WASHINGTON, D.C.— Better Markets congratulates board member Dedrick Asante-Muhammed for being named to TIME’s new list of Closers, 18 Black leaders working to close the racial wealth divide. Asante-Muhammed has also been named the new President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

“Dedrick has long been passionate about highlighting and changing the perpetually unfair treatment, inequality and injustice that so many Black people face in today’s financial and economic systems,” said Dennis Kelleher, Co-founder, President and CEO of Better Markets. “His leadership and work related to the racial wealth divide has been groundbreaking and instrumental in the fight against racial economic inequity and injustice, and we are proud to work with him and benefit from his expertise at Better Markets.”

In naming Asante-Muhammad to its Closer list, TIME specifically cited Asante-Muhammad’s work with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and the study he conducted with  colleagues entitled “The Road to Zero Wealth: How the Racial Wealth Divide Is Hollowing Out America’s Middle Class.” TIME editors spent months researching and fielding recommendations for the list of Closers, from both editorial staff and the Black Innovation Alliance. The list includes Black leaders in business, policymaking, health care, entertainment, and more, who are working to address the racial wealth divide.

Asante-Muhammed has also been selected as President of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, long known as America’s Black think tank.  In selecting him, Paul N.D. Thornell, the Joint Center’s Chair, explained, “With two decades dedicated to unraveling and combating racial and economic inequities, Dedrick’s renowned expertise in racial wealth divide analysis will undoubtedly propel our mission forward with insight and impact.” The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that creates ideas to improve the socioeconomic status and civic engagement of African Americans.

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Better Markets is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent organization founded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to promote the public interest in the financial markets, support the financial reform of Wall Street and make our financial system work for all Americans again. Better Markets works with allies—including many in finance—to promote pro-market, pro-business and pro-growth policies that help build a stronger, safer financial system that protects and promotes Americans’ jobs, savings, retirements and more. To learn more, visit www.bettermarkets.org.