National Council of Negro Women

Issue: African-American Families and the Economy Sponsoring Organization: The National Council of Negro Women Sponsoring Delegate: Gregory F. George Committee (Mfundu): Economics Committee Women perform 66 percent of the worlds work, and produce 50 percent of the food,
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yet earn only 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property. Whether the issue is improving education in the developing world, or fighting global climate change, or addressing nearly any other challenge we face, empowering women is a critical part of the equation. -Former President Bill Clinton Fully believing, womens economic empowerment is a prerequisite for sustainable economic development achieving womens economic empowerment requires sound public policies, a holistic approach and long-term commitment with gender-specic perspectives that must be integrated at the design stage of legislation. We are convinced, that women must have more equitable access to assets and services; infrastructure programs, that are designed to benet the poor, both men and women, and employment opportunities must be improved while increasing recognition of womens vast unpaid work. Noting further, innovative approaches and partnerships include increased dialogue among development actors, improved coordination amongst donors and support for women organizing at the national and global level. 1. We call upon, the nation to set women centered initiative as we seek growth in the economy; 2. Strongly condemn, the gender disparities in the subprime mortgage crisis which disproportionally effected African-American women, who stunningly are 256 percent more likely than white men to receive subprime loans;1 3. Proclaim, infrastructure programs should be designed to maximize poor women access to the benets of roads, transportation services, telecommunications, energy and water; 4. Further proclaims, women are the lifeblood of communities, investing in developing their entrepreneurial skills is an investment in a communitys potential and continuity, it represents an investment in the hands that care for children, in the jobs that stabilize communities, and in the people that sustain families and make communities come alive;

National Council of Negro Women

1DeWeever, A. J. Institute for Women's Policy Research , (2003). Before and after welfare reform . Washington, DC: Library of Congress.

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