This week, the NAACP New York State Conference hosted its first Monthly Briefing, a new monthly series of live conversations highlighting relevant topics or issues impacting Black New Yorkers through the lens of those who are most impacted - Ours. 

The goal is to highlight and support the work of advocates, elected leaders, and the experts within our own ranks. 

This month, we focused on issues before our State Legislature as they work to close out the Legislative session. 

We were joined by the Chair of the New York State Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, who joined us to discuss the Robert Brooks Blueprint for Justice & Reform Agenda; a package of bills intended to bring greater oversight to New York State’s correctional institutions, to improve the conditions experienced by those who are incarcerated, and to begin the work of decarcerating our prisons. 

We were also joined by advocates like Jose Saldana, who is formerly incarcerated and has fought for years to see a measure of relief given to New Yorkers serving exorbitant sentences for crimes committed when they were younger. His work with the Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP) Campaign has been crucial to humanizing those who have been disconnected from their communities for decades and highlighting flaws in our parole system that prevent the rehabilitated from ever being granted release. 

Isis Mcintosh Green, Chief of Staff to Assembly Latrice Walker who chairs the Election Law Committee in the State Assembly, reminded us of the continued work to make sure all New Yorkers can fully participate in our Democracy.

State Conference Education Committee Chair, Christine Waters joined to discuss her fight to ensure Black children in the state are treated fairly and are not having their learning interrupted by bullying and bigotry. 

And Youth and College Division President, Myles Hollingsworth joined to update us on efforts to level the playing field and ban the discriminatory practice of Legacy Admissions in higher education. 

While the conversation touched on just some of the issues that the State Conference has advocated for this year, it has become evidently clear that we are still our own best advocates. We hope these conversations prepare you to become a part of the solution.

You can read more about our legislative priorities here. If you're interested in joining our statewide network ready to take quick, meaningful action when urgent issues arise, please sign up here.

We look forward to future Monthly Briefings and hope you’ll be able to join us!

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