Unemployment in the fifty largest cities is down to 6.5 percent from 9 percent in 1992. And crime is down substantially. Having said all that, too many Americans are still not participating, or are not participating fully, in the economic well-being that most are sharing. And too many Americans who are participating in the mainstream economy still face barriers to fully achieving their potential. Although government at all levels is important to addressing these issues, I believe corporate America has a vital role to play in its own self-interest in expanding opportunity for all Americans.
Inclusion is good for the bottom line.
In today's highly competitive global economy, it is more important than ever to each company to hire and retain the best people it can get. There may be a tendency among businesses to hire and promote the type of people they have worked with in the past. Outreach to all, and recognizing and putting aside habits of doing what has been done before, makes good business sense for each company, and will lead to a stronger and more competitive economy for all of us. The private sector, and each of us as individuals, can also help promote our country's economic growth by getting involved in helping the residents of our inner cities realize their potential. Another approach is to help small businesses or budding entrepreneurs through business mentoring, and here there is great opportunity for all sorts of programs.