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02:58Whether this is your first festival or your 20th, this year's Essence Fest will be like no other.
03:05Land among the stars at Essence Studios Center Stage, where you can hear from your favorite celebrities and even meet them in the fan zone.
03:13And there's even more. You gotta see it to believe it. Start mapping out your weekend now. It's all going down June 30th to July 3rd at the Essence Festival of Culture, presented by Coca-Cola.
03:25More information at EssenceFestival.com.
03:29After two years, Essence Festival of Culture, presented by Coca-Cola, is back on the ground in New Orleans, June 30th to July 3rd.
03:37It's the black joy for us.
03:39The 2022 Essence Fest is everybody's welcome home.
03:45See all stars, including Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson, New Edition, and more on stage every night.
03:52Plus, fill your days with community, culture, and connection at over 30 unique events over the weekend.
03:58Revisit your faves like Essence Marketplace, Essence After Dark, and Beauty Carnival.
04:03Or make new memories at debut experiences like Essence in His Zone, men's experience, the black boy joy headquarters.
04:12With fun interactive activities, as well as experiences around entrepreneurship, business, self-care, and relationships.
04:20All fit for a king.
04:22Essence Tech Summit, step into the future and explore a world of cutting-edge technology.
04:27Celebrate black women in tech, as well as learn from industry leaders on all things cryptocurrency, NFTs, and more.
04:35Essence Eats Food and Wine Festival, the ultimate foodie destination, is bigger and better this year.
04:42Featuring the all-new immersive food and wine festival.
04:45Enjoy recipes and tastings from world-class chefs and mixologists, and so much more.
04:51This is your official taste of Essence.
04:53For the full list of experiences, and to get your tickets, go to EssenceFestival.com.
05:09Whether this is your first festival, or your 20th, this year's Essence Fest will be like no other.
05:16Here's what you need to know before you go.
05:18Every night is a party in the Superdome, but don't skip the day vibes.
05:22Meet us around the Essence Fest campus for a wealth of free events curated just for you.
05:28Land among the stars at Essence Studios Center Stage, where you can hear from your favorite celebrities,
05:35and even meet them in the fan zone.
05:38Make sure you stop by the all-new Essence Film Festival,
05:41where you'll not only get a sneak peek of the most anticipated Hollywood projects,
05:45you'll also be introduced to the work of up-and-coming black creatives.
05:50Take a load off and recharge at Essence Wellness House, your weekend's self-care sanctuary.
05:56Put yourself first with tips and tools from health experts to help you wherever you are on your wellness journey.
06:02Join us at the Essence Wealth Empower Stage,
06:05where you'll hear empowering conversations from today's top thought leaders and activists.
06:11This experience will also feature global black economic forum moments,
06:15where business moguls and inspiring entrepreneurs will illuminate the path
06:19on how to build economic equity and generational wealth within our communities globally.
06:24We'll see you next time.
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12:04shake
12:21don't never stop if you want to be on top don't never stop if you want to be on top
12:26low bass back that baby tap in
12:34tap tap tap in
12:36getting money get rich baby tap in
12:38tap tap tap in
12:40MOV IC game better tap in
12:42tap tap tap in
12:44wrist on glitter waist on thinner
12:46imma show you how to bag a eight figure figure
12:48face on satty
12:50pockets on jigger
12:52you better get the card and make it swipe like tender
12:54private billow and the fire chinchilla
12:56when he post me all the h** get sicker
12:58thorn killer
13:00i don't need fillers
13:02you better get the love
13:04you never take mine
13:06end up on a date line
13:08rich with no day job
13:10get your wild wild
13:12always on the core side
13:14be being there boys wanna
13:16try from the west, they wanna go down south
13:18all these lame lil rappers tryna uh
13:20force clout
13:22Put it in his mouth
13:24Little bass, fat, fat, baby, tap in
13:26Tap, tap, tap in
13:28Diamonds dancing on your neck, better tap in
13:31Tap, tap, tap in
13:33Get your money, get rich, baby, tap in
13:36Tap, tap, tap in
13:38M.O.B. I see gang, better turn in
13:40Hello, everybody
13:48Hello
13:50Hello, Essence
13:52Welcome, welcome, welcome
13:55We're going to hear a very, very great
13:58conversation today
14:00From the administration officials
14:03Biden-Harris administration officials are here
14:05They came to Louisiana
14:07But first, before we hear from them
14:09I want to introduce you to someone who you all should know
14:12Mitch Landrieu
14:13Who is the senior advisor to the president
14:16He's also the former lieutenant governor
14:19Here in this state
14:20And also the former mayor of New Orleans
14:23Mitch Landrieu
14:24Alonzo, thank you so much
14:26How you doing?
14:27What's up, New Orleans?
14:28How's everybody doing?
14:30That's what I'm talking about
14:31Oh, I miss y'all
14:32I hope y'all miss me too
14:34But I love you no matter what
14:35Man, I'm so happy to be here
14:37Everybody knows
14:38That for the last 25 years plus
14:40Essence has blessed us
14:42With their presence in the city of New Orleans
14:44Katrina hit
14:45As you may remember
14:47And they went to Houston
14:48But they came right back
14:49You know why?
14:50Because there is no essence without New Orleans
14:52But guess what?
14:55There's no New Orleans without essence either
14:57So we joined at the hip
14:59And for 14 years I worked on it
15:01I love all of y'all
15:02But look, the president asked me
15:03To come up to Washington
15:04And help out
15:05And when the president ran for office
15:07He said he was going to use his power
15:09To lift up the community
15:10Everybody
15:11And nobody was going to get left behind
15:13And that's what he did
15:15I don't know if y'all saw it yesterday
15:16But we have a new Supreme Court justice
15:18First time in the history of the country
15:21Tomorrow
15:23The vice president
15:25Is going to be with you
15:26The first African-American woman
15:28Vice president of the United States
15:31And you know what else the president told you?
15:33He was going to let African-Americans
15:35And people of color
15:36And particularly women
15:37Help run the government
15:39And so today
15:39You have a number of people
15:41From Washington, D.C.
15:43That the president put in power
15:44To make sure that the money
15:46We're sending down to the ground
15:47Helps build clean air
15:49Clean water
15:50Roads
15:50Bridges
15:51Airports
15:52High-speed internet
15:53Closing the digital divide
15:55Everything that he said he was going to do
15:57And we got three people
15:59Who are going to talk to you
15:59About that today
16:00But we're in a dark time right now
16:03It's dark
16:05But you know what?
16:06There's joy in the morning
16:07Amen to that?
16:09And the theme is
16:11We're not going to let anybody
16:12People take our joy away from us
16:14So even though the United States
16:16Supreme Court decided
16:17Five of them
16:18To try to take us back
16:19150 years
16:21With a number of different decisions
16:23That want to return everything
16:25To the states
16:25That they used to call
16:26States' rights
16:27All of y'all know
16:28What that means
16:30We're not going back
16:32And those decisions
16:33That were written this week
16:34Are an aggressive move back
16:37To where the president says
16:38We're not going to go
16:39So when they said
16:40They're going to take America back again
16:42We're not only going to say no
16:43We're going to say hell no
16:45That opinion
16:46That was written
16:46By the Supreme Court
16:47The other day
16:48One of them
16:48Looked like a caveman
16:50That was angry wrote it
16:51And there's a string
16:53That runs through
16:54All of those decisions
16:55About taking away
16:56People's protections
16:57And sending it down
16:59To folks
16:59That don't really understand
17:00That's not what
17:01President Biden is about
17:03He's about protecting people
17:05He's about inclusion
17:06He's about making sure
17:07That we build economic wealth
17:09Especially in the
17:10African American community
17:11And everything that's
17:12In this infrastructure bill
17:13And the thing that
17:14These folks are going to
17:15Talk about
17:16Are going to illustrate
17:17How the president
17:18And takes on making that happen
17:19So with this
17:20Let me say God bless you
17:22I know this is a party
17:23With a purpose
17:23And today is the purpose
17:25But Nikki's tonight
17:26Janet's tomorrow night
17:27I wish I was going to be there
17:29To see y'all all dressed up
17:30Because you know
17:31Everybody goes dressed
17:32To the nines
17:32To get it done
17:33So without further ado
17:34Let me bring out to you
17:35The people that the president
17:36Put in charge
17:37Of making sure
17:38That everybody in this country
17:40Is going to have a piece
17:41Of what the future looks like
17:42And I'm going to introduce you
17:43To Ms. Shalanda Young
17:44Who runs the government
17:45The office of management
17:47And budget
17:47This young lady
17:48Is from Louisiana
17:49And the reason why
17:50They call it management
17:51Is because she runs everybody
17:53And the reason they call it budget
17:55Is she's got the money
17:56Y'all help me welcome
17:57Young lady from Louisiana
17:59Head of OMB
18:00The second is a young man
18:03Who came from South Bend, Indiana
18:04Who's now the secretary
18:06Of the Department of Transportation
18:07That's responsible
18:08For putting half of this money
18:10From the infrastructure bill
18:11In the ground
18:12And he just came to us
18:13From Birmingham yesterday
18:14Where we announced
18:16A billion dollars
18:17To pull down bridges
18:18That used to separate
18:19Black communities
18:20Everybody knows this
18:21When you say where you live
18:22Everybody says
18:23I live on the other side of
18:25The other side of the track
18:27The other side of the highway
18:28That we'll put there
18:29To divide the communities
18:30He's the guy
18:31That's going to put it back together
18:32Everybody help me
18:33Welcome Secretary
18:34Pete Buttigieg
18:35Department of Transportation
18:37And the final act for today
18:40Is a young man from North Carolina
18:41Who I love
18:42I love all of them
18:43Michael Reagan
18:44Who used to run
18:45Environmental Protection
18:46In North Carolina
18:47The president brought him up
18:48To run the EPA
18:49To make sure that we have
18:51Clean air
18:52Clean water
18:53Get the lead out of the pipes
18:55Not just in Flint, Michigan
18:56But all across the country
18:57Clean up everything
18:59And make sure
18:59That we got a happy
19:00Healthy environment
19:01For our kids to grow up in
19:02And that power
19:04And all that nasty air
19:06That those plants are producing
19:07Michael's going to help
19:09Make that work out better
19:10Please help me welcome
19:11The administrator from EPA
19:12Michael Reagan
19:13Good bless all of y'all
19:14Y'all have a great time
19:15And now I want to also introduce
19:22Someone that all of you should know
19:24Someone who's going to
19:26Moderate this panel
19:27Angela Yee
19:29Entrepreneur, media personality
19:31She's going to help us
19:32Have this conversation
19:33About what the Biden administration
19:35Is doing on a variety of issues
19:37Including equity
19:38Thank you
19:44Alright well it is an honor
19:46To be here
19:47And you know we are here
19:48At Essence Fest
19:49So let's give it up for that
19:51It is a celebration
19:52Of black women
19:53And this administration
19:55Has so many firsts
19:56So we do have to celebrate
19:57That it's historic
19:58Vice President Harris
20:00Who is going to be joining us
20:02Tomorrow
20:02Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
20:05Who was just sworn in
20:07Just last week
20:08And many others
20:09Now Director Young
20:10We're going to start with you
20:12Okay
20:12You're not only the first
20:14Black women to ever lead
20:15The entire federal budget
20:16But you're also
20:18A Louisiana native
20:19Give us a little bounce
20:20So we know
20:20Alright
20:21Tell us a little bit
20:23About how that experience
20:24Has shaped the way
20:25That you do this work
20:26Well one
20:27I'm very excited to meet you
20:29So thank you for doing this
20:31Two
20:32When you think about the government
20:33It sounds very stale
20:35To talk about the Office of Management and Budget
20:37What it means is
20:38I get to wake up
20:40And talk to Secretary Buttigieg
20:41About transportation needs
20:43I get to go to sleep
20:44With Michael Regan
20:45Calling to complain
20:46That we haven't given him
20:47Enough money
20:48For something else
20:49In the middle of the day
20:50We might talk about Ukraine funding
20:51So you want people
20:53With experiences
20:54Like many of yours
20:56In the room
20:57Talking to the president
20:58The president always likes to say
21:01Don't tell me what you value
21:02Show me your budget
21:03And I'll tell you what you value
21:04And he lives by that creed
21:06And I get to sit and work with him
21:08And work with these great members
21:10Of the cabinet
21:11To show the American people
21:13What we value
21:14Alright well
21:15Since you've heard of
21:16The American people
21:17And what we value
21:18As a business owner myself
21:19I have to ask
21:21For the woman who knows
21:22Where all the money is
21:23Is there anything
21:24In the president's budget
21:25For small businesses
21:27And for black female entrepreneurs
21:28Like myself
21:29And so many people here
21:30One I applaud
21:32All that entrepreneurs do
21:34As a special person
21:36That brings that to the forefront
21:38One program that I love
21:39And have experience with
21:41Are CDFIs
21:42It reaches the smallest of businesses
21:44Another thing
21:46Remember this administration
21:47Fixed the PPP program
21:49When it came in
21:50We ensured that really small companies
21:53Not big guys
21:53Pretending to be small companies
21:55Could access those funds
21:57So those programs
21:59Are forefront of what we're trying to do
22:01And also remember
22:02Our commitment to procurement
22:04We do a lot of business
22:05As a government
22:06And we need to make sure
22:08That we're bringing people
22:10Small disadvantaged companies
22:11To do business with the government
22:13And our goal is to increase that
22:15To 15%
22:16In the Biden-Harris administration
22:18All right
22:20So we've heard a lot about
22:21What Director Young does
22:22But as leaders
22:22In the Biden-Harris administration
22:24I want you guys to help
22:26The audience understand
22:27The role that you play
22:28Particularly as it pertains
22:30To the economic impact
22:32On the black community
22:33Secretary Buttigieg
22:37So I think people have an understanding
22:42Generally of transportation
22:43I'm the secretary of trains
22:45Planes and automobiles
22:46And a lot of things like that
22:47A lot of things people
22:48Don't think about every day
22:49From pipeline safety
22:51To commercial space travel
22:53And in particular
22:55In terms of what our work means
22:57For black women
22:58And for black communities
22:59There are two things
23:01That I would mention
23:02The first is service
23:03Do you live in an area
23:05Where you're getting
23:06Good transportation service
23:07Is there a way
23:08To get to work affordably
23:10Do you have access
23:12To good airline service
23:14Do you have a bus coming
23:15To get you to where
23:16You need to be
23:16If you're driving
23:17Is the road good
23:18Everything you need
23:19In order to live well
23:20The second thing
23:22That I'm especially excited about
23:23To talk about here
23:24At Essence Fest
23:25Is business opportunity
23:28Remember with the president's
23:29Bipartisan infrastructure law
23:31We're going to be investing
23:32More than half a trillion dollars
23:35In the transportation systems
23:36Of this country
23:37That's everything from
23:39Replacing a bridge
23:41To installing an electric vehicle charger
23:44In a neighborhood somewhere
23:45And the opportunity
23:46That comes with that
23:47Is enormous
23:48We just had a great conversation
23:50Earlier this morning
23:51With black women
23:52Leading in businesses
23:53From construction
23:54To engineering
23:57Who are thinking about
23:58How to create opportunity
23:59For their employees
24:00Through the investments
24:02That we're about to make
24:03In American transportation infrastructure
24:05And I'm very excited
24:07About how those business
24:09Opportunities are going to lift up
24:11New businesses
24:12And grow the ones
24:13That are here right now
24:14Creating jobs
24:15Including creating a lot of
24:16Very good paying jobs
24:17For black women
24:18All right
24:20And now for our EPA administrator
24:22Michael Regan
24:22Well I have the distinct honor
24:24Of leading the Environmental Protection Agency
24:27And you know it's such a critical agency
24:29If you value clean air
24:31And clean water
24:33We're also at the tip of the spear
24:35Leading the administration's charge
24:37On mitigating the climate crisis
24:39And those impacts
24:40And so it's a great honor
24:42To serve in this capacity
24:43And you know our equities
24:46In the bipartisan infrastructure law
24:47Is my agency received
24:4950 billion dollars
24:5150 billion with a B
24:54To focus on our water infrastructure
24:56You know I've traveled
24:57All across the country
24:59I've met with mothers
25:00Whose children have been lead poisoned
25:02We have 15 billion dollars
25:04Just to focus on getting lead
25:06Out of drinking water
25:07Another 45 billion
25:09Or 35 billion
25:11And focused on shoring up
25:13The water infrastructure
25:14So that everyone has
25:15Good quality clean drinking water
25:17Five billion dollars
25:19To electrify yellow school buses
25:21So that our children
25:22Especially those who have asthma
25:24Aren't inhaling those diesel fumes
25:26Fumes
25:27So it's an exciting agency
25:28And it's an agency
25:29That's relevant to every single one of you
25:31All right
25:32And Transportation Secretary Buttigieg
25:35We talk to you all the time
25:36On The Breakfast Club
25:37But I do want to talk about
25:38You announcing a brand new program
25:40And that program is to address
25:42Some of the historic wrongs
25:44That came out of infrastructure
25:45Planning in this country
25:46Can you tell us
25:47About the reconnecting
25:49Communities pilot program
25:50And how it's going to work
25:51Thank you
25:51Yes we're very excited
25:53About this program
25:53We announced it in Birmingham
25:55Yesterday
25:55And I think it's going to bring
25:57Benefit to every part of the country
25:58So it starts with this
26:00Simple reality
26:01That wherever you live
26:03You probably can picture
26:05The place where
26:06There's a highway
26:07An interchange
26:09Or a railway
26:10That stands between you
26:12And where you need to go
26:13A lot of
26:14Look the whole idea
26:15Of transportation
26:16Is to connect
26:17We also know
26:18That a lot of transportation
26:19Infrastructure
26:20Serve to divide
26:21And often
26:23The way that
26:24A highway was built
26:25The way that a railway
26:26Was laid
26:27Was at the expense
26:29Of black and brown communities
26:30Because they didn't have
26:32The power to resist
26:33Or make their voice heard
26:34Or sometimes even
26:36Because there was an intention
26:37Among the planners
26:38At the time
26:39To remove or replace
26:41What was in fact
26:42A thriving vibrant
26:44Black neighborhood
26:44The good news is
26:46We can do something about that
26:47And that's what this program
26:49Is going to do
26:50A billion dollars
26:51Made available
26:52Through that bipartisan
26:53Infrastructure law
26:54That is going into our budget
26:56We just put out
26:57The first 195 million
26:58That is going to go
27:00To projects that will reconnect
27:02So in Atlanta for example
27:03If anybody's from Atlanta
27:04The way I-75 and 85
27:06Cuts through town
27:08I see some heads nodding
27:09Separates one neighborhood
27:11From another
27:11They have a vision
27:13To put a cap
27:13Over where that
27:15Highway cuts through
27:16And on that cap
27:18You could have a parkway
27:19You could have
27:19Ways for people to get
27:20From one side to the other
27:22Freely
27:22Creating value
27:24And healing
27:26Where there had been harm
27:27So we're supporting
27:28A planning grant
27:30To do that
27:30With another fund
27:31That we had
27:32Now we have funds
27:33To do that
27:34Everywhere in the country
27:35The application process
27:36Has begun
27:37And I think cities
27:38Large and small
27:39Are going to have
27:40All kinds of ideas
27:41For how to improve that
27:42Whether it's something
27:43Like that in Atlanta
27:44Where you actually cap
27:45The highway all together
27:46Or maybe it's introducing
27:48A bus line
27:48That cuts across an area
27:50Where there was that division
27:51That's what we saw
27:51In Birmingham yesterday
27:53We don't know
27:53What all the solutions
27:54Will be
27:55The communities
27:55Will come up
27:56With the solutions
27:57But finally
27:58We're going to be able
27:58To fund those solutions
28:00With these resources
28:01That are in the budget
28:02All right
28:04Thank you
28:04And EPA Administrator
28:06Michael Regan
28:07Last November
28:08You went on this
28:09Journey to justice tour
28:10Can you tell us about that
28:11And what it was
28:13Why you did it
28:13And what the outcomes were
28:14You know we toured Mississippi
28:18Louisiana and Texas
28:19Strategically because
28:21We wanted to tell the story
28:22Of so many people
28:23In this country
28:24You know there are people
28:25Living in this country
28:26That don't have
28:27Basic clean water access
28:29Or access to clean water
28:31And clean air
28:31I visited an elementary school
28:34In Jackson Mississippi
28:36And I was invited to speak
28:37To some eight and nine year olds
28:39And when we pulled up
28:41To the school
28:41There were porta potties
28:43Lined up
28:44As far as you could see
28:46With no construction
28:47Going on
28:48The reason being
28:49Is those porta potties
28:50Were being used
28:51By those kids
28:52Because the water
28:53Infrastructure was so poor
28:54I visited an elementary school
28:56In the parishes here
28:58Right here in Louisiana
28:59Schools that are just
29:00Thousands of feet
29:01Away from facilities
29:03Spewing toxic emissions
29:05While kids are in there
29:06Learning and playing
29:07And it's no coincidence
29:08Because of structural racism
29:10That most of these things
29:12Are happening in our communities
29:13And so I thought
29:14It was important
29:15Not only to visit
29:16These communities
29:17And have a cabinet level
29:19Official go to cities
29:20And towns
29:21That most elected officials
29:22Will never go to
29:23We also brought
29:24The media with us
29:25We brought
29:26You know
29:26Social media
29:27You know
29:28Traditional media
29:29To tell these stories
29:31And even though EPA
29:32May not have
29:33Every single tool
29:35To solve these problems
29:36When you highlight
29:37These problems
29:38When people understand
29:40That in 2022
29:41Some kids
29:42Don't have access
29:44To clean drinking water
29:45Things start to change
29:46On the ground
29:46And the last thing I'll say
29:48Is Secretary Buttigieg
29:49Is right
29:49The answers
29:51Don't come from
29:52Washington D.C.
29:53The answers come
29:54From the members
29:55Of the community
29:56Who have been fighting
29:57These issues for decades
29:58And many times
30:00When you travel the country
30:01And you engage
30:02With these non-profits
30:03And these organizers
30:05On the ground
30:05They are black women
30:06Who are fighting
30:08For their children
30:09And so that's where
30:10The solutions lie
30:11And that's where
30:12We have to go
30:12Right
30:14And you do have to see that
30:15And I understand
30:16The importance of media
30:17When it comes to
30:18Letting people understand
30:18And see what's really happening
30:20And just to connect
30:21What you do
30:22With what Secretary Buttigieg does
30:24Can you tell us
30:25About the EPA's role
30:26In implementing
30:27The bipartisan infrastructure law
30:29Specifically in terms
30:31Of advancing equity
30:32For the black community
30:33Well you know
30:34I think Secretary Buttigieg
30:36And I connect
30:37In a lot of ways
30:37One of the exciting ways
30:39Is the school bus
30:41Electrifying our yellow school buses
30:42I've got the resources
30:44For the buses
30:46Secretary Buttigieg
30:47Has the resources
30:48For the charging stations
30:49And what our teams do
30:51Are we're focusing on
30:53Ensuring that based on
30:55Justice 40
30:56The president's direction
30:58That 40% of these investments
31:00Must go in
31:01And stay in our communities
31:02I think Secretary Buttigieg
31:04And I see 40%
31:05As the floor
31:06We want to see
31:07The majority
31:07Of the resources
31:09Coming from the
31:10Bipartisan infrastructure law
31:11Going into those communities
31:12That need it the most
31:14And that requires
31:15That we specifically
31:16Focus on equity
31:17And inclusion
31:18And have the right people
31:19At the table
31:20So that we can make
31:21The right investments
31:22All right
31:23And Director Shalonda Young
31:25This is something
31:26That I know
31:26We all need to know
31:27The answer to
31:28You're serving
31:29As a key member
31:30Of the president's economic team
31:31At a moment
31:32When a lot of families
31:33Including a lot of black families
31:35Are facing higher costs
31:37On things like gas
31:38And groceries
31:39What are you doing
31:40On a policy level
31:41To help ensure
31:42We have an economy
31:43That works for everyone
31:44And that our economic recovery
31:46Is equitable
31:47You've heard some of the things
31:50From the EPA administrator
31:51And the secretary
31:52From an infrastructure perspective
31:54And we do think
31:55Those things will help
31:56Our economy
31:58Ensure we have long-term growth
31:59But right now
32:00People are hurting
32:01I visit my family in Louisiana
32:03They are not shy
32:04About letting me know
32:05What things cost
32:06In the grocery store
32:07So it is not
32:08It is not lost on me
32:10But remember
32:11We're at still
32:13Record low unemployment
32:14In this country
32:14Including amongst
32:15Black Americans
32:16We still have to do more
32:18We know that blacks often
32:20When we have low unemployment
32:22Blacks still have even more
32:25But this president has told us
32:26He wants to see
32:27An equitable economic plan
32:30Bottom up, middle out
32:31That's what Joe Biden
32:32Is all about
32:33It is a simple proposition
32:35From him
32:35Trickle down economics
32:36If you were around
32:37When Ronald Reagan
32:38Was president
32:39Nothing trickled down
32:41So we're going to try
32:42To do this economic growth
32:44Economic recovery
32:45A different way
32:46We think looking at communities
32:48Often left behind
32:50From these programs
32:51We're here
32:53At a place like Essence
32:54Because these are the people
32:57That are going to affect change
32:58On the ground
32:59And we can do
33:00All the great government programs
33:02We want to do
33:02If you don't know about them
33:04Many of you organizers
33:06We won't make a difference
33:08So one of the big things
33:10We're doing
33:10Is technical assistance programs
33:12Making sure communities
33:14Know what is available to them
33:16But on inflation
33:17Things like gas prices
33:19You've seen the president
33:20Release oil
33:21From the strategic
33:22National reserve
33:23That has steadied gas prices
33:26And we continue to pull every lever
33:29That we can
33:29You just call for a gas tax holiday
33:31For example
33:32And we'll work with congress
33:33To do that
33:34One of the things we're excited about
33:36Are legislative proposals
33:39To bring down the cost of child care
33:42To bring down the cost of health care
33:45To bring down energy costs
33:46It's going to take us working with congress
33:48To pass those
33:49But parents should not have to choose
33:51Between putting gas in the car
33:53And feeding their children
33:54So the president is laser focused
33:57It is his top economic agenda item
34:00To bring down costs for Americans
34:02But we are addressing this
34:04From a position of strength
34:05Every country in the world
34:06Has inflation
34:07So remember
34:09It's not one policy
34:10One piece of law
34:11Even though people will try
34:12To blame the president
34:13For gas prices
34:15You can find inflation
34:17Across the globe
34:18The question is
34:20What we're going to do about it
34:21And it takes two responsible parties
34:23To put solutions on the table
34:25And you know
34:27Just for me to go off script
34:28A little bit
34:29I do want you guys
34:30To talk about the importance of voting
34:32And how people can be empowered
34:34And feel like their voices
34:35And what they need are heard
34:36We talked about a lot of things
34:37A lot of people are suffering right now
34:39And a lot of people feel discouraged
34:41So I would love to get some words for you
34:43On why voting is important
34:45And what people can do
34:46To make sure that they feel empowered
34:47Because a lot of times
34:49People feel like they're voting
34:50People are getting in office
34:51But nothing's getting done
34:53And promises aren't being kept
34:54You know
34:55I just heard you talking about
34:56President Biden
34:57And everything is not his fault
34:59And a lot of times
35:00There are things that are getting blocked
35:01When it comes to Congress
35:02But it is a critical time
35:04So I would love to hear from you guys
35:06Directly
35:07On what some people can do
35:08So that they can feel
35:09And understand
35:10The power that they have
35:11What I'll say is that
35:14At the end of the day
35:15It is the most powerful way
35:17That you can express
35:19Your decision-making power
35:21Over what government ought to do
35:24And another thing I want to mention
35:26Is that right now
35:29We're talking a lot about
35:31The federal level
35:31And the funding that is going out
35:331.2 trillion dollars total
35:35Between the transportation work
35:37That my department is doing
35:38The work on water
35:40School buses
35:40And other things
35:41That Administrator Regan
35:42Is working on
35:43The work in the Commerce Department
35:45To make sure everybody
35:47Has access to the internet
35:48At an affordable rate
35:49But most of the actual decisions
35:52Are actually being made
35:53Closer to home
35:54So we might send out
35:56Billions of dollars
35:57To the state of Louisiana
35:59For example
35:59And then decisions will be made
36:02In Baton Rouge
36:03Or in the city of New Orleans
36:05About what to actually do
36:07With a lot of those dollars
36:08There's much more money
36:10That moves that way
36:11Than moves in a way
36:12That we pick and choose
36:13In an office like mine
36:14And the reason I'm mentioning this
36:16Is because people have more power
36:18Than they think
36:19To make their voices heard
36:21In local processes
36:22At the state house
36:24At the city council
36:25At the planning commission
36:26Places where
36:27Unlike the United States Congress
36:29You don't have to be invited
36:30To show up and testify or speak
36:32You can show up
36:33Whenever they have a meeting
36:34And make your voice heard
36:35And so there's
36:36Yes, there's the importance
36:38Of voting always
36:39There's also the importance
36:40Of participating
36:41In these local processes
36:42To be empowered
36:43Especially if you
36:44You know
36:45Where that railroad crossing is
36:47That needs to be eliminated
36:48You know
36:48Where that bridge is
36:50That has been
36:50Restricted
36:51In terms of the ability
36:52To cross it
36:53Because it's in such bad shape
36:54And you've got to go around
36:55And find a different route
36:56You know
36:57When the bus
36:59Is only running
37:00Once an hour
37:01And it's actually
37:01Not showing up
37:02When it's supposed to
37:03And there needs to be
37:04An investment there
37:05And we need that voice
37:07To be heard
37:07For this infrastructure
37:09Investment to go well
37:10And can I just add
37:12Don't give up
37:13We didn't pass
37:15Civil rights
37:16On the first go around
37:17We can't give up
37:18It's too important
37:21That we stay in the process
37:23It's easy to get frustrated
37:25And see people fall out
37:27Of the democratic process
37:28We can't do that
37:29Or we'll never see change
37:31But I get it
37:32People are frustrated
37:33I worked in Congress
37:35A long time
37:36Before I did this job
37:37And let me tell you
37:39It's a frustrating process
37:40But what's the alternative
37:41And my message here today
37:44Is you've got to stay in the game
37:45In order to affect change
37:47And I think they've said it best
37:49The only thing I'll add is
37:50You know
37:51If you want solutions
37:53That reflect your principles
37:55And your values
37:56Then you have to have people
37:57In leadership
37:58That look like you
38:00Or understand where you've been
38:02And where you've coming from
38:03And so we need to be sure
38:04That you know
38:05We participate
38:06In every aspect of the process
38:09The power of everyone's voice
38:12Is so important
38:13And you want to proactively
38:14Get everything that you deserve
38:17From your government today
38:18And you don't want to wake up
38:21To a bad ruling of a Supreme Court
38:23And then realize that you should have been active
38:25The whole time
38:26So everyone should mobilize
38:28And ensure that their values are reflected
38:31Each and every day
38:32And by the way
38:33When you think about education
38:35And transportation
38:36Clean water
38:37Clean air
38:37All of these things
38:39Impact all of us
38:40But typically
38:41Disproportionately hurt
38:43Women and black women
38:44More than anyone
38:45And so
38:46There's a vested interest here
38:48Which is why we're here
38:49Well I thank you for that
38:50That really hit close to home
38:52Because I feel like that just happened
38:53We woke up like
38:54We anticipated this
38:57But here we are
38:58So are there any last words
39:00I want to give you guys a minute
39:01For closing remarks
39:02Before we exit the stage
39:05One minute each
39:07I'm happy to start
39:09One
39:09Thanks for having me back home
39:12I'm a proud daughter
39:13Of South Louisiana
39:15My eight month old
39:17Is getting to visit
39:18Her grandparents
39:19At Baton Rouge
39:20And really
39:21That brings in perspective
39:22What I do
39:23They tell you
39:25It changes you
39:26To have a child
39:26That is the
39:28God's honest truth
39:29Everything I see
39:30I want better
39:32For her
39:32That's why I encourage
39:34Everybody to stay engaged
39:36So we can do better
39:37For our kids
39:38You know
39:38One of the first lessons
39:40I had from my parents
39:41When leaving the house
39:42Was you got to be better
39:44A lot of black kids
39:46Brown kids
39:47Hear that from their parents
39:48You got to be better
39:49To succeed
39:50I would love
39:51Not to have to
39:51Give that same speech
39:53To my child
39:54The same is just fine
39:56We all have high expectations
39:58And don't mind
40:01Working harder
40:02And better
40:03But I think everyone
40:04Deserves a fair shake
40:05In this country
40:06And I'm proud
40:07Of the representation
40:08This president has
40:10In his cabinet
40:11Because it does matter
40:12And coming
40:13Having people
40:14Who get to put out
40:17Over a trillion dollars
40:18In funding
40:18And who get to decide
40:20What our values are
40:21In our budget
40:22Who might come from
40:24A town of 2000
40:25With you know
40:27Some strong black
40:28Grandmother
40:29And mother
40:30We have some shared values
40:32And some things in common
40:34So thank you
40:35For letting me come home
40:36Thank you for letting me
40:36Talk to my folks
40:39And it is a pleasure
40:41And we have a lot of work
40:43To do to improve
40:44Please don't think
40:45We're sitting on our laurels
40:48But we're at events
40:49Like this
40:49Because we can't stay in DC
40:51If we want to affect change
40:53We have to hear from you
40:54So thank you
40:55Any last words
40:59Secretary Buttigieg
41:00First of all
41:01Likewise
41:02So appreciative
41:02Of the chance to be here
41:03And I just want to say
41:05We know what we're up against
41:07In every way
41:09What's happening
41:10To prices
41:11A war in Europe
41:12Aftershocks
41:13From the pandemic
41:14Decisions from
41:16The highest court
41:17In the land
41:18That are taking away rights
41:19That we have counted on
41:21All our lives
41:22But
41:23I'm excited about
41:25What we can do
41:25In this moment
41:26Because
41:27We do have
41:28Leadership
41:29That makes it possible
41:31For me to sit
41:32At a cabinet table
41:33Right down the
41:36Hall
41:36From the Oval Office
41:37With leaders
41:39Like
41:39Like Director Young
41:40And Administrator Regan
41:41And the President
41:42And the Vice President
41:43And a table
41:44That truly looks like America
41:45And we have the resources
41:48To get out there
41:49In every community
41:50From the biggest cities
41:51To the smallest towns
41:53And create opportunity
41:55Create generational wealth
41:57Create the chance
41:59To see to it
42:00That the future
42:01Is going to be better
42:02Than the past was
42:03And whether that succeeds
42:05Or not
42:05Depends so much
42:06On participation
42:07And on empowerment
42:08And that is especially true
42:11As we're here at Essence
42:12It's especially
42:13In my mind
42:14That if we do not
42:16Harness the power
42:17Of black women
42:18The talent
42:19And the capacity
42:20Of black women
42:20We won't be able
42:21To get this job done
42:22We are about to launch
42:24A level of transformation
42:27In this country
42:27That will test
42:29What this country
42:30Can produce
42:31We're literally
42:31Going to need
42:32To bring the absolute
42:33Maximum capability
42:34Of our workforce
42:35Our talent
42:38Which means
42:39If we leave any talent
42:40On the table
42:41We're going to come up short
42:42So let's not leave
42:44Any talent on the table
42:46Let's all be part of this
42:47And I'm excited
42:48About what we're going
42:49To deliver in the end
42:49Thank you
42:50And Administrator Regan
42:51Yeah I'll be sure
42:52To not repeat
42:53What they've said
42:54Because they've said it
42:55I want to thank you
42:56For giving us this platform
42:57You have such
42:58A powerful voice
42:59And you're actually
43:01Providing a gateway
43:02For us to get this
43:03Information out
43:04To so many important people
43:06The second thing
43:07And the last thing
43:08I'll say
43:08Is black women
43:09Are the backbone
43:10Of the democratic party
43:12If we want to be successful
43:14We are going to have
43:15To connect
43:16Harness
43:17And cultivate
43:18The ideas
43:19And the thoughts
43:20And the energy
43:21And the intellect
43:21Of black women
43:22That is how
43:23We're going to be successful
43:24That's why we're here today
43:25All right
43:26Well thank you so much
43:27And like I told you beforehand
43:29It's been a journey
43:30For me to make sure
43:30I educate myself
43:32And pay attention
43:33To everything that's going on
43:34So I want to thank
43:35Everybody who is here
43:36Paying attention
43:37And making sure
43:38That we stay informed
43:39Thank you so much
43:40For joining us
43:41On this panel
43:42Thank you Essence
43:44We're going to be happy
43:46We're going to be happy
43:47And see if
43:48And we're going to
43:48We have to
43:50West
43:51We're going to be happy
43:52Exactly
43:53We're going to be happy
43:54To have questions
43:55This is
43:56You
44:03Please
44:05We're going to be capable
44:05To have questions
44:05You
44:07Excuse me
44:09嘆
44:09You
44:09To have questions
44:11You
44:11Tell us
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