Covered California welcomed Mayra E. Alvarez as the newest member of its Board of Directors on April 20. Alvarez is a longtime health advocate and leader in health equity. She is the president of The Children’s Partnership, a nonprofit advocacy organization working to advance child health equity, where she has served since 2015.
On a cool, festive night in the Jeep lined parking lot of the Westin Hotel in Wilmington then President-elect Biden thanked the black community for their support and committed to having their backs, just as they had his. After keeping a string of policy promises – enacting a historic child tax credit, lifting families out of poverty and investing in HBCUs President Biden has turned his attention to black political empowerment. Earlier this month, Democratic National Committee members voted to approve a slate of 75 Biden nominees to serve as at-large members that have been put forward by Chair Jaime Harrison. The vote took place in a virtual meeting placing long time Biden allies, and CBC loyalists in the national democratic body.
TThe United States Senate has confirmed Chiquita Brooks-LaSure to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The 55 to 44 vote makes Brooks-LaSure the first Black woman to lead CMS in its nearly six-decade history.
At the federal level, lawmakers are expected to re-introduce a payday lending bill that would give both consumers and military veterans the same 36% rate protection as the Military Lending Act (MLA). Named the Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act, the measure is hoped to secure the same broad and bipartisan support that MLA received.
The selection of California Senator Kamala Harris to join and then win the nation’s Vice-Presidency gave unprecedented hope to Black women across the nation. Not only had a woman broken a glass ceiling in professional development; she was also Black and a graduate of Howard University, one of the nation’s premier Historically Black Institutions.
The vision of inclusion continues to take shape in America. President-elect Joe Biden selects former ambassador of the Obama administration Susan Rice to lead the White House Domestic Policy Council. Biden’s “Build Back Better” mission is showcasing its effect, by rendering his future administration to focus on racial equity, healthcare, and the ever-present coronavirus pandemic.
Senator Kamala Harris painted a picture of capitol hill reflecting diversity and sharing common ground in building relationships with social tools such as, loyalty, commitment, and keeping solidarity within any given word. Harris gave examples of how the Trump Administration are losing critical relationships in the midst of a shared pandemic. The message from current leadership is not portraying severity of the virus, it has been focused on where to place the blame of the pandemic rather than the unity it will need to fight back.
“We are thrilled to welcome Valeisha Butterfield Jones into the Recording Academy family,” said Academy Chair and Interim President and CEO Harvey Mason Mason in a statement. “Valeisha has been a force in driving systemic change and enhancing equal opportunities for underrepresented groups across entertainment, technology, and politics.”
Most consumers would likely agree that consumers should get what they pay for. If a product or service fails to deliver its promises, refunds are in order.
On Sep. 11, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), will honor Misty Copeland, with their esteemed Trailblazer Award, during the CBC’s annual “Celebration of the Arts” event
When given the chance at the ballot box, Americans overwhelmingly vote to impose a 36 percent or less rate cap. Today, 16 states and the District of Columbia have these rate caps in place, providing strong protection from payday loan sharks. In remaining states – those without a rate cap – interest rates run as high as 460 percent in California, over 400 percent in Illinois and 662 percent in Texas.
Gillibrand’s and Peters’s appointments are indicative of a wave of diversity hires of top staff of color. According to the Joint Center’s live tracker, four new chiefs of color have been hired by returning Senators. Two (including Chaney) are Black women, one is Asian American/Pacific Islander woman, and one is Latino.
“…this year, just a week before Christmas, there are people who were dealing with the aftermath of something far colder than the weather: college closures with no advance notice and a promise of more information at a date yet to be determined.”
Former First Lady Michelle Obama is featured in a video along with celebrities Tom Hanks, Janelle Monáe, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Lin-Manuel Miranda to encourage people to register and vote.
Dellums was a fierce, focused fighter for justice, an anti-war activist who served in the military, authored several CBC Alternative Budgets (budgets that focused on human needs rather than military buildup) and was an indefatigable fighter for South African freedom.