Washington, D.C.  – Today, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke joined the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) as they hosted the National Black Leadership Summit on the Jobs Crisis.  Political activists, civil right organizations and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus discussed the 16.1% unemployment rate in the black community.  They also discussed the “For the People” Jobs Initiative, which will include town hall meetings and jobs fairs in cities around the country.  She released the following statement:

“The truth of the matter is, for a long time, we have seen drastic unemployment numbers in the black community when compared to the nation.  It was an honor to convene with some of our nation’s top civil rights leaders to understand the scoop of the issue in order to take action.  I applaud my colleagues in the CBC for bringing the “For the People” Jobs Initiative across the country.  We are at a pivotal cross road in this country and it is clear, the American people expect this Congress to focus on creating jobs and coming up with solutions to bolster our economy.  Know that I will continue to work with my colleagues to address the unemployment rate in the Black community as well as throughout the nation.”

Click here for more information about the “For the People” Jobs Initiative tour.