MISSISSIPPI COALITION ON BLACK CIVIC PARTICIPATION

MS WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY INITIATIVE (MWESI) - ADVANCING WOMEN'S ECONOMIC SECURITY THROUGH POLICY/ADVOCACY - LAUNCHED STRONG BABIES HEALTHY MOMS CAMPAIGN TO ADVOCATE FOR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR EXPECTING AND POSTPARTUM MOTHERS. AS A RESULT, MEDICAID POSTPARTUM COVERAGE WAS EXTENDED FROM SIX WEEKS TO TWELVE MONTHS. ADDITIONALLY, WE LED AND ORGANIZED A COALITION OF ADVOCATES, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, FAITH-BASED LEADERS AND IMPACTED PEOPLE THAT CHAMPIONED THE SAME ISSUE. IN ADDITION, LAUNCHED MS VOICES: BLACK AND LATINX WOMEN FIGHT FOR HEALTHCARE A STORYTELLING CAMPAIGN THAT CENTERED THE STORIES OF 21 WOMEN ACROSS THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. THIS INCLUDED SIX FOCUS GROUPS WITH 80 PARTICIPANTS. - COLLABORATED WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL PARTNERS TO CREATE A PILOT RESTAURANT WAGES CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE SUB-TIP WAGES FOR RESTAURANT WORKERS IN MISSISSIPPI. - EDUCATED LEGISLATORS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON THE 2023 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THAT LED TO POLICY WINS. - EXPANDED MWESI COALITION BY ORGANIZING MEETINGS, CREATING TOOLKITS, AND DEVELOPING CALLS TO ACTION FOR OVER 60 PARTNERING ORGANIZATION MOBILIZING OVER 600 PEOPLE. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTING RIGHTS- INCREASING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS - CONDUCTED THREE (3) POWER OF THE SISTER VOTE BOOTCAMPS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON BEING CIVICALLY ENGAGED IN THREE REGIONS OF THE STATE. - EXPANDED BLACK YOUTH VOTE PROGRAM ON FIVE COLLEGE CAMPUSES AND IN TWO HIGH SCHOOLS, ADDED 5 COLLEGE AMBASSADORS AND CONDUCTED VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES ON EACH CAMPUS. - MOBILIZED AND TRAINED 400 VOLUNTEERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS. - HOSTED FOUR NON-PARTISAN CANDIDATE FORUMS WITH CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN FOUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE. - SENT 35,000 DIRECT MAILERS, MADE 50,000 CALLS, ENGAGED OVER 200,000 COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, AND BILLBOARD CAMPAIGNS TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP BUILDING A LEADERSHIP INFRASTRUCTURE FOR LONG-TERM MOVEMENT BUILDING - AS PART OF OUR MISSISSIPPI WOMEN IN THE LEAD PROGRAM (MWL), WE: --SUCCESSFULLY GRADUATED TEN (10) COHORT MEMBERS AFTER A NINE-MONTH NON-PARTISAN TRAINING PROGRAM PREPARING WOMEN FOR LEADERSHIP AND ELECTED OFFICE. --HELD FIVE (5) IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL RETREATS FOCUSING ON MISSISSIPPI'S LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT, NONPROFIT LOBBYING, AND WOMEN'S HEALTH ADVOCACY. KEY SESSIONS INCLUDED INSIGHTS FROM CURRENT AND FORMER ELECTED OFFICIALS, CAMPAIGN STRATEGISTS, AND POLICY ADVOCATES. --ORGANIZED A STATEWIDE POWER IN PURPOSE WORKSHOP WITH SHE SHOULD RUN, EMPOWERING OVER 80 WOMEN FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO CONSIDER PUBLIC OFFICE WITH INCREASED CONFIDENCE AND CLARITY ON PERSONAL BRANDING AND QUALIFICATIONS. - LAUNCHED THE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM WITH AN INAUGURAL COHORT OF 16 WOMEN WHO ARE ACTIVELY ADVOCATING FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND RAPID RESPONSE PROVIDING WRAP AROUND SUPPORT TO WOMEN AND FAMILIES - HELD TWO FREE LAUNDRY EVENTS, IN JANUARY AND SEPTEMBER, SERVING 400 FAMILIES - DISTRIBUTED $500 GIFT CARDS (FUNDED BY CARE USA) TO 50 APPLICANTS - PROVIDED FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS TO ORGANIZATIONS FOR DISTRIBUTION FOR STUDENTS IN HIGH SCHOOL. - HOSTED OUR ANNUAL HOPE LUNCHEON IN PARTNERSHIP WITH REPRESENTATIVE LATAISHA JACKSON, IN WHICH WE PROVIDED FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS AND BASIC SUPPLIES TO WOMEN INCARCERATED. - HELPED OVER 300 FAMILIES WITH RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE ACROSS THE STATE AND RE-ENGAGED THEM IN OUR OTHER PROGRAMS TO BE A CATALYST CHANGE.