The 8th Annual Black Policy Conference Higher Education Panel

Opening up the Ivy Tower

African-Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans remain underrepresented at many of the nation’s elite law, business, policy and medical schools despite an overall increase in undergraduate attendance rates over the last decade. Research suggests that there are a variety of factors that contribute to this disparity ranging from less competitive academic performance to a greater desire to enter or remain in the workforce. Underrepresentation seriously impedes minorities’ ability to influence many of the policies and practices that directly impact their communities. This panel will discuss the magnitude of the issue as well as some of the factors that could explain why this disparity persists and offer strategies that could improve future outcomes.

The 8th Annual Black Policy Conference Entrepreneurship Panel

Entrepreneurs Where We Need Them Most

Small businesses and the entrepreneurs who start them are responsible for over 64% of all net new jobs created in the last 15 years. Yet rural and urban communities of color are suffering unemployment rates far higher than the national average. Bringing entrepreneurial small business growth to these communities could be one means of turning around these disturbing trends. This panel will bring together high-impact entrepreneurs, funders, and the supporting government actors to highlight the path forward toward bringing more entrepreneurs to the communities which need them the most.

The 8th Annual Black Policy Conference Health Panel

Beyond the Bodega and Past the Drive-Thru: Making Healthy Food an Option

Low income African-Americans disproportionately suffer from a lack of access to healthy foods. They often reside in food deserts—areas devoid of nutritious, affordable food options. Land-use policies that facilitate development of suburban neighborhoods have altered the distribution of food stores and resulted in urban and rural communities where fast food restaurants and corner stores are the only source of food for miles. These food deserts have many negative health consequences and are thought to contribute to rising obesity rates in the African-American community.

Despite the challenges presented by this problem, social entrepreneurs, governments, and businesses are developing and implementing innovative solutions to address it. This panel explores creative solutions and best practices to improve access to reasonably priced, healthy food in black communities. Participants will leave with an understanding of the factors that influence the formation of food deserts as well as what
steps can be taken to provide those living in these environments with healthier food options.

The 8th Annual Black Policy Conference International Panel

The Fight Against Corruption

As developing countries move toward greater economic and political stability, a growing number of these countries are faced with issues of corruption in government. The abuse of entrusted power for private gain is present throughout the larger developing world, but is more pronounced in certain countries throughout Africa and the Caribbean.

The full cost of corruption is unquantifiable, but it has deleterious political, economic, social, and environmental effects on communities. In particular, corruption (1) creates a major obstacle to democracy, (2) results in the diminution of national wealth, (3) undermines people’s trust in their institutions and leadership, and (4) results in environmental degradation and the exploitation of natural resources for private profit.

This panel will focus on detailing the current state of corruption in Africa and the Caribbean and identify effective strategies to curtail its effects and prevent the misuse of government power.

The 8th Annual Black Policy Conference Education Panel

The Color of Our Classrooms: Bolstering the Recruitment and Retention of Minority Teachers

National statistics continue to indicate the ever-decreasing number of minority teachers in public schools across the country. A report published by the National Collaborative on Diversity in the Teaching Force noted: “the imperative for diversity is often marginalized rather than accepted as central to the quality equation in teaching.” The ethnicity and cultural competence of teachers are cited as key factors in ensuring students’ academic achievement and holistic development. The purpose of this panel is to gain a greater awareness of existing policies designed to recruit and retain teachers of color. More importantly, the panel will consider ways in which to specifically garner national attention and support for recruiting and retaining teachers of color in the public school system.