THE 2021-22 PLBC OFFICERS The Official NewsletterGavel of the Legislative Black Caucus State Representative , Chairwoman PLBCSUMMER 2021 327 IRVIS OFFICE BUILDING • P.O. BOX 202186 • HARRISBURG, PA 17120-2195 • (717) 772-6955 Donna Bullock Chairwoman AND MEMBERS 195th Legislative District www.pahouse.com/PLBC• /PALegislativeBlackCaucus • @PaLegBlkCaucus 2021-2022 LEADING WITH PURPOSE LEADERSHIP I am honored to be selected Danilo Burgos Austin Davis by my colleagues to chair the 190th Legislative District 197th Legislative District 192nd Legislative District 180th Legislative District 35th Legislative District 179th Legislative District Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus (PLBC) this session, and to do so with an amazing executive team from across the commonwealth. Together, Vice-Chair Rep. Donna Bullock, Chair 34th Legislative District we are committed to leading or, when necessary, defeating 195th District North & West Edward C. Gainey Jordan A. Harris Art Haywood Vincent J. Hughes legislation and policy that impacts 203rd Legislative District 24th Legislative District 186th Legislative District Senate District 4 Senate District 7 103rd Legislative District Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) Pennsylvanians and their equitable access to opportunity, justice and democracy. Each session, PLBC members introduce legislation on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to veterans affairs. Recognizing our diverse legislative priorities, I Rep. Summer Lee, Vice-Chair 34th District Brian J. Kirkland Joanna E. McClinton Darisha Parker established several additional subcommittees to help us focus on each of these 201st Legislative District 159th Legislative District 188th Legislative District 191st Legislative District 154th Legislative District 198th Legislative District Braddock, platforms. With the help of our Police Reform Working Group and subcommittees on Budget Equity, Education, Health Equity, Public Safety, Women and Girls of Color, Carol Hill-Evans Secretary and Voting and Democracy, we can focus on each issue separately and at their 95th Legislative District intersections. Leading the PLBC during the convergence of a pandemic, economic crisis and civil uprisings requires me to be intentional about the work of the caucus. I believe

Chris Rabb , Jr. Anthony H. Williams we must collectively employ an anti-racist, equitable, restorative, and reform- 200th Legislative District Senate District 1 Senate District 3 19th Legislative District Senate District 8 minded approach to legislating. We must also engage statewide stakeholders in the Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, Secretary 95th District legislative process through regional and statewide policy briefings, listening sessions City of York and other conversations. This newsletter highlights some of that work and hopefully, informs the work for the upcoming months. Yours In Service,

Manny Guzman Dan Williams Regina Young Maureen E. Madden Mike Schlossberg Peter G. Schweyer Treasurer 74th Legislative District 185th Legislative District 115th Legislative District 132nd Legislative District 22nd Legislative District 127th Legislative District Associate Member Associate Member Associate Member Rep. Manny Guzman, Treasurer 127th District Rep. Donna Bullock City of Reading Budgeting for Racial Justice and Equity Investing in Equity and Economic Opportunity

PLBC SECURES FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS, From job fairs to small business grants, PLBC members believe GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND MORE we must invest in Black workers and entrepreneurs. This The Pennsylvania includes demanding equitable practices in new and emerging This agenda is a road map for The PLBC Subcommittee on Budget Equity led the charge on state budget is a industries. That is why Reps. Wheatley and Parker are pushing changing the way we deliver advocating for a budget that invests in Black Pennsylvanians and valuable measure of for Black ownership opportunities in the cannabis industry, Rep. “ services, distribute resources other communities of color. our commonwealth’s Burgos is fighting for a new generation of diverse farmers and “ and otherwise do business in priorities and can be our Chair Bullock is challenging the green economy. Chair Bullock and Rep. Nelson participated in budget conversations the commonwealth. If we want best tool for racial equity. We must also invest in systems that foster equity and equal across the commonwealth and hosted a Budget Information and equity, we have to remove the Listening Session with the budget secretary and PLBC stakeholders. access to government services and opportunities. The Invest PLBC CHAIR DONNA BULLOCK barriers formed by generations The subcommittee also worked with the Administration and our in Systemic Equity Legislative Package includes bills that colleagues in the General Assembly to develop a list of shared would create a Racial Equity Task Force (Wheatley), an Office of racism and replace them priorities. of Health Equity (Bullock, Kinsey), a Socially Diverse Farmers with inclusive and fair systems. Commission (Burgos) and a Joint Legislative Equity Committee While the final budget is a bucket of missed opportunities to help (Bullock). Other bills would provide bias and cultural training for PLBC CHAIR DONNA BULLOCK those most in need, our work delivered specific results for our public employees, study bias in automated decision systems communities: and otherwise address racial bias and systemic equity. ● Newly created Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office to address systemic racism and bias in state government. Connecting Black ● $100M in Level Up Funding for 100 of our most underfunded school districts, serving 65% of the state’s Black students, and 58% of Latinx students. Level Up is modeled after a bill Workers introduced At the end of 2020, by associate Pennsylvania had the member Rep. highest state Black Schlossberg. unemployment rate. 1 ● $30M in in 5 Black Pennsylvania new funding workers were unemployed. to support In June, the PLBC and Leaders from these community Temple University hosted the neighborhood job fair many communities came violence programs, a to connect job seekers with together to speak to “ framework over 50 employers. their needs and seek our outline in support. We have heard companion bills their call, and we will championed by respond. Sen. Haywood and Chair REP. NAPOLEON NELSON Bullock. CHAIR, SUBCOMMITTEE Support Black-Owned Businesses ON BUDGET EQUITY

As lawmakers, it is our moral obligation to protect residents across this state, and the budget must “ reflect that. This will allocate the necessary funding to support and expand safety initiatives, to ensure no community in our commonwealth continues to live in fear, and it would save lives. REP. MORGAN CEPHAS

PLBC members threw their support behind a new statewide business association for Black-owned businesses. Accountability and Transparency in Policing Promoting Health and Public Safety A year after George Floyd’s murder and the PLBC moving two police RACE AND COVID-19 reform bills to the governor’s desk, policing legislation remains one of Certain social determinants of health, such as poverty, food PLBC members’ key priorities. Now is the time to advance bills that Justice is not a here insecurity, and the lack of safe, affordable housing have important center on police accountability and transparency. Such legislation and nor there occurrence. health implications in BIPOC communities. PLBC members policy include establishing a certification process for police (Wheatley), It’s not an event, or a continuously raise awareness on sickle cell disease, maternal special prosecutors for police-involved shootings (Lee, Hughes), “ Collaboration and trust will verdict, or a single piece health, HIV and AIDS, mental health, medical research, and banning chokeholds (Kinsey), refining the standard for use of force (Lee, be imperative to give Black of legislation. Justice is other health conditions in our community. We support the efforts Hughes) and reforming Act 111 and discipline arbitration (Chair Bullock). and Brown communities the dismantling the systems of Black-led and trusted providers, like The Black Doctors “ tools necessary to make it of white supremacy that Consortium in Philadelphia. PLBC also focused on COVID-19 by through this pandemic safely. On July 16th, Gov. Wolf perpetuate inequality coordinating vaccine and testing clinics in our districts, hosting a announced that the statewide statewide vaccine access roundtable, and leading a policy hearing and injustice through REP. STEPHEN KINSEY police misconduct database is now on the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. the abuse of power. CHAIR, SUBCOMMITTEE active. Rep. Rabb introduced a ON HEALTH EQUITY bill to establish the database after REP. SUMMER LEE the police fatally shot 17-year-old Antwon Rose in 2018.

Often times, these parents Defending Our Democracy experience additional difficulties throughout the We are seeing some of the most restrictive voting legislation since Jim We will not stand “ Crow. So far this session more than 20 voter suppression bills have been for this misleading grieving process, and it may introduced. The Voting and Democracy Subcommittee hosted briefings about “ misdirection and take several years before judicial gerrymandering and voting access to help inform members about we wanted to bring they can truly begin to heal, legislative attempts to disenfranchise voters. this issue into the at which point the economic damage may already be In addition to protecting voter rights, the spotlight so we The Other Public Health Crisis: Gun Violence can examine the done. This legislation PLBC used its platform to call out and In addition to securing $30M in the state budget, the PLBC would permit these grieving examine racism and nepotism in our ways in which advocates for additional public health resources to address the courts. Chair Bullock, Rep. Lee, Sen. access to voting causes and symptoms of gun violence. The PLBC is working parents to either defer debt Williams and Sen. Street joined the must be expanded with our PA SAFE Caucus and state and local officials to have a payments or apply for a Senate and House Democratic Policy and voting rights coordinated response to gun violence as the public health issue it grant program that can Committees to host a policy hearing on upheld. is. We must also provide direct assistance to the impacted families provide financial assistance. racism in the courts. Pervasive racism and who are burdened with long-term psychological and financial bias in our courts impacts jury selection, REP. RICK KRAJEWSKI consequences. That’s why Chair Bullock and Sen. Street hosted REP. AUSTIN DAVIS sentencing disparities, and public a webinar providing resources for gun violence survivors and their confidence. families, and why Rep. Davis introduced a bill that would provide financial relief for grieving families. Sen. Williams called for the hearing following an alarming WHAT’S NEXT UPCOMING EVENTS equity organizational August 18th – Policy Hearing: Police October 5th – PLBC Fall Harrisburg Reception assessment Labor Organizations and Police Reform The focus of this hearing will be how October 27th – 30th Anniversary of the Adoption of the of the First Environmental Justice Principles Judicial discipline of officers is influenced and at District of times restrained by labor contracts and May 23, 2022 – 45th Anniversary of K. Leroy Irvis Speakership Pennsylvania. how that same system can be used to better hold officers accountable. Honoring our Legacy, Investing in our Future Renaming the PLBC Scholarship This year the PLBC honored former state Rep. James R. Roebuck by renaming Black History Month Floor Display our scholarship after him. Mr. Roebuck is a former chair of the PLBC. He also I am very pleased that served as the Democratic chairman of the the PLBC has recognized Pennsylvania House Education Committee “ my work as a legislator for 18 years. On June 23, 2021, Mr. and educator and am Roebuck joined us for a virtual event as truly grateful for this we presented the inaugural namesake honor. scholarships to 10 amazing students from across the commonwealth. The scholarship FORMER REP. JIM ROEBUCK is made possible with the assistance of the PLBC Foundation and its donors.

From the Underground Railroad to the Black Lives Matter PLBC joined PA House Archives, Messiah University “ movement, Black women have and other nonprofits from the city of Harrisburg to led the way. Too often their curate and present a Black History Month display at the contributions to society are back of the House chamber. The display highlighted the accomplishments of Black legislators and minimized or ignored. That the history of Harrisburg’s old 8th Ward, a is why we named this award predominately Black community that once stood where after the first Black woman the Capitol Complex is today. elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Crystal Bird Fauset. The three women PLBC Scholarship awardee, Abronah Taylor, shadowed Chair Bullock and met with PLBC members. we are honoring embody the The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Presents The Virtual spirit of Fauset and have made a significant impact in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Crystal Bird Fauset through their leadership in state Help Us Tell Our Story government. Leadership Award The PLBC teamed up with PA House Archives to tell the story of the PLBC and we need your help. Let’s make sure our history in the state Capitol is not forgotten. Do you a have story to tell about the PLBC? Are you a former PLBC CHAIR DONNA BULLOCK member or staffer? Reach out to Jesse Teitelbaum, Director of Archives, PA House of Representatives at (717) 2021 Honorees 783.3866, or by email at [email protected]. How It’s Going? PLBC 2021 In 1938, Crystal Bird Fauset became the first African American woman elected in any state legislature when she was elected to represent her West Philadelphia neighborhood in the

Pennsylvania House. In March, the PLBC Rosita Youngblood Leanna Washington Gladys Brown Dutrieuille celebrated Women’s History Month by honoring her The first Black woman elected to The first woman to Chair of the Pennsylvania and many other women of color who served our leadership in the PA General Assembly. chair the PLBC. Public Utility Commission. PLBC CIRCA 1983 state. How It Started? Honoring our Legacy, Investing in our Future Renaming the PLBC Scholarship This year the PLBC honored former state Rep. James R. Roebuck by renaming Black History Month Floor Display our scholarship after him. Mr. Roebuck is a former chair of the PLBC. He also I am very pleased that served as the Democratic chairman of the the PLBC has recognized Pennsylvania House Education Committee “ my work as a legislator for 18 years. On June 23, 2021, Mr. and educator and am Roebuck joined us for a virtual event as truly grateful for this we presented the inaugural namesake honor. scholarships to 10 amazing students from across the commonwealth. The scholarship FORMER REP. JIM ROEBUCK is made possible with the assistance of the PLBC Foundation and its donors.

From the Underground Railroad to the Black Lives Matter PLBC joined PA House Archives, Messiah University “ movement, Black women have and other nonprofits from the city of Harrisburg to led the way. Too often their curate and present a Black History Month display at the contributions to society are back of the House chamber. The display highlighted the accomplishments of Black legislators and minimized or ignored. That the history of Harrisburg’s old 8th Ward, a is why we named this award predominately Black community that once stood where after the first Black woman the Capitol Complex is today. elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Crystal Bird Fauset. The three women PLBC Scholarship awardee, Abronah Taylor, shadowed Chair Bullock and met with PLBC members. we are honoring embody the The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Presents The Virtual spirit of Fauset and have made a significant impact in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Crystal Bird Fauset through their leadership in state Help Us Tell Our Story government. Leadership Award The PLBC teamed up with PA House Archives to tell the story of the PLBC and we need your help. Let’s make sure our history in the state Capitol is not forgotten. Do you a have story to tell about the PLBC? Are you a former PLBC CHAIR DONNA BULLOCK member or staffer? Reach out to Jesse Teitelbaum, Director of Archives, PA House of Representatives at (717) 2021 Honorees 783.3866, or by email at [email protected]. How It’s Going? PLBC 2021 In 1938, Crystal Bird Fauset became the first African American woman elected in any state legislature when she was elected to represent her West Philadelphia neighborhood in the

Pennsylvania House. In March, the PLBC Rosita Youngblood Leanna Washington Gladys Brown Dutrieuille celebrated Women’s History Month by honoring her The first Black woman elected to The first woman to Chair of the Pennsylvania and many other women of color who served our leadership in the PA General Assembly. chair the PLBC. Public Utility Commission. PLBC CIRCA 1983 state. How It Started? Accountability and Transparency in Policing Promoting Health and Public Safety A year after George Floyd’s murder and the PLBC moving two police RACE AND COVID-19 reform bills to the governor’s desk, policing legislation remains one of Certain social determinants of health, such as poverty, food PLBC members’ key priorities. Now is the time to advance bills that Justice is not a here insecurity, and the lack of safe, affordable housing have important center on police accountability and transparency. Such legislation and nor there occurrence. health implications in BIPOC communities. PLBC members policy include establishing a certification process for police (Wheatley), It’s not an event, or a continuously raise awareness on sickle cell disease, maternal special prosecutors for police-involved shootings (Lee, Hughes), “ Collaboration and trust will verdict, or a single piece health, HIV and AIDS, mental health, medical research, and banning chokeholds (Kinsey), refining the standard for use of force (Lee, be imperative to give Black of legislation. Justice is other health conditions in our community. We support the efforts Hughes) and reforming Act 111 and discipline arbitration (Chair Bullock). and Brown communities the dismantling the systems of Black-led and trusted providers, like The Black Doctors “ tools necessary to make it of white supremacy that Consortium in Philadelphia. PLBC also focused on COVID-19 by through this pandemic safely. On July 16th, Gov. Wolf perpetuate inequality coordinating vaccine and testing clinics in our districts, hosting a announced that the statewide statewide vaccine access roundtable, and leading a policy hearing and injustice through REP. STEPHEN KINSEY police misconduct database is now on the impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. the abuse of power. CHAIR, SUBCOMMITTEE active. Rep. Rabb introduced a ON HEALTH EQUITY bill to establish the database after REP. SUMMER LEE the police fatally shot 17-year-old Antwon Rose in 2018.

Often times, these parents Defending Our Democracy experience additional difficulties throughout the We are seeing some of the most restrictive voting legislation since Jim We will not stand “ Crow. So far this session more than 20 voter suppression bills have been for this misleading grieving process, and it may introduced. The Voting and Democracy Subcommittee hosted briefings about “ misdirection and take several years before judicial gerrymandering and voting access to help inform members about we wanted to bring they can truly begin to heal, legislative attempts to disenfranchise voters. this issue into the at which point the economic damage may already be In addition to protecting voter rights, the spotlight so we The Other Public Health Crisis: Gun Violence can examine the done. This legislation PLBC used its platform to call out and In addition to securing $30M in the state budget, the PLBC would permit these grieving examine racism and nepotism in our ways in which advocates for additional public health resources to address the courts. Chair Bullock, Rep. Lee, Sen. access to voting causes and symptoms of gun violence. The PLBC is working parents to either defer debt Williams and Sen. Street joined the must be expanded with our PA SAFE Caucus and state and local officials to have a payments or apply for a Senate and House Democratic Policy and voting rights coordinated response to gun violence as the public health issue it grant program that can Committees to host a policy hearing on upheld. is. We must also provide direct assistance to the impacted families provide financial assistance. racism in the courts. Pervasive racism and who are burdened with long-term psychological and financial bias in our courts impacts jury selection, REP. RICK KRAJEWSKI consequences. That’s why Chair Bullock and Sen. Street hosted REP. AUSTIN DAVIS sentencing disparities, and public a webinar providing resources for gun violence survivors and their confidence. families, and why Rep. Davis introduced a bill that would provide financial relief for grieving families. Sen. Williams called for the hearing following an alarming WHAT’S NEXT UPCOMING EVENTS equity organizational August 18th – Policy Hearing: Police October 5th – PLBC Fall Harrisburg Reception assessment Labor Organizations and Police Reform The focus of this hearing will be how October 27th – 30th Anniversary of the Adoption of the of the First Environmental Justice Principles Judicial discipline of officers is influenced and at District of times restrained by labor contracts and May 23, 2022 – 45th Anniversary of K. Leroy Irvis Speakership Pennsylvania. how that same system can be used to better hold officers accountable. Budgeting for Racial Justice and Equity Investing in Equity and Economic Opportunity

PLBC SECURES FUNDS FOR SCHOOLS, From job fairs to small business grants, PLBC members believe GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND MORE we must invest in Black workers and entrepreneurs. This The Pennsylvania includes demanding equitable practices in new and emerging This agenda is a road map for The PLBC Subcommittee on Budget Equity led the charge on state budget is a industries. That is why Reps. Wheatley and Parker are pushing changing the way we deliver advocating for a budget that invests in Black Pennsylvanians and valuable measure of for Black ownership opportunities in the cannabis industry, Rep. “ services, distribute resources other communities of color. our commonwealth’s Burgos is fighting for a new generation of diverse farmers and “ and otherwise do business in priorities and can be our Chair Bullock is challenging the green economy. Chair Bullock and Rep. Nelson participated in budget conversations the commonwealth. If we want best tool for racial equity. We must also invest in systems that foster equity and equal across the commonwealth and hosted a Budget Information and equity, we have to remove the Listening Session with the budget secretary and PLBC stakeholders. access to government services and opportunities. The Invest PLBC CHAIR DONNA BULLOCK barriers formed by generations The subcommittee also worked with the Administration and our in Systemic Equity Legislative Package includes bills that colleagues in the General Assembly to develop a list of shared would create a Racial Equity Task Force (Wheatley), an Office of racism and replace them priorities. of Health Equity (Bullock, Kinsey), a Socially Diverse Farmers with inclusive and fair systems. Commission (Burgos) and a Joint Legislative Equity Committee While the final budget is a bucket of missed opportunities to help (Bullock). Other bills would provide bias and cultural training for PLBC CHAIR DONNA BULLOCK those most in need, our work delivered specific results for our public employees, study bias in automated decision systems communities: and otherwise address racial bias and systemic equity. ● Newly created Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office to address systemic racism and bias in state government. Connecting Black ● $100M in Level Up Funding for 100 of our most underfunded school districts, serving 65% of the state’s Black students, and 58% of Latinx students. Level Up is modeled after a bill Workers introduced At the end of 2020, by associate Pennsylvania had the member Rep. highest state Black Schlossberg. unemployment rate. 1 ● $30M in in 5 Black Pennsylvania new funding workers were unemployed. to support In June, the PLBC and Leaders from these community Temple University hosted the neighborhood job fair many communities came violence programs, a to connect job seekers with together to speak to “ framework over 50 employers. their needs and seek our outline in support. We have heard companion bills their call, and we will championed by respond. Sen. Haywood and Chair REP. NAPOLEON NELSON Bullock. CHAIR, SUBCOMMITTEE Support Black-Owned Businesses ON BUDGET EQUITY

As lawmakers, it is our moral obligation to protect residents across this state, and the budget must “ reflect that. This will allocate the necessary funding to support and expand safety initiatives, to ensure no community in our commonwealth continues to live in fear, and it would save lives. REP. MORGAN CEPHAS

PLBC members threw their support behind a new statewide business association for Black-owned businesses. THE 2021-22 PLBC OFFICERS The Official NewsletterGavel of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus State Representative Donna Bullock, Chairwoman PLBCSUMMER 2021 327 IRVIS OFFICE BUILDING • P.O. BOX 202186 • HARRISBURG, PA 17120-2195 • (717) 772-6955 Donna Bullock Chairwoman AND MEMBERS 195th Legislative District www.pahouse.com/PLBC• /PALegislativeBlackCaucus • @PaLegBlkCaucus 2021-2022 LEADING WITH PURPOSE LEADERSHIP I am honored to be selected Amen Brown Danilo Burgos Morgan Cephas Angel Cruz Austin Davis Jason Dawkins by my colleagues to chair the 190th Legislative District 197th Legislative District 192nd Legislative District 180th Legislative District 35th Legislative District 179th Legislative District Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus (PLBC) this session, and to do so with an amazing executive team from across Summer Lee the commonwealth. Together, Vice-Chair Rep. Donna Bullock, Chair 34th Legislative District we are committed to leading or, when necessary, defeating 195th District North & West Philadelphia Isabella Fitzgerald Edward C. Gainey Jordan A. Harris Art Haywood Vincent J. Hughes legislation and policy that impacts 203rd Legislative District 24th Legislative District 186th Legislative District Senate District 4 Senate District 7 181st Legislative District Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) Pennsylvanians and their equitable access to opportunity, justice and democracy. Each session, PLBC members introduce legislation on issues ranging from criminal justice reform to veterans affairs. Recognizing our diverse legislative priorities, I Rep. Summer Lee, Vice-Chair 34th District Patty Kim Stephen Kinsey Brian J. Kirkland Rick Krajewski Joanna E. McClinton Napoleon Nelson established several additional subcommittees to help us focus on each of these 103rd Legislative District 201st Legislative District 159th Legislative District 188th Legislative District 191st Legislative District 154th Legislative District Braddock, Pittsburgh platforms. With the help of our Police Reform Working Group and subcommittees on Budget Equity, Education, Health Equity, Public Safety, Women and Girls of Color, Carol Hill-Evans Secretary and Voting and Democracy, we can focus on each issue separately and at their 95th Legislative District intersections. Leading the PLBC during the convergence of a pandemic, economic crisis and civil uprisings requires me to be intentional about the work of the caucus. I believe

Darisha Parker Nikil Saval Sharif Street Jake Wheatley, Jr. Anthony H. Williams we must collectively employ an anti-racist, equitable, restorative, and reform- 198th Legislative District 200th Legislative District Senate District 1 Senate District 3 19th Legislative District Senate District 8 minded approach to legislating. We must also engage statewide stakeholders in the Rep. Carol Hill-Evans, Secretary 95th District legislative process through regional and statewide policy briefings, listening sessions City of York and other conversations. This newsletter highlights some of that work and hopefully, informs the work for the upcoming months. Yours In Service,

Manny Guzman Dan Williams Regina Young Maureen E. Madden Mike Schlossberg Peter G. Schweyer Treasurer 74th Legislative District 185th Legislative District 115th Legislative District 132nd Legislative District 22nd Legislative District 127th Legislative District Associate Member Associate Member Associate Member Rep. Manny Guzman, Treasurer 127th District Rep. Donna Bullock City of Reading