Economic Justice Initiative Launches to Put #FamiliesFirst

Civil and Human Rights News 05.4,15

Last week, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights joined the Center for Community Change, Center for Popular Democracy, Jobs With Justice, and Working Families Organization to launch the Putting Families First: Good Jobs for All campaign, a new economic justice initiative with five core principles:

  • Building a clean energy economy
  • Valuing families
  • Guaranteeing good wages and benefits
  • Unlocking opportunity in the poorest communities
  • Taxing concentrated wealth

A new report – released at the launch event and written by Dorian T. Warren, professor at Columbia University and fellow at the Roosevelt Institute – serves as the foundation for the campaign and describes what working families in America are up against – and offers a bold agenda to challenge persistent and pervasive inequality, poverty, wage stagnation, and dwindling opportunities.

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Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference, introduces Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D. Mass. | Photo: CCC Action

In addition to hearing from the leaders of the five organizations cosponsoring the campaign, the launch event also featured two panel discussions and remarks from members of Congress, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D. Mass., and Sherrod Brown, D. Ohio, and Rep. Keith Ellison, D. Minn.

Watch a playlist of videos from the event, beginning with Brown’s remarks below, and continue watching here. To join the campaign, pledge your support here for putting families first by ensuring good jobs for all.