National Press Club to Host "NEWSMAKER" Media Briefing with Business Leader Robert L. Johnson to Discuss Minority Unemployment Rates; Wealth Gap

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Jan 18, 2012, 12:30 ET

Announces new online company to increase opportunities for minority job seekers, businesses

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Business leader Robert L. Johnson, founder and chairman of The RLJ Companies, will discuss minority unemployment rates, limited access to capital and an accelerating wealth gap between white and black American during a National Press Club Newsmaker news conference, 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 1, 2012, National Press Building, 529 14th St., NW, Washington, D.C.

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Johnson will discuss ways corporations can enhance existing diversity and inclusion practices by urging CEOs and corporate boards to take a page from the NFL owners' playbook and adopt a voluntary version of the Rooney Rule to level the playing field for minorities in corporate America. The NFL's Rooney Rule gives fair interviews to minority candidates whenever a head-coaching or general manager position becomes available prior to making a hiring decision.

As the founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), Johnson has always been committed to providing opportunities for minority Americans and is particularly concerned about the growing inequities among African Americans. Today, more than ever, he is dedicated to creating what he refers to as "business solutions to social problems," i.e., the income disparity, wealth gap and limited access to capital.

A long-time advocate of voluntary business solutions to help solve socioeconomic problems, Johnson will also announce the launch of his new business, designed to enhance corporate America's "best practices" in employment diversity and inclusion by aggregating minority job seekers and minority businesses on this uniquely designed web-based platform.

SOURCE National Press Club