Florida Black Youth Vote kicks off 10-day countdown to Election Day on FAMU campus

Washington, DC – In an effort to increase Black voter turnout for the Nov. 4 election, this past Saturday the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) kicked-off an aggressive 10-day voter mobilization countdown to close out its #Vote4Justice Campaign focused on motivating Black women and youth voters to seize the voting power they have to impact the outcome of the 2014 Midterm Elections and effect issues they care about in their local communities.

“Because of the lagging economy in Black communities, each candidate’s position on issues like jobs with livable wages, equal pay for women, retirement security, and student loan relief is motivating people to vote,” said Melanie L. Campbell, president and CEO, NCBCP and convener, Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR). “But, all politics is local, so for this countdown period we have neighbors talking to neighbors via personal phone calls, robo calls, door-to-door canvassing, and social media, to remind them they have the power to make change in their community .”

Affiliates of the NCBCP’s youth initiative, Black Youth Vote!, and their women’s empowerment program, Black Women’s Roundtable, are leading the mobilizing efforts on the ground in AL, FL, GA, MI, NC, OH, PA. Volunteers are disseminating non-partisan information about state and local ballot initiatives that will determine whether medical marijuana use should be legal, if the governor should have the power to appoint certain judges, or if they need public transportation in a predominately Black county with a 9.4 percent unemployment rate.

“Throughout Florida we’ve hosted a BWR Don’t Count Us Out statewide tour, town hall meetings on college campuses, , and partnered with the AME Church for a march to the polls for early voting,” said Salandra Benton, convener Florida BWR. “We are making personal contact to remind voters that in Florida this election will give voters an opportunity to send a message about the 15 million Black Floridians without health care.”

Helen Butler, convener of Georgia BWR, adds, “Early voting already started and we’re busy giving rides to the polls. What’s driving a lot of voters in Georgia is their rejection of attempts to suppress the Black vote. Also, Black voters are excited about the fact that five Black women are running for state offices at one time for the first time in history.”

The myriad of get-out-the-vote (GOTV) activities include: hosting rallies, festivals, #PoweroftheSisterVote events, twitter townhalls, and other social media events to motivate voters. Volunteers are providing rides to the polls and coordinating marches from churches and college campuses for early voting. Celebrity voices enlisted to urge Black women to vote include TV Judge Glenda Hatchett and actress, Janet Hubert (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air).

“In Michigan, access to good jobs with good wages, childcare and the shifting of the tax burden to the poor and middle class are key issues,” says Danielle Atkinson, convener, Detroit BWR. “Black mothers are also worried about the lack of school programs and high expulsion rates for Black children.”

According to Black Youth Vote fellow, Sherman Justice, young voters are still motivated by the Michael Brown killing in Ferguson and other police brutality and criminal justice issues so they are getting a lot of students volunteering for the final push on college campuses.

On Election Day, in addition to the local mobilizing efforts in the states, in Washington, DC the NCBCP will host a national war room – The Ronald H. Walters Election Day Command Center – monitoring voter turnout and potential problems at the polls. This year the command center will be co-hosted by Howard University’s Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center on Howard’s campus.

For anyone interested in volunteering or participating in any of the state events, NCBCP has a detailed schedule of GOTV activities and local contact information on their website at www.ncbcp.org or call the national office at (202) 659-4988.

Relatives of the late Campbell Pulliam were on hand to present the award. Pictured above (L-R): Richard G. Womack, Sr, chair, NCBCP; Melanie Campbell, president and CEO, NCBCP; Isaac Campbell Jr., relative; DeVaughn; Karma Cottman, executive director, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Savannah Campbell, relative; and Rev. Judith C. Moore, relative (photo credit: C-it Visual)

Washington, DC – Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and founder of the LoveLife Foundation, Raheem DeVaughn, told the audience he was attempting to lead by example with his music and foundation as he accepted the Ruby Campbell Pulliam “Love You More” Servant Leadership and Community ServiceAward during the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s (NCBCP) 17th Annual Spirit of Democracy Awards Red Carpet Affair held in DC last week.

Hosted by actor/comedian, Jonathan Slocumb, and sponsored by Verizon and Comcast NBC Universal, the event also honored: Charles Ogletree Jr., Harvard University Law School professor; Elsie Scott, PhD, founding director, Ron Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center, Howard University; Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director, CEO, MomsRising.org; Mayor William Bell, Birmingham, Alabama; Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science; Councilwoman Sheila Tyson, convener, Alabama Coalition on Black Civic Participation; and Helen Butler, executive director, Georgia Coalition for the Peoples Agenda.

Members of the Black Women’s Roundtable look on as Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever (at podium) shares her experience with domestic abuse during the BWR press conference urging NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to add Black women to his advisory team. The press conference was held during the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference in DC. PHOTO CREDIT: Paulette Singleton.

Washington, DC – Expressing absolute agreement with National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell that he “got it wrong,” the Black Women’s Roundtable Public Policy Network (BWR) held a press conference today to urge the commissioner to take swift action to “get it right,” starting by appointing black women experts in domestic violence and sexual assault to the recently established Domestic Violence Advisory Board.

“The fact that not one of the women experts appointed to the advisory board was Black is totally unacceptable,” said Melanie L. Campbell, president and CEO, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and convener, BWR. “Nearly 70 percent of the NFL players are Black and most of the victims are Black women and children. Clearly, Black women understand the social construct and cultural sensitivities of the victims as well as the young players from our community and can advise the NFL accordingly.”

“Victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse are our daughters, granddaughters and sisters, we are here to support them,” adds Marcia Dyson, CEO and Founder, Women’s Global Initiative.”We don’t want anyone to believe that Black men are the poster boys for domestic violence. These young men are our sons and brothers. Many of them went through school as star athletes and came out without the proper boundaries.”

The women say the nature of the game of football promotes violence. They believe that since NFL makes millions off a violent sport, they should take more responsibility for some of the violence and commit to funding holistic, family-oriented counseling, training and prevention programs.

Noting that violence in the NFL is a reflection of the broader society, Campbell adds, “It’s not just Goodell who needs to get it right. The owners, coaches, and others in management must take the lead in the quest to eradicate violence in the NFL, other sports and, since so many young people look up to athletes, in the broader community. The NFL needs to step up given their role in society.”

Members of the Black Women’s Roundtable look on as Teresa C. Younger of Ms. Foundation for Women (at podium) expresses her support of the campaign urging NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to get it right by adding Black women to his advisory team. during a press conference held during the CBCF Annual Legislative Conference in DC. PHOTO CREDIT: Paulette Singleton.

“The NFL’s advisory team must include Black women with a demonstrated expertise in the development and implementation of culturally specific services, policies, and programs addressing domestic violence and sexual assault in the Black community, said Karma Cottman, executive director, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “The NFL must also include domestic and sexual violence organizations that are by and for the Black community among the NFL’s organizational advisors.”

The women provided details about specific actions they will take over the next few weeks to elevate the voices of Black women in the conversation about domestic violence in the NFL, other sports, and the broader issue of domestic violence nationally. Actions include:

* Creation of an online petition (http://tinyurl.com/ll6cnw7) urging Commissioner Roger Goodell to immediately include Black women as external domestic violence experts on the NFL’s Domestic Violence Advisory Board.
* Launch of a social media campaign that will include twitter town hall meetings featuring celebrities. The first twitter town hall will take place Tuesday September 30, 2014 at 2 PM ET. (Hashtag #NFLgetitright).
* Outreach to BWR partners to write letters to the NFL supporting the BWR initiative.
* Provide recommendations on Black women experts and Black organizations.
* BWR and partners will meet with corporations who sponsor the NFL
* Meet with Ana Isaacson and Troy Vincent to plan a larger meeting to address domestic violence, sexual assault and other diversity issues plaguing the NFL. (Set for October 1st in NY)
* Meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as requested in the BWR open letter.
On September 16, 2014 BWR sent an open letter to a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell requesting an emergency meeting with him to address the fact that there are no black women included in the recently established advisory group of women appointed to assist in developing new policies to eradicate domestic violence within the NFL. To date, our request to meet with Commissioner Goodell has not been scheduled.

Avis Jones-DeWeever, Ph.D.,Incite Unlimited, LLC,shared her personal story of abuse and Pam Meanes of theNational Bar Association, spoke of her sister’s tragic murder at the hands of her spouse.Other BWR members and allies speaking at the press conference include: Chanelle Hardy, National Urban League; Janaye Ingram, National Action Network; Teresa Younger, Ms. Foundation for Women; Waikinya Clanton,, N.O.B.E.L. Women; and Elsie Scott, PhD, Ronald W. Walters Leadership & Public Policy Center.

“BWR expects that the commissioner and leadership of each of the 32 teams in the NFL will increase their diversity acumen and demonstrate cultural competence,” offers René Redwood, CEO, Redwood Enterprise, LLC. “Culturally competent people know how to take advantage of teachable moments, how to ask questions without offending, and how to create an environment that is welcoming to diversity and to change.”

Rev. Barbara Williams-Skinner, PhD, National African American Clergy Network, concludes, “It’s not just a health, criminal, business or human issue, it’s a moral issue.”

For more information visit www.ncbcp.org

Washington, DC – Black Women’s Roundtable Public Policy Network (BWR), the women’s initiative of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP), will release a report reviewing the overall status of Black women during the third annual BWR Women of Power Summit taking place March 27-29 in Washington, DC.

The report will be released on Capitol Hill the first day of the summit – Public Policy Day. Following the release of the report BWR delegates will visit legislators on Capitol Hill and attend a briefing with representatives from Congress. Confirmed speakers include Congresswoman Yvette Clarke; Congresswoman Donna Edwards; Susan L. Taylor, National CARES Mentoring Movement; Lucia McBath, Mother of Jordan Davis; and Dee Marshall, Raising the Bar LLC, among others.

On Friday the women will assemble for a day of organizing and training at The Hilton Crystal City. Day three of the BWR Women of Power summit is dedicated to education and cultural enrichment allowing the intergenerational group of women and girls to tour major landmarks in the nation’s capital.

“We are excited about hosting our network of women in DC and releasing a report on the status of the women who out-voted every demographic in the last election,” said Melanie L. Campbell, president and CEO, NCBCP and convener, BWR. “Our delegates will visit their representatives to let them know the needs in their local communities. We will have also have sessions and workshops on economic opportunities, financial literacy, equal pay issues, quality public education, STEM, voting rights, and sustainability, among other issues.”

The BWR Report, The Status of Black Women in the US in 2014: 50 Years After the War on Poverty, Brown v. Board of Education & Civil Rights Act of 1964, will be the first in an annual series of reports that will utilize data from a wide range of government and private sources to provide a broad view of the lives of Black Women in America at this critical juncture. With Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever of Incite Unlimited serving as lead researcher, members of the BWR will examine the following issues:

The Economy — Channel Hardy, National Urban League Policy Institute
Education — Avis Jones-DeWeever, Incite Unlimited
Politics — Elsie Scott, Howard University, Waikinya Clanton, NOBEL-Women
Business — Felicia Davis, Building Green Network, Avis Jones-DeWeever
The Labor Movement — Carol Joyner, Labor Project for Working Families, Robin Williams, UFCW
Law — Tanya Clay House, Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Technology — Jocelyn Tate, Telecom Talk
Criminal Justice — Avis Jones-DeWeever
Health & Wellness — Shambulia Gadsden Sams, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The Retirement Years — Edna Kane-Williams, AARP
A Black Women’s Agenda for 2014 and Beyond – Melanie Campbell, Makani Themba, The Praxis Project
A Black Women’s 2014-2020 Civic Engagement and Empowerment Strategy – Melanie Campbell, Letetia Daniels Jackson, Tandeka, LLC
BWR, an intergenerational women’s policy network of the NCBCP, stays at the forefront of championing just and equitable public policy on behalf of Black women and girls and promotes health and wellness, economic security, education and global empowerment as key elements for success.

Sponsors of the 2014 BWR Summit include Verizon Foundation, The Moriah Fund, The Coca-Cola Company, Ford Foundation, American Federation of Government Employees and American Postal Workers Union, among others. To register ($40 women; $20 girls & teens 12 – 17) or for more information visit www.ncbcp.org, email bwrunity@ncbcp.org or call (202) 659-4929.