[Editor’s Note: Today is the next to final day of Kwanzaa.]
Re “Practicing Ujamaa During Week of Kwanzaa”
[img]2956|right|||no_popup[/img]The Kwanzaa principle Nia means “to commit ourselves to the glorious duty of restoring our families, our neighborhoods, and our people to their historical greatness.”
My grandmother used to host a polling location out of her Pasadena home.
Like her parents, she was passionate and active about keeping her community members engaged and exercising their rights.
Our ancestors and elders fought hard for our right to vote. After all our ancestors went through, after the sacrifices by our elders, the least we can do to honor their efforts is to use our rights.
By honoring our ancestors and elders, we elevate our children (descendants), opening the way for their progress and growth rather than simply treading space.
This year, Black Women for Wellness expanded our “Voting Rules Everything Around Me” (VREAM) campaign, where we engage black women around the power of the vote. Every year elections are held to make decisions that directly affect our neighborhoods, our families, and our lives.
This year there were at least five elections in Southern California.
Black women in California are uniquely positioned to leverage voting numbers that have real political power and directly impacts political change.
[img]2955|right|Jom Rivers||no_popup[/img]I am Jom Rivers, Civic Engagement Program Coordinator of the Sisters in Control Reproductive Justice Program with BWW.
Our purpose is to keep our community engaged with the power of voting. BWW engages with policymakers. We advocate for legislative and administrative policies to positively impact our communities. We publish voter education guides, information on propositions and ballot issues. Importantly, we strive hard on keeping community members engaged with the decision-making happening around them. Leaders and volunteers canvassed and phone banked with election, distributing more voter education materials and collecting more than 1,000 pledges to vote.
We are working to make sure we, as a community, never lose sight of the VREAM concept, Voting Rules Everything Around Me, and our ability to influence voting, policies and elected representatives.
I am practicing Nia by honoring my grandmother through engaging with activities that repair and restore black families as well as building for my daughter through supporting and empowering black women and girls to become informed and engaged voters.
This upcoming year you can partner with Black Women for Wellness a number of ways:
• Volunteer to canvas and or phone bank.
• Visit your elected officials sharing your thoughts on policies impacting our community.
• Take leadership with our civic engagement program and activities.
• Contact us at 323.290.5955 or at www.bwwla.org to donate, volunteer and/or become a member of Black Women for Wellness.
