1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: What's up. It's way up at Angela. 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm here with my Wealth Wednesday partners, Stacy Tuesday. 3 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:08,879 Speaker 3: Everybody. 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,640 Speaker 4: Yes, we are really excited to have Vivian Cox from 5 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,920 Speaker 4: the Essex County Urban League with us today, the president 6 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,880 Speaker 4: and CEO President and CEO of s Is County Urban League. 7 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 1: Yes, Vivian Coxphasier, thank you for joining us. 8 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 3: Thank you for having me. 9 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: Man. 10 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 2: I want people to understand exactly what the Urban League does, 11 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 2: because I think I've met a lot of people from 12 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 2: different cities, you know, from the Urban League, but I 13 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,199 Speaker 2: want to I want to understand for people listening the 14 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: type of services that are provided. 15 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,840 Speaker 3: Sure, so every urban league sort of response to needs 16 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 3: in its own communities, so it may be different, but 17 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 3: in Essex County we're located in Newark. Our main services 18 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 3: range from infant and tyler childcare all the way to 19 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 3: senior programs. Most people know the Urban Leagues for workforce development. 20 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 3: We have strong training programs and construction training programs. We 21 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 3: have clean energy programs, so our services really are about 22 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 3: helping families advance economically and so. Yeah, so we have 23 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 3: something called the Financial Opportunity Center. I heard you mentioned 24 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 3: you have your investment partner here today. But so you know, 25 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 3: really about getting your money straight and helping families get 26 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 3: on a better trajectory through financial coaching and planning. We 27 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 3: have that at the Urban. 28 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,920 Speaker 4: You established that, y, yes, I think, and you've been 29 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:26,319 Speaker 4: there since two thousand and four. 30 00:01:27,160 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: What don't do that? 31 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 3: Yes? Twenty I twenty one years. 32 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 1: That's amazing. Tell us more about that. 33 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:39,440 Speaker 4: The Financial Opportunity. 34 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 3: Center, Oh yeah, So we establish that with an organization 35 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 3: called LISK. And so the Financial Opportunity Center really is 36 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:49,560 Speaker 3: built around the idea that, yes, people need to get 37 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 3: their financials in order, but generally speaking, most families don't 38 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,000 Speaker 3: have enough money coming into their household. So we pair 39 00:01:56,080 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 3: the financial coaching with the employment services. So I say, 40 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 3: most people I know get their income from a job. 41 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 3: I get my income from a job, but most families 42 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 3: need a better job, right, So a lot of families 43 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 3: are sort of robbing Peter to pay Paul. It's not 44 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 3: that they're mismanaging their money, as I said, it's like 45 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 3: they don't have enough money. So really, initially when you 46 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 3: come into the Financial Opportunities and the first service you 47 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 3: get we do an income benefit screening. So we want 48 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:25,960 Speaker 3: to make sure everything your family's entitled to receive, you're 49 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 3: getting those resources into your household. So many of our 50 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 3: clients are low and moderate income family, so maybe they 51 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 3: need a childcare subsidy, or maybe they need, you know, 52 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,840 Speaker 3: some sort of health benefits, things like that. We make 53 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 3: sure everything they're entitled to receive they get it. Then 54 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 3: we pair you with a financial coach. So now that 55 00:02:43,280 --> 00:02:45,120 Speaker 3: we know everything you can have in your house, so 56 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 3: we're going to try to balance you out right, So, 57 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 3: you know, do you clean up your credit, do you 58 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 3: need to you know, cut out some of those services 59 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 3: you've been buying, you know, just different things like that. 60 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,000 Speaker 3: And then once we get you stable, then we talk 61 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 3: about how do you build how do you build assets 62 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 3: and build wealth? 63 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 2: And you know, mostly, man, I love everything you just 64 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 2: said right now, because one thing I learned early on 65 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 2: is that. 66 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 1: People will tell you, oh, just cut out this, cut 67 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: out that. 68 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,320 Speaker 2: But sometimes you do need to just make more money, yes, 69 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:15,560 Speaker 2: and that's that simple. 70 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, And at times that. 71 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: Does come with more training whatever it is that you 72 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 2: need to be able to work on that, because sometimes 73 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 2: we get stuck in a situation where you're in a 74 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 2: cycle of I just need to be able to pay 75 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,360 Speaker 2: my bills. I have to have this job, I have 76 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 2: to be content here, I have to figure it out. 77 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: But sometimes you do have to say, okay, let's find 78 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 2: some solutions. And then in addition to that, coming in 79 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 2: there and getting your credit right, seeing what's going on 80 00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 2: with your finances, getting the coaching that you need, all 81 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 2: of those things are super important. 82 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 1: So it's amazing that you have that. 83 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 2: And housing is also something that you focus on with 84 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 2: the Urban League of Ess County. 85 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 4: Well, definitely when I talked about housing. What I love 86 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 4: about what you just said is you start by giving 87 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,600 Speaker 4: people more. That's so important to the mindset instead of 88 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 4: like what Angelo is saying to the time the financial coaching, 89 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 4: Oh cut this, you're overspending here. It's just always about 90 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 4: what you don't have in lack. But starting Hey, did 91 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 4: you know you're entitled to all this? That's just perfect. 92 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. So you know there is research around the scarcity mindset. 93 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 3: How does that affect exactly decision making? 94 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 1: Right? 95 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 3: So yeah, really it's helping family see the assets that 96 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 3: they have. And also the urbanings approach is really a 97 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 3: holistic approach, so we work with the entire family. We 98 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 3: don't just work with the one person in the family, 99 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 3: the breadwinner in the family, or you know, the single mom. 100 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 3: But it's really about the entire family, because you want 101 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 3: to talk to the young people too, about like spending right, 102 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 3: so your mother can't afford those air Jordan sneakers or whatever, 103 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 3: you know, But we don't talk about finances to our families. 104 00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:48,679 Speaker 3: And a lot of times, especially I say, like black women, 105 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 3: you know, we don't want to deprive our children, right. 106 00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 3: We want to give them things, right, we want to 107 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 3: feel like we're providing for them. But it's also you know, 108 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 3: it's also realistic to say this we can do and 109 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 3: this we can't do. And we find once once you 110 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 3: talk to an entire family and they have a better 111 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 3: sense of, you know, what their goals are as a family, 112 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 3: you talk like, where are you trying to go as 113 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,040 Speaker 3: a family, you know, and does this decision you're making 114 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 3: help the family or doesn't hurt the family? 115 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 4: Rights under your whole model takes people out of the 116 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 4: shame and blame dynamic exact And then when they have 117 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 4: those conversations, when you have a really open, honest conversation 118 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 4: with your kid, like tell them what your financial mistakes 119 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 4: for your challenges where that's where the real goal is relationship, 120 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 4: because you. 121 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: Know, sometimes people don't even want to admit that to themselves. 122 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 2: And then I think, and I think it's better when 123 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 2: you are working towards a solution than when you still 124 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,720 Speaker 2: feel stuck in a situation. And sometimes it is just 125 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 2: as simple as going in and taking that step, that 126 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 2: first step to say I need some help and having 127 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 2: somebody that can help quote you through that, because a 128 00:05:51,960 --> 00:05:55,479 Speaker 2: lot of that you can't necessarily or you shouldn't have 129 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,720 Speaker 2: to do it on your own, not when there's resources 130 00:05:58,040 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 2: that's available for you. 131 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 1: Now. 132 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 2: Housing is another really important tenant for the Urban League 133 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 2: of Essex County, So talk to me about how housing 134 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 2: is something that you also focus on. 135 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 3: Sure, so we actually have I guess years ago we 136 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:16,440 Speaker 3: started with housing counseling, really first time home buyers programs 137 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 3: and things like that to help people build wealth through 138 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 3: home ownership. But about ten years ago I started looking 139 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 3: into developing. So we wanted to develop our own housing 140 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 3: because I actually can create jobs and opportunities in your community, 141 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 3: and also to address the racial wealth gap, we wanted 142 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 3: to have home ownership accessible to family. So in Newark, 143 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 3: the average family probably makes about forty five thousand dollars 144 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 3: a year, So forty five thousand dollars a year. My 145 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 3: view is that the way housing market is going, they 146 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 3: couldn't afford anything right, So right where the urbanly's offices 147 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 3: are located, a two family home might go for eight 148 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 3: hundred thousand dollars. Who can't afford that, especially that, So 149 00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 3: my goal was to build housing for the average working 150 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 3: family in Newark. So we just finish eight homes. We 151 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 3: do two family homes so that people have an income 152 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 3: unit producing and we're selling those for under two hundred 153 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 3: thousand dollars. 154 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: I see. 155 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,640 Speaker 2: That's amazing because housing is definitely one of the biggest 156 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: issues that we're facing. 157 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:15,559 Speaker 1: Sure right now. 158 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: So and another thing, this is just amazing. I'm glad 159 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 2: you came in here today. 160 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 1: We're going to nerd out with you. 161 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: So now you've been doing this work career for twenty 162 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:28,679 Speaker 2: one years. Another thing that you guys do is also 163 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 2: help people negotiate with landlords when it comes to housing too, 164 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 2: because sometimes if you can't pay your rent, I mean, 165 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 2: it turns into a really volatile situation. We've seen awful 166 00:07:37,880 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: things happen when the tenant and the landlord aren't getting along. 167 00:07:41,400 --> 00:07:44,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, So even the families facing eviction, you know, the 168 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,880 Speaker 3: eviction has such multiple impacts. So if you think about 169 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 3: the children in the household, if a family's evicted, they're 170 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 3: disrupted in schools and everything. So keeping families in their 171 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 3: apartments is very important for the stability, long term stability, 172 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 3: and so we do have counselors that negotiate with landlords. 173 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 3: We also if we can access funds, we can access 174 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 3: funds for first time first month's rent, security deposit, things 175 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 3: like that, and we can help families get stabilized. 176 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 2: You know. 177 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 3: But the main thing is with all the government cuts, 178 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: a lot of those funds are not accessible to us. 179 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 3: So the need is much greater than the funds are available. 180 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 3: So if you think about a family, you know, if 181 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 3: your rent is twenty five hundred dollars, if you're three 182 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 3: months behind, that's a that's a that's you know, that's 183 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 3: a big number to try to come up with seventy 184 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:37,320 Speaker 3: five hundred dollars. So even if you come to the 185 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 3: Urban League and we're trying to help you avoid being evicted, 186 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 3: we got to pay your back rent, right So you 187 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:46,720 Speaker 3: can see if somebody's three months behind or four months behind. 188 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 3: Those numbers they add up quite quickly, right, they exceed 189 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:52,800 Speaker 3: the resources that we have. 190 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: How have you seen things affected? I know you you 191 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:59,679 Speaker 2: just talked about funding getting cut. How have you seen 192 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 2: services that you've been able to provide get affected by 193 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: a lot of these cuts. 194 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I said, we're down about four million dollars 195 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:11,680 Speaker 3: this year and fund this is this urban league, right, 196 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 3: And so we had a seniors program we helped had 197 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 3: about two hundred seniors in our program and they got 198 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:22,400 Speaker 3: fifteen hours of work fifteen fifteen hours a week. They 199 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 3: were volunteering in social service organizations or government agencies, and 200 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 3: they got paid minimum wage for that. So these are 201 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:34,119 Speaker 3: low income seniors. They were cut off from the program, 202 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,560 Speaker 3: so many of them. You know, we had one client 203 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 3: who had because he was in the program, was able 204 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 3: to move out of a shelter into a rooming house. 205 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,439 Speaker 3: And now he's back in the shelter again, just because 206 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 3: that small amount of money. And that's sort of the 207 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:53,599 Speaker 3: cruelty of what you see is that even for a 208 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 3: small sum like that, it can be the difference for 209 00:09:57,080 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 3: a low income senior being able to you know, buy 210 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 3: food or pay their rent. 211 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,400 Speaker 4: Things like that, tell people what this is like for 212 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 4: you in real time? You run this organization that touches 213 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:10,640 Speaker 4: so many people four million dollars short. Are you scrambling 214 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,960 Speaker 4: to private donors? How do you continue to function? 215 00:10:13,520 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 3: Yeah? Well, uh, well, I guess I say. I've been 216 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 3: doing nonprofit tutes for twenty years, right, So this is 217 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 3: a different day in a sense that so many of 218 00:10:22,400 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 3: the multiple programs are being impacted at the same time. 219 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:29,719 Speaker 3: Rental assistance, childcare assistance, housing, all of these things are 220 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 3: being cut at one time. So generally speaking, we may 221 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 3: see one air you know, new administration comes in, they 222 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 3: cut one thing, but the other things stay. No, but 223 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 3: right now it's all the entire government, the entire social 224 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,360 Speaker 3: safety net is being shripped shreds. 225 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 2: And so many people are unemployed, so many people unemployed. 226 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:53,079 Speaker 2: Prices of everything is up, groceries, everything, you know. It's 227 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 2: interesting because we also are coming up of a time 228 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 2: where during the pandemic, people were in corporations, were activists 229 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 2: and wanting to donate, and now we're like at the 230 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 2: exact opposite side of that. 231 00:11:05,480 --> 00:11:07,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, so I'll say we do have some 232 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 3: corporations who have supported us over the years, right, they know, 233 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 3: they know the value of the work that we do. 234 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:20,559 Speaker 3: So we have seen some some some changes in funding. 235 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 1: Right. 236 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 3: So the climate is that you know, they're they're not 237 00:11:24,640 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 3: funding DEI programs or any program that you say you're 238 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 3: you're target helping, you know, minority communities. 239 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: You know. 240 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:34,320 Speaker 3: So there is some internal things that are going on 241 00:11:34,400 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 3: in different corporations, but we see many of the foundations 242 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 3: have stepped up and. 243 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:40,800 Speaker 1: That's what we have to do now. 244 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 2: And so to that point, you do have a job fare, Yes, 245 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 2: that's coming up. 246 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: Can you tell us about that. 247 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we have a job fair coming up. I 248 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 3: think it's on October fifteenth. Yeah, so my the Financial 249 00:11:53,480 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 3: Opportunity Center, I said, it has financial the financial component 250 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,960 Speaker 3: plus the employment component. They're integrated or is this work together? 251 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:03,040 Speaker 3: So they do have a we do have a job 252 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 3: fair coming up in my employment team is there with 253 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 3: the UH well with all the employers, you know. So 254 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 3: we help the clients to come in to scrint, get 255 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 3: them prepared for interviews, get them prepared with their resumes 256 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,280 Speaker 3: and everything, so they're prepare for the job fare. 257 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 4: One of the biggest fallouts from d I cancelations has 258 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,040 Speaker 4: been black women. Yes, in particular, I think we have 259 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 4: about four hundred thousand Black women have been less, been 260 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 4: let go. Many more have left the workforce. Black unemployment. 261 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 4: How are you guys even addressing this and what are 262 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 4: you seeing? It feels like it's just all the things 263 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:39,319 Speaker 4: you work on, it's got to make it so much worse. 264 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, So it's you know, the interest that it's not 265 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 3: even interesting. The challenging thing is that it's all up 266 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 3: and down the economic structure for Black women, a high 267 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 3: paid black women, low income black women. It's the whole 268 00:12:52,760 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 3: safety you know, the whole structure of our families. So 269 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 3: many many Black women aren't maybe the breadwinner in. 270 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 1: Their household a majority, right, And now you're. 271 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 3: Affecting all of us. So whether you have a PhD 272 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,319 Speaker 3: or you have a high school diploma, you're being impacted. 273 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 3: So even many of the clients we have women come in. 274 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 3: Let's say they cut like the childcare funding. So if 275 00:13:15,240 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 3: you have an infant right now, you cannot get a 276 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 3: subsidy or any sort of support for childcare right now 277 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 3: because they cut it off as of August right, no 278 00:13:22,920 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 3: new applicants. So if you're a new mom or something 279 00:13:25,840 --> 00:13:26,439 Speaker 3: like that, you. 280 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: Can't get it. 281 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 3: How are you going to go back to work if 282 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 3: you can't pay for childcare? And childcare is very expensive, 283 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:34,440 Speaker 3: so you know it is challenging. And uh, but I 284 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 3: tell you about Urban League was built for this. You know, 285 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 3: we were built at a time of adversity, and you know, 286 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:43,040 Speaker 3: we're going to stand in the gap. And I'm pretty 287 00:13:43,040 --> 00:13:46,640 Speaker 3: aggressive in terms of looking for new resources and of 288 00:13:46,920 --> 00:13:49,960 Speaker 3: trying to find additional resources in order to fill those gaps. 289 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:52,720 Speaker 2: And what about this women in Construction program? Because speaking 290 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,440 Speaker 2: of new thinking of ways to be creative, talk to 291 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 2: me about this she shed. Oh you know about the 292 00:13:59,120 --> 00:14:08,320 Speaker 2: she sheds everything? Yes, I heard construction, Women in construction, Yes, yes, so. 293 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, so we have this is probably a third year running. 294 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 3: It's Women in Construction program where we introduce women to 295 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 3: you know, the opportunities in the construction field. So yes, 296 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,400 Speaker 3: not only just the you don't just have to have 297 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,920 Speaker 3: the hammer. You could be a project manager. There are 298 00:14:23,920 --> 00:14:27,560 Speaker 3: a lot of opportunities in construction. And so yeah, so 299 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 3: we had a program and the women we decided we're 300 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 3: going to build she shed. So they built one. Actually 301 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 3: we have a model. We built it and we're going. 302 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: To sell them. 303 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 3: So I said, you can be the entrepreneur, and you know, 304 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:41,480 Speaker 3: and if it's a man, you can get a man cave. 305 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 2: It doesn't have to be just a she shd because 306 00:14:43,120 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 2: I'm telling you, we pay a lot more attention to details, 307 00:14:45,080 --> 00:14:46,160 Speaker 2: no shade to the men out there. 308 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:50,119 Speaker 1: Things where very detail oriented. 309 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 2: If we need to like put down some tiles and 310 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 2: we're going to make sure it's amazing, it's a little okay, 311 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 2: We got to make sure we take care of just 312 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 2: all of the attention to detail. But I do feel 313 00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 2: like I I don't see a lot of women in 314 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,160 Speaker 2: that field, and so I do see that that's never 315 00:15:05,240 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 2: going anywhere either, Like this is something that we constantly need, 316 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:09,160 Speaker 2: especially right now. 317 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 3: Yes, and there are opportunities in the construction field, so 318 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 3: you have to we also have to face the reality 319 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,360 Speaker 3: that some firms, you know, they want a man. They 320 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 3: think only men can do construction. You know, it's a 321 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 3: traditionally a male dominated field. But we're able to break through. 322 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 3: We get the women. 323 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 2: In, get yourself under you, and get everybody working head 324 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 2: you handle all of that. And then you also have 325 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,479 Speaker 2: the Urban League annual Gala event on October twenty first. 326 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 3: Is coming up. Yes, so it's our annual fundraiser for 327 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:45,920 Speaker 3: the Urban League, and it also gives us an opportunity 328 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:52,119 Speaker 3: to recognize individuals who've made contributions to the Newark area. 329 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 3: And so we are honoring some individual Father Ed he 330 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 3: actually at Saint Benedict's Academy, has been there, I think 331 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 3: over forty years. And let's say Rob Clark, he's at 332 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 3: Newark Youth Opportunity Network. He founded Newark Youth Built Think 333 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 3: about Construction and he founded that over twenty years ago, 334 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 3: and so we're really excited about that and certainly honoring 335 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 3: our corporate partner, which is United Airlines as well as Lisk. 336 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 3: We've had a long partnership with them actually from even 337 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,720 Speaker 3: starting the Financial Opportunity Center. 338 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:26,080 Speaker 1: So Lisk is pretty amazing yees. 339 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 3: So it's a pretty pretty big deal. For the October 340 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 3: twenty first our is our gala, and we're still selling 341 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 3: tickets and ads and things like that. 342 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 4: So there's so many people out there who need the 343 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 4: Urban League services. How do they go about finding the 344 00:16:40,160 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 4: help they need in their areas? And here? 345 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:44,680 Speaker 3: Oh so in Esa Town. You can find us on 346 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:48,840 Speaker 3: the web at ULC dot org. We're also on Instagram, 347 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 3: I think, and my social media, people will say Urban 348 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 3: League EC we're on LinkedIn. I'm on LinkedIn too, but yeah, 349 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 3: but you can come right where we are. One thing 350 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 3: about Urban Links is we do have a full time staff. 351 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,879 Speaker 3: They're they're there to help you every day and to be, 352 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 3: you know, with compassion and also know that many many 353 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 3: of my staff have experienced many of the same same 354 00:17:11,560 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 3: challenges that clients that come in. 355 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 2: Have, So the empathy that a person will have is 356 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 2: on a different level. Exactly at Newark, I think is 357 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 2: a hotbed right now too for people who want to invest. 358 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 2: I see a lot of businesses opening, a lot of 359 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 2: real estate opportunities. I always think it's really important for 360 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 2: people from somewhere to really be able to partake in that. 361 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 3: Yeah so, yeah, so I think you should come to 362 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 3: the Urban w We have classes. We also have a 363 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 3: partnership with organizations to get people into development. If you 364 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,320 Speaker 3: want to be your own developer, why not you should 365 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 3: Right so, on your block. I used to tell families, 366 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,120 Speaker 3: you know, own your house, on your block. 367 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: Own your neighborhood, and on your children's future. 368 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:52,720 Speaker 3: Right so, like there's a vacant lot, why not try 369 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:55,280 Speaker 3: to figure out how to get it and build on it. Absolutely. 370 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:55,840 Speaker 4: We love this. 371 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 2: Yeah, my parents live in Essex County, so yeah, they 372 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 2: live in South Orene, all right, right next to Nework. 373 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:04,919 Speaker 2: All right, well, thank you so much, President Vivian Coxpraser 374 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 2: for joining us today. We really appreciate you. And yeah, 375 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:11,439 Speaker 2: so the fifteenth is the job fair yep. And the 376 00:18:11,480 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 2: twenty first is the Gallas Okay, all right, it's definitely 377 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 2: way up. 378 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 4: Thank you, Thank you for coming to Wealth Wednesdays.