US Congressman meets with Silicon Valley’s Black leadership, addresses disparity

CUPERTINO, Calif. – U.S. Consultant Ro Khanna fulfilled with leaders from the African American local community in Silicon Valley these days. He states he was disturbed by a new report highlighting disparities affecting Black folks during the South Bay. 

Congressman Ro Khanna suggests soon after looking through the Silicon Valley Suffering Index, he needed to deal with the demands of his African Individuals constituents. And in this assembly with Khanna, they designed it crystal clear, that they frequently really feel disregarded and remaining out of the dialogue when it comes to group expense.

“The index suggests that Black men and women in Silicon Valley are leaving, that they are disproportionately the homeless in San Jose, they disproportionately have foodstuff insecurity. So I required to meet with the leaders of the Black group to hear, what is it that we’re lacking?” mentioned Khanna, who represents California’s 17th District.   

About a dozen persons gathered at Nirvana Soul in Cupertino to explore difficulties and resolutions that are impacting the Black neighborhood in Silicon Valley and all through Santa Clara County. 

“So what we uncover is in quite a few areas all through Santa Clara County, there is plenty of foods but it is all speedy food items, fried food stuff, very low-good quality advantage store, superior sugar foodstuff. So what we’re accomplishing is really fueling diabetes, fueling coronary heart condition, fueling obesity,” explained Jocelyn Dubin, Guide General public Wellbeing Nutritionist for Santa Clara County. 

Group leaders told Khanna that a lot less than 1% of venture funds goes to Black business, there are extremely couple Black executives in key Silicon Valley firms and smaller Black-owned organizations are not receiving the help they need to have. 

“One human being stated that the African American group has been celebrating Juneteenth for 41 years and yet a good deal of the businesses in no way achieved out to the persons who’ve been celebrating it lengthy prior to it was a holiday getaway,” Khanna stated.   

Advocates also say some form of reparations and financial financial investment are critical to participating and protecting the Black community in the South Bay.  

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“We’re close to 20% of the homeless populace listed here in the County. How can we make sure housing for Black people? How can we invest in initiatives like that? How can we devote in organizations like the Local community Service Agency? Like the Roots Neighborhood Health and fitness Centre and so on, that provide our neighborhood?” said Jahmal Williams, with the Black Management Kitchen Cabinet of Silicon Valley. 

Khanna reported these conversations will continue during the year. Santa Clara County also declared today that it will be part of President Biden’s Home The united states program, working to residence 20,000 individuals by 2025.