As Black mother figures and allies, you know we had to pull out all the stops for Black History Month. But chile, this month…
We’re putting a lil extra funk on it. THIS month, the focus is on you, the women around you, and the women who have shaped the steps we take today. Why? Because it’s Women’s History Month!
It’s a month where we’ve got ample opportunities to hype up our fellow Sistas and you. It’s a month where we get to look back on all we’ve done and all we’re working toward.
From Harriet Tubman to Ida B. Wells, Claudette Colvin, Mary McLeod Bethune, Audre Lorde, Michelle Obama, all the way over to you and the women in your circle — we’ve got Queens that are preserving our history, nurturing our present, and pushing toward a better future. And we can’t wait to celebrate y’all.
Starting with our…
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept. “
— Angela Davis
Sista Spotlight
Say hello to our very own dear sis and Senior Policy Analyst Sharron.
Sharron is an inaugural Mental Health Policy Fellow with the organization, Inseparable, and she is working to close the gap in mental health services in this country with a special interest in the Black community’s access to health services.
If you are open to sharing your experience with mental health services, its accessibility, cost, barriers etc., please email Sharron asap to schedule a short 20min call. She would love to hear your experience(s) and work towards removing these barriers.
Case Update On: Terrence Richardson and Ferrone Claiborne
The legal team at Jarrett Adams Law are still awaiting a hearing date to present the evidence of Terrence’s innocence. It is mind blowing how quickly people can be locked up and how slowly (over 20years) the process can be to free/exonerate them. It’s terrible. But we persist through focusing on solutions and what we CAN do to help.
Please continue to share their story, be SURE to sign their petition, and donate to their legal expenses.
Legislation to Watch:
Zombie politics: The return of failed criminal legal system policies in 2023 – and how to fight back
Less of a legislation to watch and more of policies to look out for. Keep your eye on policies and “tough on crime” speeches that ignore actual crime data and statistics. Violent crime is expected to hit a 60 year low. Be very leery of people who want to build more prisons and ignore funding our education and health systems. It’s all tied to policymaking.
Article of the Week
Check out what we’re reading and make sure to hit reply and tell us your thoughts!
Mother of Mentally Ill Ohio Man Killed by Police Turns Grief Into Advocacy
This article shares the story of Kimberly Roquemore. She is the mother of Maalik, a black man who was killed by a law enforcement officer while experiencing a mental health crisis. In this article, 1M4’s Founder, Tansy McNulty, shares 1M4’s thoughts and work to decriminalize mental illness with the amazing journalists at Capital B News.
Read the article, share on your social media platforms and with your network, then express to us your feelings on how law enforcement handles mental health emergencies.
A Mental Health Tip For You!
Sis – this month is about you. Honestly, every day should be about you but as Black mama figures and allies, we know how reality works. So this month, ask yourself: what does resilience look like to me?
From young, women are taught to be support systems. We’re taught to be constant shelter, encouragement, and love for those in our circle — no matter how burdensome it may be. In short, we’re taught to be resilient. But with conversations on mental health opening up more and more each day, could we look at resilience differently?
Last month, we witnessed something beautiful. We stood in solidarity and watched How Black First Nation Australians are choosing rest during an annual time of protest, and it made us wonder. What if you began looking at rest as a form of resilience? What if by accepting the role of superwoman, you also accepted that superwoman needs her 8hrs of sleep? What if by accepting the role of mom, partner, friend, and daughter, you also accepted that to show up in these roles, you’d have to put them down every now and then? What would that look like for you, Sis?
Spread Some Blessings!
The consequences of police violence extend far beyond the loss of life. For families affected, it’s the loss of income, the sacrifice of basic necessities, and the start of a high-cost legal fight. If you have the capacity, consider donating to 1M4. Proceeds help support impacted families and sustain the work of 1M4 toward ending police violence for good.
Best believe that we’ll be celebrating you, and women all across the globe (and time) all month long. But as we do, we hope you make room to celebrate them and yourself, too.
And you can start right here.
Hit the reply button and tell us about a woman in your life that you’re popping extra confetti for. What has she meant to you? How has she shaped you? Tell us all about her magic. We want to celebrate her, too! Any hey…she might even get a public shoutout from her 1M4 sistas 🙂.
Your Sistas In ALL Of This,
The Ladies of 1M4
Did you miss it?
Did you miss our conversation with the Council Of State Governments Justice Center and Black History trailblazer Chief John Moon? Well, we have you covered. Check out the replay and share with a friend how paramedics in the U.S. were pioneered by a group of Black people in Pittsburgh, PA.
Unstoppable Women: This one’s for you!
Did you catch our Founder, Tansy, speaking with Cassandra Hill about being an Unstoppable Woman? If not, check out the recording and share with your Linkedin network. We believe we are ALL Unstoppable when we tap into our inner strengths while protection our boundaries. Let us know what resonates with you most in the conversation.
There’s a seat for everyone.
We believe in listening to those we may not agree with to better understand their perspective and inform our thinking. Tune in to this virtual conversation about policing reform on Tuesday, March 19th at 3pm EST
Freedom Summer ‘24
Apply to join the JULIAN organization in commemorating 60 years since the Freedom Summer. The coalition building effort for voter access, advocacy, and policy innovations will take place this summer in Mississippi. Applications accepted until May 10th on a rolling basis.
