U.S. Department of Labor: Black Veterans & Good Jobs

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) and Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) are pleased to invite you to a three-part roundtable series Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces and focusing on Black Veteran Employment Outcomes, Barriers, and Interventions. The sessions bring together individuals with lived experience and subject matter experts to discuss the current state of research in the field, identify best practices that can be applied more widely, and consider potential research avenues to advance our collective understanding and expand our capacity to support Black veteran employment outcomes and career success within the civilian labor force.

Session 1 Panel Discussion

Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the Desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces: Black Veterans and Good Jobs (Hybrid: in-person; live webcast) – Hosted by VETS

Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. EDT

Location: Cesar Chavez Memorial Auditorium, Frances Perkins Building (street address provided above).

This in-person VETS-hosted session will feature veterans, practitioners, and researchers gathering to engage in thought-provoking discussion on the significance of the desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces, its impact on civil rights movements, progress made toward equality in the military, and Black veterans’ access to good jobs.

Speakers:

Julie A. Su - Acting Secretary of Labor (OSEC)

Julian Purdy - Deputy Assistant Secretary of Policy for the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)

Alaysia Black Hackett - Chief Diversity and Equity Officer for the Secretary of Labor (OSEC)

Panelists:

Patricia Jackson-Kelley - Immediate Past National President, National Association of Black Military Women

Victor LaGroon - Veteran, DEIA Subject Matter Expert

Joe Sharpe - Director of the Veterans Employment & Education Division for The American Legion

Barbara Ward - 3rd Vice President for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committee

Fallon Williams - LGBTQ+ Veterans Community Outreach and Relations Specialist for the DC Mayor's Office of Veteran Affairs

Joe Wynn - President/CEO for Veterans Enterprise Training & Services Group

Moderator:

Yolanda Peacock - Research Analyst for the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS)

To register for Session 1, please select “Get tickets.”

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Additional Roundtable Sessions

Session 2: Research Roundtable:

Current State Black Veteran Employment (Virtual) – Hosted by CEO and VETS

Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023

Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. EDT

This virtual session will feature researchers highlighting key findings on veterans and Black veteran employment outcomes, barriers, and opportunities. It will also feature practitioners describing how they use findings and data to help address barriers to employment, and what additional data may be useful to further advance service to the Black veteran community.

For more information and to register for Session 2, please visit the Zoom link here.

To request ASL Interpreting or captioning services for this event, please contact Interpreting.Services@dol.gov by July 18th.

Session 3: Research Roundtable:

Black Veteran Employment Barriers and Interventions (Virtual) – Hosted by CEO and VETS

Date: Monday, July 31, 2023

Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. EDT

The current body of research—though incomplete—suggests some key challenges, factors, and strategies to be considered in designing services and supports for Black service members and veterans in their transition from military to civilian employment. This session will present literature review findings on services and interventions that support Black veterans’ employment and career success, reduce employment barriers, and identify gaps in the existing research base as well as opportunities and priorities for bridging the gaps.

For more information and to register for Session 3, please visit the Zoom link here.

To request ASL Interpreting or captioning services for this event, please contact Interpreting.Services@dol.gov by July 18th.

The Department of Labor's VETS is proud to host this panel discussion and commemorative event, recognizing the pivotal moment in history when the U.S. Armed Forces took a significant step towards equality and integration.