WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC, the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation and power across all levels of government, congratulates Dr. Jared Williams on advancing to the runoff election for the Fort Worth (Texas) City Council. Co-founders of The Collective PAC, Quentin James and Stefanie Brown James, released the following statement.

“The Collective PAC’s mission to build Black political power and create a truly representative democracy begins at the local level and we are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Jared Williams on his advancement to the runoff election for the Fort Worth City Council in Texas. As the need to keep our communities safe, provide a quality education for all students and bring economic relief to working families continues to grow, having a strong leader in office has never been more important. Dr. Williams is a progressive champion who is up for that challenge and we look forward to his desperately needed leadership in Texas.”

Dr. Jared Williams (Fort Worth City Council, District 6  — TX) is a community leader and educator committed to addressing the racial disparities that plague Fort Worth’s health care and education systems. A son of Fort Worth, Jared has used his degree in Environmental Science and Science Education to create local solutions for sustainable urban infrastructure, water conservation and waste management. Dr. Williams Will be a strong champion for affordable housing, equitable public schools and improving access to public health in city hall.

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC, the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation and power across all levels of government, congratulated Deborah Peoples on advancing to the runoff election to become Fort Worth, Texas’ first Black mayor. The Collective PAC is proud to have invested $55,000 in Deborah’s groundbreaking campaign and Co-founders of The Collective PAC, Quentin James and Stefanie Brown James, released the following statement:

“The Collective PAC is proud to congratulate Deborah Peoples on advancing to the runoff election in her historic bid to become the first Black and only third woman to lead the city of Fort Worth, TX. Deborah’s wealth of knowledge and thirty years of experience make her the ideal leader to tackle ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts, boost equitable economic opportunities across the city and increase access to affordable health care. She will lead with compassion and integrity from the mayor’s office and build an inclusive economy that benefits working families once she wins the runoff. Black women mayors are leading America’s biggest cities toward a brighter future and we are honored to stand with Deborah in her quest to improve the lives of all people in Fort Worth. 

Born and raised in Fort Worth, Deborah Peoples has thirty years of experience working in both the public and private sectors. In addition to leading critical voter registration and civic engagement efforts during the 2020 election cycle as Chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, Deborah has also worked for the City of Fort Worth and spent time as an executive at AT&T. As mayor, she will prioritize combating disparities in education, health care and economic opportunity by ensuring equitable distribution of city services. 

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective Education Fund, the education affiliate of nation’s largest organization dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation and power across all levels of government, and Xceleader, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) leadership organization focused on increasing and strengthening Black leadership in our communities and workplaces, announced the launch of the second annual Vote HBCU Summit, which will take place virtually on July 31, 2021. Students  across the country will be invited to participate in this groundbreaking, half-day event focused on civic education and the importance of engaging the HBCU community around voter registration, empowerment and voting rights issues and organizing trainings. The summit is part of The Collective Education Fund’s Vote To Live program which registered more than 100,000 voters during the 2020 election season. With the support of Lumina Foundation, the Vote HBCU Summit has been expanded to include year round programming through workshops and trainings on civic engagement.

“The Collective Education Fund is thrilled to once again work with Xceleader on the second annual Vote HBCU summit, and continue our efforts to educate and engage with Black college students and HBCU alumni,” said The Collective Education Fund Co-founder and Senior Advisor, Stefanie Brown James. “The 2020 election cycle clearly demonstrated the power of HBCUs and the groundbreaking change that is possible when we engage with students and alumni early and often. As an HBCU graduate of Howard University, I’m honored to work with partners like Xceleader to grow and expand this important program year-round and continue supporting the next generation of civic-minded, progressive leaders.”

“While HBCU students and alumni are typically not seen as a voting bloc until GOTV begins, it’s critical that we work throughout the year to foster the activism and leadership that already drives so many of us who attend these institutions,” said Xceleader Co-Founder, Jade Agudosi. “With access to the ballot box under attack in the majority states, this program is more important than ever and we’re excited to not only educate participants on the power of the HBCU vote and the impacts of issues like voter suppression, but give them the tools and resources necessary to prepare for election day and become informed voters.” 

Following an address from a high-profile keynote speaker, this year’s summit will include a series of breakout sessions where students will discuss voting rights and campus engagement. After the July 31 summit, participants will continue on a curriculum course throughout the school year focused on voter education and the importance of leadership on campus. Classes will cover a variety of topics including voting rights history in America, civic engagement, the collective power of HBCU organizing, and the voting process, tailored specifically for HBCU students.

All HBCU students are invited to participate in this year’s summit by going to wevotehbcu.com. 

 

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE 

The Collective is a group of affiliated organizations working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. Through our affiliated organizations — The Collective PAC, The Collective Super PAC, Collective Future, The Collective Education Fund, and The Southern Strategy — we are strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward.

ABOUT XCELEADER

Xceleader is a nonprofit organization that cultivates the next generation of leaders at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Xceleader’s ultimate goal is to increase and strengthen Black leadership in our communities and places of work. Through its four impactful programs, Xceleader connects the talented student leaders and graduates of prestigious HBCUs to ladders of power by providing leadership training, mentorship, and a network of graduates. Learn more about the organization at xceleader.com.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, The Collective PAC, the nation’s largest political action committee dedicated to increasing Black political engagement, representation and power across all levels of government, endorsed Cheri Beasley for the United States Senate in North Carolina. Co-founders of The Collective PAC, Quentin James and Stefanie Brown James, released the following statement:

“The Collective PAC is thrilled to endorse former North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley for the U.S. Senate in North Carolina, marking our first Senate endorsement of the 2022 election cycle. Electing a Black woman to the U.S. Senate this cycle remains a top organizational priority and we are proud to stand with a fearless and experienced champion for social justice like Cheri Beasley. As Republicans in the Senate continue to stonewall critical legislation to safeguard voting rights and increase police accountability, it has never been more important for us to elect leaders committed and ready on day one to move progressive policies forward. The Collective PAC was proud to support Cheri during her bid for chief justice in 2020 and we’re confident that she can flip this seat from red to blue next November. We look forward to helping Cheri Beasley make history as the first Black Senator from North Carolina.”

Cheri Beasley is a trailblazer who’s shown tenacity throughout her more than two decades on the bench and service as a public defender. She has a long track record of serving the people of North Carolina as a District Court Judge for the 12th Judicial District in Cumberland County, an Associate Judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the first Black woman Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. She also made history in 2008 when she became the first Black woman to win a statewide election in North Carolina without first being appointed by a governor, following her victory in the North Carolina Court of Appeals race. Throughout her esteemed career, Cheri Beasley has worked to modernize and bring transparency and accountability to the court system, as well as increase the resources available for judicial branch employees. In the Senate, Beasley will be a strong voice for today’s most pressing issues including racial equity, voting rights, criminal justice reform, education, and health care. If elected, Beasley will be the first Black person to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate and only the third Black woman to ever serve in the chamber. Cheri Beasley is a graduate of Rutgers University, The University of Tennessee College of Law and Duke University School of Law.

ABOUT THE COLLECTIVE PAC 

The Collective PAC is working to create an America where Black people are equally represented at every level of government. The Collective PAC is strategically focused on creating a truly equitable democracy where our nation’s local, state and federal governments have diverse and talented elected leadership and Black people are fully represented in positions of power to create the policies necessary to progress our communities forward.