Following the March release of the Policy Agenda to Advance Black Work, Wages, and Wealth, the Black Economic Alliance (BEA) Foundation garnered widespread acclaim from leaders across sectors for its innovative approach to driving Black economic prosperity. Shaped by data, insights from the nation’s leading experts and, importantly, informed by  the lived experiences of Black Americans, this policy roadmap lays out actionable steps for dismantling systemic barriers to Black  economic opportunity and fostering economic growth. 

The Agenda is already having a tangible impact. Just weeks after the Policy Agenda was released,  Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04) and Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA) introduced joint House and Senate Resolutions that were“…grounded in the Black Economic Alliance (BEA) Foundation’s Policy Agenda to Advance Black Work, Wages, and Wealth.” The joint resolutions will form the foundation of a federal legislative  agenda that marks a critical step in moving many of the evidence-based solutions in BEA Foundation’s policy agenda from roadmap to reality. 

In April, BEA released findings from a recent comprehensive survey conducted by Hart Research. The survey aimed to explore Black voters’ key driving factors and policy priorities going into the upcoming election. The survey results paint a clear picture: economic issues aren’t just important –– they are critical for elected leaders to earn Black support. BEA released a memo with key insights from voters across racial and party lines on policies they most want policymakers to focus on –– and confirms that an overwhelming majority of voters believe policymakers should prioritize crucial policy solutions that will improve Black economic outcomes.

BEA has continued in its efforts to protect against attempts to claw back pathways to Black economic progress – including the well-funded, well-organized attacks on efforts to improve racial diversity in corporate America. 

In February, BEA joined a dozen influential business organizations in releasing an open letter to Fortune 500 CEOs urging corporations to act on the overwhelming evidence supporting the expansion of diversity efforts and initiatives. The letter, featured in DealBook and NPR’s Marketplace, cites BEA Foundation’s Harris Poll, which found overwhelming support for corporate diversity among the American public. It also cited a new Morning Consult survey for the Public Private Strategies Institute, which found that the majority of senior executives across political affiliations said diversity initiatives play a critical role in the success of their companies. 

Our ongoing conversations with corporate leaders also underscored the need for specific guidance for navigating this evolving landscape, a unified approach to framing the issue, and compelling supporting data. To meet this need, BEA Foundation has developed a Corporate Guidance Toolkit, which we have shared directly with CEOs and corporate executives, as well as with trade and industry groups that work with hundreds of companies on these issues.

On Thursday, April 25, The Center for Black Entrepreneurship (CBE) –– a strategic partnership between the Black Economic Alliance Foundation, Morehouse College, and Spelman College powered by a $10M anchor investment from Bank of America –– hosted a half-day summit highlighting training, mentorship, and opportunities to support the next generation of Black entrepreneurial talent.  

The event featured a Community Breakfast highlighting the ways in which the CBE is building out a  robust entrepreneurship ecosystem and investing in greater Atlanta area entrepreneurs, and a Pitch Lab competition for CBE student entrepreneurs to showcase their CBE learnings and their businesses  to an audience of distinguished business leaders, seasoned entrepreneurs, and venture capital partners. Students also engaged with successful entrepreneurs from the Bank of America Marketplace by Seneca Women, who attended and showcased their businesses. 

In June, President Biden announced his intent to nominate CFTC Commissioner Kristin Johnson as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions. BEA has urged the Administration to diversify economic appointments as a means of ensuring a more equitable economy. BEA issued a statement from CEO Samantha TWeedy which said, in part, “It is essential for Black and underrepresented voices to be present in significant policy discussions, ensuring that conversations at every level within the Treasury Department and across key economic positions within the administration reflect the diverse communities across America.”

Rosalind “Roz” Brewer became BEA’s newest Board member in April. A Spelman College graduate, Roz began her career as a research technician at Kimberly-Clark, rising to global president before leaving in 2006. Following her extensive career at Kimberly-Clark, Roz served in various leadership roles for Walmart Stores, managing operations in some of the company’s most important geographical regions as president of Walmart East before spearheading the company’s Sam’s Club wing as president and CEO. In this role, she focused on expanding digital technology and the customer experience at Sam’s Club stores nationwide. In 2017, Roz joined Starbucks as COO and group president—serving as the second highest-ranking employee at the company and leading business and operations for Starbucks across the Western Hemisphere. Following her service with Starbucks, she was appointed CEO of the Walgreens Boots Alliance—becoming the third Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company.