Strategies of civil rights groups lag election results

A promise of a new direction

Chanelle Hardy, senior vice-president and Executive Director for the National Urban League Policy Institute in Washington, also said that her organization was making plans to turn more of its attention to its state and local affiliates.

“I think that because we recognize that there will be gridlock in Washington, we’re trying to figure out other ways to get things accomplished,” she said. “And obviously more of these smaller changes can occur at [the state and local] level.”

Hardy added that a large part of the National Urban League’s annual Legislative Policy Conference would focus on how the organization can move its agenda forward at the state level.

“It’s going to be a new challenge for us,” said Hardy. “In some ways all of us are looking at our agendas and we’re scrambling to figure out entirely new ways to get these things done.”

“I think that the state level obviously still has its challenges,” she continued. “But I definitely think we’re looking at any and all ways that we can continue to get a proactive agenda driven.”