“A Call to Colors” Supports Stacey Abram’s Vision for Georgia, Equality Fosters Prosperity
by Kathy Grear 05/24/2018Every Georgian deserves the freedom and opportunity to thrive, but too many are being left behind or left out.
Stacey Abrams has a vision for Georgia where equality fosters prosperity, and where everyone has the opportunity to succeed – not just survive. That is why she is running for Governor of Georgia. Stacey knows our beginnings do not have to dictate who we will become. She has a boundless belief in Georgians’ capacity to prosper; and she has the courage, commitment to service, and experience to make this vision a reality.
Stacey’s Foundation
Stacey Abrams and her five siblings grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi with three tenets: go to school, go to church, and take care of each other. Despite struggling to make ends meet for their family, her parents made service a way of life for their children – if someone was less fortunate, it was their job to serve that person. This ethic – and her parents’ unwavering commitment to providing educational opportunity for their children – led the family to Georgia.
Stacey’s Work
She put her education to work to better the lives of Georgians through the government, nonprofit, and business sectors. Dedicated to civic engagement, she founded the New Georgia Project, which submitted more than 200,000 registrations for voters of color between 2014 and 2016. Under the pen name Selena Montgomery, Stacey is the award-winning author of eight romantic suspense novels, which have sold more than 100,000 copies. As co-founder of NOW Account – a financial services firm that helps small businesses grow – Stacey has helped create and retain jobs in Georgia. And through her various business ventures, Stacey has helped employ even more Georgians, including hundreds of young people starting out.
Stacey’s Vision for Georgia – Effective and Engaged Government
- NEW: Justice for Georgia: A Plan for Fairness and Community Safety –Criminal justice reform is a central component of Stacey Abrams’ mission to create an effective and engaged government. Together, we will work to build a justice system that serves every Georgian. The Justice for Georgia plan will improve court, jail, and prison systems, lower incarceration rates, reduce recidivism, aid law enforcement, and make our communities safer by building trust throughout Georgia. We cannot return to the tired, dated patterns of “punish and penalize.” In 2018, we must elect leadership with a bold new vision for what Georgia can be. Read the plan here.
- Defend Our Rights: An effective government must protect civil rights and fight discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, immigration status, disability, or gender identity. Stacey co-sponsored civil rights legislation for Georgia. She opposed the disastrous HB 87, which has harmed our immigrant and refugee communities. As Minority Leader, Stacey fought back voter suppression tactics and introduced legislation to expand access to the ballot. Through the New Georgia Project, Stacey registered more than 200,000 people of color, forced the restoration of 33,000 illegally canceled voter applications, and defeated attempts to intimidate voters. As Governor, she will oppose policies that seek to undermine the rights of Georgians.
- Fix Systemic Problems: Stacey has championed legislation to protect our natural resources and our communities from the hazardous waste that too often has gone unchecked. She supported greater oversight of petroleum pipelines so communities could know the possible impacts ahead of time. Stacey sponsored legislation to ensure funds for hazardous waste clean-up actually go to that purpose, as well as legislation to require landfills to alert the public in the event of a leak. From clean water to solar energy, Stacey has been a leader on moving Georgia to a more sustainable future for all.
- Decriminalize Poverty and Support Justice: Justice should not be determined by your paycheck. Stacey Abrams’ policies will lift families out of poverty and also combat the criminalization of poverty. We must end the unequal application of justice for those who can buy their way out of jail versus those who cannot. Stacey will focus on reforming bail policies and eliminating “cash bail,” decriminalizing traffic offenses and possession of small amounts of marijuana, increasing training that recognizes implicit bias, and stopping the shameful practices of private probation companies. We must expand reforms to support community policing and improve POST training to rebuild trust between law enforcement and our most vulnerable communities. However, criminal justice reform cannot focus solely on sentencing and prisons. Reform efforts must also recognize that disparities in school funding, health care access, and job opportunities are inextricably related to combating over-incarceration and prolonged probation sentences.
- Protect Our Most Vulnerable Residents: Nearly a quarter of Georgia’s children live in poverty and approximately 11,000 children in foster care. More than 100,000 children are in kinship care – being raised by grandparents or other kin. Nearly 10% of seniors are below the poverty line, and thousands of seniors are in need of resources to help them age in place. As a state, we must deliver critical services to those who have physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities as well as mental illness. As Minority Leader, Stacey has co-sponsored legislation to support our most vulnerable residents, from kinship care legislation to expanding legal protections for seniors. As Governor, Stacey will continue to advocate for policies and funds to serve these communities.
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