03 | October | 2014 | Be a Seed for Change

In February, President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) initiative to ensure that all youth, including boys and young men of color, have opportunities to improve their life outcomes and overcome barriers to success.

And now, the Administration is taking this effort local, by engaging mayors, tribal leaders, and county executives who are stepping up to lead in their communities.

The My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge will encourage communities (cities, counties, suburbs, rural municipalities, and tribal nations) to implement coherent cradle-to-college-and-career strategies aimed at improving life outcomes for all young people.

The stakes couldn’t be higher for our young people, or our country, which is why we’re seeing such eagerness from local officials and community leaders. Already, 135 mayors, county officials, tribal leaders, Democrats, and Republicans have signed on. And we’re going to keep welcoming them aboard in the coming weeks and months.

But even with leadership from the top in these communities, this must be an all-hands-on-deck effort. No child in this country should feel like they need to “beat the odds” in order to get ahead, and certainly shouldn’t feel like they are on their own as they try. Our young people deserve better than that, and as a country, we can’t afford to let so many of our children, our future workers, and our future leaders slip through the cracks.

When we work together to help all young people reach their full potential, we will be that much closer to reaching our full potential as a nation. The My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge is a call to action, and we all have a role to play.

Learn more about the Challenge, and visit MBKchallenge.org to accept the President’s challenge.

Karen Deal, WA Democrats

Yesterday, State Senate Democrats presented a plan to override Hobby Lobby and ensure Washington women have access to contraception.

Three months ago, the Supreme Court’s Hobby Lobby decision gave a woman’s health care decisions to her boss. Then, Senate Republicans in Washington, D.C., filibustered Patty Murray’s legislation to override the decision.

Now, State Senate Democrats are fighting to make sure a woman’s rights are preserved here in Washington. They’ll introduce a bill to override Hobby Lobby next year.

But this bill has no hope of passing if we don’t have a Democratic majority in the State Senate.

Can you contribute $5 to help us elect leaders who will stand with women — and win back the State Senate?

We know what will happen to this bill if Republicans control the State Senate, because we’ve been there before.

Earlier this year, the State House passed the Reproductive Parity Act, which also protects women’s health care choices. The bill went to the Republican-controlled State Senate, and they BLOCKED it from even coming up for a vote!

Republican State Senate incumbents like Steve O’Ban have claimed birth control “is not an issue” for his district.

What, are there no women in his district?

Another Republican incumbent, Andy Hill, failed to fight for important women’s health legislation like the Reproductive Parity Act, and he’s now asking women to support his re-election.

It’s clear. If we want to protect women’s health, we need to elect leaders who will stand with women. Donate just $5 and help us win back the State Senate today.

There are under five weeks until Election Day, and ballots will arrive in two weeks. There’s a lot at stake. Thank you for any support you can provide.

Best,

Karen