More than 600,000 Black voters are missing at the polls during Ohio elections, and their absence is not a reflection of apathy, it is a signal that too many voices are unheard, unengaged, or pushed to the margins. Black Ohioans know exactly what their communities need, and the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation developed the State of Black Ohio Pilot Brief to ensure those voices are amplified, not ignored. Centered on lived experiences from Cleveland’s Central neighborhood, the brief lifts up what residents told us is working, what is broken, and what must change across education, employment, health, public safety, food access, and civic power. This is not just another report, it is a call to action and a tool for real change. We encourage you to read and share the Pilot Brief, complete the short statewide survey, and help us turn community insight into collective power. Together, we can spark meaningful conversations, inform policy, reengage missing voters, and build a stronger Ohio where Black families don’t just survive, but thrive. | 
