State of Black America

This week, Joi Chaney, Executive Director of the Washington Bureau and Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the National Urban League, sits down with Karen Finney, a political strategist, activist, and commentator who currently serves as Board Vice Chair for NARAL pro-choice America, Board Chair at Ultraviolet and a co-founder Power Rising. Together, they discuss the major wins that took place this year, including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation to the Supreme Court and the negotiation efforts that brought Brittney Griner home, as well as priorities for 2023. Discussed in this episode: Karen Finney, Brittney Griner, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Supreme Court, black twitter, President Biden, voting rights, Congress, Black community, Black America, African Americans, Race, Black Women, Black Families, State of Black America, For the Movement, National Urban League, Urban League Movement, Young Professionals. Contact and Follow our Guest(s) on Twitter @finneyk, @naral, @ultraviolet, @iampowerrising, @stopbigmoney. Contact and Follow the National Urban League at: Web: www.nul.org Email: [email protected]  Follow us onTwitter, Facebook and Instagram: @NULpolicy | @NatUrbanLeague. Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the State of Black America podcast on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you think of our content!

This week, Joi Chaney, Executive Director of the Washington Bureau and SVP of Policy and Advocacy of the National Urban League, sits down with Laphonza Butler, President of Emily’s List, and Latosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter. Together, they discuss the issues voters care about most, races and candidates we should watch out for, and activations you can join to mobilize your community and help get out the vote. Our spotlight segment features Khalil Thompson, Campaign Director for the Reclaim Your Vote campaign at the National Urban League. For information regarding polling stations, volunteer opportunities and more, visit www.reclaimyourvote.org. Discussed in this episode: Laphonza, Laphonza Butler, Latosha, Latosha Brown, National Urban League, Washington DC, DC, voting, get out the vote, President Biden, state, federal, local, Congress, Black community, Black America, African Americans, Race, Black Women, Black Families, State of Black America, For the Movement, National Urban League, Urban League Movement, Young Professionals. Contact and Follow our Guest(s) on Twitter @laphonzab @emilyslist | @melatoshabrown @blackvotersmtr. Visit www.emilyslist.org and www.blackvotersmatterfund.org for more information. Contact and Follow the National Urban League at: Web: www.nul.org Email: [email protected]  Twitter and Instagram: @NULpolicy | @NatUrbanLeague Facebook:  Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the State of Black America podcast on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you think of our content!

This week, Joi Chaney, Executive Director of the Washington Bureau and SVP of Policy and Advocacy at the National Urban League sits down with Congresswoman Gwen Moore, who currently represents Wisconsin's 4th district. She has served in this seat since 2004 and was the first African American elected to Congress from the state. Congresswoman Moore discusses what's at stake on the ballot, top concerns for voters and how YOU can activate your community and help get out the vote on Election Day. For information regarding polling stations, volunteer opportunities and more, visit www.reclaimyourvote.org. Discussed in this episode: Gwen Moore, National Urban League, Washington DC, Wisconsin, voting, get out the vote, Student Loan Forgiveness, President Biden, forgiveness, generational wealth, home ownership, Congress, Black community, Black America, African Americans, Race, Black Women, Black Families, State of Black America, For the Movement, National Urban League, Urban League Movement, Young Professionals. Contact and Follow our Guest(s) on Twitter @repgwenmoore or visit:www.gwenmore.house.gov for more information. Contact and Follow the National Urban League at: Web: www.nul.org Email: [email protected]  Twitter and Instagram: @NULpolicy | @NatUrbanLeague Facebook:  Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the State of Black America podcast on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you think of our content!

As millions of student loan debt borrowers prepare for the repayments to resume in January, Joi Chaney, our Executive Director and Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the National Urban League, sits down with Ashley Harrington, Senior Advisor at the Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid. Together, they discuss President Biden's recent efforts to address the debt crisis, important updates on the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program and information on how to apply for this benefit.  Discussed in this episode: students, student loans, student loan forgiveness, student loan debt, Americans, PSLF, Public Student Loan Forgiveness, President Biden, forgiveness, generational wealth, home overnship, Congress, Black community, Black America, African Americans, Race, Black Women, Black Families, State of Black America, For the Movement, National Urban League, Urban League Movement, Young Professionals. Contact and Follow our Guest(s) on Twitter @ACHesquire or visit:www.studentaid.gov for more information. Contact and Follow the National Urban League at: Web: www.nul.org Email: [email protected]  Twitter and Instagram: @NULpolicy | @NatUrbanLeague Facebook:  Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the State of Black America podcast on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you think of our content!

As millions of student loan debt borrowers prepare for the repayments to resume in January, Joi Chaney, our Executive Director and Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the National Urban League, sits down with Ashley Harrington, Senior Advisor at the Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid. Together, they discuss President Biden's recent efforts to address the debt crisis, important updates on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and information on how to apply for this benefit. 

Discussed in this episode: students, student loans, student loan forgiveness, student loan debt, Americans, PSLF, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, President Biden, forgiveness, generational wealth, home ownership, Congress, Black community, Black America, African Americans, Race, Black Women, Black Families, State of Black America, For the Movement, National Urban League, Urban League Movement, Young Professionals.

Contact and Follow our Guest(s) on Twitter @ACHesquire or visit:www.studentaid.gov for more information.

Contact and Follow the National Urban League at: Web: www.nul.orgEmail: [email protected]  Twitter and Instagram: @NULpolicy | @NatUrbanLeague Facebook: 

Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the State of Black America podcast on your favorite streaming platform to let us know what you think of our content!

This week, Joi Chaney, our Executive Director and Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, sits down with Kerrie Johnson, Executive Director of the National LGBTQ Task Force. Together they discuss the nation's reaction to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and its impact on the LGBTQ community and the importance of including the LGBTQ community's perspective and existing within different intersections as well updates on Brittney Griner's case. Discussed in this episode: LGBTQIA+, LGBTQ, lesbian, gay, bisexual,  trans, transgender, queer, civil rights, justice, Brittney Griner, Russia, WNBA, safe space, safety, health, Black community, Black men, Black America, African Americans, Race, Black Women, Black Families, State of Black America, For the Movement, National Urban League, Urban League Movement, Young Professionals  Contact and Follow our Guest(s) on Twitter @TaskForceAF. Visit: https://www.thetaskforceactionfund.org. Contact and Follow the National Urban League at: Web: www.nul.org Email: [email protected]  Twitter and Instagram: @NULpolicy | @NatUrbanLeague Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NULPolicy  Kierra's Bio:

Executive Director, Kierra Johnson, joined the National LGBTQ Task Force in 2018 as Deputy Executive Director but was already engaged with the organization, previously serving on the National LGBTQ Task Force’s board of directors and its National Action Council. Johnson came to the Task Force after serving as (Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity) URGE’s Executive Director with a wealth of experience in organizational leadership and management, program development, youth leadership and reproductive justice. As a bisexual Black woman, Johnson is one of few out queer-identified women of color at the helm of a national LGBTQ organization.

She is recognized as a national expert on queer and reproductive rights issues and has testified in front of the U.S. House of Representatives and has appeared in Newsweek, The New York Times, Fox News, Feministing.com and National Public Radio. Johnson also serves on the boards of directors of the General Service Foundation, Groundswell Fund, and Guttmacher Institute.

Here are opinion pieces written by Kierra Johnson that were mentioned in this episode:

This week, Joi Chaney, our Executive Director and Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, sits down with Dr. David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC). Together, they discuss how to create a safe space for Black LGBTQIA+ members within the civil rights and justice community. Discussed in this episode: LGBTQIA+, LGBTQ, lesbian, gay, bisexual,  trans, transgender, queer, civil rights, justice, Pose, space, safety, f word, health, Black community, Black men, Black America, African Americans, Race, Black Women, Black Families, State of Black America, For the Movement, National Urban League, Urban League Movement, Young Professionals  Contact and Follow our Guest(s) on Twitter @@MrDavidJohns + @NBJCOnTheMove. Visit  https://nbjc.org Contact and Follow the National Urban League at: Web: www.nul.org Email: [email protected] Twitter and Instagram: @NULpolicy | @NatUrbanLeague Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NULPolicy |