Reflecting on Dr. King’s Legacy
Yesterday we celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the tireless work of Black activists — those who have gone before us, and those organizing their communities today.
One of the foundational tenets of organizing is the concept of mutual aid. The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new wave of neighborhood-based mutual aid networks across the city. While these networks might be new, the concept and practice of mutual aid is no stranger to marginalized communities. Perhaps one of the best known mutual aid efforts was the free breakfast program established by the Black Panthers in 1969 where food donations from businesses and neighbors were collected and eventually expanded to 45 cities, feeding over 50,000 children.
Mutual aid is a tangible form of community resistance and provision. Neighbors are compelled to care for one another and empowered to change political conditions. We are inspired by the work New York City’s mutual aid networks are doing to provide and protect neighbors during these particularly unprecedented times. South Bronx Mutual Aid is one of many networks operating in the Bronx to ensure the needs of community members are fulfilled. Learn more and offer your support!
Advocacy Corner
Ranked Choice Voting Comes to NYC
Beginning this year, all New York City primary and special elections will use ranked-choice voting protocols. But what exactly is ranked-choice voting? Ranked-choice voting enables voters to rank up to 5 candidates in order of preference. If a candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes, they win the election. If no candidates meet the 50% threshold, an instant run-off begins. The candidate with the lowest number of first-choice votes is automatically eliminated and their votes get redistributed to the second-choice candidate on the ballots. For example, if you voted for the candidate that had the lowest number of first-choice votes, your second-choice vote is then counted. This process is repeated for each round until there are only two candidates left. The candidate with the most votes wins.
Why is ranked-choice voting important? Studies show that cities that have switched to ranked-choice voting protocols have elected more women and people of color, making elected officials more representative of the communities they serve. With this model, voters are also able to support candidates who may not be their number one choice, but are still considered to be viable options. According to City & State, supporters “also argue that ranked-choice decreases negative campaigning since candidates are looking to be the second-choices of their opponents’ supporters, and that it encourages candidates to reach out to a wide coalition to build a broad base of support.”
Upcoming Events
Family Child Care Collective Response Convening: January 19 at 1pm
Join family child care providers and advocates as they strive to streamline resources and communication across NYC to support the workforce that provides early education to our youngest children!
Bronx Impact Food Access Collective: January 19 at 12:30pm
This group of community advocates is working to realize a collective vision of food justice for all Bronx residents by identifying policy and programmatic strategies to address the structural inequities which repress equitable access to food and nutrition. The group meets bi-weekly on Tuesdays at 12:30pm.
Supporting Your Child’s Virtual Learning Experience: January 28 at 6pm
Want to learn more about the platforms schools use for online learning, like email and Google Classroom? Need help troubleshooting internet issues or using a computer or tablet? Join SBRT along with Ariadna Phillips from South Bronx Mutual Aid and other Bronx parents as we discuss common issues and questions families have as their children attend school virtually. Don’t have Zoom? You can still join us on Facebook Live by going to SBRT’s Facebook page. This workshop will be in English and Spanish.
South Bronx Cafecito: February 10 at 6pm
Parents and caregivers! Let’s talk about our kids, our community, and the future we want for the south Bronx.
South Bronx Cafecitos
This month, we began hosting a virtual cafecito every second Wednesday of the month for parents and caregivers in the South Bronx. This virtual space is specifically designed for parents and caregivers to connect and share the visions they have for their families and communities. Interested in joining? Head to bit.ly/SBRTParents and register for our future cafecitos! Our next one will take place on February 10.
To learn more about our upcoming workshops and meet other parents in the South Bronx, join our virtual parent community Facebook group.
Partner Corner
Register for the 2021 Early Childhood Advocacy Day on February 2!
While the State Capitol may not be physically open to us, this virtual event will be an opportunity for those who would not normally be able to travel to Albany to make their voices heard. Anyone who believes that New York State should invest in its youngest children is invited to join. Let's make sure New York's budget prioritizes young children, families, and early childhood professionals.
BronxNet Interview
This week Sonyi Lopez at BronxNet interviewed SBRT’s Director, Christina Samuels, about digital equity and the future of education for students in the Bronx. Watch the interview here!
Meet the Team
We’ve taken the past few weeks to highlight staff members on our team. We wrap things up this week with our Policy Specialist, Kara Smith, who has been with SBRT since October 2019.
Kara is a dedicated advocate for justice and is passionate about utilizing data and storytelling to elicit systems change. Prior to joining SBRT, she worked as a data manager for a collective impact initiative in Michigan, focusing on cradle to career advocacy efforts. Kara completed her BSW and BA in sociology at Calvin University and earned her MSW from Case Western Reserve University with a concentration in policy and research.