ALERT

From: National Fairness (and Growth) Campaign

To: Barack H. Obama, 44th President of the United States of America.
Subject: .4955%
We represent a “Bottoms Up” approach by “practitioners” who understand the theoretical constructs and day
to day applications and practices of years of Community and Economic Development initiatives. We have
the experience, expertise trying to grasp, grapple, and find the cause(s) to the profoundly, and profanely,
troubling statistic stated above that reflects the apparent failure of these initiatives to significantly address
dire economic circumstances in our communities.
How, after more than 50 years of spending, good intentions, extraordinary sweat and other forms of
investment, and why does the African American Business community earn less than one half of one percent
(.4955%) of all the business revenue in the state of Ohio, according to the 1997 US Census data. This was
during the boom years of the 1990’s? After all of the 90’s profits, the statistic improve marginally to .99% in
the United States Nationally in 2002. Additional Statistics all state less than one percent i.e. .7040% of
employees, and .6144% of all payrolls according to the same report. The ramifications and implications
have manifested themselves in our communities, but have not been adequately discussed or dealt with by
policy makers. Often, policy makers have inherent conflicts of interests or sensibilities with the responsibility to
comply with the spirit and letter of the laws, and have violated the public trust in our communities.
Careful examination of the utilization of the “Well Intended” public and private sectors endeavors found
other troubling trends of manipulation “gaming” against African Americans. We launched a national
initiative and process called “the National Fairness Campaign and Capacity Building Symposium”. It is to
find out why and how this continuing, tragedy producing situation happened we started on January 31 2009,
in Cincinnati Ohio at the (President) William Howard Taft National Historic Site (See Attached).
Ohio is a laboratory not because it is worse than other states but because it represents Middle America and the
opportunity to understand and Fix the situation through analysis of past practices and the search for best
practices that can be utilized first in the immediately pending American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and
subsequent action of the Federal Government and private Sectors. We seek the opportunity to exercise personal
responsibility in the context of a fair society because our campaign for Fairness and Growth is designed to help
insure that the tragic past and present (acknowledging the progress made) is not perpetrated in the future.
Therefore, our Second National Symposium based upon findings of the First National Symposium to be held
Friday February 13, at the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) Community College in Cleveland, Ohio
will be focused on continued analysis of Enforcement and Regulation.
Thus, we respectfully request an immediate response regarding your direction, planning, policies and
procedures for the erasure of this foul Statistic to share with the electronic and in person attendees of the
Symposium.
We would appreciate an in person meeting during the month of February, if not, then by Teleconference to
share our finding including best practices for fairness and growth.
Sincerely,
Convener National Fairness Campaign, Robert Day PhD, President, Center for Urban & Rural Redevelopment
General Chairman, Joseph Debro, Co-Founder, National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)
Co- Chairs
Pandora Ramsay, Founding President, Ohio Fairness Campaign
Fredrick Hargrove, Sr. PE, MBA., former Chairman of Cincinnati Change
Irvin Henderson, Former Chairman, National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC).
For interviews contact Joe Debro at 510.910.2691 For more information contact 614.622.4808 and or email us at
natichange@gmail.com and the web site is at http://nationalfairnesscampaign.blogspot.com.
National Fairness (and Growth) Campaign Distribution List:

Barack Obama, President of the United States The U.S. Small Business Administration Nominated
Joe Biden, Vice President of the United States Administrator Karen Gordon Mills
Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff to the President Senator Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader
Mona Sutphen, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Senator Roland W. Burris
Valerie B. Jarrett , Senior Advisor and Assistant to the Senator George Voinovich
President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison Senator Sherrod Brown
David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to the President Senator Daniel K. Inouye
Melody C. Barnes, Domestic Policy Adviser and the Director Senator Richard Durbin
of the Domestic Policy Council Senator Robert Menendez
Lawrence H. Summers, Director of the National Economic Senator Susan Collins
Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy
Senator Olympia Snowe
Christina Romer, Designate, Chair of the Council of
Senator Arlen Specter
Economic Advisers
Joe Liberman, Chairman, The United States Senate Committee
Peter Orszag, Director of Office of Management and Budget
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Christina M. Tchen, Assistant to the President for
Representative Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the United States House
Intergovernmental Relations and Public Liaison
of Representatives
Attorney General of the United States Eric H. Holder, Jr
Representative James Clyburn, House Majority Whip
Secretary of the Treasurer, Timothy F. Geithner
Representative Barbara Lee, Chairman Congressional Black
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun L.S. Caucus
Donovan
Representative John Conyers , Chairman House Judiciary
Secretary of Commerce Designate Judd Gregg Committee
Acting Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Representative Charles B. Rangel, Chairman House Committee
Services Charles E. Johnson on Ways and Means
Secretary of Labor Designate Hilda Solis Representative Bennie Thompson, Chairman Homeland Security
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood Representative David Obey, Chairman House Committee on
United States Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Appropriations
Napolitano Representative Marcia Fudge
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack Representative John Lewis
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Representative Maxine Waters
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki Representative Melvin Watts
Chairman of the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
Board Paul Volker
Ohio Lt. Gov Lee Fisher
Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mary
President National Community Reinvestment Coalition John
Schapiro
Taylor
Chairman of the Federal Reserve Fed Ben Bernanke
Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Governor Tom
President of New York branch of the Federal Reserve Bank and Kane
Cice-chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee William
Chairman of the Republican National Committee Lt. Gov.
C. Dudley
Michael Steele
Chief Executive Officer of the Fourth District Federal Reserve
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Bank, at Cleveland Sandra Pianalto
President and Chief Executive Officer Benjamin T. Jealous
Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Open Market
NAACP Ohio State Conference of Branches President Sybil
Committee Elizabeth A. Duke
Edwards-McNabb
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati, Chief Executive
National Urban League President Marc Haydel Morial
Officer and President David H. Hehman
The National Black Chamber of Commerce President Harry
The National Credit Union Administration, Chairman Michael E.
Alford
Fryzel
The National Minority Supplier Development Council President
The U.S. Small Business Administration Acting Administrator
Harriet R. Michel
Darryl Hairston
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich
 National Capacity Building Symposium
“Enforcement and Regulation” [ S e s s i o n I I ]
A Retrospective & Best Practices Identification Symposium
Part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Fairness Campaign
Convener of the National Fairness Campaign Steering Committee
Dr. Robert Day, President of the Center for Urban & Rural Redevelopment
To be held at the Unified Technologies Center at Cuyahoga Community College main campus on
Friday February 13th 2009, Cleveland, Ohio 9:00 AM - 4:00PM
Steering Committee Advisor and Panel Moderator, Lawrence Auls, Chairman of MDi, Executive Director LISW, LTD

50 YEAR REVIEW & ANALYSIS: National Fairness Campaign Steering Committee

The Fairness Campaign will review past political agreements http://nationalfairnesscampaign.blogspot.com
and governing compacts and their relationship to the social,
economic development environment under an Obama  General Chairman Joseph Debro Co-Founder, National
Presidency. The Fairness Campaign will also identify and Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)
address historic moral gaps by examination of the Office of  Co-Chairwoman Pandora Ramsay, Founding President,
Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Set-Asides, Ohio Fairness Campaign
Affirmative Access, Diversity, Inclusion, New Markets Tax  Co-Chairman Fredrick Hargrove, Sr. PE, MBA.
Credits, Business Development Programs, Empowerment former Chairman of Cincinnati Change
Zones, Model Cities, CDBG, DOL Workforce Development  Co-Chairman Irvin Henderson, Former Chairman,
Grants, Community Action Agencies, Structures, Approaches, National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC).
and delivery systems for Opportunity[s] and Capacity  Convener, Dr. Robert Day PhD, President, Center for
Building. Urban & Rural Redevelopment
WHAT WORKED? WHAT DIDN’T? WHY NOT?
Among the issues to be reviewed -
ƒ War On Poverty: Community Action Agencies, Economic Opportunity Act of 1964,, Demonstration Cities and Metropolitan
Development Act of 1966 (Model Cities), Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights Act of 1968
ƒ Black Capitalism, Philadelphia Plan, Selected Contractors Strategy & Construction Apprenticeship Programs
ƒ Executive Order 8802 Fair Employment Practices and follow-on actions
ƒ Public Law 95-507 and modifications
ƒ Ohio House Bill 584 Set Aside and its descendants such as EDGE
ƒ The Small Business Investment Act and Minority capitalization programs such as Specialized SBIC’s [MSBIC’S]
ƒ Small Business Administration (SBA) and other business economic and technical assistance programs
ƒ CETA, New Careers, Jobs Corps, Military Service, Peace Corp, Vista
ƒ Renewal Communities, Empowerment Zones
ƒ National and Regional Purchasing Councils
ƒ Positive capacity building pass-throughs, joint ventures, and mentor protégés
ƒ Non capacity building pass-throughs, fronts, and joint ventures
ƒ Troubled Assets Relief Program[s] and proposed economic recovery solutions at levels of government
 National Capacity Building Symposium
“Enforcement and Regulation”
A Retrospective & Best Practices Identification Symposium
To be held at the Unified Technologies Center at Cuyahoga Community College main
campus on Friday, February 13th 2009, Cleveland, Ohio 9:00 AM - 4:00PM
Panelists
Joseph Debro - Co-Founder, National Association George D. Edwards - Founder and President, Black
of Minority Contractors [NAMC] Trades Council of Ohio
Dr. Robert Day - President, Center for Urban & Jeff Johnson - Former Ohio State Senator and former
Rural Redevelopment City of Cleveland Director of Community Relations Dir.
Pandora Ramsay - Founding President, Ohio Clifford King - Vice President and CRA Officer, Dollar
Fairness Campaign Bank of Cleveland
Lawrence Auls – Steering Committee Advisor and John Lawyer - Interim Vice President,
Panel Moderator and Executive Director LISW, LTD Campus Planning and Operations,
who is a published author. Case Western Reserve University
Irvin Henderson - member of Board of trustee’s of William F. Pickard, PhD – a successful 25 year business
the CRA Fund, the National Trust for Historic owner of manufacturing facilities, Chairman and CEO of
Preservation and the National Community Vitec USA, owner of McDonalds franchisees and a
Reinvestment Coalition. volunteer instructor at Alabama State University
Mark Batson – President, PolicyBridge, Inc Kathryn M. Hall CDP,MA - Resource Specialist Director
Major Gifts, Health Programs, Cleveland Museum of
Fred Hargrove Sr. PE,MBA – President of
Natural History.
Hargrove Engineering and Chief Engineer for MDi’s
BioSafe Level IV Facility AEC/GC ops. William Patmon - Former City of Cleveland of
Hershel Daniels, Junior – Vice Chairman of Councilman, former Chair of Affirmative Action and
Cincinnati Change, Co-Founder & Visionary of MDi. Employment Committee.
Carl White – President, The NET Video. Zakiyyah Saleem - Founder of Buckeye’s for Change.
Bill McCoy – President, the McCoy Company. Andrea Harris – President of The North Carolina Institute
Fredrick Hargrove – President, Contract Infinity Group. of Minority Economic Development.
The current host agencies are PolicyBridge, The Black Trades Council of Ohio and the NEO Alliance for Change. Ad
Purchases can be sent c/o Cincinnati Change, Inc. Fifth Third Bank at Account # 7024418605 Routing # 042000314. You
can drop off Ad funds through Cincinnati Changes at any Fifth Third Bank for more information email at
lja349@gmail.com. If you are buying ads via Cincinnati Change's PayPal, go to this button.
Blog us at http://nationalfairnesscampaign.blogspot.com
 National Capacity Building Symposium
“Enforcement and Regulation”[ S e s s i o n II]
A Retrospective & Best Practices Identification Symposium
To be held at the Unified Technologies Center at Cuyahoga Community College main
campus on Friday, February 13th 2009, Cleveland, Ohio 9:00 AM - 4:00PM
Agenda
09:15 - Joseph Debro / George D. Edwards /
Call to Order and Introductions
09:45 Lawrence Auls Conference Call
09:45 - Joseph Debro / Dr. Day / Pandora Ramsey / National Growth and Fairness Conference
10:45 Invited Dr. William F. Pickard 50 Year Review Conference Call
10:45 -
11:00
Break
11:00 -
12:00
Mark Batson / Carl White/ TBA Health Policy Options and Telemedicine
In Person
12:00 -
01:00
Working discussion on best practices during Lunch
01:00 - Hershel Daniels / Fred Hargrove Sr. Broadband America and SMART In Person
01:20 PE,MBA / TBA Buildings Conference Call
01:20 - Commercial, Retail and Residential Dev,
Irvin Henderson / Barbara Harris / TBA
01:40 LEED Buildings, TARP Conference Call
01:40 - William Patmon / George D. Edwards / Next Generation Workforce Development
02:00 Bill McCoy / TBA and the American Labor Market In Person
02:00 - Fredrick Hargrove / Zakiyyah Saleem / John Small Business Development and
02:40 Lawyer / Invited Dr. William F. Pickard Technical Assistance Conference Call
02:40 -
03:00
Pandora Ramsay / Jeff Johnson / TBA The Ohio Fairness Campaign Revisited
In Person
03:00 -
03:40
Dr Robert Day / TBA Access to Capital & Credit
In Person
03:40 -
04:00
Lawrence Auls / TBA Best Practices Wrap-up
In Person

The current host agencies are the PolicyBridge, The Black Trades Council of Ohio and the NEO Alliance
for Change. Blog us at h t t p : / / n a t i o n a l f a i r n e s s c a m p a i g n . b l o g s p o t . c o m
 The National Capacity
Building Symposium [ S e s s i o n II]
“ Enforcement and Regulation ”
A Retrospective & Best Practices Identification Symposium
This symposium is to be held at the
Cuyahoga Community College
Unified Technologies Center

Friday February 13th 2009, Cleveland, Ohio 9:00 AM - 4:00PM.

The current host agencies are PolicyBridge, The Black Trades Council of Ohio and the NEO
Ohio Alliance for Change [email us at ClevChangeCdr@gmail.com]. Ad buys can be sent c/o
Cincinnati Change, Inc. Fifth Third Bank at Account # 7024418605 Routing # 042000314 and or 512
Carmalt Street Cincinnati, Ohio 45219. You can drop off ad buys to Cincinnati Change at any Fifth
Third Bank for more information email at natichange@gmail.com. If you are buying ads via
Cincinnati Change's PayPal, go to this button. Blog us at
http://nationalfairnesscampaign.blogspot.com
 National Capacity Building Symposium
"A Retrospective & Best Practices Identification"
Saturday January 31, Cincinnati, Ohio 8:00 AM - 4:00PM

Part of the American Recovery & Reinvestment Fairness Campaign

Convener of the National Fairness Campaign Steering Committee

Dr. Robert Day

The Fairness Campaign will review past political agreements and governing compacts and their relationship to the
social, economic development environment under an Obama Presidency. The Fairness Campaign will also
identify and address historic moral gaps. Ohio is a focal point of the Fairness Campaign because it is middle
America, and has demonstrated past and current innovations to address fairness and capacity building, including
state government minority business development programs, initiatives to increase the budget for the African
American males commission, and the recent appointment of a non government "infrastructure czar" to oversee
Ohio's portion of the proposed American reinvestment & recovery program.

National Fairness Campaign Steering Committee

• General Chairman Joesph Debro Co-Founder, National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)
• Co-Chairwoman Pandora Ramsay, Founding President , Ohio Fairness Campaign
• Co-Chairman Fredrick Hargrove, Sr. PE, MBA. former Chairman of Cincinnati Change
• Co-Chairman Irvin Henderson, former Chairman, National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC).
• Convener Robert Day, PhD, President, Center for Urban & Rural Redevelopment

Steering Committee Advisor and Panel Moderator

Lawrence Auls, Chairman of MDi, Executive Director LISW, LTD
 National Capacity Building Symposium
"A Retrospective & Best Practices Identification"
Saturday January 31, Cincinnati, Ohio 8:00 AM - 4:00PM

Agenda
08:00 -
Dr. Day / Lawrence Auls Introductions
08:45 In Person
08:45 -
Joesph Debro Call to Order
09:30 Conference Call
09:30 -
Break Break
09:45 In Person
09:45 -
Joesph Debro / Dr. Day Conference Call Q & A
11:00 Conference Call
11:00 -
Working Lunch Best Practices Discussion
12:30 In Person
12:45 -
Pandora Ramsay The Ohio Fairness Campaign Revisited
13:00 Conference Call
13:00 -
Dr Robert Day Access to Capital & Credit
13:20 In Person
13:20 - Commercial, Retail and Residential
Irvin Henderson
13:40 Development Conference Call
13:40 -
Fred Hargrove, Sr. PE, MBA Construction and LEED Buildings
14:00 In Person
14:00 - Bill McCoy Next Generation Workforce Development and
14:20 George Edwards the American Labor Market Conference Call
14:20 -
Mark Batson Health Policy Options and Telemedicine
14:40 Conference Call
14:40 -
Hershel Daniels Broadband America and SMART Buildings
15:00 In Person
15:00 -
Lawrence Auls Best Practices Wrap-up
16:00 In Person
 National Capacity Building Symposium National Fairness Campaign Steering Committee
“A Retrospective & http://nationalfairnesscampaign.blogspot.com
Best Practices Identification”  General Chairman Joesph Debro Co-Founder, National
Part of the American Recovery & Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)
 Co-Chairwoman Pandora Ramsay, Founding President ,
Reinvestment Fairness Campaign Ohio Fairness Campaign
Cincinnati, Ohio  Co-Chairman Fredrick Hargrove, Sr. PE, MBA. former
Chairman of Cincinnati Change
Convener of the National Fairness Campaign Steering  Co-Chairman Irvin Henderson, Former Chairman,
Committee Dr. Robert Day, National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC).
President of the Center for Urban & Rural Redevelopment  Convener, Dr. Robert Day PhD, President, Center for
Saturday January 31, Cincinnati, Ohio Urban & Rural Redevelopment
8:00 AM - 4:00PM
Where: PRESIDENT WILLIAM H TAFT NATIONAL
HISTORIC SITE, 2038 Auburn Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45219 PHONE:513.429.3643
Steering Committee Advisor and Panel Moderator, Lawrence Auls, Chairman of MDi, Executive Director LISW, LTD
MORNING SESSION 8:00AM-11:00 AM
50 YEAR REVIEW & ANALYSIS:
Office of Equal Opportunity [OEO], Affirmative Action, Setasides, Affirmative Access, Diversity, Inclusion, New Markets Tax
Credits, Business Development Programs, Empowerment Zones, Model Cities, CDBG, DOL Workforce Development Grants,
Community Action Agencies, Structures, Approaches, and delivery systems for Opportunity[s] and Capacity Building. The Fairness
Campaign will review past political agreements and governing compacts and their relationship to the social, economic development
environment under an Obama Presidency. The Fairness Campaign will also identify and address historic moral gaps.
WHAT WORKED? WHY NOT?
Among the issues to be reviewed -
ƒ War On Poverty: Community Action Agencies, Economic Opportunity Act of 1964,, Demonstration Cities and
Metropolitan Development Act of 1966 (Model Cities), Civil Rights Act of 1964, Civil Rights Act of 1968
ƒ Black Capitalism, Philadelphia Plan, Selected Contractors Strategy
ƒ Executive Order 8802 Fair Employment Practices and follow-on actions
ƒ Public Law 95-507 and modifications
ƒ Ohio House Bill 584 Set Aside and its descendants such as EDGE
ƒ The Small Business Investment Act and Minority capitalization programs such as Specialized SBIC’s [MSBIC’S]
ƒ Construction Apprenticeship Programs
ƒ Small Business Administration (SBA) and other business economic and technical assistance programs
ƒ CETA, New Careers, Jobs Corps, Military Service, Peace Corp, Vista
ƒ Renewal Communities, Empowerment Zones
ƒ National and Regional Purchasing Councils
ƒ Positive capacity building pass-throughs, joint ventures, and mentor protégés
ƒ Non capacity building pass-throughs, fronts, and joint ventures

A WORKING LUNCH 11:00AM-12:30 PM AFTERNOON SESSION 12:45PM – 4:00PM

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

BEST PRACTICES FOR FAIRNESS: JOBS AND CAPACITY BUILDING
INFRASTRUCTURE – LEED [GREEN/ENERGY] – REDEVELOPMENT
ƒ Access to Capital & Credit: Dr. Robert Day, Dr. Herb Smith and the Institute for Open Economic Networks
ƒ Commercial, Retail and Residential Development: Irvin Henderson, President The Henderson Company
ƒ Construction and LEED Buildings: Fred Hargrove, PE. MBA, President, Hargrove Engineering, LLC with invited -
Small, Medium and Large Contractors
ƒ Next Generation Workforce Development and the American Labor Market: Bill McCoy, President, The McCoy
Company; George B. Edwards, Founder & President, Black Trades Council of Ohio Invited – construction craftspeople
including union members, apprentice and journeymen, along with workforce policy makers.
ƒ Health Policy Options and Telemedicine: Mark Batson, Executive Director, PolicyBridge [think-tank]; Carl White,
President The Net Video
ƒ Broadband America and SMART Buildings: Hershel Daniels, Junior, Co-Founder MDi and invited Technologists
4:00PM NEXT STEPS, ADJOURNMENT
 Hope for Urban America
As America ushers in its first African-American president, this unprecedented
change comes amid unprecedented challenges. The meltdown of financial markets,
the foreclosure crisis and a volatile automobile industry are but a few of the
enormous problems that the new president, his administration and policy makers
throughout the nation must urgently address to stimulate economic recovery. As
these issues are ve�ed and stimulus options are considered, policy makers must not
overlook the opportunity for real transformation of a population long overlooked
and disadvantaged – the nation’s urban core. No area is more vulnerable to further
decline and more in need of immediate assistance than our aging major cities,
yet these areas are best poised for achieving significant gains through targeted,
comprehensive policies and interventions designed to prepare them for the
competitive climate of the 21st century.
The challenges facing the nation’s urban core are daunting and many: crushing
poverty, high unemployment, failing schools, crumbling infrastructure, rising crime
and poor health care. These problems have been exacerbated by urban sprawl,
which continues to strip urban communities of human and financial resources,
and the transition to a global economy, which has resulted in tens of thousands of
manufacturing jobs evaporating in recent years. It is li�le wonder that Cleveland
and Detroit, both old industrial cities, have led the nation in poverty for the last five
years. The urgent need to address these problems rises beyond simple urban policy.
This is a national crisis. Without bold and aggressive government intervention, the
decay of America’s cities will undoubtedly spread and worsen – in quick fashion.
On the campaign trail, Barack Obama shared a vision of hope for America’s
cities and underscored their importance as “key drivers of prosperity in a global
A Policy Brief economy.” That inspiring vision must now be converted into action through public
policies that “stop the bleeding” in urban America. Targeted investment and a
by Randell McShepard
cohesive set of policies can begin the turnaround that cities desperately need and
& Mark C. Batson
can serve as the catalyst for overall national economic recovery.
The following recommendations highlight nine key policy areas that are
most deserving of a�ention and investment to improve the plight of urban
communities:
PolicyBridge
850 Euclid Avenue 1. Education
Suite 1100 The opportunities afforded to every American to live productive and prosperous
Cleveland, OH 44114 lives are built on a foundation of education. All children, particularly in urban
www.policy-bridge.org communities, need to take full advantage of educational opportunities that prepare
January 2009 them for 21st century careers. However, public education in far too many urban areas
has generated abysmal results, especially among African-American and Latino
boys. Given the high stakes but generally low results, federal and state policies concerning urban education
must incorporate radical changes. These should include support for charter schools, voucher programs,
flexible public school models (with direct linkages to business and industry), aggressive recruitment of male
teachers and enhanced social services for youth living in distressed communities.
The Department of Education should quickly review and reauthorize the No Child Le� Behind Act
and incorporate pre-kindergarten into all public education curriculums. The DOE should also consider
expanding the Pell Grant program to non-traditional students of all ages to encourage advanced educational
a�ainment and lifelong learning. Without significant changes to public education, no goal of transformed
and rejuvenated urban communities is achievable.

2. Workforce Development
Improvements in public education will lay the foundation for a workforce be�er equipped to compete in a
knowledge economy. However, workforce training, particularly for chronically unemployed adults who are
25 years of age or older, is essential for ge�ing urban America back on track. Many workers will need to be
trained for the “green jobs” that the Department of Labor is rightfully anticipating. However, DOL’s Workforce
Investment Act should also make training dollars available that assist employers who are developing or
enhancing alternative energy technologies. These employers will need new workers to take their innovations
to scale. To address the intolerable reality that 30% to 50% of minorities in many urban communities are
jobless, investments in “on-the-job” training, stackable certificate programs through community colleges,
and tax incentives and workforce subsidies for employers are vital for helping lower-skilled minorities find
jobs that support their families. Community colleges should be funded at increased levels to provide for a
wider range of occupational choices, including skilled trades.
Funding for major infrastructure improvements through the economic stimulus package should include
employment mandates for disadvantaged minority workers in the nation’s urban core. Such investment
directives would help renew the economic base of cities but would also encourage growth and development
in surrounding regions.

3. Minority and Small Businesses

Minority businesses within city cores are critical to any urban revitalization. Because the very survival
of communities depends on thriving businesses that provide employment for residents and contribute
taxes for government services, state and federal policies should support and complement efforts to connect
minority businesses to investments designed to stimulate urban economies. The economic stimulus package
must ensure that minority businesses have access to the billions of dollars distributed in order to build
capacity and put Americans back to work. Dr. Thomas D. Boston of the Georgia Institute of Technology, who
tracks the fastest-growing minority businesses in America through his “Gazelle Index,” found that access to
government contracts was the common denominator among fast-growing minority businesses.
Beyond mandating minority businesses access to economic stimulus efforts, the federal government can do
more to support small businesses. The Department of Commerce must ensure that professional organizations
delivering technical assistance to small businesses have the capacity to provide the technological services small
businesses need to compete in a global economy. The innovative alliance between the Commerce Department
and the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) is an example that should be expanded and
promoted. The Obama Administration and Congress should give the Small Business Administration a wider
range of authority to foster economic development by modifying parameters and requirements of existing
programs. SBA should be able to provide direct lending in areas where the lack of business credit will worsen

PolicyBridge is an African-American-led public policy think tank headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Its aims are to research, analyze and
respond to public policy issues from a minority perspective. For more information on PolicyBridge, visit www.policy-bridge.org. PolicyBridge’s
mission is: To create and sustain high-quality discourse addressing public policy issues, which enlighten and engage fellow citizens,
prompting them to take action.
2 January 2009 • Hope for Urban America
already dire economic development opportunities, and the Community Reinvestment Act should be modified
to include business lending. The implosion in the financial industry and subsequent government bailout
emphasizes that cities – and the individual taxpayers who will ultimately finance the bailout – deserve to
have be�er access to information about the lending practices of their financial institutions.

4. Housing and Neighborhoods

Foreclosures have devastated city neighborhoods, devalued properties and broken the spirits of die-
hard community leaders who organize block clubs, crime watches and other efforts. In many urban
neighborhoods, 25% to 30% of houses are vacant. The inevitable question of “what next” weighs heavily on
those responsible for maintaining these areas. Many of the vacant homes have become not merely eyesores,
but havens for criminal activity. The Department of Housing and Urban Development and other federal
programs must set aside significant funding for demolishing vacant structures, retrofi�ing vacant but viable
buildings for business growth and a�raction, and establishing master plans to redesign and rezone these
devastated neighborhoods. HUD, the Commerce Department and the Federal Communications Commission
should work together to create viable “info-structure” improvements by leveraging broadband technologies
to enhance services to residents and foster business innovation. The importance of “neighborhood-building”
cannot be overstated. Reinvigorating America’s urban economies requires careful a�ention to restoring city
neighborhoods as a�ractive, safe places to live, work and raise a family.

5. Crime and Safety

During economic downturns, crime rates o�en rise, especially in urban communities that lack jobs, a
traditional family unit and hope. Federal investments in programs such as Weed and Seed, which connects
safety forces with residents of the community to take proactive steps to ba�le crime, will remain critically
important. Residents cannot feel “trapped” in their homes because of crime or the perception of crime.
Community Development Block Grants and other federal funding will be necessary to provide for more
officers on the street (particularly community policing, gang units, etc.), support intervention programs, and
enable be�er use of technology to fight crime.

6. Transportation and Infrastructure

President-Elect Obama has indicated major infrastructure improvement to be a cornerstone of his efforts to
stimulate employment and economic growth. The nation’s aging cities, which have endured years of use and
disinvestment, should be given special priority for funding to repair and improve roads, sidewalks, bridges
and related infrastructure. The migration of major employers out of central cities makes greater investment
in public transportation essential for connecting urban residents with outlying employment opportunities.
These investments will not only improve the infrastructure of communities, but they will provide thousands
of jobs for laborers, contractors and other individuals who reside in the urban core. Ge�ing city residents
engaged in eliminating blight and improving infrastructure will be an economic, psychological and social
“shot in the arm” for urban America.
Investment in regional and national rail and commuter transportation is vital for reducing the nation’s
reliance on foreign oil and other fossil fuels. Reintroducing rail transportation would not only significantly
reduce our carbon footprint, but it would also encourage more personal and business travel to small and
medium-sized metropolitan areas, adding to economic growth. Rail hubs would help connect job seekers
with employment opportunities in exurban areas and other cities, mitigating the ill effects of urban sprawl.

7. Health Care
Affordable health care for all is a clarion call that President-Elect Obama trumpeted throughout his
campaign. Efforts to improve health-care access should begin in urban communities, where, because of
poverty and lifestyle issues, individuals are dying at younger ages and in greater frequency from chronic
illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Funding for prevention efforts and intense

Hope for Urban America • January 2009 3

monitoring of these conditions should be a major policy agenda for the Department of Health & Human
Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mental health is another pressing issue that is
o�en ignored but warrants a higher level of intervention and investment. A recent USA Today poll indicated
that the number of work days lost per year for mental illness and depression far exceeded all other illnesses,
including cancer, respiratory disorders and migraines.
Investments must also be made in health information technology to encourage and support automation in
delivering health-care services, following up with patients, and maintaining accurate records. Finally, raising
awareness of health concerns and promoting lifestyle changes are proven strategies that HHS can invest in to
reduce behaviors that exacerbate health disparities.

8. Ex-Offender Populations
Too many minorities, particularly African-American males, are unable to find gainful employment because
of felony convictions. Although African-Americans make up less than 12% of the population in Ohio, they
account for more than 50% of inmates. In Ohio, nearly 30 times more black males were sentenced to prison
for drug offenses than white males. Such sentencing disparities are found in states throughout the country.
In addition to investigating these discrepancies, the federal government should explore ways to help ex-
offenders access work. The Department of Justice, working with HUD and the Department of Labor, should
establish policies that assist ex-offenders in ge�ing the training and support they need to build businesses
and careers. Proper case management of this population is of critical importance, particularly among ex-
offenders with major physical and mental health concerns.
Funds should be redirected from state and federal prison budgets to support Alternative to Prison (ATP)
and other innovative initiatives so that the burden of supporting these citizens does not eventually fall back
on taxpayers. Federal and state governments should also consider establishing departments or divisions
that focus on the particular needs of the ex-offender population. Government agencies in Philadelphia and
Ohio’s Cuyahoga County have demonstrated success in addressing the myriad legal, housing, workforce and
health-care issues concurrently, giving ex-offenders a solid start on a new way of life.

9. Youth Development
Youth are the key to America’s future. They will be responsible for the new ideas to keep the nation
globally competitive and environmentally sound. The nation’s prosperity depends on whether its young
people are equipped with the necessary skills and values. Ensuring that urban youth are able to engage in
economic opportunities is an imperative, not only for individual cities but for the well-being of the nation as
a whole. For this reason, HHS should do more to support networks that provide wrap-around social services
in urban communities and offer greater aid for mentoring and tutoring programs. Among African-American
youth, 70% are being raised in single-parent households. This population in particular needs greater support
in avoiding the “life traps” of dropping out of school, having babies too early or ge�ing involved in crime.
Expanded investments in federal programs such as Head Start and in nationwide agencies such as Big
Brothers/Big Sisters and Boys and Girls Clubs should be a priority. However, HHS must be rigorous in
evaluating which programs are effective and worthy of continued investment.

Conclusion
Public policy development and investment in these nine areas will greatly address the needs of the nation’s
beleaguered cities and the people, particularly minorities, who inhabit them. The work of reinvigorating
urban America will require a comprehensive, collaborative effort among wide-ranging federal and state
departments. These policy recommendations should be seriously considered as key components of any
national urban policy agenda put forth by the new Obama Administration.

References
USA Today; Human Rights Watch; PolicyBridge’s “The Rap on Culture” and “The Job Prescription” research reports; Dr. Thomas Boston, Georgia Tech.

4 January 2009 • Hope for Urban America

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