THE CAUCUS ON BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS AND THE JOINT CENTER FOR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STUDIES CO-HOST WHM BRIEFING ON BLACK WOMEN’S ECONOMIC SECURITY AND POWER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 27, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:

e: [email protected]

c: 202.913.0126

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Robin Kelly (IL-02), and Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, recognized Women's History Month by partnering with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies to co-host a briefing to examine the state of Black women's economic security and power in the United States.

The event was the first in a three part series on the most pressing challenges faced by the Black women and girls of America. It brought together workforce development experts, education policy leaders, economic analysts, and Members of Congress to examine how persistent wage gaps, occupational segregation, capital access barriers, and educational inequities constrain economic mobility for Black women and impose measurable costs on our nation's economic strength.

"We are incredibly proud to have partnered with the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies this Women's History Month to bring the first part in our series on the hardships confronting Black women and girls face today, which have only worsened exponentially since the Trump Administration took power. It is a terrible tragedy that the disparities Black women face in our access to capital, education, power, and the American Dream itself are as wide today as they were decades ago, and that we must face the same trials that our mothers and grandmothers devoted their lives to defeating. But, as they overcame, so too shall we," said the Co-Chairs. "Alongside our allies in the non-profit and private sectors, we will continue to give these necessary discussions the platform and audience they deserve. We look forward to the next briefing in this series, as well as the positive outcomes it will create for Black women and girls across our nation."

"Black women are facing numerous economic challenges as the workforce shifts, education equity policies are being rolled back, and federal funding declines. Now is the time to continue to convene our experts, community leaders, and policymakers to ensure Black women and girls are not falling behind and these changes don't widen existing economic gaps," said Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Joint Center President.

"Black women have always been foundational to this country, yet our contributions are often overlooked. This Women's History Month briefing made clear that the economic wellbeing of our nation is directly tied to the wellbeing of Black women and girls. We cannot afford to leave our talent and our leadership behind. Our policies must reflect what the data shows us - when Black women thrive, America thrives," said Sophia Kerby, Joint Center Vice President, Government Affairs. "We are very proud to partner with the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls to bring this roundtable discussion together."

"With the gender pay gap and the racial wealth gap compounding the burden of student debt, many Black women borrowers experience limited financial stability despite pursuing higher education. As federal systems face uncertainty and administrative changes, it is critical for policymakers, advocates, and community leaders to work together on solutions that protect borrowers, strengthen economic mobility, and ensure a more stable economy," said Dr. Kayla Elliott, Joint Center Workforce Policy Director.

"Black women have always been on the front lines in the fight for political and economic justice. No effort to discount their achievements and contributions can erase their centrality to the social and economic fabric of this country historically or stop it going forward," said Dr. Chandra Childers, Senior Policy and Economic Analyst, Economic Policy Institute (EPI).

"We are currently navigating a perfect storm of federal rollbacks that have hit Black women first and hardest. Recently, we released the Black Women's Roundtable 2026 Federal Policy Agenda, our roadmap for protecting rights, freedoms, and democracy while advancing an economic justice, equity and opportunity agenda.

This agenda is critical because, as our recent co-commissioned research with the Black Opps Coalition underscores, our strongest weapon against these attacks is our vote. At today's roundtable, we made it clear that we will not be sidelined by modern day poll taxes like the SAVE Act or the chaos of government shutdowns. Black women are the blueprint for safeguarding democracy. We are proving that a multi-generational, multi-racial coalition, led by Black women, is key to protecting democracy and ensure our economic security," said Melanie L. Campbell, President & CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and National Convener of the Black Women's Roundtable (BWR).

Shavon Arline-Bradley of the National Council of Negro Women and Shannan Herbert of the Washington Area Community Investment Fund, Inc also provided their expert testimony at the event.

View pictures from the event here.

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