"Our ability to participate in government, to elect our leaders and to improve our lives is contingent upon our ability to access the ballot. We know in our heart of hearts that voting is a sacred right - the fount from which all other rights flow."
TAKE THE PLEDGE TO VOTE
Black women are increasingly rocking the vote in national elections. Now we need to do the same in local elections.
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On April 20, 2022, you have the opportunity to vote for three Newark School Board Members. Take action and pledge now to commit to voting in this election.
"People always say that I didn't give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn't true. I was not tired physically … No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in."
-Rosa Parks.
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The 2022 Black Women's Agenda
Our sister organization Project Ready in partnership with The Highland Project commissioned a poll with Brilliant corners Research & Strategies; to identify a 2022 Black Women's Agenda in New Jersey.
This is a survey of 586 African American women in New Jersey at least 18 years of age and registered to vote. The survey was conducted by phone, using
professional interviewers starting on December 6th, 2021, and ending on December 13th, 2021.
The survey’s sample was drawn randomly from voter files and geographically stratified for proportional representation.
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After reviewing this survey, the findings exposed a gaping need for an organization that would support a Black Women's Agenda. Be Ready was born because of the findings from this poll.
Our Vision
Be Ready is an organization dedicated to advancing a policy agenda that centers on the issues most closely affecting Black women while working to increase the number of Black women who are elected to seats of power in New Jersey. We are led by a group of Black women with deep experience in organizing, managing campaigns, and advancing issues at the state and local levels.
Why are we focused on Black women? For all the talk nationally about trusting in and supporting Black women; we don’t see the rubber meeting the road when it comes to the number of Black women running for and winning elected offices, nor do we see a policy agenda that centers the concerns of Black women being implemented. We will change that here in New Jersey and become a national model for increasing the number of viable Black women as candidates.
Our 2022 Objective
In 2022 we will conduct extensive research enabling us to establish a state/city-wide policy agenda for Black Women. Through establishing this agenda, we will build a pipeline of black women preparing to run for office and select them to run for something.
THE WOMEN BEHIND THE VISION
Shennell McCloud
Executive Director
Karin Gerald
Chief Operating Officer
Nayibe Capellan
Chief of Staff
Elizabeth Brantley-Holmes
Chief Campaign Officer
