Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness announced this week that Shanell Williams has been appointed as the new Executive Director. “As a native San Franciscan who has lost family to health disparities that plague the Black community, this work is personal, urgent, and vital. I am looking forward to working with our communities, partners, and city leaders to ensure that the Rafiki Coalition continues to be a leading resource to ensure the vitality, safety, and health of our communities.” Read the announcement here.
“Proposition 36 proponents want voters to believe that punishment and incarceration will force people to get clean and sober.” Tinisch Hollins, Executive Director of Californians for Safety and Justice, contributed this piece to Capitol Weekly about Prop 36, a measure that would reclassify some misdemeanor theft and drug crimes as felonies. Prop 36 is a regressive measure that pushes the state backwards towards over incarceration by arresting and incarcerating people with the disease of addiction. Read more in Vote no on Prop 36: prisons are not treatment centers.
“Their mission is to engage historically disenfranchised voters, and it’s hard work. It’s not sexy,” Michael Gomez Daly, political strategist for California Donor Table and chair of Battleground California, said in this Politico article. Battleground California says it’s making an impact in California’s swing seats. However, convincing national donors to stay focused on those House races is proving to be a bit harder. Read more in this article in Politico.
Can art motivate young people to vote? That’s the hope for the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund’s Creative Catalyst Fellowship which highlights how art can inspire the next generation of voters. This AsAmNews article details how this initiative moves beyond traditional political messages by weaving personal and cultural stories into the act of voting. Learn about the artists, including Native Hawaiian and former Oregonian Lehuauakea here and in OPB.
ICYMI: Kristin Powell, the principal of the Black Futures Lab, joined The Hill’s The Switch Up to break down what the top issues for Black Americans are in 2024, using the Black Futures Lab’s Black Census Project — the largest polling project of Black Americans — and shared what candidates must do to win over one of the most crucial voting blocs. Learn more in Yahoo! News and listen here.
Earlier this week, we had the honor of supporting the Brotherhood of Elders Network with their Real Talk About the Town event, an Alameda County District 5 candidates forum with the purpose of educating community members about the role of county government so they can make an informed decision on Election Day. We assisted in design efforts, digital content, and media pitching for the event. Thank you to everyone who attended, and to the Brotherhood of Elders Network for organizing this important event!