Approved Programs are added as students, experts and the public present advocacy proposals or suggestions for various universities, high schools, businesses and public institutions.

Email your proposals or suggestions to: Directors@diversitythinktank.org

Diversity Think Tank Scholarships and Partnerships

The Diversity Think Tank Higher Education Support Scholarship was established by the Education Director to foster diversity and global inclusion by assisting qualified African students who desire to study in education institutions abroad.

The Diversity Think Tank also seeks partnerships with companies and individuals who would donate to the scholarship fund or specific areas of study for African students who are in most need of education support.

To apply for scholarship or donate funds contact: LouFosu@diversitythinktank.org

Puerto Rico Policy Statement

The Diversity Think Tank renews its commitment to advancing advocacy for Puerto Rico by educating the public and policymakers on the urgent need to revisit and reinstate Section 936 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code—a once-critical tax policy that supported economic development on the island.

Background: Section 936 and Its Repeal

Enacted in 1976, Section 936, also known as the Possession Tax Credit, allowed U.S. corporations to repatriate profits from U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, without incurring federal corporate income tax. This tax incentive attracted a wave of investment—particularly in the pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors—spurring rapid economic growth, job creation, and increases in both household incomes and public spending on education and social programs.

However, in 1996, under pressure from tax reform advocates and Congress, President Bill Clinton approved legislation to phase out Section 936 over a 10-year period. By 2006, the credit was fully eliminated, triggering a dramatic economic downturn. Plant closures, mass job losses, and a steadily increasing unemployment rate devastated the Puerto Rican economy. With a shrinking tax base, the government turned to borrowing to fund basic services—ultimately falling prey to exploitative debt restructuring schemes by Wall Street banks. These financial challenges were later compounded by natural disasters such as Hurricane Maria in 2017, and the COVID-19 pandemic, deepening Puerto Rico’s economic and social crisis.

Policy Proposal

The Diversity Think Tank will advocate for:

1. Revisiting and modernizing Section 936 or a similar tax credit, specifically designed to incentivize long-term corporate investment and sustainable job creation in Puerto Rico.
2. Federal recognition of Puerto Rico’s unique economic realities by proposing special provisions to adjust minimum income requirements for federal program eligibility. Applying the same poverty thresholds as the mainland U.S. is inequitable, given the significant disparity in income levels.
3. Expanded access to federal social services, including health care, housing assistance, and education funding, tailored to the specific demographic and geographic needs of the island.
4. Robust financial oversight and protection from exploitative debt schemes, ensuring Puerto Rico’s future fiscal autonomy and resilience.

Puerto Rico is home to over three million U.S. citizens who deserve equitable access to opportunity and dignity. Without restoring meaningful federal support—especially through sound tax policy and tailored economic relief—Puerto Rico will remain trapped in a cycle of crisis. The Diversity Think Tank calls on Congress and federal agencies to act with urgency and justice.