Yumeka Rushing, Chief Strategy Officer at the NAACP, talks about the private sector's commitment toward racial equity and how the NAACP is attracting younger Americans to the organization's latest initiatives. 

Opening Bell

NAACP Rings NYSE Opening Bell, Pushes for Corporate Accountability, Voting Rights

and joining me now, Unica rushing chief strategy officer at the N double A CP. Thank you so much for joining us today and congratulations on ringing the opening bell. The fund is up over 10% in the last year. Talk to us about the significance of the private sector, fighting for racial equity. Well, it's just so important for these types of innovative partnerships for us. We've seen an unprecedented amount of interest from the corporate sector since 2020 and it is right in fact, that they should step into their racial equity commitments. Uh, this is just par for the course in terms of the type of advancements that we hope to see with these innovative partnerships. Something that struck me about what you said is those commitments. And I think this has been a really big point of focus, especially this year, not just on the racial equity front, but also when we talk about things like the environment? So I'm wondering how the N double A CP is measuring those corporate commitments. And do you believe companies are doing enough right now? Of course, we've always done industry report cards. And so this innovative work around E. T. F. S and other investment vehicles is sort of the next step for us. I think corporations really stood up in 2020 with the racial equity commitments and that was great. But we've got to ensure that those aren't just statements that they really lean in now and do the hard work. Yeah. And what are some of the ways that you measure that commitment and make sure they're doing the hard work beyond kind of play the flowery statement or even a really ambitious goal. It's really about partnerships were also looking at ways that they are actually investing. We've been talking amongst them with regard to their C suite, with regard to having more leadership with regard to their philanthropic investments. And so we're really asking corporations to step up and put their money where their mouths is, and also to help us to see that leadership bubble up at the tops of corporate entities. Chemical, what initiatives are the n double ACP focused on this year? 2022? Well, 2022 for us is the year of small business. And so we're partnering with Hello Alice around really having an opportunity to highlights small businesses and ensure their equitable opportunities for them. We're also doing a lot of work around voting rights, uh, and ensuring that there's an equal voice around the country for all of us. Equity is just a huge issue for us, uh, and it should be for everyone? Yeah, I'm so glad that you mentioned that I want to get into voting rights in just a moment. But because you touched on small business specifically, um, how are you making sure that small businesses and even the bigger ones are able to prioritize equity during this environment. We know of course a lot of companies and smaller businesses are looking to rebound from this pandemic, but there's still certainly a lot of external pressures on companies big and small right now iris is about an investment strategy and really encouraging small grants and more opportunities for businesses right now. I believe it's about the money, it's about equitable opportunities for funding, it's about access, it's about assuring that these businesses have opportunities to connect to the corporate sector become vendors. And so there are multiple sort of strategies. But the bottom line is about investments and resources. Absolutely. Also, of course, I want to talk about voting rights with you, midterm elections on the horizon, even setting our sights on 2020 for as soon as now. Um so what is the N double A cP doing to support voting rights in communities? Well, we're doing a lot of educating and informing, we're ensuring that people are aware of all of the policy issues and that there at the table with their leaders holding them accountable. Uh It's just so critically important that we not go backwards as it relates to voting rights. We all need equal access to the ballot and we want to ensure that that happens. And so we're working hand in hand, we're in 2200 Units across the country in 47 states and we're ensuring our people are informed and they're ready for the fight. Yeah. What are your biggest concerns around voting rights for communities right now. One could even argue that during this administration there might be just as much polarization as the last. And while that isn't necessarily a stress free environment to live in. It does push I think a lot of voters to get to the polls to voice um to their representatives what they need during this time. What are you seeing from communities right now? We're seeing that communities are ready for this fight. Uh it's really clear that folks aren't interested in going backwards. Uh and so we're going to get in there, we're gonna make sure our voices are heard and we're gonna show up at the polls and and and vote our way out of this thing. It's so important that communities are empowered and that we not go backwards on voting rights. And so we're in that fight squarely, how do you think leadership changes within your organization are impacting the type of actions that are being taken right now and your priorities for communities? Well, we're we're bringing on a lot of experts because we think it's going to take that expertise to help people to understand the issues were growing as an organization. And, you know, it's black history month. But for us it's black history month 365. We certainly are excited about the opportunities that are ahead for the N. A. A. C. P as we enter our 113th year. And we like to say if you've experienced civil rights in this country, you've benefited from the work of the N double a cP. Uh and so we are, we're steeped in our mission and we're moving forward. I love that so much. And I also want to ask how the CCP is attracting younger americans to the organization and these new initiatives, we have a robust, using college division and we're finding that young people are more excited and energized about the N A A C P than they ever have been. And so we're giving them something to do, we're putting them to work, we're listening to them and we're hearing their voices and that is resonating with them and they're joining our ranks. I love that so much. It's great to hear the next generation getting involved. You Mika, I also wonder just as you're getting this next generation of members of the CCP, are there any differences that you see in terms of culture or approach to some of the different priorities that you have or the missions that you have going right now currently, you know, they're just, they're just stepping up is all I can really say about that and why not? Because we have an incredible legacy for them to really begin to lean into as they think about their own contributions to uh society. We are important anchor in a lot of communities and we're finding that young people are attracted to that and we're happy to have them as a part of the table and to uplift and amplify their voices, It does definitely leave you with a lot of hope moving forward. That's unica rushing chief strategy officer at the N double A CP, thank you so much for joining us.