[applause] id like significance, steven, what you just said in all the things you just laid out weve got to have a president to do it, but also, you cant you can finish watching on our website, cspan. Org, we leave it to take to you a discussion on civil rights at the National Empowerment summit in washington d. C. Youre watching live coverage on cspan2. 2024 empowerment summit and the release of this years state of black america report. Before we begin our program, i would like to open with a short prayer. Will you bow your heads . Father, we thank you for that day and as together, god, we humbly seek your presence. Grant us clarity of mind and vision that we may see beyond challenges and Seek Solutions to empower, to uplift, and to root outjustice everywhere. Bless us with insight and inspiration to tip the work ahead. We offer thanks f■ or the opportunities before us, and trust in your divine guidance and its in your name we play and let everyone say, amen. Amen. Doesnt that feel good . Amen. So welcome again to our open plenary of the state of black america which we have entitled essential and endangered call to action to protect and expand the Civil Rights Act. And if that language■qvokes a sense of urgency, the meaning is 100 intentional. ■ the 1964 Civil Rights Act is perhaps the most impactful and significant u. S. Legislation to become l in the 20th century. For 60 years, the law and its protections advanced the cause of equality, a a protection against discrimination. But in 2024, the Civil Rights Act is under imminen duress by extremists and federal and state legislators and among our judiciary. The urban League Movement has come to washington d. C. To declare this day in no uncertain terms, watch. Not on our watch. Now, in a few moments, our president and ceo, will present the urban league state of black america report and specifically our new campaign to protect and expand the Civil Rights Act and american democracy itself. But first, i want to t urban le around the country who are joining us here in d. C. And those of you who are joining us via live stream. Give yourselves a round of applause. [applause] thats a little weak. I said give yourselves a round of applause. Far and near to be with us and we are so grateful for it. [applause] your passion and engagement has never been more important. To thank our friends and justice partners in congress, we appreciate your commitment to preserving the integrity of the Civil Rights Act and broadening its protections. We look forward to collaborating with you to set americas focus b equality and democracy. But to start things off, id like to invite George Lambert, the president and ceo of the Greater Washington urban league and our host affiliate ceo to come at this time to bring remarks. Put your hands together for our friend and colleague. [applause] if i have to use the cane, why not style it, right . Thats right. Okay. All right. So welcome urban leaguers, im delighted to be here. I want to be opening up, and welcome to Greater Washington urban leueo washington d. C. , and quite frankly, my city of birth. Its always been an honor for me to serve the urban League Movement in my city of birth. I will start by saying to you that the Greater Washington urban league,1938. And we responded in 1938 to a clarion call, if you will, to certainly support and assist the African Community in terms of navigating the slippery slopes of trying to access federal government jobs. Imagine that. The federal government jobs. Fast forward, this is 2024. Weve done a lot more since then, w still are in the Work Development space and weve certainly done a lot more since then as well. So, one of the things i want to share with you today is fact that last year in the Greater Washington league, we served more than 12,000 clients, its indirect. But 12,000 direct clients. Yes, please applaud. [applause] iu i did have an opportunity to take a peek at the state of black america and guess what . Were still fighting for the struggle of equality. Were still fighting the struggle of equality. But what i came to say to you, now is not the time to despair over the enormity ofhe burden. Now is the time for us to get back in the trenches and stay in the trenches, okay . And mark, it is for you, and rhonda, ises for you, as well frts its time to get back to defend democracy and im soy,ce as well and to defeat poverty. Ladies and gentlemen, that is our north okay . That is is our motion. Consider yourselves welcome to washington d. C. [applause] thank you. Lets give our friend George Lambert another round of applause, thank you so much. [applause] acknowledge our state of black america launch event presenting sponsor, venture, global. And now, i would also like to invite our legislative policy conference presenting sponsor to the podium. Please welcome from Johnson Johnson, the head of government affairs, Courtney Billington. Good morning, and thank you, rhonda. Its a pleasure see all of you year. I had the good fortune of being here last year for the national conference. And theres so much more work to do and i reflect on rhondas words, as well as georges about what we need to do as we think about this years conference. We are here as part of Johnson Johnson, to partner with you and recognize thek that you do as National Urban leagues. Were working together to make sure that we are fighting the good fight. Were working to make sure that were advancing social justice and inspiring all of us to go beyond what we feel is possible. You know, and i think about t l conference as it being like the super bowl. You know, you bring together thns of all of the affiliates as youre preparing to think about the policy change that needs to happen. And you saw the halftime ceremony of this years super bowl . Yeah. Usher did a great job, didnt he. I think about usher when he was doing that halftime show and i was thinking about mark. Why i thinking about mark when usher was doing that halftime show . [laughter] i had the privilege back in november to go to marks 20th Anniversary Event and at halftime mark was out on the dance floor doing some moves which i know■ usher stole from mark. [laughter] so, mark, thank you for your tremendous leadership the National Urban league. Im delighted to be here representing Johnson Johnson as a long time partner with the urleague. Our relationship has endured over about a 60year span and were so grateful for the leadership of all of yo the leadership of many who have gone before us and i think about many of the Leaders WithinJohnson Johnson who were many of our black trail blazers, many of whom emerged from the National Urban league in seats like yours. Nancy lane was Johnson Johnsons first female vicepresident and nancy happened to be black, which was a great thing in our history in our company. Harold a former executive director, he was the first black Corporate Affairs vicepresident in Johnson Johnson. Operations materials manager and buying within our company and when i started with Johnson Johnson, this is the role that i filled. So when i thi about those who have gone before us and have done the hard work, i continue to redouble my efforts to make sure that im doing the hard work. And so, as we approach the 6th anniversary of the signing of act of 1964 later in july, it is so important for all of us to celebrate the progress that has on the responsibility to do the work that remains ahead of us. This landmark legislation was achieved through decades of courageous■e■ leadership, and it made a crucial step forward for us in the fight for■9 racial equality unfortunately, all of us know that racism threats the lives of black health care, in the space where im at and i work each and every day, it also fuels an insis Health Disparities that are undermining the physical and psychological wellbeing of black ame age. Last year, the Associated Press found that from birth to death black americans fare worse in many measures of health compared to their white counterparts. Of us in this ro sadly, this finding was not a surprise. Given the significant body of research tha shows black americans have lower life expectancies, and a higher prevalence of Serious Health conditions, like hypertension, diabetes, dementia, stroke, and cancer than white americans. These jarring statistics underscore just how much systemic racism threatens the black community and our health. And while we cant undo hundreds of years of bias and discrimination overnight, we can and we must make strides towards progress with bold action, education, and collaboration to drive policy change. Very close to close the Racial Health gap with c solutions and social Impact Initiatives that address the lack of access to high quality care, health information, and resources in our black communities. In addition to that, were embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into our company, and its culture. At a time when many people dont want to use the words diversity, equity, and inclusion. Weel efforts of National Urban league and the ability for us to partner as a company, the ability that we need to make a healthier future for all. The journalist and civil rights leader ida b. Wells said the way that right wrongs is to lig them. As you Work Together this week, to turn up the light that the National Urban league does better than no other organization. Thank you for all that you do and have a wonderful [applause] thank you so mu courtney. Give him another round of applause. We appreciate your partnership. [applause] the National Urbane of our s for our mission and the mission continues. Mou, are you ready . Yes. Its time to take a deep dive into the 2024 state of black america and here to present it is none other than our fearless leader, the National UrbanLeague President and ceo, lets give a round of applause for mark h moriel. Appreciate it, thank you. [applause]. Thank you. Good morning, good morning. Im going to take a quick seat. Is that okay . Yes, i am still working through trying to compete in the nba dunk contest. Yeah, next year. Ill be off ir. First of all, thank you very much for joining us this morning. And lets thank rhonda spears bell. applause . Rhonda spears bell and my long time partner in working in the city of new orleans and u. S. Conference of mayors and now at the National Urban league, rhonda spears bell is now an elder and she always, always called her evangelist and now, so lets give it up fors bell and a warm thanks for Courtney Billington and Johnson Johnson, i used thets this mo but most importantly, courtney, i really appreciated you making the connection between many of those earlier the National Urban league. And which not only reaffirms our partnership, but reaffirms the role that Opening Doors to Corporate America a long time ago. Before it was called diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ill he get to that a little later. Secondly, i want to welcome, raise your hands, affiliate leaders from across the country, give a wave, give a wave, give a wave and a hand. [applause] for those in the audience and those who are watching, this is the heart and the soul of our work. The men and women, highly talented, highly committed, on the ground, in 92 communities across the nation collectively, theyre touching three Million People a year with direct services, so, give it up for our affiliate leaders. Thank [applause] and also, they are supported by a number of volunteer groups, affiliate board members, each affiliate has its own board. Any Affiliate Members in the room, please raise your hand. We want to acknowledge you, we want to thank you so much for being here and for your work as and then, there is the historic National Urban league guild, back, a woman molly moon had a vision, and even though we had women executives in the 20s, women were not afforded a full role in the executive work of the urban League Movement. Molly moon said we will serve as volunteers and built the guild as a volunteer core of chapter. And raise your hand, i know youre , as president , thank you all very, very much. And then guess what . Its the 25th anniversary of the National Urban league Young Professionals. [applause] 25 years, were 25 years young as the Young Professionals, but where is sha shalonda. Were saluting all of our Young Professionals and well have a deep dive in new orleans at our annual conference, we appreciate what they thought, multiples of oufessionals have a huge difference in the urban League Movement. Thank you all and were just starting because were going to continue to grow. And with us here this morning in the building, maybe some in the we have a number of students for the beat program, Business Exchange are any of the students here or otherwise engained . [applause] we have one or two here. And let meemic me make sure, we have schools from the dmv theyre here from delaware state and morgan state. Give it up for those great universities which are making a people. [applause] and i want to salute them and thank them and ill be spending time with them a little later indeed this morning. Its an honor. Always an honor to be able to present the state of black america. And it is always important for people to know what what emanated, where did this notion of a report, the state of black america come from . It was 1976. Now, we anticipate in a few days the president will give the state of the Union Address, very important time when we hear from the president of the un blueprint vision and execution for the nation. Well, in 1976 when the late great legend, Vernon Jordan held this position and a person on whose shoulders i ■7 sat down and watched president ford deliver the early 1976 state of the union listened intently an carefully to president ford. President fords address f paine of america where there were no black people, a picture of america where no poor people, a picture of america that for the most part ignored the trials and locked o communities. No mention of poverty. No mention of civil rights. No mention ofention of urban am whatsoever. No mention of the raging recession that was taking place in the middle 1970s that were battering. President fordfalse, because it was incomplete that im going to in effect prepare my own blank report. [laughter] you know, you know. That was a choice adjective when our great leader talked, right . And he pulled together a group of scholars, africanamerican effect print what was a in mimeographed report with both analysis, diagnosis and recommendations on the future of the nation and that was the beginning of the state of black america. And so da to be able to now, for almost, almost 50 years later, for me to be you our thinking on what is the state of black america suscinctly put the state of black america is not on our watch. Not on our watch will we the progress and the games and the very essence of the work thats been done by many generations of americans, many generations of black americans to be eroded by a pernicious, divisive, negative, hateful effort, wills designed tora the last 70 years in american history. So stay with me. The state of black america is strong because we are strong. [applause] the state of black america is pro because we are proud. The state of black america is silient because we can take bumps and bruises and slips and stumbles and falls and putdowns and keep on working. And the state of blackme just a state of black america, it is a comment on the state of the nation. On the state of the union. The challenges that we face are only face. Theyre faced in broadly in other communities. Are disproportionate to our community. So we cant allow anyone to hijack our voice when we speak about the state of black america, we are speaking about the state of the nation. The nation. Say the nation. The nation. So, this years reporti7o ha three components to it and if you will, let me sort of walk through these three because i think its important to understand what we did this year. So, understanding that this represents the iversary since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It is important for us to understand that when we talk about all of these issues, were standing on this foundation of an american magna carta. An american magna carter that was passed in 19