For generations, Black Americans have been locked out of wealth-building opportunities by discriminatory housing, lending, and labor policies. While policymakers have worked to address the racial wealth gap, Black communities still have lower rates of homeownership and less retirement savings than their white peers. Today, as new technologies reshape our financial system, cryptocurrency has emerged as a beacon of possibility. About one in four Black Americans now own cryptocurrency, with younger generations especially drawn to its promise of bypassing traditional financial gatekeepers. For many who have experienced housing discrimination, loan denials, and biased banking practices, the appeal of a decentralized, user-driven system is clear: a chance to build wealth without asking permission from institutions that have too often said “no.” 

Yet this optimism exists alongside real risks. Cryptocurrency operates outside the safety nets of consumer protections, insurance, or federal oversight. When the popular cryptocurrency company FTX infamously collapsed in 2022, customers, including Black investors, lost their funding with no recourse. With celebrities, entrepreneurs, and even a sitting president promoting digital assets, the stakes are higher than ever. Without stronger guardrails, the very communities seeking financial empowerment may end up bearing the heaviest losses. Federal policy is lagging behind this fast-moving frontier. There is even disagreement among agencies as to whether crypto is a commodity, a security, or something else entirely. This lack of clarity makes meaningful regulation difficult, and it leaves families vulnerable to scams and market volatility. Meanwhile, federal resources that once helped Black entrepreneurs, like the Minority Business Development Agency, have been gutted. Instead of giving Black communities more tools to build sustainable wealth, this administration is leaving them to navigate the Wild West of digital finance alone. 

The path forward requires both protection and possibility. Congress should adopt a uniform definition of cryptocurrency, enact stronger laws against blockchain-enabled fraud, and require major crypto firms to insure consumer assets. Equally important, we need public investment in financial literacy and resources that empower Black Americans to make informed choices about where to put their money. Innovation does not have to come at the expense of equity. Cryptocurrency will not close the racial wealth gap on its own. But if paired with bold policies that strengthen fair housing, expand access to capital, and ensure consumer protections, it can be one tool among many to build a more equitable economy. The question is whether politicians will let new technologies replicate the old inequities or whether they will seize the chance to chart a different future. 

That’s the conversation we are taking up at the 2025 Policy for the People Economic Advancement Virtual Summit hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. In our final session, we will explore the policies that can unlock Black prosperity, from tax reform to homeownership to entrepreneurship in a digital age. 

Join us on October 30 to be part of this urgent dialogue. Register today and help us build the future Black America deserves. 

Read our cryptocurrency explainer, Financing Black Futures: Cryptocurrency and the Racial Wealth Gap, here: https://issuu.com/congressionalblackcaucusfoundation/docs/financing_black_futures_crypto_and_the_racial_wea?fr=sNDhiMjgzNzg4MzA  

Read our resource list for the session here: https://issuu.com/congressionalblackcaucusfoundation/docs/resource_guide_-_financing_black_futures_investin?fr=xKAE9_zMzMw 

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As the federal government shutdown continues, the ripple effects are being felt across communities already bearing the brunt of economic instability. For many Black families, the shutdown is not just a temporary inconvenience; it is another stark reminder of the fragility of economic security in a system where opportunity is not equally distributed. Against this backdrop, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) is calling the nation’s attention to what is at stake, and what must be done.

Building Black Wealth: Policy Pathways to Economic Opportunity and Advancement is the latest installment in CBCF’s Policy for the People series. Hosted by CBCF’s Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR), this virtual summit will gather some of the nation’s most forward-thinking policymakers, economists, advocates, and entrepreneurs for an urgent conversation about how we move from awareness to action in closing the racial wealth gap.

Rooted in the findings of Forward Together: The Black Policy Playbook for an Equitable America, a joint initiative between CBCF and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, this three-part virtual series builds on a shared vision: creating sustainable, long-term pathways for Black economic advancement. Each session will spotlight actionable policy solutions that can help families and communities weather economic uncertainty and secure lasting financial well-being. At its core, this virtual summit is both a continuation of this policy work and a rallying call for bold action.

When we think of the racial wealth gap in the United States, we must see it as a defining measure of how policy decisions shape lives. From inequities in the federal tax code and discriminatory housing practices to limited access to business capital, the systems meant to create opportunity often deepen the divide. Our virtual summit will explore three areas where targeted policy reforms can begin to change this trajectory: reimagining tax policy to promote wealth equity, expanding access to homeownership, and concrete investment in Black entrepreneurship.

Tax policy is a powerful lever for shaping opportunity, yet the current code too often limits it. More than half of all Black children are excluded from the full benefits of the Child Tax Credit, while Black taxpayers are disproportionately audited and less likely to benefit from employer-based retirement plans. As Congress debates the future of the nation’s fiscal priorities amid a shutdown, this conversation could not be more urgent. Equity-centered tax reform is not only about fairness, it’s about giving every American family a genuine chance to build wealth and security across generations.

Housing remains another cornerstone of prosperity. For decades, Black households have faced systemic barriers to homeownership through redlining, biased appraisals, and exclusionary zoning. These practices have left lasting scars that continue to limit wealth accumulation. But with intentional, equity-driven federal policy, housing can shift from being a barrier to being a bridge connecting families to stability, opportunity, and legacy.

Entrepreneurship, too, holds transformative potential. Black-owned businesses contribute billions to the economy each year, yet barriers to capital access persist. Recent funding cuts to programs like the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) threaten to stifle progress just as new generations of Black entrepreneurs are emerging in the digital economy. The Summit will spotlight how innovative policy design, public-private partnerships, and emerging technologies can help dismantle these barriers and open doors to sustained growth.

The conversations taking place during CBCF’s Policy for the People Economic Advancement Virtual Summit are not theoretical; they are essential to shaping an equitable future. At a time when millions of Americans face uncertainty due to the federal shutdown, policies must not only respond to crises but also build resilience that endures beyond them. The wealth gap did not appear overnight, and it will not disappear without deliberate, coordinated, and sustained action.

CBCF’s mission has always been rooted in advancing the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. This virtual summit embodies that mission in real time, bringing together those who can shape the policies that will define the next generation of Black prosperity.

Join CBCF and a distinguished group of experts for the 2025 Policy for the People Economic Advancement Virtual Summit. Together, we can move from awareness to action, from vision to victory.

Register today at cbcfinc.org/events

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The post 2025 Policy for the People Health Equity Summit appeared first on Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) held its Policy for the People Health Equity Summit, a prominent convening of policymakers, thought leaders, advocates, and community members committed to engaging in dynamic discussions on advancing equitable policies to address the needs of Black communities. The summit illuminated challenges and areas of opportunity in diversifying clinical trials, cultural competence in healthcare, access and affordability, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging healthcare technologies.

In follow up to health equity conversations at the CBCF’s September 2023 Annual Legislative Conference, Nicole Austin-Hillery, President and CEO of the CBCF shared the need for continued “check-ups” on structural health disparities that still exist. “There is still so much work to be done, and the people in this room are some of the most brilliant minds developing solutions,” said Austin-Hillery.

“Racism and discrimination continue to be pervasive throughout our society. They still influence how people perceive themselves in and out of our healthcare system. Until we deal with unconscious bias, we won’t see any progress.” said Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association.

Through the onsite health fair, attendees connected with companies and community organizations focused on improving health, welfare and care access for the Black community. The event also featured in-depth content sessions. Highlights from those sessions included:

Empowering Black Voices: Diversifying Clinical Trials Through New Technologies

• The lack of diversity in clinical trials has created a notable gap in data collection among Black communities but there is opportunity for awareness campaigns and emerging technologies to help address those shortfalls.

• “Sixty percent of the U.S. population is white Americans, but when you look at people who participate in clinical trials, 75 percent are white,” said Courtney Christian, Deputy Vice President of Policy and Research at PhRMA.

• “Clinical trials are needed to understand how well [treatment options] work, and we really need people to participate in them to ensure efficacy,” said Marcus Dortch, Director of DEI in Clinical Trials, Medical Affairs at Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine.

Cultivating Equitable Care: Cultural Competence and Cardiovascular Health in Black Communities

• Meeting patients where they are, with deep cultural consideration, can lead to better health care communication and therefore better patient outcomes.

• “A lot of our biases are cultural and socioeconomic, and we need to turn the lens inward to suspend those biases so we can provide high-quality care,” said Dr. Sara D. Collins, Co-Chair and Medical Director of the Association of Black Cardiologists Health and Public Policy Committee.

• Diverse staff, comprehensive metrics and an empathetic approach are essential elements for culturally competent care.

Breaking Barriers in Healthcare: Advancing Access and Affordability for the Black Community

• Policies, such as the Affordable Care Act, have moved us forward but there is still significant work to be done.

• “We need education for the next generation, and we need to point out system injustices in policy,” said Dr. Ala Stanford, Founder of the Black Doctors Consortium. “When our approach to health care is less accusatory and more understanding of patient needs, patients tend to be more receptive.”

• “Women and people of color are in positions of influence more than ever before. Their presence in the rooms and conversations that matter allows us to spark further change. They are standing in the gap and driving conversations and solutions forward,” said Keon L. Gilbert, Professor at Saint Louis University’s College for Public Health and Social Justice Fellow at The Brookings Institution.

To learn more about the Policy for the People Health Equity Summit visit our website.

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About CBCF

Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research, and educational institute committed to advancing the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. For more information, visit cbcfinc.org.

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The post Policy for the People Health Equity Summit appeared first on Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

American populations are more diverse than ever, and demographic groups of various cultural, ethnic, and racial backgrounds require culturally responsive and informed systems. Cultural competency in healthcare refers to the delivery of healthcare services that are respectful and responsive to the cultural beliefs, practices, and needs of individuals from diverse backgrounds. For Black patients, culturally competent care is crucial in addressing healthcare disparities, improving outcomes, and promoting patient satisfaction. 

Black Americans are overly represented in those diagnosed with the nation’s top chronic illnesses and have shorter life expectancies when compared to their white counterparts. Medical scientists largely believe this is due to systemic racism and a lack of access to affordable and quality care. Barriers to affordable and quality care are structural. These barriers are evident in medical distrust, wealth disparities, redlining, and medical literacy gaps among Black communities. 

It wasn’t so long ago—55 years to be exact— that Black Americans gained legal protections against racism and discrimination in housing, employment, education, and healthcare. These core facets of American life are now understood to be social determinants of health. Despite this progress, institutional policies and practices that kept educational and medical discrimination in place for centuries established the foundation for the structural racism defining Black health outcomes today.  

In 2020, these insidious remnants of structural racism reached the center of American political discourse, and the nation responded to demands for racial justice with equity commitments. Private sector companies, academic institutions, and government entities responded with pledges and invested in increased diversity, equity, and inclusion. Among those was the American Medical Association (AMA); in 2021, the AMA decried racism as a public health threat and prescribed policies to address structural racism in the medical community. Amidst moves for increased diversity, equity, and inclusion, medical institutions have also turned inward, reassessing graduate medical education, race as a proxy for diagnosis, and the need for cultural competency training. But the road to equity is long. 

Partner With CBCF to Advance Health Equity NOW

This year, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is centering cultural competency in healthcare to address health equity. Join us on Tuesday, May 23rd, 2023, from 10 am to 3 pm ET as we discuss these critical issues, share milestones of progress, and establish a framework for improved health in our communities at the Policy for the People Health Equity Summit.

The Health Equity Summit seeks to bring the most pressing issues in policy to the access of all Americans and provide a forum for thought leaders to engage in policy discourse and align efforts and strategies to enact lasting change. Congressional Black Caucus members, clinical professionals, and thought leaders are working together to combat these issues and create health systems where Black communities can achieve health equity.

This event will feature a roundtable with Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, a panel of health leaders discussing cultural competency in healthcare, a health fair showcasing healthcare vendors, and breakout sessions for targeted dialogue on chronic health issues directly impacting Black communities. The day will be full of opportunities to network, coalition-build, and problem-solve together.

While in-person registration for the summit is SOLD OUT, I invite you to register for our virtual viewing option here.

The post Centering Black Voices for Better Health Outcomes appeared first on Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Contact
Kyla M. Clark
202.263.2812
media@cbcfinc.org

Washington – Today, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) will host a “Policy for the People” Health Equity Virtual series from 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET. This two-part health equity summit will address access to equitable health resources in maternal care and issues with chronic illnesses disproportionately impacting Black communities. The “Policy for the People” Virtual Health Equity Summit provides attendees the opportunity to engage in an in-depth discussion with subject-matter experts, business leaders, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Both sessions will be hosted as a live virtual event and broadcast on CBCF’s virtual event platform. Registration for this two-part health equity summit is free and open to the public on cbcfinc.org/events.

Part one of this summit, titled “Black Maternal Health Global to Local” will discuss the factors contributing to disparities; how social determinants of health are critical factors for maternal mortality; what programs can low-income earning women engage with to bridge the gap; generational health; and health workers in the US. According to World Health Organization reports, globally, an estimated 810 women die each day due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth.

Invited speakers for session one include Rep. Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Rep. Terri Sewell, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Rep. Robin Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust; Rep. Lauren Underwood, co-founder, and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus; Nicole Austin-Hillery, President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus; Dr. Rahel Nardos, Associate Professor, Director of Global Women’s Health, University of Minnesota; Meghan McKenzie, Principal Inclusion, Patient Inclusion, and Health Equity, Genentech; Rose Tchwenko, Country Director, Ghana, CARE; Pandora Hardtman, Chief Nursing, and Midwifery Officer, JHPIEGO; Desiree′ Solomon, Research Program Analyst, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Part two of this summit, titled “Heavy Heart” The Impact of Heart Disease on Black Communities,” will discuss how social determinants of health affect our communities; how hypertension, obesity, and diabetes impact patient’s; how genetics and family history affect heart disease risk; how patients can monitor their health; helpful tips to monitor your risk factors; and how the widespread distrust of healthcare has increased due to clinical research within Black communities. Did you know? Heart disease is the leading cause of death across the United States, but this disease disproportionately impacts African American communities. For example, African Americans ages 18-49 are two times as likely to die from heart disease than whites, according to recent data from the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

Invited speakers for session two include Rep. Joyce Beatty, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus; Rep. Terri Sewell, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Rep. Robin Kelly, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust; Nicole Austin-Hillery, President and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Dr. Monica Webb Hooper, Deputy Director, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities; Dr. Michelle A. Albert, Doctor of Cardiology, Chair in Cardiology, and Professor of Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco; Dr. Abena A. Osei-Wusu, Medical Director, Atherosclerosis, Novartis; and Judge Ngang, Executive Director, Representation in Clinical Research, Amgen.

Registration for this two-part health equity summit is free and open to the public. Visit cbcfinc.org/events to register and learn more. The official hashtag for this event is #PolicyforthePeople. Full bios are included below.

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About the CBCF

Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research, and educational institute committed to advancing the global black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. For more information, visit cbcfinc.org.

To receive updates on CBCF news, research, programs, and events subscribe to receive the e-newsletter and follow @CBCFinc on Twitter and Instagram.

The post CBCF Hosts Black Maternal Health and Heart Disease Discussion at Health Equity Summit appeared first on Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Historical and contemporary injustices and medical mistrust directly contribute to health disparities among Black communities. These disparities are presented in the rate at which Black communities are impacted by adverse health and suffer from preventable harm due to differences in access to healthcare and the quality of care received. Black Americans experience higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, maternal mortality, infant mortality, and other health issues. Social factors directly contribute to increased risk factors and the ability to attain health insurance coverage in Black communities.

Policy reform and social change movements are pathways to systematically deconstruct barriers to health care and improve the quality of care our communities receive. Health equity is an issue of persistent importance, as gaps in access to care can worsen community health outcomes in the face of a national health emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Join us on Thursday, May 12, 2022, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST as we discuss these critical issues, share milestones of progress, and establish a framework for improved health in our community at the Policy for the People Health Equity Summit.

This two-part event series seeks to bring the most pressing issues in policy to the access of all Americans and provide a forum for thought leaders to engage in policy discourse and align efforts and strategies to enact lasting change. Congressional Black Caucus members, clinical professionals, and thought leaders are working together to combat these issues and create health systems where Black communities can achieve health equity.

During the summit’s first session, a coalition of clinical practitioners and leaders in academia will discuss the issue of maternal mortality impacting Black communities in the United States and Abroad. This session will address the cultural and societal factors contributing to poor maternal health outcomes in low-resource countries and the developed world. During the second session, cardiologists and other leaders in the health equity movement will discuss their current efforts to address these gaps in care. Panelists will also provide practical guidance for community members to monitor and identify risk factors that make Black communities more susceptible to heart disease.

About Desiree

Desiree Solomon is the Research Program Analyst at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Center for Policy Analysis and Research (CPAR) and oversees research and policy programming across CPAR’s priority areas in Health Equity, Voter Empowerment, Tech equity, and supports the work of the National Racial Equity Initiative. With a background in foreign affairs and human security Desiree aims to identify issues impacting the global Black community, highlight areas of solidarity, and craft opportunities for policy dialogue and increased awareness for the CBC constituency.

The post Health Equity Now appeared first on Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

CONTACT:
Erica Nash-Thomas
202.263.2812
media@cbcfinc.org

WASHINGTON—The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) today announces its first-ever Emerging Leaders’ Summit as part of its ongoing “Policy for the People” series to examine critical issues affecting the global Black community.  On June 24, beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET and again at 2:00 p.m. ET, the virtual summit will host Millennial and Generation Z leaders to examine two issues affecting Black economic empowerment: student loan debt and entrepreneurship.

Student loan debt and entrepreneurship can either hinder or boost efforts toward shrinking the racial wealth gap. The summit will focus on issues that affect building Black wealth through the lived experiences of Millennials and Generation Z leaders. The leaders will discuss the future implications of student debt on building Black wealth as well as highlight both the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship.

Invited participants and speakers to the 10:00 a.m. panel, “Student Loan Debt: A Barrier to Building Black Wealth” include Rep. Gregory Meeks; Sianay Chase Clifford, Congressman John Lewis Social Justice Fellow, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation; Fenaba R. Addo, Associate Professor of Public Policy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; Devon Graves, Assistant Professor of Higher Education, California State University, Stanislaus; and Victoria Lee, Ph.D. student in Education Policy and Program Evaluation at Harvard University and Research Analyst at the Urban Institute.

Invited participants and speakers to the 2:00 p.m. panel, “Mission-Driven Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century” include Rep. Frederica Wilson; Angela Yee, host of “The Breakfast Club” and owner of Drink Fresh Juice; Keenan Beasley, Founder and President, Venture Noire; James Chapman, CEO, Plain Sight; and Brittany A. Rhodes, Founder and General MATHager of Black Girl MATHgic.

Registration for the virtual summit is free and open to the public. Visit: https://www.cbcfinc.org/policy-for-the-people/ to register and learn more.

To receive updates on CBCF news, research, programs and events, subscribe to receive the e-newsletter and follow @CBCFinc on Twitter and Instagram.

About the CBCF
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF), established in 1976, is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and educational institute, committed to advancing the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public.

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CONTACT:
Erica Nash-Thomas
202.263.2812
media@cbcfinc.org

WASHINGTON—The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) today announces the next session in the “Policy for the People” Virtual Braintrust Series. On April 22, beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET, the virtual braintrust will highlight the perils and possibilities for Creators of Color in the online economy.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected how people conduct business and created an opportunity for creatives and entrepreneurs to use social media platforms to develop and expand their brands and business ideas. This virtual braintrust will explore how creators of color use technology and their personal experiences to produce content and engage with a global audience, discuss systemic challenges from the lack of representation online and examine how informed policy could influence creators of color and communities of color in the future.

Invited participants and speakers include Rep. Hank Johnson; Kim Tignor, Executive Director of the Institute for Intellectual Property & Social Justice; and Aysha Harun and Tarek Ali, both members of the #YouTubeBlackVoices Creator Class of 2021. The panel will be moderated by David Johns, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition.

Registration for the virtual braintrust is free and open to the public. Visit: http://bit.ly/CreatorsofColor to register and learn more. The official hashtag for the CBCF “Policy for the People” Virtual Braintrust Series is #POLICYFORTHEPEOPLE.

ABOUT CBCF

Established in 1976, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) is a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and educational institute committed to advancing the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy and educating the public. For more information, follow @CBCFInc on Instagram and Twitter and visit cbcfinc.org.

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