|
In addition we have laid a strong foundation with the
following:
•Creation of Ohio's first African American Lobby Day at the
Statehouse, entitled DAY OF ACTION, where hundreds of
citizens from across the state participated in workshops,
seminars and briefings.
•Increased African American representation in the Ohio
General Assembly.
•Embarked on a seven-city OLBC Voter Action Bus Tour,
resulting in the election of the most African American
legislators elected to the Ohio General Assembly - many in
non-African American majority districts in a Trump victory
year.
•Fought off Stand Your Ground in Ohio by increasing public
awareness through statehouse rallies, press conferences, and
delivering 10,000 signatures through our online petition
•Achieved and exceeded the 15 percent minority business set
aside law, resulting in the largest spending in Ohio's
history - almost $300million.
•Fought for millions in funding for historically black
university-Central State University, which was once slated
for $0 for their land grant line item.
•Fought for millions in funding for Infant Mortality and
Early Childhood Education.
•Partnered with Ohio Dept of Transportation resulting in
funding for urban training programs with the Urban League
and Community Action Agencies.
•Partnered with clergy and civil rights groups to launch the
first ever Constitutional Amendment for Voting Rights;
successfully collected over 100,000 signatures from all 88
counties for a Voter's Bill of Rights.
•Supported African American businesses and vendors for our
events (caterers, golf course fundraiser in Canton,
restaurants during Bus Tour, Convention, etc.).
•Hosted OLBC Power of the Black Vote Convention with
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Vernon Jordan and the
National NAACP Convention.
•Developed a comprehensive Criminal Justice Reform Agenda.
•Hosted first meeting with Supreme Court Justice O'Conner
regarding Grand Jury Reform.
•Played a role in the Governor's Community Police Taskforce,
which has resulted in statewide use of force standards.
•Hosted conference call interviews with both Democratic
Presidential Candidates, Hillary Clinton & Bernie Sanders.
•Hosted OLBC Town Hall Meetings across the state.
•Got a commitment from the Speaker of the House to work on a
comprehensive justice reform bill this GA
•OLBC was successful in getting the Governor to veto
restrictive voting language in the Transportation Budget
•Increased partnerships with civil rights, labor, clergy,
and progressive groups and organizations around important
issues.
I am proud that OLBC will start the next General Assembly
with more members and a solid track record of success at a
time when our state needs us the most. I look forward to
working with the next president and leadership. In the
meantime, I will focus on taking the voting rights fight we
started in Ohio to the nation, while continuing to represent
and focus on the needs of my "fighting 33rd district."
Thank you again for your support, partnership, and prayers
over the years!
|
