Contact:  Mike Leyba, Director of Communications                                         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tel: 617.423.2148 x105

Cell: 562.266.4357     

Email: [email protected]

Board of Directors Appoints Jeannette Huezo Executive Director

New Executive Comes with Fourteen Years of Experience as Popular Educator, Organizer

The Board of Directors of the national nonprofit issued this letter to supporters:

Over the past 9 months, Board and staff of United for a Fair Economy (UFE) have reflected together on what we need in a leader as we begin our 20th year and the second year of our new 5-year Strategic Plan. We compiled a list of qualities: visionary, motivational, inspirational, collaborative, risk taker – someone who embodies our work with grassroots social justice organizers around the country.

As we considered these qualities, and whether to conduct a national search, we realized that the leader we needed was already here, and serving as one of our interim co-executive directors.

We are pleased and excited to announce Jeannette Huezo as our next Executive Director, beginning February 1, 2015. Many of you already know Jeannette as a popular educator for UFE. Her expertise as a popular educator and facilitator are well known throughout the social justice community.

For 14 years, Jeannette has coordinated UFE’s Popular Education work and facilitated many workshops, particularly for Latino groups. She is also co-author of several of UFE’s State of the Dream reports on racial economic inequality in the U.S. In addition to her work with UFE, Jeannette currently serves on the Board of  Trustees of Access Strategies Fund and the National Executive Board of United Association for Labor Educators (UALE), and is a member of the Expert for Color Network at the Insight Center for Community Economic Development.

Originally from El Salvador, Jeannette came to the U.S. in 1989 and has spent her life working for justice and social change. In developing confidence and leadership skills in others, Jeannette has increased the number of activists in the movement for social change, and has empowered women, immigrants and others facing injustice to participate in the decision-making process around issues that affect their lives. We are proud to lift up Jeannette as a dynamic Latina woman who exemplifies the leadership qualities we need and who reflects the constituencies that we work with, as well as the changing demographics of the U.S.

While Jeannette is a dynamic leader in her own right, her appointment by the Board is guided by the transforming nature of our economic justice movement. Over the years, UFE has been known for raising awareness about economic inequality. Our future as an organization - as directed by our new strategic plan - is rooted in supporting the growing and dynamic worker-led movement to help build a fair economy.

We also want to express our deep appreciation to both Jeannette and Mike Lapham who have so capably guided us through this challenging period as interim co-executive directors.  We are excited about the future of UFE and our work together with all of you.

United for a Fair Economy is a national, independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization that challenges the concentration of wealth and power that corrupts democracy, deepens the racial divide and tears communities apart.

# # #

Contact:  Mike Leyba, Director of Communications                                         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tel: 617.423.2148 x105

Cell: 562.266.4357     

Email: [email protected]

Board of Directors Appoints Jeannette Huezo Executive Director

New Executive Comes with Fourteen Years of Experience as Popular Educator, Organizer

The Board of Directors of the national nonprofit issued this letter to supporters:

Over the past 9 months, Board and staff of United for a Fair Economy (UFE) have reflected together on what we need in a leader as we begin our 20th year and the second year of our new 5-year Strategic Plan. We compiled a list of qualities: visionary, motivational, inspirational, collaborative, risk taker – someone who embodies our work with grassroots social justice organizers around the country.

As we considered these qualities, and whether to conduct a national search, we realized that the leader we needed was already here, and serving as one of our interim co-executive directors.

We are pleased and excited to announce Jeannette Huezo as our next Executive Director, beginning February 1, 2015. Many of you already know Jeannette as a popular educator for UFE. Her expertise as a popular educator and facilitator are well known throughout the social justice community.

For 14 years, Jeannette has coordinated UFE’s Popular Education work and facilitated many workshops, particularly for Latino groups. She is also co-author of several of UFE’s State of the Dream reports on racial economic inequality in the U.S. In addition to her work with UFE, Jeannette currently serves on the Board of  Trustees of Access Strategies Fund and the National Executive Board of United Association for Labor Educators (UALE), and is a member of the Expert for Color Network at the Insight Center for Community Economic Development.

Originally from El Salvador, Jeannette came to the U.S. in 1989 and has spent her life working for justice and social change. In developing confidence and leadership skills in others, Jeannette has increased the number of activists in the movement for social change, and has empowered women, immigrants and others facing injustice to participate in the decision-making process around issues that affect their lives. We are proud to lift up Jeannette as a dynamic Latina woman who exemplifies the leadership qualities we need and who reflects the constituencies that we work with, as well as the changing demographics of the U.S.

While Jeannette is a dynamic leader in her own right, her appointment by the Board is guided by the transforming nature of our economic justice movement. Over the years, UFE has been known for raising awareness about economic inequality. Our future as an organization - as directed by our new strategic plan - is rooted in supporting the growing and dynamic worker-led movement to help build a fair economy.

We also want to express our deep appreciation to both Jeannette and Mike Lapham who have so capably guided us through this challenging period as interim co-executive directors.  We are excited about the future of UFE and our work together with all of you.

United for a Fair Economy is a national, independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization that challenges the concentration of wealth and power that corrupts democracy, deepens the racial divide and tears communities apart.

# # #

We are pleased and excited to announce Jeannette Huezo as our next Executive Director! Many of you already know Jeannette as a popular educator for UFE. Her expertise as a popular educator and facilitator are well known throughout the social justice community.

For 14 years, Jeannette has coordinated UFE’s Popular Education work and facilitated many workshops, particularly for Latino groups. She is also co-author of several of UFE’s State of the Dream reports on racial economic inequality in the U.S. In addition to her work with UFE, Jeannette currently serves on the Board of  Trustees of Access Strategies Fund and the National Executive Board of United Association for Labor Educators (UALE), and is a member of the Expert for Color Network at the Insight Center for Community Economic Development.

We are proud to lift up Jeannette as a dynamic Latina woman who exemplifies the leadership qualities we need and who reflects the constituencies that we work with.

In the State of the Union address, President Obama called for strengthening tax benefits for middle class and low-income working families, and for investing more in child care, early education, and higher education, including making the first two years of community college free. 99 percent of the impact of the President’s tax reform proposal would be on the top 1 percent, and more than 80 percent would come from the top 0.1 percent (those with incomes over $2 million). Responsible Wealth is gathering signatures in support of the President's plan.

This Martin Luther King, Jr. day, UFE is releasing it's annual State of the Dream Report, titled "Underbanked and Overcharged." Check back on Monday, January 19th to download your free copy.

The report is available (under embargo) to members of the media upon request, by contacting:

Mike Leyba, [email protected] or (617) 423-2148 ext. 105

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Monday, January 19, 2015

FOR AN EMBARGOED COPY OF THE REPORT and IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

(English) Mike Leyba, Dir. of Communications, United for a Fair Economy

[email protected]       (617) 423-2148 x105    mobile: (562) 266-4357

(Spanish) Jeannette Huezo, Interim Co-Executive Director, United for a Fair Economy

[email protected] (617) 423-2148 x132

January 5, 2015

Report Release: State of the Dream 2015: Underbanked and Overcharged

This report sheds light on the racial aspects of the 93 million unbanked and underbanked adults and children in the United States, disproportionately people of color, and suggests innovative ideas on how to include them in the financial mainstream. Each year, poor and working class people hand over $89 billion worth of fees and interest to Wall Street, by way of alternative financial service providers such as check cashers, pawn shops, payday lenders, etc. These fees are levied on those that can least afford it and if addressed, could provide a powerful stimulus opportunity for the people and communities that need it most. This report proposes several solutions to this problem, including utilizing United States Post Office branches as a mechanism for financial inclusion, as has been done in the past, as well as advocates for expanding public-private partnership programs that work such as BankOn or private lending circles.

An Excerpt from the Foreword by Van Jones: “The marches that have organized across the nation in the wake of the killings of Eric Garner, Treyvon Martin, Michael Brown and countless other men and women of color are not just responses to any one violent act or extraordinary situation – they are the result of centuries worth of unequal treatment and political exclusion, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness in communities of color. That’s why this report, ‘State of the Dream: Unbanked and Overcharged’, is so important to our understanding of the current political moment. The historic exclusion of non-whites in housing, credit, banking, and politics have left many people of color behind.”

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 13: Embargoed Copy Released to Media

Thursday, Jan. 15 at 2:00PM EST: Press Conference via Phone

Monday, Jan. 19: Interviews Available (English/Spanish)

Monday, Jan. 19: Full Report Release to public

Monday, Jan. 19: National Postal Banking Organizing Coalition Announcement via APWU Press

The State of the Dream report is released annually by United for a Fair Economy.

United for a Fair Economy is a national, independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that challenges the destructive effects of concentrated wealth and power and supports grassroots movements for greater economic equality.

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Monday, January 19, 2015

FOR AN EMBARGOED COPY OF THE REPORT and IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

(English) Mike Leyba, Dir. of Communications, United for a Fair Economy

[email protected]       (617) 423-2148 x105    mobile: (562) 266-4357

(Spanish) Jeannette Huezo, Interim Co-Executive Director, United for a Fair Economy

[email protected] (617) 423-2148 x132

January 5, 2015

Report Release: State of the Dream 2015: Underbanked and Overcharged

This report sheds light on the racial aspects of the 93 million unbanked and underbanked adults and children in the United States, disproportionately people of color, and suggests innovative ideas on how to include them in the financial mainstream. Each year, poor and working class people hand over $89 billion worth of fees and interest to Wall Street, by way of alternative financial service providers such as check cashers, pawn shops, payday lenders, etc. These fees are levied on those that can least afford it and if addressed, could provide a powerful stimulus opportunity for the people and communities that need it most. This report proposes several solutions to this problem, including utilizing United States Post Office branches as a mechanism for financial inclusion, as has been done in the past, as well as advocates for expanding public-private partnership programs that work such as BankOn or private lending circles.

An Excerpt from the Foreword by Van Jones: “The marches that have organized across the nation in the wake of the killings of Eric Garner, Treyvon Martin, Michael Brown and countless other men and women of color are not just responses to any one violent act or extraordinary situation – they are the result of centuries worth of unequal treatment and political exclusion, and a pervasive sense of hopelessness in communities of color. That’s why this report, ‘State of the Dream: Unbanked and Overcharged’, is so important to our understanding of the current political moment. The historic exclusion of non-whites in housing, credit, banking, and politics have left many people of color behind.”

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 13: Embargoed Copy Released to Media

Thursday, Jan. 15 at 2:00PM EST: Press Conference via Phone

Monday, Jan. 19: Interviews Available (English/Spanish)

Monday, Jan. 19: Full Report Release to public

Monday, Jan. 19: National Postal Banking Organizing Coalition Announcement via APWU Press

The State of the Dream report is released annually by United for a Fair Economy.

United for a Fair Economy is a national, independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that challenges the destructive effects of concentrated wealth and power and supports grassroots movements for greater economic equality.

“Imagining solutions,” the title of one of the many incredible conversations held last weekend at the annual conference of the National Alliance of Latinoamerican and Caribbean Communities (NALACC). “We chose the word ‘imagine’ deliberately,” explained Oscar Chacon, Executive Director of the Alliance.  “We are often told we need to accept the world as it is.” Organizers and activists gathered from around the country, as well as from Mexico and Central America, to reflect on ten years of work together and to chart a path towards a world as we imagine it should be.

United for a Fair Economy attended in support of the alliance and the incredible work being done by organizers and activists across the country.  NALACC is made up of Latino immigrant-lead organizations who are engaged in an inclusive struggle for social, economic and racial justice.  They are on the front lines, challenging the concentration of wealth and power.  Their work is vital to forming a movement that will build a more just society, a fair economy.  With the incredible challenges faced by immigrants in the U.S. and the violence and economic destitution that force many to migrate, we must hold our imaginations close.  

And as we imagine, we must also speak.  “The words we use create our reality,” said panelist Maria Elena Letona, Executive Director of Neighbor to Neighbor, a state-based economic and social justice organization in Massachusetts.  Following presentations from academics, journalists and activists, conference attendees divided into working groups to discuss what they heard and to plan.  United for a Fair Economy’s education team facilitated an extended dialogue on economic inequality.  This dialogue-based approach to organizing gave an opportunity to everyone attending to take ownership in the creation of a new reality.

“We have to talk about power,” insisted Miguel Huezo-Mixco, who flew in from El Salvador representing the United Nations Development Program.  He wasn’t only talking about the extreme concentration of wealth and power that organizations like NALACC and UFE seek to challenge, but also the power we harness to confront injustice. “How do we exercise power together?” he asked.

The NALACC facilitation team documented people’s responses in order to create a plan for building power over the years to come.  Organizers also offered a specific way in which power could be used to protect the human rights and dignity of immigrants across the country:  “Mr. President, use the power of the pen” read a banner on the stage in front.  It is the title of a campaign to put pressure on President Obama to use executive action to halt deportations.  The effort reflects the incredible imagination of the strong and committed immigrant organizers.  In spite of significant barriers placed by inequality, they have imagined a world in which people, immigrant and non-immigrant, are valued for their unique social, cultural and economic contributions to this country and to the world.  President Obama is planning to announce an immigration enforcement overhaul that could protect as many as five million immigrants from the threat of deportation.  This is thanks to an effort lead by immigrant activists and organizers across the country like those at NALACC, like the #not1more campaign, and many others waging the fight for justice.  United for a Fair Economy is proud to stand by their side.