Experts of color and policy-makers were eagerly anticipating President Obama’s State of the Union Address this week. During the speech, President Obama addressed policies to improve immigration, education, and the economy, among other items.

Dr. Algernon Austin is the Director of the Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy (PREE) at the Economic Policy Institute. As the director of PREE, Dr. Austin oversees reports and policy analysis in the economic condition of America's people of color. 

There is no question that obtaining a college degree is essential, especially in these times of high unemployment. A recent Gallup poll showed that 73 percent of college graduates are employed fulltime, compared to only 58 percent of those with a high school education or less.

The second session of the 112th Congress begins at a critical moment in our nation’s history. Nearly two straight years of private-sector job growth is encouraging news, but we still have a great deal of work to do.  

Michael Blake of the White House Office of Public Engagement discusses the White House and President Obama's outreach efforts to African Americans at the 2011 Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference.

Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, speaks about the importance of "Made in USA" goods and the positive effect that increasing exports will have on the U.S. job market.

This week, I stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow Democrats in Congress, fighting to extend unemployment benefits for nearly 2 million Americans and to preserve a payroll tax cut for the American worker.

U.S. Representative Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) discusses the importance of education accessibility to creating jobs and improving the economy.

This past spring, before protesters occupying the financial capital of the world captured all our imaginations, the Village of Hempstead made a decision to stand with the 99 percent in our community when we voted to close our account with JP Morgan Chase.