58.72
The
Entrepreneurship Center Model
00:25:58.75\00:26:00.49
in 10 cities across the Country
00:26:00.52\00:26:02.22
where we are actively providing
coaching, economic support,
00:26:02.26\00:26:05.99
mentoring... to
small-business owners
00:26:06.03\00:26:08.76
to help the existing
small-business owners,
00:26:08.80\00:26:10.40
to help them take their
businesses to the next level...
00:26:10.43\00:26:12.33
and providing loans
00:26:12.37\00:26:14.24
at what we call
the Mezzanine Level
00:26:14.27\00:26:15.67
that's $50,000 to $250,000
which can be integral...
00:26:15.70\00:26:20.38
and significant to
a small-business owner
00:26:20.41\00:26:22.74
whether it's a Beauty
Salon... whether it's...
00:26:22.78\00:26:25.81
a major initiative for
us now is in Franchising
00:26:25.85\00:26:28.98
in Gas Stations and also
Fast Food Establishments...
00:26:29.02\00:26:32.35
These can be really the
on-roads for economic success
00:26:32.39\00:26:35.82
for Business-minded and
Business-oriented individuals...
00:26:35.86\00:26:39.09
the issue there, Yvonne,
though is... in many cases...
00:26:39.13\00:26:41.80
in Black Communities...
because we're not tapping into
00:26:41.83\00:26:44.50
these public
sector loan programs
00:26:44.53\00:26:46.70
we're financing these
business endeavors on our own...
00:26:46.74\00:26:49.87
so in many ways... you cannot...
00:26:49.90\00:26:51.31
disentangle your
business interests from your
00:26:51.34\00:26:55.01
personal interests...
it's your personal Credit Score
00:26:55.04\00:26:57.18
for example... that has a
lot to do on whether you get
00:26:57.21\00:26:59.65
a small business loan...
or not it has to do with your
00:26:59.68\00:27:02.28
personal decision making...
your personal finances...
00:27:02.32\00:27:04.69
so, we teach against
that... we want to encourage
00:27:04.72\00:27:06.92
small business development...
business formation
00:27:06.96\00:27:09.12
but understanding that
the decisions that you make
00:27:09.16\00:27:11.29
in advance of
launching your small business
00:27:11.33\00:27:14.30
has a massive
explanatory power...
00:27:14.30\00:27:17.07
in how successful you'll be...
00:27:17.10\00:27:19.80
so we are trying to
reach people early...
00:27:19.83\00:27:21.47
reach people with strength...
letting them know that
00:27:21.50\00:27:24.77
you know, you need to clear
up some things from the past
00:27:24.81\00:27:26.98
there are techniques and
strategies that you can use
00:27:27.01\00:27:29.18
to boost your Credit
Score and we're really trying to
00:27:29.21\00:27:31.35
evangelize... that
message across the Country.
00:27:31.38\00:27:33.62
Thank you so much
Cy... I can't believe
00:27:33.65\00:27:36.38
that our time is up...
This time went by... so fast...
00:27:36.42\00:27:40.22
and you gave us
such great information
00:27:40.26\00:27:42.86
I want to
encourage our viewers...
00:27:42.89\00:27:45.43
to make sure that you
call the Urban League...
00:27:45.46\00:27:49.33
find out which programs
that you can take advantage of
00:27:49.36\00:27:53.44
and go there... and learn...
Well, that's it for our Program
00:27:53.47\00:27:58.24
we hope that this Program
today has inspired you...
00:27:58.27\00:28:01.24
May God bless
you... Tune in next time...
00:28:01.28\00:28:03.68
it just wouldn't be
the same... without you.
00:28:03.71\00:28:06.15