Get Ready * Stay Prepared
Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment’s (TILE) Call to Action for The Most Vulnerable Californians to “Get Ready and Stay Prepared” is Underway
Collaborating with the CA Office Partnership and Strategic Communications, the culturally relevant campaign began in Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Oakland/East Bay, San Francisco and Fresno in July.
(California) ... “The future is now.” Black Women Organized for Political Action’s The Training Institute for Leadership Enrichment (TILE) and the California Office of Partnership and Strategic Communications via “The Get Ready and Stay Prepared” Campaign are planting seeds now for a brighter future in the areas of environment to overcome the challenges of climate change, health to help eradicate inequities and business.
Climate change with its ripple effect of heat waves, droughts and wildfires has a major impact on all communities and even more so for vulnerable communities. TILE’s community engagement program is ensuring people take the health precautions to protect themselves and families, particularly against extreme heat. TILE field organizers disseminated information about extreme heat from the HeatReadyCA.com website. The life-saving instruction was greatly needed this past summer season in light of temperatures hitting well over the 100’s throughout many regions in California.
Two years ago, TILE launched its Black & Vaxxed (blackandvaxxed.org) initiative in conjunction with the state’s Vaccinate All 58 campaign. The campaign was targeted to reach and prepare our underserved Black communities for the upsurge of COVID 19. Today, officials warn, ‘the pandemic is over, but COVID-19 is still here’. As such, TILE considers it a priority to outreach to Black communities which were only second to the Latino community in being disproportionately hit hardest by COVID 19 during the pandemic.
The environment, health and business are all components of the TILE/OCPSC “Get Ready and Stay Prepared” campaign and impact quality of life. In the area of business and employment, the campaign is focusing on assisting community-based organizations (CBOs) help individuals receive their ITIN number that will result in help in filing taxes and accessing California state services and benefits. ITIN is a tax processing number issued by the Internal Revenue Service for individuals who are required to have a U.S. taxpayer identification number, but who do not have, and are not eligible to obtain, a Social Security Number.
To ensure that the information about HeatReadyCA, Vaccinate All 58 and ITIN number awareness is being disseminated in a culturally relevant way, TILE is utilizing interactive engagement by trusted messengers. The highly interactive peer to peer engagements encourage the public to take action. They include: door to door canvassing; community canvassing at events and highly trafficked areas; phone banking; training at workshops and meetings; and giving assistance to access state resources.
“Many communities of color move out of Los Angeles County for more affordable housing and geographical beauty, although once in the Inland Empire region, one can feel culturally disconnected,” said Jessica King, TILE Field Organizer. “Our field work is important for people to see there are organizations working with their interest at heart and it’s a great opportunity to make connections with non-BIPOC communities so they see a positive representation of other cultures.”
For assistance or ways to help “Get Ready and Stay Prepared,” visit www.bwopa.org.
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BWOPA/TILE Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/bwopatile
ALL QUOTES FROM REGIONS
REGIONAL AREAS
Los Angeles Kellie Todd Griffin, BWOPA SoCal Regional Director
“The partnership with California Office of Partnership and Strategic Communications is very helpful as we outreach to those who need it most,” said Kellie Todd Griffin, BWOPA SoCal Regional Director. “Having peer engagements is an important component of helping vulnerable populations change habits to improve in the areas of the environment, health and business.”
Inland Empire Jessica King, BWOPA Inland Empire Program Organizer
“Many communities of color move out of Los Angeles County for more affordable housing and geographical beauty, although once in the Inland Empire region, one can feel culturally disconnected,” said Jessica King, TILE Field Organizer. “Our field work is important for people to see there are organizations working with their interest at heart and it’s a great opportunity to make connections with non-BIPOC communities so they see a positive representation of other cultures.”
Oakland/ East Bay Area VaShone Huff, BWOPA East Bay Regional Director
“Our peer to peer engagements help ensure that we contact the most vulnerable and underserved residents of Oakland as our program components include the environment, health and business,” said VaShone Huff, BWOPA East Bay Regional Director. “The partnership with California Office of Partnership and Strategic Communications is making a positive difference.”
San Francisco Brittney Doyle, BWOPA SF Chapter Co-President
““We want to make sure this information reaches the most vulnerable populations which is why our collaborations are important. For this work, we have aligned with organizations that serve the homeless, seniors, and youth;” said Brittney Doyle, BWOPA, San Francisco Co-President. “In addition, we have a powerful strategic partnership with the California Office of Partnership and Strategic Communications that helps improve the lives of vulnerable populations in the City and County of San Francisco.”
Fresno Sara Pomare, BWOPA-CA Program Grants Manager
“As we canvass door to door and at community events, the people of Fresno are realizing the power of TILE to serve our underserved populations,” said Sara Pomare, BWOPA, Fresno Project Manager. “We are collaborating with the California Office of Partnership and Strategic Communications and are improving lives in the area of businesses, the environment and health.”