Last year, Q4 of 2020 to be exact, my business partner, Jenn, and I got on a call with one of the board members from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. She had been following the CEO Chick movement for some time and loved our work. She recommended our branding & marketing agency to some of the organization's leaders and so the vetting process began.
Here's a little info about the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC), in case you didn't know:
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition (RPC) was formed in December of 1996 by Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. RPC was formed due to a merging of two organizations he founded earlier, People United to Serve Humanity (PUSH, 1971) and the Rainbow Coalition (1984). The organization is a multi-racial, multi-issue, progressive, international membership organization fighting for social change. The organization's headquarters are in Chicago, IL and has offices in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and Oakland. Their desire is to work to make the American Dream a reality for all citizens and advocate for peace and justice around the world.
In April, Jenn and I got the opportunity to meet Rev. Jackson in Chicago, IL and it was an amazing experience. What a weekend that was! Honestly, I am still processing. Over 50 years dedicated to Civil Rights, coming up on 80 years of age, diagnosed with Parkinson’s and STILL ON THE MOVE! Reverend Jesse Jackson is just as influential today as he was in his “prime”!
This got me thinking. A part of RPC's existence is based on the fact that there is an obvious gap in the economic resources available to Black Americans. According to a document from 2020 prepared by the Joint Economic Committee:
Black Americans are over twice as likely to live in poverty as White Americans.
Less than half (42%) of Black families own their homes, compared to almost three-quarters (73%) of White families.
The typical Black households earns a fraction of White households—just 59 cents for every dollar. The gap between Black and White annual household incomes is about $29,000 per year.
These statistics are disheartening. Our families deserve better and I am so happy that we are partnered with an organization that is committed to help bring about change! Check out this reel from our trip to Chicago! #LetsBuild