* * * MEDIA ADVISORY * * *
VALERIE JARRETT, GRANT HILL AND MARC MORIAL JOIN FOURTH NBA TOGETHER VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE ON SYSTEMIC INEQUALITY AND COVID-19’S IMPACT ON BLACK AMERICA
WHO: Valerie Jarrett – Senior Distinguished Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School and Senior Advisor to the Obama Foundation Grant Hill – Naismith Hall of Famer, Vice Chairman of the Atlanta Hawks & Turner Sports Analyst Marc H. Morial – President of the National Urban League & former Mayor of New Orleans Caron Butler – NBA Champion, Vera Institute of Justice board member & Turner Sports Analyst
WHAT: In partnership with the National Urban League, the NBA will convene its fourth discussion in the NBA Together Virtual Roundtable Series, addressing historic and systemic causes of inequality that have worsened the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the Black community. Participants include Senior Advisor to the Obama Foundation Valerie Jarrett, President and CEO of the National Urban League Marc H. Morial, Naismith Hall of Famer, Vice Chairman of the Atlanta Hawks & Turner Sports Analyst Grant Hill and Vera Institute of Justice board member Caron Butler, who will return as host. Reflecting on recent data, the conversation will explore pre-existing economic and health inequalities exacerbating COVID’s impact, challenges facing black-owned businesses and working parents, implications of reopening for underserved communities, short- and long-term solutions and more.
Beginning this week, the roundtable series will air on NBA TV at 8:30 p.m. ET every Thursday after originally streaming Tuesdays at 7 p.m. ET on the official NBA Twitter account. Tuesday’s guests have unique perspectives and experiences with systemic and racial inequalities and their lasting effects; Jarrett speaks candidly of her experiences as a mother in her book “Finding My Voice” and serves as Board Chair of When We All Vote, Morial served on the Louisiana Senate and as former Mayor of New Orleans before leading the National Urban League, Butler was incarcerated at age 15 before going on to play in the NBA for 14 years and becoming a trustee of Vera Institute of Justice, and Hill is longtime advocate for change and has received numerous accolades from peers in the sports community for his civil rights contributions.
NBA Together Roundtables examine the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus on marginalized communities of color. Hosted by Butler in partnership with the National Urban League, the series features leading voices from the NBA family, public health experts and social justice leaders. Last week’s discussion examined anti-Asian bias and featured Andrew Yang, Vanita Gupta and Jeremy Lin.
As previously announced, the NBA family has joined Magic Johnson and leading organizations like the National Urban League to raise awareness around these disparities and examine health, economic and social equity. Using the league’s digital footprint, we are amplifying the work of leading organizations supporting Black, Hispanic, and other communities impacted by coronavirus through a series of public service messages, including through a recent PSA featuring Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and additional virtual content, community programs and partnerships. Learn more about how the National Urban League is working to uplift communities at NUL.org.
WHERE: Official NBA Twitter Account - @NBA
WHEN: Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 7 p.m. ET
CONTACT: Chantal Romain, NBA, (914) 439-0710 or [email protected]