The White House

Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release February 22, 2013

Readout of the President's Meeting with African American Leaders

The President met with African American leaders yesterday in the Roosevelt Room at the White

House to continue their dialogue on his plan to strengthen the economy for the middle class and

continue to build ladders of opportunity for those striving to get there. The President reiterated

his commitment to supporting policies that will directly impact those hardest hit by the economic

crisis by making sure that America is a magnet for jobs, increasing access to job training

programs, partnering with high-poverty communities to help them rebuild, and encouraging

companies to invest in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The president also reiterated his call to

reform education by expanding universal pre-K for every child as a way to significantly decrease

the achievement gap. The president and the leaders expressed a shared concern about the need to implement common-

sense improvements to the voting process because our democracy works best when every

American eligible to vote has the opportunity to cast their ballot and make their voices heard. The President called on the leaders to continue the national dialogue on the need for a balanced

approach to deficit reduction. He stressed the harm that the automatic cuts known as the

sequester will have on thousands of jobs while cutting services to children, seniors, mental

wellness programs, small businesses, and those in our military. The President praised the participants for their steadfast leadership on a broad range of issues

critical to improving the economy and strengthening our country. The leaders in attendance also

highlighted their goals to continue to build momentum for Congress to act in the best interests of

the American people by supporting policies that help move our country forward. Participants include:

Al Sharpton, Founder and President of National Action Network

Avis Jones-DeWeever, Executive Director, National Council of Negro Women

Ben Jealous, President, National Association of the Advancement of Colored People

Rev Derrick Harkins, 19th Street Baptist Church

Judith Browne Dianis, Co-Director, Advancement Project

Melanie Campbell, President, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

Ralph Everett, President, Joint Center for Economic and Political Studies

Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition

Wade Henderson, President, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights