Dear friend,

I am Jared Pone, a policy counsel on CRL’s state team based in our Durham, NC office. As a recent hire at CRL, I have not yet entered my first state legislative session, but I have already felt the impact of our advocacy, attention, and articulation of the issues to those who sit in seats of power. In my time at CRL I have had the distinct pleasure of working with coalition partners in many states including Colorado, Indiana, Florida, and Louisiana to name a few. In our coalitions, we provide background support whether it is research on upcoming legislation, collecting data and stories from citizens, or even using our knowledge on nationwide economic justice issues to sound the alarm in the halls of justice throughout our country. 

One area that I am especially proud to serve is within our student debt working group. In the Student Debt group, I serve as a liaison on our Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) initiatives. HBCUs have served as vital institutions of higher education that have produced more than 130,000 jobs and almost $15 billion annually in total economic impact for their local and regional economies. But HBCUs have been underfunded throughout their histories.  

As a proud triple Eagle Alumnus of North Carolina Central University, an HBCU located in Durham, NC, and as a former higher education administrator I have experienced the rich history, legacy, and pride of the HBCU experience. Like many other student borrowers, I have also experienced the pains and crippling nature of student loan debt. Debt that forces many borrowers to decide between putting food on the table for their families or becoming delinquent on their loans. It is with those borrowers in mind that we at CRL have partnered with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and a host of other partners to compel action from our nation’s leaders concerning student debt. I could not have chosen a more noble task to pursue in my profession. I truly feel that we are doing the will of the people and getting into “Good Trouble” as the Late Rep. John Lewis coined. 

I also want to take a moment of personal privilege and formally thank you for your generosity. Because of donors like you, we can advocate for those who are marginalized or underserved by the existing financial marketplace, and in many cases, are targeted for unfair and abusive financial products that leave them worse off. This includes people of color, women, rural residents, and low-wealth families and communities. 

The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) is a leading nonprofit, nonpartisan organization focused on financial fairness and opportunity. Fighting for economic justice for low- and middle-income families, military personnel and veterans, and people of color is our mission and highest priority.

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