Joint initiative to galvanize South Florida Community towards Political Action and Advocacy
FT. LAUDERDALE – The Urban League of Broward County has formed a joint initiative called Broward Votes to host a series of political forums co-moderated by political commentator and writer Joy-Ann Reid and South Florida Times Executive Editor, Bradley Bennett.
Broward Votes is comprised of seven organizations – the Urban League of Broward County and its Young Professionals Network, 100 Black Men of Greater Ft. Lauderdale, Jamaican Diaspora of Southern United States, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) South Florida chapter, the T.J. Reddick Bar Association, and the Caribbean Bar Association.
“I am energized by the work that the Urban League will be organizing over the next few months to heighten the political awareness and civic engagement of Broward County residents in the local and state political races,” said Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh, president and CEO of the Urban League of Broward County.
“Broward Votes will provide a sorely needed conduit of information from Broward’s candidates to the Broward community” said Gregory Haile, president of the T.J. Reddick Bar Association. All candidates have been invited and many have confirmed. You don’t want to miss this debate.
All of the Sheriff’s candidates are expected to participate. Sheriff Lamberti has already confirmed his participation in the July 10th debate, along with Wiley Thompson and S. “Shak” Dhanji. Dr. Snipes and Ellen Brodsky are confirmed as well for July 10th.
“I am pleased to be a part of this collaborative initiative and to ensure the concerns of minority residents, including those of Caribbean descent, are heard” said Marlon Hill, Esq. of delancyhill P.A. representing the Jamaican Diaspora and Caribbean Bar Association.
Broward Votes will hold a series of political forums in July for local and state candidates to participate in. The July forums will be held at African American Research Library & Cultural Center, located 2650 Sistrunk Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33311.
Dates and times for political debates:
– Thursday, July 10, 2008 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m. – Constitutional Offices
Debates: Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections Public Defender, Clerk of Courts, Property Appraiser, and 17th Circuit Court Judges
– Thursday, July 17, 2008 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m. – Local Political Race
Debates: County Court Judges, County Commission (Districts 7 & 9) and School Board (Districts 5 & 9)
– Wednesday, July 23, 2008 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m. – State Political Race
Debates: US Representative (District 23), State Senator (District 29), and State Representative (Districts 93 & 94)
Broward Votes will concentrate on electoral seats that encompass the central Broward region. Ft. Lauderdale is the largest city in Broward County with many of its residents considered living in poverty.
“Central Broward is faced with many more challenges and obvious disparities and that is why Broward Votes is focused on these electoral seats” said Dennis Wright, president of the 100 Black Men of Greater Ft. Lauderdale. The 33311 zip code is characterized by the highest incidences of reported child abuse, highest number of percentage of at-risk youth with at-risk behaviors, including drug and alcohol abuse, and gang activity.
The 33311 zip code is also characterized by the highest number of referrals to the Juvenile Justice System. NOBLE has joined this initiative with a focus on the Sheriff’s seat. “Safety is important to Broward County residents. If residents do not feel safe and there is a lack of cooperation by law enforcement, they will not work, live or play in certain communities” said Chief Andrew Smalling, president of NOBLE South Florida.
Broward Vote Partnerships:
Urban League of Broward County founded in 1975 as the 104th affiliate of the National Urban League, is a community based organization dedicated to assisting African Americans in the achievement of social and economic equality. The fundamental objective of the Urban League of Broward County is to enable those who are moving toward the mainstream to achieve economic self-reliance and to enjoy their rights as equal citizens under the law.
Urban League of Broward County Young Professionals Network exists to cultivate a new generation of young professionals to take an active role in serving and empowering Broward County’s urban communities.
The Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States’ mission is to unite and galvanize all Jamaicans and Jamaican organizations, their talents, resources, and potential throughout the Southern United States for the benefit of their local communities and the future development and support of Jamaica. For more information, please contact Marlon A. Hill, Esq. at [email protected], Jamaican Diaspora Southern United States Advisory Board Member.
Caribbean Bar Association is a voluntary bar organization whose proactive mission includes promoting and fostering the professional development of Caribbean-American lawyers and other professionals, increasing educational and career opportunities for Caribbean-American students and providing social and legal services to educate and empower Caribbean-American and larger south and central Florida communities. For more information, please contact Sherylle Gordon, CBA president at [email protected] or visit http://www.caribbeanbar.org/index.asp.
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) mission is to ensure equity in the administration of justice in the provision of public service to all communities, and to serve as the conscience of law enforcement by being committed to justice by action. To learn more about NOBLE, please visit http://www.noblesfl.org.
The 100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale Inc. is a non-profit civic and community based organization that serves as a catalyst for the disadvantaged and under represented segments of the community. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for African/Caribbean Americans through the enhancement of educational and economic opportunities within the community. The 100 Black Men of Greater Fort Lauderdale, Inc. is committed to serving the community based upon the following principles: Respect for Family, Justice, and Integrity. For more information, please visit their website at www.100blackmengfl.org or contact [email protected].
T.J. Reddick Bar Association is dedicated to promoting the professional excellence of Black lawyers in Broward County, increasing the enrollment of minority students in college and law school, and promoting the general welfare of all citizens in Broward County. The Association not only provides legal-advice clinics and collaborates with the NAACP Ft. Lauderdale Branch legal redress clinic, its members also mentor children who have cases pending in the dependency and delinquency court systems and minority law students attending local law schools. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.tjreddickbar.org or contact Felicia
Jordan, Corresponding Secretary at [email protected].
