Diversity Training - Black and Aging in America

African Americans and Black immigrants comprise about 10% (5.2 million of the 54 million) of the country’s 65 and older cohort. By 2050, the proportion of older African American population is expected to increase to 13 percent in the US. African Americans and other People of Color face inequalities in multiple areas throughout their lives, which intensify as people age, including: health, net wealth, employment, education, housing, and longevity. For decades, the disability and aging community were grouped together because of their many similar issues. In recent years, each sector empowered themselves separately as our policies, laws and funding changed. Today, both communities recognize that their challenges are opportunities to work together for change. Before we can discuss how we join forces, we must first look at ourselves as advocates and how we will address our role in raising awareness, improving outreach, and empowering the lives of persons who are disabled, older and in underserved communities. In this webinar you will learn more about ways to effectively build relationships with and outreach to the Black community to support work that bridges aging and disability networks.

Presenter Bio:
Karyne Jones is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA) and NCBA Housing Management and Development Corporation. During its fifty (50) year history, NCBA has been the only national organization devoted solely to providing effective leadership in making minority participation in aging services a national issue and priority. Prior to becoming NCBA’s chief executive officer, Karyne was Executive Director of Federal Relations with SBC Telecommunications, Inc., (now ATT) based in Washington, D.C. where she lobbied members of Congress on telecommunications issues and policies. She also represented the company’s corporate political action committee with national political organizations. Karyne’s previous Capitol Hill experience includes Legislative Aide to Congressman Andrew Young. During his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, she became his Public Affairs Officer and White House Liaison. A native of San Antonio, she returned to Texas and began her own political career and became active on numerous boards, commissions and civic projects involved in issues on education, civil rights, environmental and economic development.
Karyne served for eight years in the Texas Legislature representing District 120 in San Antonio. During her tenure, she served on the Appropriations, State-Federal Relations, Corrections and Urban Affairs committees. She also served as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and was a member of the Black and Mexican American Legislative Caucuses. Prior to her election to the Texas House of Representatives, she was elected twice to the school board of the East Central Independent School District.