Vice President Kamala Harris, an HBCU graduate herself, made a stop in Charlotte, NC to talk economics.
Vice President Kamala Harris continued her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour by returning to Charlotte, NC for an event about investing in communities, building wealth, and ensuring every American has the ability to thrive.
“I feel very strongly that we need to be in the community listening and giving people information about the work that we’ve done that will help folks,” Harris told the crowd. Because I’m very aware that we can do all this good stuff in Washington D.C., – but if it doesn’t hit the streets – it doesn’t matter.”
During a moderated conversation at HBCU Johnson C. Smith University with Michael Ealy and Bakari Sellers, the Vice President highlighted how the Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic steps to advance economic opportunity by taking on medical debt, creating jobs, investing in small businesses, increasing access to capital, improving access to housing, forgiving student loans, and championing additional policies that put money in people’s pockets and build wealth.
“The numbers I have are that Black entrepreneurs are three times less likely to apply for small business loans and one of the main reasons why is folks don’t want to be disappointed,” Harris said. “We know that’s like. It takes a lot to put yourself out there and to believe that you will be taken seriously and treated fairly.”
Harris wants to get the word out that entrepreneurs are welcome and encouraged to grow.
Vice President Harris was joined in Charlotte by administration officials, state and local leaders, business leaders, and entrepreneurs on Stephen Joyner Sr. Court at Brayboy Gymnasium. This includes Department of Housing and Urban Development Acting Secretary Adrianne Todman, Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, and the offices of U.S. Rep. Adams (NC-12) and U.S. Rep. Jackson (NC-14).