We have lost a lot of years. In the US Congress, the state legislature, city halls throughout the state and in many local governments we have been absent for most of their existence. The laws that are created that dictate our daily life, the success of our businesses, education of our children, health outcomes, overall family net worth and other critical issues, have bypassed us because we’ve not engaged in the process of creating laws and opportunity. In most cases, we have been prohibited from being a part of the process by not being hired, elected or even asked for our opinion.
We are hoping to change much of this by getting Tabor 100 members and many others representing minority interests more engaged in the Washington State Legislature. As you know, we’ve already joined the coalition to bring Paula Sardinas and FMS Global to advocate on our behalf and the firm has done a remarkable job, bolstering the minority business presence in Olympia and notching some wins over the last couple of years that have helped move our community forward. Paula has been advocating for our interests, sometimes being the only one weighing in on a particular issue of importance to us.
We want to work to recruit and train others to join her in advocacy for our cause.
The legislative session is over and now is the time to prepare ourselves for the next one coming in January. We are putting together a series of “Legislative Workshops” which will help all of us become better acquainted with how the Legislature works and what we need to do to support one another in achieving success in our community. Anyone interested is welcome to join us as we teach the basics of the Legislature – finding and reading bills, testifying, lobbying and ensuring legislation works for us after it is passed, among many topics.
We do not have the dates established yet, but I want to give you an early “heads up.” This work is critical! Our fate to a large extent is tied to the laws that are passed and the money that is distributed from the various budgets that are approved each year. Your involvement is critical and will help us put more Black and Brown faces in Olympia successfully advocating for what is good for our communities.
It is long overdue!
