News

The Collective PAC Announces Big Plans to Elect Black Candidates

Published

6 years ago

May 7, 2018

By Natasha S. Alford
–
Black power. Everybody says we need it, but what does it take to get it?

In the world of politics, “Black power” means more than just a Black face in a white space. For candidates looking to break into the political arena, it means having the financial independence to speak truth and make changes in their communities, without having to sell their soul for a spot at the top.

That’s where The Collective PAC comes in. It’s a Black-run, innovative political action committee, gaining national attention for training Black candidates to fundraise, run for office and win big.

PAC’s have been around in American politics since the early 1940s and raise money with the intention of getting candidates to win.

This week in New York City, Collective PAC held a special invite-only gathering for a select group of Black political candidates and their high-level supporters and donors.

“They’re not just the best because they are Black, but because they are the best qualified,” says Stefanie Brown James, co-founder and senior advisor for The Collective PAC.

Any Collective PAC endorsed candidate goes through rigorous vetting to ensure they match the committee’s progressive values. Some of the candidates they currently support include Minority Leader Stacey Abrams (running for Governor of Georgia), Mayor Andrew Gillum (running for Governor of Florida), and Lauren Underwood (running for Congress, IL-14).

James estimates that dozens of attendees at the meeting signaled a success in the group’s organizing strategy.

“One success of today was having so many candidates here at one point in time, to hear each other’s stories. To see they are in this together. It almost feels like a sorority or fraternity,” said James.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

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

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April 26, 2024

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

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April 19, 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

1 week 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.”