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Councilmember Desley Brooks Invited to Harvard to Speak on Cannabis Equity

Published

6 years ago

April 20, 2018

Councilmember Desley Brooks continues to garner national attention for her work in helping found Oakland’s Cannabis Equity program. Brooks was invited to speak at Harvard’s Kennedy School last week at the 14th Annual Black Policy Conference.

Brooks was one of three national leaders on a panel entitled “Cannabis Legalization: Implications for Health, Criminal Justice, and Economic Opportunity in the Black Community.”

In inviting Councilmember Brooks, Khadijah Tribble said, “We believe your work on Oakland’s Equity Permit program is the kind of legislative win to hold as a gold standard of what is achievable in a responsible and equitable cannabis environment.”

The goal of the conference was to prepare participants to engage with communities and facilitate educational dialogue on relevant policy issues, becoming advocates for civic participation.

The conference brought together youth, students, and professionals to participate in panels and workshops designed to mobilize and inspire individuals in the Black community.

Panel and workshop topics included education reform, gentrification, innovation in healthcare policy, careers in defense and diplomacy, and algorithmic justice, among others.

“The equity legislation we passed in Oakland has started a national dialogue, and influenced the legislation passed by Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Boston to name a few,” said Brooks.

Oakland cannabis equity program is designed to create opportunities in the cannabis industry for individuals and communities that have borne the brunt of the war on drugs.

Congressman Cedric Richmond kicked off the conference and Donna Brazile keynoted the plenary session.

The conference was closed out by Cornell Brooks, former national President of the NAACP. The conference was attended by students from Harvard and Boston University.

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The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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California Black Media

Yahushua’s Law: Senate Advances Bill to Protect Students from Extreme Weather

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3. The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Published

2 weeks ago

April 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Yahushua Nyerere Robinson (Courtesy Photo)

By California Black Media

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3.

The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and co-authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), SB 1248 directs the California Department of Education to develop comprehensive guidelines for schools regarding student activity during all extreme weather conditions.

“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said after introducing SB 1248.

The bill stipulates that schools must implement safety measures which include monitoring weather forecasts, postponing or relocating outdoor activities during hazardous conditions, and ensuring students have proper hydration and access to shade. It also requires schools to establish clear communication plans to keep parents, teachers, and students informed about potential weather hazards.

Supporters of the bill include the Robinson family, advocate Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Familias Empoderadas del Valle Central National Action Network, The Black Student Advocate, and the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Thanking Hurtado for introducing this crucial legislation, Weber said, “The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school.”