Increasing Voter Turnout / Tollway Diversity and Inclusion /
Chess Against Violence
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Greetings!
Please see the following recaps of both the August 13th and 27th Breakfasts. These conversations covered topics of critical importance to and for the community. Please take notice.
Respectfully,
COAL Board of Directors
"The time to work seriously and collectively, to improve the state of our Community, is upon us..."
Let Us be intentional in all aspects of the Work that must be Done
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For the August 13th Breakfast, COAL hosted an open discussion on Ways to increase our community's turnout at the polls. We first reviewed the poor turnout for the June 28th Primary election. This review was led by Lance Gough, Chair of COAL Voter Committee, Charles Holiday, Executive Director @ Chicago Board of Elections and Max Bever, Director Of Public Information @ Chicago Board of Elections.
This was followed by a serious, and at times impassioned, discussion of what must be done to increase voter turnout, in recognition of this truth:
Voting is our voice, and that our collective voice, when voiced effectively and in large numbers, represents power and this power is required to make positive change happen;
to hold our elected representatives accountable, to influence policy, funding, investments and the provision of services; power to vote in the right representatives and to boot out those that do not or will not represent the best interests of black people.
Flora Smith, friend of COAL, provided the following recap of the discussion: RECAP.
Here’s a link for all of the new ward / precincts maps: Maps
June 28th Election (Suburban Cook) 19.6% Turnout:
Follow Up Action: COAL is working with a number of committed organizations, the Coalition Voter Project, to work towards getting the community registered, educated civically, engaged and informed on the issues and mobilized to vote in large numbers come the November General and going forward.
- Watch this space for more information -
We can do this!
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In recognition of August as National Black Business Month, for the August 27th Breakfast, the conversation focused on the ongoing challenges experienced by black businesses towards achieving equity and parity in opportunity and in bottom line contractual business with Illinois public sector agencies.
This was a very informative Breakfast.
Many in attendance noted that unlike the City, County and State of Illinois, the Tollway appears to be sincere in its diversity commitment by taking substantive actions towards addressing every barrier that has kept black businesses well under-represented in doing business with Illinois public sector agencies. COAL concurs with this observation.
Terry Miller, Chief of Diversity and Strategic Development, who reports to Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse, is taking real action on insurance requirements, decoupling components of larger projects, developing contracts specifically targeted to smaller businesses, and paying invoices promptly. COAL is impressed with Miller hiring Technical Assistants to work directly with Black and other minority owned businesses throughout the process of securing business with the Tollway.
As COAL stated to Miller in its Thank You for his joining the Breakfast,
"Importantly, you appear to have identified every major area of securing construction contracts that minimize or are used to minimize opportunity [for black-owned companies] and are taking serious steps to mitigate. Attendees experienced in doing business with public sector agencies voiced how impressed they were with this.".
Companies can find a list of future bid opportunities here:
Note: Our construction firms must recognize this opportunity and take steps that prepare the business to win bids with the Tollway.
Follow Up Action: COAL plans to partner with the Tollway, in any way that it can, to facilitate the meeting of opportunity and preparation, to improve outcomes for Black-owned companies.
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Supporting Our Youth
Chicago youth are experiencing violence, sometimes daily. Teaching youth to make better decisions and engage respectfully is essential to the solution. Learning chess teaches students to identify and analyze alternatives and evaluate consequences before acting. Chess training also promotes good sportsmanship.
Chess Against Violence is comprehensive, multiple-week chess instruction event culminating in a fun, competitive chess tournament. We need individual sponsors to support our Chess Against Violence anti-violence initiative. Please consider donating at whatever level you can, to improve the prospects of Chicago youth. Please click here to donate. You will receive a tax deduction, and we will list you on our donor web page with your permission. Please forward this request to others who may be interested.
FwC Community Services, with the support of the JLM Life Center and the Coalition of African American Leaders, will host a Saturday free-to-participant event. The event is for beginners ages 10 to 16, starting September 9th. The event will be at 2622 W. Jackson, in Chicago.
Youth Development Systems, Inc. licensed FwC Community Services, Inc. to use their Fun with Chess Learning System® and their patent-pending uniquely designed chessboard. The Fun with Chess Learning System® is a fun, practical, scalable, and proprietary online chess learning environment. The license will allow students in underserved communities, including students with mild learning deficits, to learn, practice, play chess and benefit from chess training. FwC Community Services, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit company.
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NEXT BREAKFAST
Saturday, September 17, 2022, via Zoom
9:00am - 11:00am
Adam Gross, Executive Director, Community Commissioner for Public Safety and Accountability
LaCreshia Birts, GAPA Coordinator
Empowering Communities for Public Safety (ECPS)
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About COAL
COAL is an umbrella organization founded by 13 of Chicago's historic African American mens clubs. COAL's overarching mission is to identify, examine, illuminate and find resolution to issues impacting the greater community. We strive to use our collective experience, expertise and resources to improve the quality of opportunity, quality of preparedness and the quality of outcomes (expressed as 'quality of life') for our Community.
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Founding Member Organizations
100 Black Men Of Chicago ■ Chicago Assembly ■ Chicago Connection ■ Druids Club ■ Frogs Club ■ Lunch Bunch ■ New Committee ■ Original 40 Club Of Chicago ■ Rat Pack ■ Royal Coterie Of Snakes ■ Saints ■ Sigma Pi Phi Beta-Boule ■ UIC Male Forum (now Chicago Good Health Group)
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What We Believe
The Coalition of African American Leaders believes that it is important to examine the critical issues confronting the African American community where injustice, inequality and the absence of access and opportunity continue to prevail, thereby negatively impacting us as a people.
COAL is an assemblage that advocates and organizes for appropriate and responsible public policy change, system behavior change and equality of opportunity. We aim to achieve for all of our people the fullness of the life experience without any form of racism or exclusion as a deterrent.
We believe we must prepare ourselves for the opportunity of this full participation, thereby achieving the necessary education and training to participate.
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Contact: Clarence Wood, Chairman 312.404.8269 - Craig K. Wimberly, President 773.350.9315
Email: publicpolicy@coalchicago.com
COAL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in Illinois, USA.
Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by U.S. law.
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