Op-Ed

Let’s Create an Infrastructure Policy that Builds Two Types of Bridges for a More Inclusive and Stronger Nation

Despite all the stresses, division, and crises of the past year, we Americans have the timely opportunity to achieve the togetherness and mutual benefits in the new year that can mark a significant turning point.  This opportunity lies within the recently passed $1.2 trillion brick-and-mortar infrastructure bill, which can help build bridges of inclusivity between mainstream construction industry businesses and small and diverse business enterprises, generate multiplicative community benefits, and serve as a replicable national model across many industries. 

Defending a Democracy in Flames

I woke up this morning with my mind stayed on freedom. And how we can preserve it.  Our freedom is threatened. We all need to be paying attention and preparing to take action next year.  Look, I know that Christmas and New Year’s are around the corner. Millions of us are looking forward to time off work and time spent with loved ones. I can just hear people saying, “Ben, the last thing I want to think about right now is politics.” Well, let’s think bigger than that. Let’s think about freedom.  All year long, the freedom to vote has been under

We Need More Black Doctors 

African Americans know that color matters in regard to almost everything in this country. Medical care is no exception.

The Ahmaud Arbery Verdict and Victory:

Our waiting for and finally hearing the verdict in the trial of the three murderers of Ahmaud Arbery, like that with George Floyd, compelled us to ride a roller coaster of mixed emotions, from relief and rejoicing to reflection and recommitment, and always, whether evident or just below the surface, a righteous anger and sadness at the evil and injustice committed.

We The People”: The Solution To Our Problems

While a great deal of time and attention is being given to the many sins and acts of evil by Republicans and the Ultra Right who believe that their privileges are greater than our democracy, it is important to remember that “We the People” hold the keys to our own deliverance. There are more of us than them as evidenced by the last election which placed President Joe Biden in the White House instead of a second term for Trump. The Bible says “we have not because we ask not, and when we ask, we ask for the wrong things”.

Why Redistricting Matters to You

Here is a year after one of the most impactful racial reckonings since the Civil Rights Movement. Here is the crossroad, a partisan split on the road strewn with masks, vaccines, and misinformation. Here is the largest humanitarian crisis our city has ever seen.

COVID’s effects worsen America’s racial wealth gap: Blacks own 22 cents for every dollar held by whites Closing gaps would create 1.7 million jobs, add $300-450 billion to the economy

As the global pandemic continues to take lives and infect multiple generations, virtually every dimension of life is challenged. And people with the fewest financial resources before COVID-19 are being challenged more than ever before.  

It is both a challenge and an opportunity for leadership in the Biden Administration, Congress, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with the private sector address to effect policies and practices that reverse the nation’s still-growing racial wealth gap. Tried and true wealth-building tools like targeted homeownership and expanded small business investments together would bring sustainable and meaningful changes to those who historically have been financially marginalized. 

Get The Shot, Then Get Covered

At the beginning of the pandemic, we knew our communities would be the hardest hit — and when we fought to ensure resources were made available to fight the virus, we had to make sure that assistance made it to our communities.