CBCF Addresses NY Times Article

Dear CBCF Supporter,

On Sunday, February 14, 2010, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation was the subject of a tasteless article in The New York Times. While you are aware of the good work of the CBCF, many New York Times readers are not aware of our work and the impact of the CBCF programs. Please know that we are aggressively responding to The New York Times' article and vigorously defending both our work and our stewardship of the funds entrusted to the CBCF.

Click here to listen to CBCF Vice President and COO Keith Wright discuss the mistruths published in the article with WAMU Reporter Michael Cottman.

We thank you for your continued support.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation engages in many programs intended to help improve the socioeconomic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities.

Center for Policy Analysis and Research
The Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR) comprehensively creates, identifies, analyzes and disseminates policy-oriented information critical to advancing the African American community towards economic independence, education and health equity.

Leadership Institute for Public Service
The Leadership Institute for Public Service is the vehicle through which the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation prepares the next generation to take its rightful place in community service and policy development arenas. The Leadership Institute’s primary goal is to increase the pool of black leaders in community-based programs and public service careers. CBCF selects and engages nearly 1,000 students and young professionals in intense, focused environments each year, during which they are taught critical thinking and leadership skills. They receive this advanced training through the scholarship, internship and fellowship programs. CBCF's Leadership Institute offers educational and leadership development programs to individuals ranging from junior high school students to young adults up to age 40.

Black Health Empowerment Project
The Black Health Empowerment Project (BHEP) is a national health initiative created and produced by CBCF to educate African Americans about the relationship between obesity and chronic diseases. The project brings civic leaders, health experts and communities together to discuss practical strategies for reversing this public health crisis affecting adults and youth. The tour’s theme is “Eat, Move and Test for Health.”

SHOP for Wealth
SHOP for Wealth, formerly known as the Student Homeownership Opportunity Program, is a two-hour seminar that provides students at historically black colleges and universities with the opportunity to learn about financial literacy and ways to begin building wealth immediately. The principal objective is to educate young people about the importance of managing money smartly, establishing good credit habits, recognizing the potential hazards of easy credit and building wealth through homeownership.

CBCF Economic Empowerment Forums
The CBCF Economic Empowerment Forums is a one-day conference where participants learn about a wide range of topics from leading financial experts, including debt management, poor credit, saving and investment, creating wealth and more. These free workshops are designed to bring important financial matters and tangible skill sets to the forefront, with expert advice and solutions for different levels of readiness.

Avoice: African Americans in Congress
The Avoice: African Americans in Congress Web site, found at www.avoiceonline.org, is designed to capture and preserve the rich history of political and legislative contributions of blacks for future generations. This virtual online library is a central source of information about historical and contemporary African American policy issues important to researchers, academics, educators and students.