Race in America Initiative

As Americans across the country stand up against systemic racism and the failures of our justice system to protect black lives, now is the time for long overdue change. The NewDEAL stands in solidarity with this movement. As President Obama has said, “the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels.”

We are proud of the NewDEAL members who are offering the leadership that our country so desperately needs. They are, and will continue to be, on the frontlines of effecting vital change, in policing reforms and on the many other issues through which we must address racial injustice. The NewDEAL is committed to supporting and working with our leaders around the country to offer state and local policy solutions to ensure real and lasting progress.

Virtual Programs: Race in America

NewDEAL Virtual Events @ DNC 2020 — Race & Economic Opportunity: Closing the Gaps  |  Tuesday, August 18

with NewDEAL Leaders Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist; Kansas City, MO Mayor Quinton Lucas; Montgomery, AL Mayor Steven Reed; and Montgomery County, MD Councilmember Will Jawando

and featuring Ashley Allison, National Coalitions Director, Joe Biden for President; Philip Gaskin, Vice President of Entrepreneurship, Kauffman Foundation; Jason George, ““Ben Warren” on ABC’s “Station 19” and “Greys Anatomy”; Paraag Sarva, CEO, Rhino; and Dalila Wilson-Scott, Senior Vice President of Community Impact, Comcast Corporation

Turning Protests into Policy Change  |  Friday, June 19

 with NewDEAL Alum Bakari Sellers, political commentator and author of My Vanishing Country, and Michael Smith, executive director of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance

Hear from Black voices in the NewDEAL network on our podcast, An Honorable Profession:

NewDEAL Alum Bakari Sellers, political commentator and author of the new book, My Vanishing Country, talks about the nation’s current struggle with our long history of discrimination, his family’s history of activism & public service, and finding an empowering way to talk about race with young people.

An Honorable Profession Episode 42: TN Senator Raumesh Akbari

NewDEAL Leader Tennessee Senator Raumesh Akbari talks about translating the protests into action, both short-term and long-term, and the importance of acknowledging the core problem of systemic racism that leads to inequitable outcomes at large as well as continued use of force against the African-American community.

An Honorable Profession Episode 48: Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II

NewDEAL Leader Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II talks about the urgency of change at the programmatic, policy, and cultural levels to end dehumanizing police interactions with black Americans, a change that requires not just government to take justice seriously but all Americans.

Check out a database of state & local policy work on policing reform and addressing racial gaps & equity issues

Learn more

To get involved in NewDEAL’s efforts to combat systemic racism:

Recent News

How We Move Forward...

On behalf of our 160 members who hold state and local elected offices across the nation, the NewDEAL condemns the rioters who assaulted the U.S. Capitol, as well as President Trump for inciting yesterday’s insurrection. The President’s rhetoric and actions exhibited his complete lack of respect for the institutions at the heart of American democracy.

Press Release: Gov. Inslee & Microsoft President Brad Smith Join NewDEAL Forum to Launch Climate Agenda

For Immediate Release: August 17, 2020 Contact: Jonathon Dworkin, 202-660-1340 x5, jonathon@newdealleaders.org   Gov. Inslee & Microsoft President Brad Smith Join NewDEAL Forum to Launch Climate Agenda  Policymakers and leading experts develop state and local solutions to combat global warming, grow a clean economy, and protect communities Washington, DC – As the national […]

NewDEAL Forum Urges Immediate Broadband Access Funding from Congress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              July 28, 2020                           Contact: Jonathon Dworkin, 202-660-1340 x5 NewDEAL Forum Urges Immediate Broadband Access Funding from Congress Co-chairs of Forum’s Education Policy Group stress alarming learning loss for students without access to high-speed home internet Washington, D.C. – Emphasizing that COVID-19 has the potential to set-back […]