Mobile Menu - OpenMobile Menu - Closed

Rep. John Lewis Sponsors: Living in the Black: Barriers to Wealth Creation in the African American Community During ALC

September 19, 2008
Press Release
Figuring out how to generate more income is generally the focus of most wealth building seminars.  But reducing tax burden is a powerful, yet often overlooked component.  As the chairman of the Ways and Means subcommittee on Oversight, Rep. John Lewis felt it was important to offer attendees to the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Weekend from September to explore the impact of taxes on African American households.  Some studies have shown that the tax burden African Americans face in some states contributes significantly to their inability to save and accumulate wealth.

    His forum entitled “Living in the Black:  Barriers to Wealth Creation in the African American Community” held Friday, September 26, 2008, 2:00-3:30 p.m., Washington Convention Center, Room 143C will engage a panel of experts to discuss how the mortgage crisis, regulations restricting non-profit organizations, and the unequal distribution of the federal tax burden hampers the wealth-building capacity of African Americans. 

PANELISTS:

David A Brennen – Tax Expert on Non-Profits and Charities, Professor of Law, University of Georgia, Associate Editor, Taxation News Quarterly

Cassandra Jones Havard – Expert on Regulation of Financial Institutions

Beverly Moran -  Expert on Impact of Federal Taxation on Individuals

Jessica Gordon Nembhardt –  Visiting Assistant Professor at Howard University’s Center for Race and Wealth in the Economics Department, Expert on Community and Asset Based Economic Development

    The forum will highlight some of the barriers to wealth creation for the African American community and provide solutions for overcoming those obstacles.  Key issues addressed during the forum will include the inequitable levels of tax benefits received by African American charities and tax exempt organizations, the detrimental financial impact the housing crisis has had on the current and future wealth of blacks, the federal income tax disparity between black and white households with equal attributes and levels of income, and other community- and asset- based economic issues that affect the wealth creation and sustainability of the African American community.

###

CONTACT:
Brenda Jones
(202) 226 - 4673