2024 ALC Take Action Guide | #ALC53

CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION 53RD ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE

TAKE–ACTION GUIDE PRODUCED BY THE CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH

Thank you for attending the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) 53rd Annual Legislative Conference.

As a Foundation, we recognize that convenings and conferences of this sort sometimes fall short of translating into actionable change. However, with such rich and meaningful discussions that take place across the Annual Legislative Conference weekend, our policy and research team has crafted this Take-Action Guide for participants to follow up on the impactful conversations during our sessions. For more ways to get involved and to learn how to take action in your communities, please view, save, and share our post-Annual Legislative Conference Take-Action Guide.

Empowering Black Fathers to be Allies for Black Maternal Health INFORMATION Despite pervasive negative stereotypes, Black fathers are the most engaged compared to other racial groups, according to a 2013 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

RESOURCE Organization: 4Kira4Moms - Fights for improved maternal outcomes through advocacy and coalition building, educates the public about the impact of maternal mortality in communities, provides peer support to victims’ families, and promotes the idea that maternal mortality should be viewed and discussed as a human rights issue.

Website: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of Minority Health - Offers a comprehensive source of information on eliminating health disparities and improving the health of people from all minority populations, including racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and more.

Website: CDC Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) -Nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes.

Policy: Massachusetts passed a groundbreaking bill that requires MassHealth to cover doula and midwifery services and mandates insurance coverage for postpartum depression screenings.

ACTION Advocate for access to mental health services and increased screenings for both mothers and fathers.

Advocate for paid parental leave.

Fathers are encouraged to show up and demand care for their partners before, during, and after the birthing process.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of all birthing options: midwifery, doula, and hospital births.

CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE | TAKE-ACTION GUIDE

01

From 2020 to 2024: Addressing the Impacts of Technology on the Election INFORMATION

RESOURCE

Micro-targeting: The use of online data to tailor advertising messages to individuals based on the identification of their personal vulnerabilities.

Book: Digitally Invisible: How the Internet Is Creating the New Underclass by Dr. Nicol Turner Lee

Political organizations pay people with large social media followings to influence the election.

It is not only artificial intelligence (AI) you should be cautious of when consuming information online.

Policy: The “Online Civil Rights Act” model legislation drafted by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law will address the discriminatory outcomes, bias, and harm arising from algorithmic systems, which form the basis of artificial intelligence products and large language models.

There are still no comprehensive government regulations that protect citizens from the harms of AI. AI allows for the cloning of voice, text, and image, and a combination of all three.

Policy: The Biden Administration’s Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence

ACTION Learn about AI and advocate for regulations.

The Black community needs to get involved early to influence AI technology as it progresses.

Advocate for actual laws and regulations to protect citizens from the harms of AI. Use the sieve method when consuming information online. First slow down, stop, and investigate the source. Viral does not mean verified. If the information is accurate, you will find it in several different trustworthy sources.

CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE | TAKE-ACTION GUIDE

02

Building Power: Black Youth from Protest to Policy INFORMATION In recent years, there has been a surge in civic engagement among young Black people. They are increasingly engaged in activism and social justice causes. Moreover, youth voter turnout was higher in 2020 than 2016.

Social media and online advocacy have transformed the way Black youth engage in civic activism, which has benefits and challenges: Benefits: Access to a wide array of information and greater organizational capabilities (e.g., cross-national mobilization and activation).

Challenges: Difficulty translating online community to real life, as well as differentiating between information and disinformation—something digital literacy can help with.

RESOURCE Organizations: Black Men Build Children Defense Fund College Democrats of America Movement for Black Lives NAACP Youth Programs SPEAR: Showing Political Engagement and Responsibility Youth Mentoring Action Network

ACTION Engage Black Youth!

Talk to Black youth about voting and how it influences policy, which impacts their personal and communal lives.

Meet Black youth where they are, accept them as they are, engage in authentic conversations with them, and provide them with more opportunities to get involved.

Organize and become civically engaged!

Use social media for advocacy work: make clear calls to action and identify concrete steps people can take.

Look out for AI-generated content and deepfakes and call out online disinformation. Diversify your newsfeed to protect against misinformation.

Prioritize self-care and protect your energy. Rest can be revolutionary. There is no liberation without fun.

Change is made through incremental progress. Instead of focusing on getting everything done at once, set your intentions and decide what you are going to conquer that day.

Create more safe spaces for Black men to engage with past trauma, reclaim community, and regain mental health.

CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE | TAKE-ACTION GUIDE

03

National Town Hall Defining the Moment: The Threat to Democracy INFORMATION In 2024, 350 bills restricting voting rights were enacted across many states.

RESOURCE Policy: The Freedom to Vote Act and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act are essential to protect voting rights for all.

Reproductive bans in 22 states affect half of all women, including over half of Black women.

States with reproductive bans have seen a 10% drop in OBGYN residency matches, including a 20% decline in Alabama, with fewer entering the profession overall.

ACTION Believe in your own power to create change through voting.

Vote to help shape the policies that impact your life, including the crucial issue of reproductive freedom.

Hold legislators accountable and vote people out who do not live up to their promises.

Advocate for policy changes that advance Black communities, such as student loan forgiveness and funding for HBCUs.

CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE | TAKE-ACTION GUIDE

04

National Town Hall Closing the Wealth Gap and Saving the Future INFORMATION The white-Black wealth gap widened from 8:1 in the 1960s to over 12:1 today.

Black communities often have below average credit scores, driven by payday lenders, check-cashing stores, and subprime lending practices.

Wealth-building policies historically excluded Black people: Headrights Act: Land grants for European settlers in the 13 colonies.

Homestead Act (1862): 20% of white families can trace their wealth to land received through this act.

VA Loans in Mississippi: Only 3 out of 3,000 loans went to Black veterans.

Appraisal bias costs Black homeowners $156 billion; many must "whitewash" homes for fair valuations.

The use of AI in housing applications perpetuates bias, furthering inequality.

Small businesses drive 50% of the U.S. economy; limiting access to capital disrupts the economic stability of Black communities.

Housing drives 20% of the U.S. economy; 7 in 10 future homeowners will be people of color. Equity requires special credit programs and down-payment assistance for first-generation buyers.

The One Million Black Businesses Initiative has created 450,000 Black businesses since George Floyd’s murder, accounting for 4% of all Black businesses in the U.S. However, Black businesses continue to face systemic challenges.

ACTION Support the building of Black wealth!

Prioritize financial literacy discussions to arm future generations with knowledge and ability to leverage policy changes.

Shift Black economic power from consumption-focused to ownership-driven to build lasting community wealth.

Advocate for race-conscious strategies that historically built white wealth to now create an inclusive middle class.

Be mindful of spending - support Black businesses and communities whenever possible.

CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE | TAKE-ACTION GUIDE

05

Diversifying and Strengthening the Health Workforce INFORMATION

RESOURCE

Research shows that the level of representation in healthcare is directly linked to health outcomes in Black communities. However, only 12% of registered nurses and 5.7% of doctors are Black.

Organization: Caring for Caregivers - Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation - Builds learning communities to assist healthcare organizations in improving workplace policies and practices that reduce burnout, normalize help-seeking, and strengthen professional wellbeing.

Over 75% of Black nurses say racism in the workplace affects their mental health. They experience higher job dissatisfaction and are more likely to leave the profession than their white counterparts.

Policy: Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act - Supports health workers’ mental health and wellbeing. Advocates urge Congress to reauthorize it so that its programs can continue, and health workers can get the support they desperately need and deserve.

The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation helps healthcare facilities implement policies using diverse personnel within the healthcare system who have lived experience of these issues.

Program: Nurse Fellowship | Johnson & Johnson Nursing - A one-year, team-based nursing fellowship for Chief Nursing Officers (CNO), nurse executives, and senior nurse leaders.

Program: Nurse Practitioner Entrepreneur Program | Johnson & Johnson Nursing - Year-long, hybrid learning entrepreneur development program.

Organization: Greensboro Health Disparities Collaborative -Establishes structures and processes that respond to, empower, and facilitate communities in defining and resolving issues related to disparities in health.

ACTION Healthcare Providers: Champion a more diverse workforce!

Get involved in your alma mater by serving on the Board of Visitors or on an admissions panel.

Participate in the hiring committee at your workplace to help ensure that diverse students enter the pipeline.

Support young students interested in STEM and offer mentorship to older students interested in medicine.

CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE | TAKE-ACTION GUIDE

06

Mobilizing Equity: Advancing Sustainable Transportation in Black Communities INFORMATION The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) represents a significant amount of new funding for new infrastructure and job competitiveness: $350 billion. This money is being utilized to support active transportation and to shape and reshape communities by providing access to jobs and essential services.

The Federal Highway Administration has 17 programs that fall under the Justice 40 Initiative, an initiative from the Biden-Harris Administration that ensures that at least 40% of programs and grants will make a difference in disadvantaged communities.

Cycling is not as popular as it could be in Black communities because of “arrested mobility”— when Black and brown communities’ mobility has been limited due to the location of planned facilities and over-policing practices.

The Washington Metro and Capital Bikeshare program is one of the most equitable in the country because of its focus on local residents.

In contrast, inequitable programs typically target tourists.

RESOURCE Report: Walking the Talk? Empowering Black Communities through Inclusive Active Transportation (Sally Ayuk, Transportation Equity Fellow, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation) Organizations: Black Girls Do Bike, Inc. Equitable Cities Federal Resources: US Department of Transportation: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources Coming Together for Equity Promising Practices for Meaningful Public Involvement in Transportation DecisionMaking Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program Federal Highway Administration: Planning resources for the public White House: Justice40 Initiative Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook

ACTION Demand equitable infrastructure.

Join your local planning board.

Raise awareness of the concerns of rural communities.

Call on your local government to repair broken sidewalks, put in trails, and ensure traffic lights are accessible to people with disabilities.

Advocate for land use, housing rights, and environmental justice.

CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE | TAKE-ACTION GUIDE

07

1 Step Forward and 3 Steps Back: The Unraveling of Criminal Justice Reform INFORMATION A recent report by Movement 4 Black Lives (M4BL) found that 67% of Black people want to see investments in public health solutions and mental health support to increase community safety rather than to police. The Black community has a more favorable view of this issue than they did in 2020, due to the work of activists like M4BL. Grassroots organizations in nearly 20 cities are pushing to shift city budgets away from police departments and into alternative first responders for mental crises.

90% of criminal cases occur at the state level.

RESOURCE Organization: M4BL- Created as a space for Black organizations across the country to debate and discuss the current political conditions, develop shared assessments of what political interventions were necessary in order to achieve key policy, cultural and political wins.

Organization: The American Institutes for Research (AIR)- Conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world.

Their work is rooted in the belief that the future holds opportunities to close the gaps created by injustice.

Black people are 3.5 times more likely than white people to be killed by police when they are unarmed.

From 2015-2019, over $2 billion dollars of taxpayer money was paid out to settle lawsuits for police misconduct nationally.

ACTION Stand up for justice!

Change your mindset. Move past anger and show people who commit crimes mercy.

To ensure that criminal justice reform is passed, look beyond the political parties, and research the candidates’ policies.

Advocate to change the accountability structure for police officers so that the money from police misconduct settlements does not come from state budgets.

Advocate for more resources, not more police. The safest communities have stable housing, reliable transportation, well-lit streets, access to education, food, mental healthcare, and job training.

CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE | TAKE-ACTION GUIDE

08

ALC Spotlight High on the Hog: Exploring Black Food Traditions to Improve Black Health INFORMATION

RESOURCE

The food traditions of African Americans and those of the African diaspora did not start with scraps. Those groups were brought to the United States for their husbandry, agricultural knowledge, ability to work with indigo and dye, and plant rice.

Organization: Dreaming Out Loud - Dreaming Out Loud is a farm, food hub, and incubator.

Their mission is to create economic opportunities for the DC metro region’s marginalized communities through building a healthy, equitable food system.

There is a much larger economy around our food system beyond restaurants and grocery stores.

While Black chefs have created many iconic dishes, racism and cultural appropriation have prevented them from proper accreditation and reaping the benefits of their ingenuity.

Organization: WANDA - Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics and Agriculture (WANDA) is a Black women-led social justice nonprofit that is working to ensure that a million women and girls have access to food systems education, advocacy, and innovative skills to improve their lives and transform their communities from farm to health by 2030.

Food insecurity is a justice and economic issue.

ACTION Be present, engaged, and involved to make sure Black history and food traditions are sustained and thrive.

Be innovative! Grow your own food on your balcony or your windowsill.

Shift your mindset from food scarcity and food impoverishment to nourishment and enjoyment.

Digitize recipes and share them with family members so that you can pass them down through the generations.

CENTER FOR POLICY ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE | TAKE-ACTION GUIDE

09

National Racial Equity Initiative for Social Justice (NREI) Activism Unleashed: Digital Media for Social Justice INFORMATION According to Pew Research Center, social media usage among 18–29-year-olds is as follows: Instagram: 71% TikTok: 62% X (Formerly Twitter): 45% Digital platforms have transformed traditional methods of social justice advocacy and activism by providing a new forum for people to receive information.

RESOURCE Website: Banned Books Book Club - Database of banned books along with educational resources about them.

Organization: birthFUND - Advocates for and invests in midwifery care and the inclusion of birth workers in the birth experience.

Social Media Campaign: #1000BlackGirlBooksDatabase of books where Black girls are the main characters, created by NREI Task Force member Marley Dias.

Social media allows us to tap into new artists and influencers that young people are interested in and help meet people where they are.

ACTION Use social media for advocacy wisely.

Post about things that you have done, are planning to do, and/or drive your audiences toward particular causes or actions like voting, donating to a charity, or starting a banned book club. Encourage people to use the information and connections they have online to take action offline.

Be authentic on social media in order to connect with your audiences while remaining conscious of the environment that you create on your social media accounts.

Take breaks from social media when it becomes overwhelming.

EMPOWERING ACTION-DRIVEN CHANGE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS ABOUT NREI, PLEASE EMAIL NREI@CBCFINC.ORG.

CBCFINC.ORG/NREI | #CBCFNREI