Urban Forum NW 07-16-26

Today, Thursday, July 16 on Urban Forum Northwest:

*Wendell Stemley, president, National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) will be joined by Bob Armstead, president, Washington State Chapter-NAMC. They will comment on how NAMC and a coalition of minority and women-owned businesses and trade associations achieved a significant legal victory after a federal court dismissed a case threatening the U.S. Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. The lawsuit Mid-American Co. v. U.S. DOT was filed by groups seeking to eliminate race and gender-conscious elements of the DBE Program. In September 2024, the court issued a preliminary injunction restricting the use of DBE contract goals in five states where the plaintiffs operates.

*Washington State Representative Chipalo Street (D)-37th LD, Vice Chair, House Finance Committee comments on his legislative accomplishments that include passing House Bill (HB) 2724 Millionaires Tax, HB 2019 Making the Estate Tax More Progressive; SHB Inmate Funds; HB 2610 Nonprofit housing providers-Successfully protected the tax preferences for nonprofit housing providers when they allow their space to be used for by events sponsored by community organizations.

*Omer Qureshi, CEO & Co Founder, Americans 4 Equality/MLK Gandhi Empowerment Initiative the organization has trained over 1100 people and currently have a waiting list of over 700 primarily Martin Luther King Jr. County residence in line for the three month tech training program. CEO Qureshi will be joined by three individuals who successfully completed the initial tech training program and the Intern Program. Erica Hoard, Director of Community Partnerships; Bryan Haynes, Director of Marketing; and Isyss Omar, Program Manager.

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