Core Issues
Health
African-Americans have higher rates of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, obesity, HIV/AIDS and cancer. African-Americans also are more likely to suffer from depression and substance abuse, and have less access to quality care due to financial barriers and lack of insurance.
BWOPA will raise awareness about health disparities in our community, and actively advocate for policies that increase access to and utilization of high quality health and mental health care. BWOPA will also advocate for just and fair environmental policies that reduce exposure of African Americans to environmental toxins in the built environment, land, water, and air.
Check out our health-related initiative here: https://blackandvaxxed.org/
Education
High school and college completion rates are lower for African-Americans than for the general population. Urban schools in which African Americans are concentrated are under-resourced. BWOPA will advocate for school reform that promotes universal access to preschool/early education, more supportive school climates, high quality and culturally appropriate instruction, increased graduation rates, reducing the minority achievement gap, and more equitable funding support for urban schools. We also advocate for a special education focus on:
- Foster Youth
- Suspension and Expulsion Rates
- Interventions for risk of youth incarceration
- Teen Pregnancy
Criminal Justice Reform
African American youth and adults are more likely to be incarcerated than their white counterparts. BWOPA will advocate for fair policies that reduce discrimination in the adjudication process, provide alternatives to incarceration for youth and drug offenders, encourage prison reform that promotes rehabilitation, and assists those who were formerly incarcerated in re-entering the community.
Economic Security / Jobs
Rates of poverty and unemployment are higher in the African American community than in the general population. African Americans are also less likely to own their own businesses than non-African Americans, and have less access to job training programs. BWOPA will advocate for greater economic opportunity for African Americans, including green jobs training, equal opportunities for advancement, financial literacy, small business development and entrepreneurship.
Check out our economic security-related initiative here: https://bwopalevelup.com/
Civic Engagement
The time is now for black-led, black serving like minded organizations to come together to harness the power in our vote. Our aim is to increase civic participation and awareness. We will create and organize a coordinated campaign highlighting key messages including registration dates, early voting, voting locations, candidate forums, candidate profiles, GOTV timeline and day of activities.
Check out our civic engagement-related initiative here: https://blackpowervote.online/home/