Ralph B. Everett is President and CEO of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, widely acknowledged as the nation’s leading think tank for policy analysis and research on issues of concern to African Americans and other people of color.  Mr. Everett was appointed President and CEO of the Joint Center on January 1, 2007.  His visionary plan of action is centered on launching new initiatives designed to strengthen the effectiveness and visibility of the Joint Center’s work.  They include Institutes on Media and Technology and Civic Engagement and Governance, as well as the Energy and Environment Program.

Barbara L. Johnson is Acting Chair of the Joint Center Board of Governors and a partner in the Employment Law Department at Paul Hastings. Ms. Johnson is a nationally known employment jury trial and class action lawyer representing employers. She regularly tries cases in various state and federal courts, raising issues of alleged race, age, gender, and disability discrimination, wage and hour violations retaliation, breach of contract, and various employment torts. Ms. Johnson has tried more than 25 employment law cases.