Morgan State University today was the site of the latest forum on African-American policy discussion organized by the Obama Administration. It was the second HBCU stop for the forum tour aimed at addressing pressing needs of Black communities with educators, business leaders and community activists.

The forum hosted keynote remarks from top White House adviser Valerie Jarrett, who in an armchair discussion with advocate and radio host Joe Madison, discussed the need for expanded higher education and economic development for Black communities.

Jarrett said the forums stem from an event in November that Obama hosted at the White House, focusing on initiatives central to African-American communities. White House officials have held the forums in cities such as Cleveland and Las Vegas; Jarrett visited Morgan, one of the nation’s oldest and largest historically black universities, in part because of its proximity to Washington.

“Many of the initiatives that the president put in place since we began this were suggestions that came through the forum,” said Jarrett, citing an executive order that allows small businesses that do work for the federal government to get paid in 15 days, rather than the customary 30 days.

The forum tour visited Jackson State University earlier this year.

Morgan State University Valerie Jarrett