Dear NCRC members and friends,

Donald Trump's victory four years ago was unimaginable to many, and an emotional blow that only got worse over time. Until now. We finally know: Joe Biden will be the 46th president, and Kamala Harris will be many firsts as vice president: Black, South Asian, woman, mom.

Yes, this is a moment to exhale and be hopeful: for less racism, less hate, more love, and better national leadership.

But keep your masks on. Almost everything that was falling apart before the election is still falling apart. Our political and cultural divisions are deep. More than 300,000 Americans are dead from a virus almost no one heard of a year ago. Thousands of small businesses and millions of jobs are gone, some never to return. Mortgages and rents are due, eviction moratoriums are running out, coronavirus is raging and winter is coming. 

In other words, let's be real. This won't be easy. Trump didn't create all of our problems. Biden and Harris won't solve them all in the next four years, or on their own. A great deal is on us.

We need to rebuild and revive devastated communities and regain trust in essential institutions and systems. That includes the systems and community development "anchors" that NCRC works to improve: financial services, housing and small business.

But it also includes others that need to be accessible and excellent for everyone, like education, healthcare, elections, the environment, broadband networks and our food system. We need to solve the racial wealth divide and erase the gender pay gap. 

That's why we need each other, now more than ever. We need to ignite the imaginations and amplify the voices of millions of Americans who are already committed, in their hearts, to a Just Economy. We need to come together, be more visible, and connect scattered networks, leaders and organizations dedicated to solving a wide range of issues. We need to strengthen and enforce fair housing and fair lending laws, like the Community Reinvestment Act, expand wealth-building opportunities such as homeownership and tackle the lack of affordable housing. And yes, we need to go further - to not only express but truly fulfill the nation's commitment to equality. That's going to require bold leadership and investments from the private sector too. 

We are stronger together. Leaders listen when NCRC members speak out on public policy, and they notice when hundreds of messages turn into thousands. We need to inspire and activate even more.

How? Here's a start: Support NCRC.

We need you. Donate to NCRC to support our independent, nonprofit research, publishing, investigations, training, advocacy and programs.

Donate now: www.ncrc.org/donate.

It's a huge relief that we'll have new leadership in the White House and new directions on banking and housing policy, immigration, racial justice, the economy and so much more. We're already engaged with the Biden team and looking forward to progress on America's toughest issues. But there's a lot of work ahead for all of us. Thank you for joining us in that journey.

With gratitude for your support and hope for a better tomorrow,

Jesse Van Tol