News and Events

Print, Broadcast, and Digital Media

2010

 LETTER: "Navarrette's Sneers Misguided," Sacramento Bee, March 5, 2010
Judith Bell, president of PolicyLink, responds to Ruben Navarrette's column stating that "23 million Americans live in left-behind communities that for decades have had to go without full-service grocery stores... with the nearest supermarket often two or more bus transfers away, farmers markets are many times the best way to get fresh food to these urban and rural communities." Bell goes on to say that "expanding access to healthy food for all people is crucial to reversing our national obesity and diabetes crises."

"A Path to Home Ownership for Minorities," Marketplace, March 4, 2010
Even though the Great Recession and the real estate crash are fading, African Americans are still at a greater disadvantage. PolicyLink founder and CEO Angela Glover Blackwell says that's in part because many minorities were unable to get into the housing market.

"Equity as a Growth Model," Healthy Urbanism Blog, March 3, 2010
This piece reflects on the recent keynote address given by PolicyLink founder and CEO Angela Glover Blackwell at the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference. "She spoke about the role of smart growth in relation to social equity and creating a sustainable, green economy. The thing that struck me from her speech was her view of the three E’s of sustainability (environment, equity, economic)."

"Health Care Rx: Obama Gets the Big Picture Right," Washington Post, February 24, 2010
Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink founder and CEO, states that "there is always room to argue with the specifics of a bill, but when it comes to the big questions at the heart of the health care debate, President Obama's proposal gets the big picture right. The bill addresses the four core concerns low-income Americans have about the health-care status quo..."

"The Oracle of Urban Policy," Next America City Magazine, Spring 2010
This piece profiles Bruce Katz, founding director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution, and explores his vision for American cities. Angela Glover Blackwell, founder and CEO for PolicyLink, stated: “Where equity is concerned, he (Bruce Katz)creates forums for people with that agenda to be heard. He’s taken urban issues out of the special interest zone and into the mainstream."

"The Stimulus and Disadvantaged Communities: Trickling Down or Slipping Away?," Race Wire, February 24, 2010
This article mentions the PolicyLink, ISAIAH, and Organizing Apprenticeship Project analysis of ARRA transportation investments in Minnesota and their impact on low-income communities and communities of color.

“Should TIGER Grants be the Model for a new Surface Transportation Law?” National Journal, February 22, 2010
Laura Barrett, Executive Director for the Transportation Equity Network references PolicyLink data--stating that "60% of the TIGER grants will go to projects in low-income areas."

"First Lady Puts Focus on Healthy Eating," Marketplace, February 19, 2010
PolicyLink Founder and CEO, Angela Glover Blackwell, comments on First Lady Michelle Obama's visit to a Fresh Grocer in North Philadelphia and on the Obama administration's healthy food finance initiative.

"Local Project Model for the State," San Diego Union Tribune, February 19, 2010
In this op-ed, Angela Glover Blackwell, highlights innovative solutions for sustainable economic growth at the neighborhood level--like the San Diego community called the Diamond Neighborhoods – comprising Oak Park, Webster, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Lincoln Park and Mountain View, among other neighborhoods – where residents are taking ownership of challenges and opportunities to strengthen their communities.

“Stimulus Check-in: Minority Business,” The Brian Lehrer Show, WNYC, February 16, 2010
Angela Glover Blackwell, founder and CEO of PolicyLink discusses the impact of the stimulus on low-income communities.

"Researchers Explore Link Between Obesity and Environment," KPBS, February 15, 2010
PolicyLink founder and CEO, Angela Glover Blackwell, a keynote speaker at the Active Living Research conference, commented on the direct link between poor neighborhoods and poor health.

“Minn. Stimulus Grants Bypass Black Businesses,” New America Media, February 17, 2010
Kalima Rose, senior director of  the PolicyLink Center for Infrastructure Equity, stated that PolicyLink, joined ISAIAH, and Organizing Apprenticeship Project (OAP)--a Minneapolis advocacy group--in producing a recent analysis of ARRA transportation investments in Minnesota and their impact on low-income communities and communities of color.

"Promises to Keep: The Obama Poverty Plan," City Limits, February 9, 2010
This article on the promise neighborhoods plan discusses a paper presented to the Obama-Biden transition team by the Harlem Children’s Zone and PolicyLink--the report says a qualifying neighborhood should have a minimum childhood poverty rate of 40 percent, or at least 30 percent in areas where there are other issues going on, such as high crime or low test scores.

“White House Threatens to Yank Stimulus Funds over Civil rights,” Final Call, Feb. 4, 2010
PolicyLink founder and CEO, Angela Glover Blackwell comments on why the civil rights community embraces transportation issues.

"Health Care Rx: First Insure those in Need, Washington Post," February 4, 2010
Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink founder and CEO, stated that the most vital and urgent priority in the healthcare debate is to provide quality and affordable health care to those who need it most.

“Obama Jobs Focus Welcome…But Who Gets the Jobs,” Race-Talk, January 28, 2010
Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink founder and CEO, releases a statement on President Obama’s first State of the Union address.

"Health Care Rx: We're Ready to Fight, too," Washington Post, January 28, 2010
PolicyLink founder and CEO, Angela Glover Blackwell, reflects on President Obama's State of the Union address, stating that by "highlighting the real and continuing need for health reform - and recommitting to crucial components like ending pre-existing condition bans, dramatically expanding insurance coverage, and bringing down premiums - President Obama may have reshuffled the deck and brought us a step closer to real reform. But advocates who share the president's commitment need marching orders."

“Oakland’s Stimulus Flap: A Shot Across the Bow for Transport Equity?” Streetsblog San Francisco, January 26, 2010
PolicyLink founder and CEO, Angela Glover Blackwell, comments on the Obama administration's warning that the Bay Area has jeopardized federal stimulus funding for its Oakland Airport Connector project and how that could have national consequences for other urban transit proposals.

LETTER: "A Walkable Advantage" New York Times, January 23, 2010
Judith Bell, president of PolicyLink, comments and discusses the benefits of walkable neighborhoods and why all people should have access to walkable communities.

"One Man Can’t Fix a Broken Country," Salon, January 20, 2010
PolicyLink founder and CEO, Angela Glover Blackwell,  states why she is energized and hopeful that the administration -- and millions of regular Americans far from the halls of power -- have laid a sturdy foundation for a strong, equitable, opportunity-rich America for the 21st century. She continues to say that "we cannot expect a few hundred people in D.C. to fix our country by themselves."

"Beyond the Noise – 12 Quiet Ways Obama is Building a More Equitable America” Huffington Post, January 20, 2010
PolicyLink founder and CEO lists 12 ways the Obama Administration has been diligently working to lay the foundation for a more vibrant and equitable America.

"A Preview of Obama’s Scalpel,” Huffington Post, January 7, 2010
PolicyLink founder and CEO discusses stimulus-funded infrastructure projects and how they affect low-income people and communities of color.

"Countdown to 2050 – Equity in America,” Huffington Post, January 6, 2010
Angela Blackwell, Founder and CEO for PolicyLink and coauthor of Uncommon Common Ground: Race and America's Future, forthcoming from W.W. Norton & Company in 2010, talks about equity in America.

• Originally posted on The Race Equity Project website, a special project of Legal Services of Northern California
• The piece can also be seen in the latest issue of Race-Talk from the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
  

"Health Care Rx: Listen to the Front Line," Washington Post, January 4, 2010
Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder and CEO for PolicyLink, discusses the state of the health care reform debate with an emphasis on how "the voices of the people most affected by the current health care crisis have been remarkably absent. Working families, self-employed small-business owners and uneasy workers fearful of losing their jobs have been heard from less and less as the debate has crawled on."

“Tell Congress to Fully Fund the National Healthy Food Financing Initiative,” Change.org, February 4, 2010
Change.org referenced PolicyLink data, stating that expanding the (Healthy Food Financing) program to a national level will result in the development of more than 2,000 stores or other healthy food retail outlets in low-income rural, suburban and urban communities; increased access to healthy food for more than 15.3 million Americans; and the creation of nearly 200,000 new jobs.  

"Urban Food Deserts Threaten Children's Health," Huffington Post, January 4, 2010
PolicyLink and partner, The Food Trust, are both mentioned in Marian Wright Edelman's column on food deserts.