BY MAE HAZELTON and CASSANDRA BROWN, GUEST WRITERS TO THE TIMES
LAKE COUNTY – All About the Ballots (AATB) a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Central Florida and partners are proud to announce the launch of the 2024 Florida Black Men’s Agenda (BMA) campaign aimed at empowering and elevating Black Men across the state of Florida. With a focus on health, education, economic empowerment, and social justice, the BMA seeks to address the unique challenges faced by Black Men and to create a more equitable and inclusive society.
“The 2024FLBlack Men’s Agenda campaign is dedicated to advocating for the rights and opportunities of Black Men in Florida,” said Cassandra Brown, Cofounder, Executive Director of AATB. “We believe that by working together, we can create positive change and build a brighter, more solid future for our communities.”
The March 21st Black Men’s Agenda roll-out includes a survey for Black Men and Black Youth from the age of 16 and focus groups to help identify root causes of voices unheard, overlooked and disregarded. Our starting point is demonstrating a genuine interest in learning about Black Men’s lived experiences, not stereotypes or preconceived notions. The survey will be open until June 16th, Father’s Day, and the results will be used to inform targeted programs and initiatives identified in the survey’s focus areas.
BMA partners include Monarch Strategies, the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation (FCBCP), Black Women’s Roundtable, Black Men Build Orlando, Black Business Orlando, Las Semillas, For Our Future Fl Action Fund, Equal Ground, Florida For All, and the Black Alignment Group.
“The opportunity to partner with All About Ballots (AATB) has created a safe space to capture the principal needs of Black men, the families they love, and the communities they serve,” says Alonzo “Zo” Mitchell, Executive Director of Monarch Strategies.
The campaign focuses on several key areas, including:
– Health: The BMA will advocate for improved access to quality affordable healthcare and resources to address health inequities among Black Men, including spiritual, mental and physical health support and preventative care.
– Education: The BMA will work to ensure that Black Men have access to quality education and resources to help them and their families succeed academically and professionally.
– Economic Empowerment: The BMA will advocate for policies and initiatives that promote economic empowerment and financial literacy among Black Men, including access to job training programs and entrepreneurship opportunities.
– Social Justice: The BMA will work to address systemic racism and inequities in the criminal justice system, advocating for policies that promote fairness and justice for all.
On Thursday, March 21, 2024, the initial launch for the campaign rolled out with a StreamYard virtual session featuring Cassandra Brown, Min. Griff from Faith In Florida and Justin Jones from Equal Ground.
“You vote everyday…you vote on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook when you “like” a post. If you vote on social media you ought to vote in the real election” Min. Griff said during the session.
Justin underscoring that voting is a multi-layered process said, “If you don’t understand local policies you can’t advocate for your community. You have to know your struggle,”
The 2024FLBlack Men’s Agenda invites individuals and organizations across Florida to join in its efforts to empower and elevate Black Men. To learn more about the campaign and how to get involved, visit allabouttheballots.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X.
Take the survey by scanning the QRC on the picture above.
