OLBCF Monthly Newsletter: The People's Brief

EMPOWERING BLACK OHIO. DRIVING EQUITABLE CHANGE.

OLBCF is calling on our community for support this Giving Tuesday, December 2nd, as we navigate a challenging funding climate. Shifts in philanthropic priorities and reductions in equity-focused funding have created real obstacles for Black-led policy and research organizations like ours. Despite these changes, our commitment to advocating for fair policy, informed communities, and equitable outcomes has not wavered. Your support helps sustain this work and ensures that Black Ohioans continue to have a strong, independent voice at the table. We invite you to stand with us and make a Giving Tuesday contribution that keeps our mission moving forward.

OLBCF Appears on Columbus 10 WBNS

In this section of the newsletter we'll keep you updated on new policies, legislature and OLBCF updates!

Celebrating Progress: The CROWN Act Passes - Congratulations to Councilman Michael Houser & Enlightened Solutions

The OLBCF is proud to celebrate a historic step forward in the ongoing fight for equity, dignity, and inclusion. The recent passage of the CROWN Act (Creating a Respect and Open World for Natural Hair) in Cuyahoga County marks a powerful victory for fairness and cultural pride across communities.

The CROWN Act prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and protective hairstyles including braids, lots, twists, and bantu knots that are historically and culturally significant to people of African descent. With this legislation Cuyahoga County affirms that professionalism and excellence come in every form, and no one should be judged or limited because of the way they wear their natural hair.

Congratulations to County Councilman Michael Houser and Enlightened Solutions for their steadfast leadership and advocacy in helping make the CROWN Act a reality. This victory is more than a policy achievement, it's a cultural affirmation and a promise to the next generation that they can show up as their full, authentic selves.

State Representative Terrence Upchurch sponsors bill to track pregnancies behind bars

President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and State Representative Terrence Upchurch has introduced legislation that would finally require Ohio’s jails and prisons to report pregnancy outcomes, closing a long-standing gap in how the state tracks the health and safety of incarcerated women.

While the state only requires county jails to report in-custody deaths. Advocates and medical doctors have called the lack of reporting for failed pregnancies a blind spot for women’s health care behind bars.

If passed, House Bill 542 would require all county and city jails and state prisons to report the outcomes of pregnancies annually to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction. Support this bill by contacting your state legislators. Identify your state legislator here.

Republican Extremism rules in Redistricting

On Halloween, Ohio lawmakers advanced a new Congressional map that has already drawn criticism and legal scrutiny, with opponents arguing that it violates the anti-gerrymandering rules Ohio voters added to the state constitution.

The process moved quickly and largely along party lines, raising concerns about transparency and whether voter-approved redistricting standards were followed. This fight over the maps is unfolding at the same time that election policies and voting rules are being debated ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Many observers see the new map as part of a broader struggle over political power, representation, and how districts are shaped in a way that reflects the will of Ohio’s voters.

We urge you to stay informed, pay attention to legislative updates, and talk with friends, family, and neighbors about what is happening. Your voice matters. Contact your state lawmakers, attend public hearings when possible, and support organizations working to protect fair representation. We cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while decisions are made that impact our political power for the next decade. Stay engaged, ask questions, and hold leaders accountable. Your participation makes a difference.

Click here to see new maps.

The Fight for SNAP Continues

Across Ohio, families are still feeling the strain of rising food costs, shifting federal policy, and growing economic uncertainty. At a time when more than 1.5 million Ohioans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the future of this essential lifeline remains uncertain. Recent federal actions have created gaps that states are now struggling to fill, placing pressure on families who are already doing everything they can to keep food on the table.

OLBCF has been steadfast in sounding the alarm. Temporary stop-gap measures are not enough. Ohioans need sustained, reliable access to food support, and communities cannot afford to endure another round of benefit cuts or administrative delays. The stakes are high for seniors, working parents, students, and children who depend on SNAP not as a luxury, but as a basic means of survival.

We continue advocating for state leadership to step in where federal support falls short, urging swift action to protect families from food insecurity. The fight is bigger than any single policy debate. It is about dignity, stability, and ensuring that every Ohio household has access to nutritious food.

The path forward requires all of us. Stay informed. Contact your legislators. Share verified information on social media. Encourage your networks to speak up about how SNAP impacts their lives. When communities raise their voices together, policymakers listen.

OLBCF will keep pushing for a system that reflects the needs of everyday Ohioans. The fight for SNAP is not over, and neither are we.

State of Black Ohio Advocacy Survey

Your voice matters and we want to hear from you! Take 7–10 minutes to share your experiences and priorities to help shape the State of Black Ohio Report and a statewide policy agenda that reflects our communities. Your responses are confidential. As a thank-you, participants will be entered for a chance to win a cash prize.

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