The Center for Urban Renewal and Education is a conservative-leaning organization that advocates free-market policies and traditional values as the most effective ways to lift people out of poverty. 1
Right-of-center commentator Star Parker started the organization in 1995 at a time when she was consulting members of Congress and members of state legislators about the benefits of reforming welfare. 2 3
Background
The Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) is a conservative-leaning think tank founded in 1995 by conservative activist and commentator Star Parker to fight poverty. 4
The organization characterizes itself as a “think-and-do tank” with a mission to address issues of culture, race, and poverty from a Judeo-Christian perspective. 5 The organization says it wants to restore dignity through faith, freedom, and personal responsibility. 6
On its 2019 filing with the IRS, CURE reported spending $494,808 on traditional and social media. It spent another $538,163 on the National CURE Clergy Network, which is a network of pastors across the United States to help advance the organization’s agenda. It reported spending $429,071 on public policy and “changing laws to change lives” by advocating policy solutions for low-income communities. 7
Policy Advocacy
CURE promotes traditional values, a free-market economy and limited government. The organization pushes its agenda in the media and on Capitol Hill. 8
The organization primarily focuses on market-based solutions for the issues of housing, education, health care, economics, as well as race and culture. 9
CURE opposes abortion. It also advocates market-based approaches rather than government welfare programs to transition poor Americans from government dependence to economic independence. 10
Leadership
Star Parker
Star Parker, a syndicated columnist and frequent television commentator, is the founder and president of CURE. 11 Parker, an African American who lived in poverty for seven years, said her life was changed by Christianity and by starting a business in Los Angeles. 12
Parker later consulted members of Congress and state legislators in the 1990s about welfare reform and market-based solutions to fight poverty that passed at the state level. Several state legislatures passed welfare reform. From here, she founded CURE in 1995. 13 In 1996, Congress passed a federal welfare reform law.
In 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Parker to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights California Advisory Committee. In 2018, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) appointed Parker to the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission. In 2017, Parker was part of the White House Opportunity Initiative advisory team. 14
Parker is the host of the weekly TV show “Cure America with Star Parker.” 15
Other Senior Figures
Marc Little, a pastor in Los Angeles, California, is the chairman of the board of directors for CURE. 16
Robert Borens is vice president for policy at CURE. He worked with Parker and CURE for more than 20 years. He previously worked for Getty Oil Company. He is a former vice president of development at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. 17
Diana Banister is the vice president of strategic initiatives for CURE. Before coming to CURE, she was a senior advisor at the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration.
She was also on the White House Domestic Policy Council during the Trump administration.
Before that, she was a managing partner of Shirley and Banister Public Affairs for almost 20 years. 18
References
- Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Charity Navigator. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311467594
- Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Charity Navigator. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311467594
- “About.” Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://curepolicy.org/about/
- Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Charity Navigator. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311467594
- “Center for Urban Renewal and Education.” LinkedIn. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/company/center-for-urban-renewal-and-education/about/
- [1] Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Charity Navigator. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311467594
- Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Charity Navigator. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311467594
- Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Charity Navigator. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311467594
- “Policy.” Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://curepolicy.org/#policy
- Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Charity Navigator. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311467594
- Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Charity Navigator. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311467594
- “Star Parker.” Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://curepolicy.org/star-parker/
- [1] “About.” Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://curepolicy.org/about/
- “Star Parker.” Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://curepolicy.org/star-parker/
- Parker, Star. “Will Republicans step up to challenge on Christian values?” Lewistown Sentinel. June 17, 2021. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.lewistownsentinel.com/opinion/local-columns/2021/06/will-republicans-step-up-to-challenge-on-christian-values/
- Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Charity Navigator. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311467594
- “Staff and Board.” Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://curepolicy.org/staff/
- “Staff and Board.” Center for Urban Renewal and Education. Accessed January 13, 2022. https://curepolicy.org/staff/