Minority Inclusion Act (MIA)

Reimagining the Black Community

What’s often missing in action (MIA) in the board rooms and closed door meetings where the black community is discussed are black people, specifically black people who live in those communities.

Minority Inclusion Act (MIA) will work to ensure maximum community participation.

Every action we take moving forward must revolve around changing:

  • Access
  • Culture
  • Participation
  • Policy

PART 1:  COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)

 1.  Community-driven change is the key

    Grassroots efforts that are necessary to change the landscape of a community must come from within the community, not from an outside source.

    What we are experiencing all across America are outside groups and forces coming into predominately black communities and telling those communities what their issues are and how to resolve them.

     Those living in predominantly minority communities do not need to be told the issues. They need to be empowered to resolve them.

    Once formed, these community based organizations are more likely to allow for political competition in the ranks of the organization and for diversity of thought (i.e., not Democrat only).

    Out of the tragedies we’ve seen across our nation since Memorial Day, the black community must advocate for inclusion.

    At the end of this chapter in America, minorities and underserved communities must have done more than just attended peaceful marches and listened to fine speeches.

    We must all advocate for a seat at the table when the black community is discussed.

     

      1.  2.  Community Action Program (CAP) –

      Encourage people within neighborhoods to form their own community action agencies.

      These agencies will mobilize all parts of their community to promote fundamental change in the interests of their residents.

      Focusing solely on changing how policing is done in America is like focusing solely on the tip of the iceberg. We must take a holistic approach to addressing systemic issues in these communities.

      Predominantly minority communities do not need a concerted federal effort to resolve the conditions they experience every day, encourage people within neighborhoods to form their own community action agencies.

      They need support and to be empowered to take ownership and to have a personal stake in their community.

      Organizations must be “autonomous and self-managed”

      We must disrupt the local power structure to be more inclusive so that all can participate in America’s shared prosperity.

      Unlike federal aid to education, which grants power and money to local school boards and then rely on them to do the right thing is distributing those funds, community action will circumvent municipal officials and local elites, directly empowering and funding the residents to rebuild their own neighborhoods.

       We will require that community action agencies be developed, conducted, and administered with the maximum feasible participation of residents in the area – including the poor.

      These communities need to be empowered, as well as receive financial assistance.

      Traditional transfer programs must give way to community action projects that actively empowers the residents and involves them in managing their own communities.

      We will work with the community to design and run local programs.

       Residents, with the support of local officials, will form autonomous and self-managed organizations that will exert political influence on behalf of their own best interest.

      Oversight of CAP should be a cabinet position.

      Will force local officials to create access to local residents to actively participate in designing plans for their community.

      As a result, these designs will be more responsive to minority problems.

      Rebuilding all of America following “sanctioned” riots and looting

      We must hold certain law officials accountable.

      As the former U.S. National Security Advisor, Collin Powell, once replied, “Money, capital, is a coward; it will go nowhere where it is put in fear. Money will fly and go away from corruption and bad policies.”

      In those cities where rioting and looting was given “space,” where previously passed Opportunity Zone legislation would have benefited the most will now be hurt the most.

      More affluent areas will be assisted by the City to rebuild.

      History tells us that may not be the case for poorer neighborhoods.

      Specifically, where mayors called for law enforcement and law-abiding citizens to “give space” to rioters and looters, we will demand those cities commit to restoring poorer areas, as well as the more affluent areas.

       Appropriations

      A portion of State’s federal funds will be used to fund these programs.

      See Attorney General’s budget.

        •  PART 2:  COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM (CAP)

        • While the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation gave more than 3 million black people freedom, the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 put us on the path to equality. 

        •  Our path towards that equality has not always been a smooth one. It has been burdened by a lack of adequate access, charged with erratic acts of racism, and troubled with limited partnerships and opaque policies. 

          1.  Today, 56 years after the 1st Civil Rights movement, we continue down the path towards full inclusion.

            1.  Path towards full inclusion:

            Financial Inclusion is the civil rights movement of today.

            We will call on credit unions and financial institutions to make credit more available, to provide opportunities to underserved and marginalized backgrounds to have economic opportunities so they can participate in shared prosperity.

            We will work with minority depository institutions to make sure they have the strength and opportunities they need to serve their members.

             We will work with the financial industry to offer a second chance for those who have paid their debt to society and have been non-violent criminal offenders to have opportunities to work in federally insured banking institutions.

            We will work to make sure those who are marginalized and underserved will have access to small dollar lending.

            I have personally seen the destructive and predatory actions of payday lending operations.

            We need people to come out of the shadows and to have the opportunity to establish creditable banking relationships.

            We now live in a nation where more than 40% of our population, pre-COVID, could not simply come up with $400 for an emergency.

            We will work with financial institutions to provide alternatives to Pay Day loans so individuals can get loans as little as $500 and then use those as building blocks to greater financial opportunities.

            We will work with public schools to include financial literacy is in its curriculum.

            As soon as counselors can begin to discuss sex education, they will also be mandated to discuss personal financial literacy.

            Develop a National Financial Literacy Curriculum. 

            We will work with federally insured financial institutions to offer “no cost” savings accounts with an interest rate of not less than 0.05% to children under the age of 18.

              1.  Business contract inclusion

              As our nation pivots to begin to rebuild America’s infrastructure, we need to make sure those contractors who work with the Federal (and State) Government are ready to go having met all necessary requirements, rules and regulations.

              In order to “balance the playing field,” all Federal (and State) Government Contracts will be subject to a 2 week pay for work provided. To enable small emerging businesses the opportunity to meet the goals of Financial Inclusion – Capital must flow.

              All direct contracts with W/MBE Businesses will be on a two-week payment schedule.

              Large or Non-W/MBE businesses who hire 35% or more of subcontractors will also be entitled to the two-week payment schedule and pass the payment promptly down to all lower tier vendors regardless of standing.

              Contracts with the Federal Government must also include a failure to properly invoice by the prime contractor will not relieve said contractor from not keeping with the two-week payment schedule to lower tier subcontractors.

                1.  

                1. Education inclusion

                All children have the right to a quality education.

                But all too often they find themselves trapped in failing schools.

                Fredrick Douglas said, “Knowledge makes a man unfit to be a slave” and we agree.

                We will work to make school choice a reality for parents and students regardless of zip code

                Schools need a level of accountability with an elected local committee of stakeholders at each school.

                A large centralized School Board cannot adequately manage individual schools.

                 Decentralized school board systems within major cities.

                Bring accountable to the local school.

                Each township should have its own local and elected school board.

                 We will take action to ensure school choice for all children.

                A child’s future shouldn’t be determined by their zip code.

                We will work to empower disadvantaged and minority students with dual enrollment opportunities, improved career pathway programs, and additional relief for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s).

                We will work to ensure incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to successfully rejoin and contribute to their communities through second chance Pell grants.

                 

                  1.  

                    We need to address the issues that hinder full inclusion into society head on.  We have had enough of the Liberal-pandering to the minority community.  Enough lip service.  We all want real change.  We want a seat at the table when the black community is being discussed.