Essential Cross-Sector Housing Partners: Healthcare, Transportation, Education and Employment
Moderator Carmen Larsen, CEO, Aquas Inc. and Treasurer, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
Gloria Aparicio Blackwell, Director of Community Engagement, University of Maryland, and Member Board of Trustees, Montgomery College
Melissa Bondi,
Mid-Atlantic State and Local Policy Director, Enterprise Community Partners
Rolando Santiago,
Chief Behavioral Health, Crisis Services, HHS Montgomery County
Ben Wu, President and CEO, Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
Text/Chat from Session
00:40:53 Carmen Larsen: please enter questions and remarks in the chat area... I will gladly address as many as I am able.
00:55:08 LINDA DORSEY-WALKER: this is a very diverse group. If we are to discuss the intersectionality of jobs with building new affordable housing for this generation, then we need to address why few of the construction jobs associated with all this national development will go to African Americans. Within the African American community many people trained in the construction trades believe that almost all of the construction jobs to build their homes will go to Latino contractors and their employees, not to African Americans. In almost every case Latino construction companies refuse to hire African Americans and often times not even whites. The owners of these companies have stated over and over that the Human Relations and civil rights laws and EEOC laws apply to blacks and whites, not to them, so they do not as a minority owner have to hire blacks. This is building a lot of resentment among some African American men who feel shut out of jobs. What can be done to change this practice?
00:58:05 Abe Schuchman: Thank you Dr. Santiago for your comments and warm welcome. It's a pleasure to be with everyone today for this important discussion. -Abe
00:58:26 Abe Schuchman: Abe Schuchman, CEO
00:58:28 Dr. Rolando Santiago: Absolutely!
00:58:35 Abe Schuchman: Housing Unlimited