Economics

Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Economic Project Summit Plans Global Impact

Published

11 years ago

February 3, 2015

Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH recently held a Wall Street Project Economic Summit to bring together the power of Main Street, Wall Street and Silicon Valley.

Hosted at the Sheraton Times Square in New York City, the weeklong convention featured Steve Ballmer, new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers; World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong; National Newspaper Publisher Association President John W. Rogers Jr.; Ariel Investments CEO & Chief Investment Officer Cloves C. Campbell Jr.; and Black Enterprise President and Chief Executive Officer Earl G. Graves Jr.

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“We have the power to make great change, and by connecting everyone in the sectors of capital, tech and corporate American, we can create solutions to some of the world’s greatest problems,” said Jackson.

Jackson has already been instrumental in getting Silicon Valley tech titans to publicly share their statistics on diversity and inclusion and has successfully helped Intel lead the way in a $300 million commitment to the cause over the next five years.

Intel Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer Rosalind Hudnell said her company is at the forefront of change.

“We are committed to changing the landscape of Silicon Valley and by committing dollars to pipelines that contribute to the diversity of our company and the world of tech is a step in the right direction,” she said. “It has been amazing having a partner in the Rev. Jackson and Rainbow PUSH.”

“We are excited about capital commitments, Intel’s role, and we expect to see jobs created and more under-represented people employed,” said Butch Wing, Rainbow PUSH’s Director of Communications.

“What we are seeing today is once again more a matter of economics,” said author and economist Dr. Julianne Malveaux.

“Racism still exists, but if we can eradicate the economic disparities, we will see great change,” she said.

Black Enterprise publisher Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. hosted a luncheon at the convention honoring its top “40 Best Companies for Diversity.”

The publisher also presented copies of the magazine’s January 2015 edition, highlighting each company. “We must celebrate companies that are ensuring that our community receives more opportunities, and inclusion is a large part of their platform,” Graves said.

Shawn Granberry, CEO of Watch Now Networks, Inc. attended the convention for the first time and hosted a press conference and panel discussion on the Business of Hip Hop.

“Hip hop is a multi-billion dollar business, and Hip Hop TV will be at the core of developing high-end content for the industry and developing revenue streams for artists as well as harnessing the power of hip hop as a voice for change in the world,” he said.

For more information visit: rainbowpushwallstreet.org, hiphoptv.com, or hiphopunion.org.

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Activism

The People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft Speaks at National Probate Reform Coalition Meeting

Evangeline Byars and Carmella Carrington lead the STOPDEEDTHEFT.org movement, fighting rising deed and title fraud, which disproportionately affects Black and Brown communities nationwide.

Published

2 days ago

May 15, 2026

Oakland Post

Left to right: Evangeline Byars and Carmella Carrington are gaining nationwide attention with their STOPDEEDTHEFT.org movement.

By Tanya Dennis

The National Probate Reform Coalition (NPRC) has learned that aside from rampant theft of properties occurring through probate court, deed theft extends even further with the support of banks, police, judges, attorneys and “the system” to steal Black and Brown properties.

Deed and title fraud are rising, with FBI data showing over 9,300 complaints and $173.6 million in losses in 2024 alone.

To that end, NPRC invited Evangeline Byars of The People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft as their keynote speaker on May 7.

Deed theft victims reach out to Byars because she has a reputation of getting things done. Introduced to community organizing at Medgar Evers College in 2011, Byars was mentored by Harry Belafonte and gained further movement training in 2012-13 through his “Gathering for Justice.” Byars also trained with the Youth Brigade 32BJ, Union in 2012 where she learned to map, target, and execute actions.

With that knowledge as an advocacy worker, Byars ran for president of TWU Local 100 for transit workers. During challenges of the union and political changes in New York when unions no longer had friends in government, they organized.

In 2025, deed theft victims approached Byars and told their stories. Byars investigated, and discovered rampant, unrelenting theft of properties, primarily from Black and brown families, got involved and helped them with their fight, teaching them how to sustain their fight at the grassroots level while remaining politically independent. This independence gave them the ability to move without co promise.

Deed theft is the taking of someone’s deed through fraudulent mortgages or a stranger that accesses property records, prepares paperwork and files for an owner’s property. New York is a’ first notice’ state, which means whoever appears first on record is the designated deed holder.

Deed theft escalated between 2013-23, the outcome of the subprime market, when people faced mass foreclosure and short sales. By 2014 people, primary Black and Brown, were fighting for their property.

In California, title theft (deed fraud) is a fast-growing threat often targeting high-equity homes, vacant land, and rentals. As of 2024, California leads the nation in real estate fraud with over 1,583 cases costing roughly $24.8 million in losses in a single year, reflecting the state’s prime position for scammers due to high property values, the FBI reports.

Byars says, “Deed theft affects Black and Brown people: it is by design, leading to the erasure of people of color homeownership that is happening nationwide. In every big city across the United States, towns and municipalities, we are witnessing a mass exodus of Black and brown people. This theft cannot occur without judges, notaries and law enforcement, it is a syndicate of players working together for the removal of people by illegal ejectment or eviction.

The People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft does court watch and constantly highlight the inequities in the court system.

Byars says, “This is a human rights crisis. Because of Wall Street and what New York signifies to the nation, know that no state is safe. Any person can come and create paper terrorism, slap forgery notes on homes; engage in illegal guardian procedures; initiate foreclosures; apply for fraudulent loan modifications; then there’s outright theft and forgery, just taking people’s homes. Believe me, it’s happening nationally and on the daily, These predators also target seniors over the age of 60 and women.”

The People’s Coalition to Stop Deed Theft take direct actions against perpetrators and are working with the New York District Attorney to create an office dedicated to gighting deed theft.

“Two ways to protect your deed is to keep a note, never satisfy your mortgage, because the bank is the biggest gangster, but if you’re making a payment, it keeps them in check. Or put your home in a living trust, once you have a trust, it hides the owner’s name and protects the person from predators.”