Hearing DetailsJoint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Event Details

Status:

Upcoming

Event Date:

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Start Time:

1:00 PM

Location:

A-1

Event Description

The Impact of Federal Policy on the Racial Wealth Gap

The purpose of this hearing is to assess the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts after one year of the new federal administration. The overarching questions for the hearing are: (1) What is the status of the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts? (2) What historical and structural factors have shaped the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts? (3) What is the anticipated impact of new federal policy, including but not limited to the dismantling of DEI, cuts to the federal workforce, and the “One Big Beautiful Bill” on the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts? (4) What can the Legislature do to close the racial wealth gap in the context of current federal policy?

The public is invited to attend and observe the hearing. However, Oral Testimony is by Invitation Only. Witnesses have been selected based on their expertise and ability to answer specific questions relevant to the racial wealth gap and the anticipated impact of new federal policy on it. Invited Witnesses Include:

Lauren Jones, Secretary - Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development
Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, Secretary - Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Juan Vega, Assistant Secretary, Communities & Programs, Executive Office of Economic Development
Nicole Obi, President/ CEO - Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA)
Dr. Lorna Rivera, Director - Gastón Institute, UMAS Boston
Dr. Jeff Fuhrer, Former Director of Research - Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Dr. James Jennings, Professor Emeritus, Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning - Tufts University
Kim Borman, Executive Director - Boston Women’s Workforce Council
Hannah McKinney, Director of Strategic Engagement - Boston Women’s Workforce Council
Dr. Kimberly Goulart, Senior Research Analyst - Boston Indicators
Dr. Diana Westerberg, Chair - Massachusetts Psychological Association Advocacy Committee
Dr. Erica Lee, Director at Large - MA Psychological Association
Renée M. Landers, Professor of Law - Suffolk University Law School
Dr. Kandace Kukas, Esq., EdD, Executive Director - The Massachusetts Board of Bar Examiners
Dr. Viviana M. Abreu-Hernández, PhD, President - Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center

The hearing will be livestreamed on the General Court's website, https://malegislature.gov/. It will be recorded and posted publicly at the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion webpage.

Written Testimony may be submitted by any member of the public prior to, or by close of business on Friday, April 7, 2026. Testimony should be addressed to House Chair, Bud L. Williams and Senate Chair, Elizabeth Miranda and may be submitted by email to Brendan.Morris@mahouse.gov or by sending correspondence to:

Rep. Bud L. Williams, House Chair

Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Massachusetts State House

Attn: Brendan Morris, Esq.

24 Beacon Street, Room 236

Boston, MA 02133

All written testimony received by the Committee will be made publicly available, provided however, the Chairs may limit and redact testimony that includes sensitive personal information or information that may jeopardize the health, wellness or safety of the testifier or others.

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

The Committee will work to coordinate reasonable accommodation required to ensure that people with disabilities are able to participate fully in the hearing process. Requests for accessibility of accommodation, such as assistive listening devices and systems, sign language interpreting services, closed captioning and transcription services, will be provided upon request. Requests for services should be submitted by completing the state house accessibility form, https://malegislature.gov/StateHouse/AccessibilityForm/. You may also make a request by email to: Carl Richardson at carl.richardson@mass.gov.

Please be advised that the schedule and agenda are subject to change at the agreement of the Chairs.

If you have Accessibility needs, click here.

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Hearing DetailsJoint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

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