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- Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) makes equal pay for women’s soccer a GOAL.
- Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) moves to decriminalize marijuana.
- Indian Americans flex political fundraising power.
- College students are hungry. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-CT) has a bill to address food instability.
- English-speaking Latinxs feel ignored by Hispanic news media outlets.
- Richard Pryor’s daughter is running for Baltimore City Council. Check it out in Blogs.
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Music artists Ricky Martín, Residente, and Bad Bunny leading protests in Puerto Rico last week.
| |  | Style icon Dapper Dan and venture capitalist Felicia Horowitz at her home in California over the weekend.
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Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, and Marco Rubio Aim to Establish Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys
Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced legislation on Monday to establish the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys. The Commission would be housed within the United States Commission on Civil Rights’ Office and would recommend policies to improve current government programs. “This commission will address the long-standing societal gaps that have harmed black men in America and lowered the prospect of upward mobility,” Booker said. “I look forward to also having this discussion with respect to some of the alarming trends we’ve seen regarding the school-to-prison pipeline and black girls.” The Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act would establish a Commission, consisting of 19 members, and would include bipartisan Members of Congress, federal agency experts, and appointed subject issue area experts. “We must speak truth that slavery and our country’s long history of institutional racism continue to cause great pain and inequality toward communities of color—particularly Black males,” Harris said. “This bipartisan commission is just the start of a long overdue effort to confront the negative treatment Black men and boys face every day in America.” The Commission would investigate potential civil rights violations affecting Black males and study the disparities they experience in education, criminal justice, health, employment, fatherhood, mentorship, and violence. “A lack of economic opportunity and prosperity for black men is a tragedy for our nation. The United States needs their talents to solve the challenges of our time.” Rubio said. “It is intolerable and unacceptable that many black men come to believe, often for good reason, that the American Dream is not available to them.” More here.
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Doris Matsui Makes Equal Pay for Women’s Soccer a GOAL
Despite winning four World Cup trophies, performing the same job as their male peers, and earning the same, if not more, revenue for the U.S. Soccer Federation, the U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) is still paid significantly less than the men’s team. Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) wants to score equal pay for the USWNT. She and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today introduced the Give Our Athletes Level Salaries (GOALS) Act to ensure the USWNT are paid fair and equitable wages compared to the U.S. Men’s team. Recent reports show the USWNT earn as little as 38 cents on the dollar compared to the USMNT, despite winning back-to-back World Cup titles – unlike their male counterparts, who have never even made it to a final. The GOALS Act would block any and all federal funding for the 2026 World Cup -- which will be jointly hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada -- until the women’s team are paid fair and equitable wages. “The U.S. Women’s National Team united our country and inspired the next generation of young women to pursue their dreams,” said Matsui. “Most importantly, stars like Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Rose Lavelle have used their stardom to elevate the issue of pay inequality in this country and inspire women across the nation to demand no less than what they deserve – equal pay for equal work.” The legislation already has 61 cosponsors. More here.
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Emanuel Cleaver Intros Youth Suicide Prevention Bill
Suicide rates among teens and young adults have reached their highest point in nearly two decades, according to research. Each day more than three students between 9th and 12th grade will attempt suicide, and roughly 16% of high school students have seriously contemplated suicide. Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) is hoping Congress can help reduce these numbers with his new bill the Cady Housh and Gemesha Thomas Suicide Prevention Act. The bipartisan legislation, which Cleaver introduced with Congressman Billy Long (R-MO), formally recognizes the severity of youth suicide and authorizes a designated percentage of a campus suicide prevention grant to be used for training school personnel in elementary and secondary schools and also students in secondary schools in youth suicide awareness and prevention tools. “There is nothing more heartbreaking than a child making the agonizing decision to take their own life,” said Cleaver. “As a society we have to treat each other with more respect and do more to look out for one another, but we also have to have better knowledge of the signals and warning signs of a child struggling to maintain.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among individuals between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide was the second leading cause of death, with 80% of teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs. In an article in The Washington Post, a recent study showed that Black children, as early as ages 5-11, have a suicide rate about twice as high when compared with white children. “With this bill, we’re working to combat the rising trend of youth suicide by giving teachers, counselors, coaches, and even students a better understanding of depression and how to recognize when a child may be at risk,” said Cleaver. Cady Housh and Gemesha Thomas, the two students memorialized in the name of this legislation, became victims of suicide at ages 16 and 17 in Kansas City. More here.
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Kamala Harris Proposes Decriminalizing and Taxing Marijuana
Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) has introduced the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, which would implement re-sentencing or expungement for prior marijuana-based convictions, and tax revenue generated by the marijuana industry. The White House hopeful calls for 50% of the tax revenue to create three trust funds: the Community Reinvestment Grant, which would provide funding for services such as job training, re-entry services, and legal aid; the Cannabis Opportunity Grant, which would provide funds to assist small businesses in the pot industry; and the Equitable Licensing Grant, which would minimize barriers to gain access to marijuana licensing and employment for those most impacted by the so-called war on drugs. “As marijuana becomes legal across the country, we must make sure everyone — especially communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs — has a real opportunity to participate in this growing industry,” Harris said. This policy appears to be a course reversal for her. According to the LA Times, when Harris was the San Francisco district attorney, she supported the legal use of medical marijuana but was against 2010 legislation that would have legalized weed in California. This bill would give states the flexibility to determine how they intend to approach marijuana possession and sales -- even to continue criminalizing both if states so choose. More than 25 states have already moved forward with their own individual marijuana policies. More here.
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Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) at the Roswell UFO Festival in New Mexico last week.
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ABC's Deborah Roberts picking flower over the weekend in New Jersey.
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Grace Meng Bill Aims to Improve Graduation Rates at Community Colleges
Community colleges enroll nearly half of all undergraduate students and the majority of all undergraduate students of color. Despite the undeniable role of community colleges in closing the nation's skills gap through education and workforce training, these institutions are often underfunded. Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) is hoping to change that and on Monday introduced the Community College Student Success Act. The bill seeks to ensure that under-resourced public community colleges have the necessary funding to develop and implement support services that help students thrive and graduate. The lack of funding these schools experience leaves community college students without the support necessary to attain a degree or credential. Studies show that only 20% of community college students graduate after three years, and just 35% graduate after five years. “Access to college means little without degree completion,” said Meng. She described her bill as “a holistic, student-centered approach to ensuring that community college students have the financial, academic, and career support they need to obtain their degree.” The goal of the legislation is to replicate nationwide the proven success of the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP). This acclaimed initiative, which CUNY launched in 2007 at its then six community colleges, helps students earn associate degrees within three years by offering a range of financial, academic, and personal assistance. The program has been found to double the graduation rates of participating students consistently. Meng’s bill would provide funding to public community colleges across the country, with priority given to under-resourced colleges with high percentages of low-income and minority students. This funding will help institutions develop and implement programs modeled after ASAP that boost degree completion through the provision of comprehensive student support services. Read the legislation here.
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Jahana Hayes Combats College Hunger
There is a growing body of research saying that college students are routinely going hungry and its nearly impossible to say exactly how many people are impacted. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-CT), a former educator, introduced a bill this month to help address the problem. The Closing the College Hunger Gap Act would help collect data on food and housing insecurity on college campuses and connect eligible students with resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to combat food insecurity. There could potentially be millions of students who don’t have enough to eat. Nearly 50% of students at more than 100 schools couldn’t afford to eat a balanced meal and 35% of students were skipping meals entirely because they did not have enough money for food, according to a recent survey from Temple University. “No student should ever have to worry about finding the money to put the next meal on the table while in class,” said Hayes. “Hungry students don’t learn. Food stamps were a life saver for me and my young family – I know from my time in the classroom just how critical it is that students are aware of all of the resources available to help them succeed.” According to a recent Government Accountability Office study, over two million at-risk students -- meaning first-generation students, students raising children, or low-income students -- that were potentially eligible for SNAP benefits did not report receiving benefits and potentially left money on the table in recent years. Hayes’ bill would also ensure that the Department of Education lets lower-income students know about their potential eligibility and application process for SNAP benefits. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced the companion legislation in the Senate. More here.
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Sharice Davids Pushes Bill to Help Veteran-Owned Businesses Succeed
Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS) this month introduced the Successful Entrepreneurship for Reservists and Veterans (SERV) Act, a bill to help Veteran-owned businesses succeed by studying the barriers these businesses face, including lack of access to capital and credit. “Growing up with a parent in the army, I saw firsthand the challenges our service members face when transitioning to new jobs after time in the military,” said Davids. “Access to capital is one of the most important first steps entrepreneurs take when starting a business, and it is also one of the biggest difficulties, especially for our Veterans.” The bipartisan legislation, which Davids introduced with Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH), would require a report from the Comptroller General of the United States on the ability of veteran and reservist small business owners to access credit -- a necessary part of a business’ prosperity. Davids said, “By studying the problem of access to credit for Veterans and Reservists, the SERV Act will be a crucial first step in identifying solutions that allow these businesses to thrive.” More here.
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Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) with her kids last week in Detroit.
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Congressman Juan Vargas (D-CA) with a representative of the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters on Capitol Hill last week.
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Joe Biden Unveils Criminal Justice Plan
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden this morning unveiled his comprehensive plan aimed at combating mass incarceration and reducing racial, gender, and income-based disparities in the criminal justice system. The plan is largely at odds with his 1994 crime bill, which many experts now credit with mass incarceration that devastated Black and Brown communities. Biden’s new criminal justice proposal calls for empowering the DOJ to “root out unconstitutional or unlawful policing” and for an independent task force focused on prosecutorial discretion. He would decriminalize marijuana and expunge past cannabis-related convictions; end the disparity between sentences for powder and crack cocaine; and do away with all incarceration for drug use alone. He also proposed creating a $20 billion grant program to spur states to move from incarceration to crime prevention and eliminate mandatory-minimum sentences. Biden said he would also target the “underlying factors,” starting as early as childhood, that are linked with crime and future incarceration, along with a heavy emphasis on reforming the juvenile justice system. And the former VP would aim to pass legislation to abolish the death penalty at the federal level and offer incentives to states to follow suit. Biden is slated to speak at the NAACP convention in Detroit on Wednesday and at the National Urban League conference in Indianapolis on Thursday. More here.
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Indian Americans Becoming Political Force
Though they comprise approximately 1% of the U.S. population, Indian Americans are becoming a political force, and they are putting money behind their activism. The LA Times reports that, so far, they have contributed more than $3 million to 2020 presidential campaigns -- more than the coveted donors of Hollywood. Two-thirds has gone to 2020 Dems. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), the only major presidential candidate with Indian heritage, leads the pack and has brought in more than $387,000 from the community so far, according to an analysis by the LA Times of disclosure forms filed by the campaigns. Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), a practicing Hindu, comes in at a close second with over $374,000. Rounding out the top five on the Democratic side are NJ Senator Cory Booker ($248,800); former VP Joe Biden ($173,900); and Pete Buttigieg ($149,600). Indian Americans have also donated more than $1 million to committees supporting Donald Trump, LAT found. Even though Indian American voters strongly trend Democratic, there is a vocal yet a small portion of the community that stands by Trump. More here.
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Economy Helping Trump with Latinx Voters
Democrats maintain a lead with Hispanic voters, but the economy is helping the president in the eyes of some in the community, according to a new poll by Latino Decisions. The poll said the perception among Democratic-leaning Latinx voters that the economy is moving in the right direction could help Donald Trump’s 2020 chances. The poll was conducted on behalf of Priorities USA, a Democratic Party super PAC, which also released an analysis alongside the numbers. Priorities USA wrote that it was “imperative” Dems show that most working and middle-class Latinxs have not seen an improvement despite the strong economy. “Those favorable impressions are important to note because protecting American jobs and overseeing a successful economy are the most compelling reason these voters would consider supporting Trump,” the PAC said. Despite this, a majority of those polled do not believe Trump’s economic or tax policies provide any personal benefit: 59% in Florida, 67% in Arizona, 60% in Nevada -- key purple states in 2020. Priorities USA called on Democrats to invest more in research about the issues important to the Latinx community and how to message them, or the economy could push undecided voters or soft Democratic-leaning supporters to Trump. More here.
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WaPo's Jonathan Capehart with fashion merchant Maurizio Marinella in Naples, Italy last month.
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Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA) with her daughters at an annual racing event in Fitchburg, MA earlier this month.
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Imagine Entertainment’s New Management Division Will Have Latinx CEO
Imagine Entertainment has launched Imagine Artist Management, an independent division that will help support directors, producers, actors, writers, and comedians. And Tony Hernández will lead the newly launched management company as CEO. The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning producer co-launched Jax Media in 2011 -- Hernández's company (producers of Russian Doll, Younger, and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee) was acquired by Imagine Entertainment in 2018. The 1997 University of Florida graduate has also worked on TV projects such as Comedy Central’s Broad City and BET’s The Rundown with Robin Thede, as well as films including I Love You, Daddy and Top Five. He will continue to serve as a partner while concurrently overseeing the management venture. In addition to Hernández, the new venture has recruited powerhouse agents DC Wade and Raj Raghavan as partners. The pair will make the transition to management after runs at WME and CAA, respectively. "Imagine Artist Management was built to give a new face to management — one that reflects the evolution in our business. We support a full range of voices, with diversity and equal representation being a cornerstone of the company we are building,” the company said in a statement. Ron Howard and Brian Grazer launched Imagine Entertainment to support independent artists, films, and more. More on the new venture here.
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Latino Entertainment Journalists Association Launches Two New Divisions
Latinx journalists formed the Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (LEJA) in December in an effort to create a diverse voice in the industry for the Latinx community, as longtime Beat readers will recall. Now the group is launching a film division as well as a television division. The group is only allowing one month for interested journalists to apply. The organization says its goal is to provide a much-needed opportunity for writers based in the U.S. and its territories, to have their works amplified and heard in the areas of film, television, music, theatre, and the arts. LEJA’s founding president is AwardsCircuit Editor-in-Chief Clayton Davis, a writer and autism awareness advocate of Puerto Rican and Black descent who has, over the course of a decade, criticized both film and television extensively. Other founding board members include Toni Gonzáles, an Emmy-nominated TV executive producer and movie critic; Niki Cruz, an entertainment journalist with amNew York and Marketing Coordinator at Lin-Manuel Miranda’s TeeRico; and Kiko Martínez, a film critic for the San Antonio Current and Remezcla.com. “With a toxic climate that paints Latinos as anything but hard-working, intelligent, and richly valued people, it’s time we take the mic ourselves and say what we need to say,” said Davis at the time of the launch. “We have future plans to expand this organization through professional networking and proceed to expand into varying facets of entertainment including television, music, theatre, and more. If a Latino can write about it, we want to include it.” More here.
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CBS' Ramy Inocencio covering the riots in Hong Kong over the weekend, which also happened to be his birthday.
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Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) with actor and former Obama appointee Kal Penn in NYC earlier this month.
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María Elena Salinas Joins CBS News
Award-winning journalist, anchor, and author María Elena Salinas has joined CBS News as a contributor. Salinas will contribute reports across CBS News broadcasts and platforms, and will frequently appear on coverage of the run-up to the 2020 election. Salinas is one of the most recognizable Latina journalists in the country. Most recently, she was the host of The Real Story with Maria Elena Salinas, a crime series for Investigation Discovery. She covered the 2018 presidential election in Mexico for Telemundo and also contributed to CBS News in 2016, when she reported on the role Hispanics would play in the election. Salinas spent over three decades at Univisión, where she was the co-host of international programs Noticiero Univision and Aquí y Ahora. Salinas began her journalism career in 1981 as a reporter, anchor and public affairs host for KMEX-TV, Univisión's affiliate in Los Angeles. She is also the author of the 2006 autobiography, I Am My Father's Daughter, Living a Life Without Secrets. Salinas has interviewed every U.S. president since Jimmy Carter and was one of the first female journalists in wartime Baghdad. Salinas participated in the 2004 bilingual debate on Hispanic issues and in 2007 co-hosted the first Democratic and Republican presidential candidate forums in Spanish for Univisión -- perhaps we will see her moderate a 2020 debate? No women of color moderators have been part of any of the debates so far. More here.
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English Speaking-Latinxs Feel Ignored by Hispanic News Media Outlets
The majority of the country’s 60 million Latinxs are U.S. born and English dominant. But those English-speaking consumers are pretty much being ignored by Latinx media outlets, according to a report released by the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism in NYC. "The State of the Latino News Media" report found that 77.56% of Latinx news media outlets deliver the news in Spanish. Of the 624 media outlets catering to a Latino audience, the report found that only 45 are English only and of these, only nine are digital-only. Spanish the second most-spoken language in the U.S. But while the number of Spanish speakers nationally is rising, among self-identified Hispanics the share who speak it at home is in decline, according to Pew Research. Among self-identified Hispanics, 61% of immigrants are Spanish dominant, meaning they are more proficient in speaking and reading in Spanish than they are in English. By comparison, only 6% of the second generation is Spanish dominant and essentially none of the third generation is Spanish dominant, according to the Center’s estimates. Another study found that 44.4% of U.S. Latinxs prefer their news in English and online compared to 13.9% in Spanish and online. More here.
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Miami Commissioner Estebán Bovo, Jr. with Congresswoman Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) on Capitol Hill last week.
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Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot with Frank Robb, the guy who rescued the alligator known as ‘Chance the Snapper.’
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Bipartisan Policy Center Adds Latina Exec to Board
Geisha Williams, the former CEO and president of PG&E Corporation, has joined the Bipartisan Policy Center’s board of directors. Williams was the first, and so far only, Latina CEO of a Fortune 200 company and has been recognized as the highest-ranking Latina leader in American business -- there are now no Latina women in charge of Fortune 500 companies. During her tenure at PG&E, the company became a leader in renewable energy integration, grid modernization, and smart grid technologies. Prior to joining PG&E, the Cuban American University of Miami graduate -- who is a trustee at her alma mater -- worked for over two decades at Florida Power and Light Company. “I’m honored to join the board of BPC,” said Williams. “BPC’s thoughtful and informed approach to bipartisan solutions has made a difference to Americans for over a decade.” More here.
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Today - Wednesday, July 24th: The 110th NAACP Annual Convention, convening policymakers, activists, and organizers to strategize about the work NAACP has to do to ensure that the integrity of our democracy and shape the wellbeing of our communities. Cobo Center, 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, July 24th, 6P: Maritza Pérez, Juan Sempertegui, and Paulina Vera host a fundraiser to benefit three organizations at the border helping migrant families: RAICES, Annunciation House, and Al Otro Lado. Mission — Navy Yard, 1221 Van Street, S.E., DC. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, July 24th - Saturday, July 27th: The National Urban League hosts its 2019 Annual Conference, Getting 2 Equal: United Not Divided. NUL will host the nation's leading political, business, and community leaders to convene, share ideas, and discover solutions to issues that have historically plagued underserved urban communities across the country. Indianapolis, IN. Click here for more information.
Thursday, July 25th, 6P: Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries hosts his 7th annual Hip Hop On The Hill event. Opera Ultra Lounge, 1400 Eye Street N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Thursday, July 25th: APAICS hosts the 2019 Women’s Collective Summit, bringing powerful AAPI women together to share, to inspire, and to take bold action towards creating a more representative democracy. Pavilion, Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., DC. Click here for more information.
Saturday, August 3rd - Tuesday, August 6th: The UnidosUS Annual Conference, the largest gathering of its kind in the Hispanic community and the meeting ground for thousands of community leaders, activists, and volunteers; elected and appointed officials; members of the corporate, philanthropic, and academic communities; college students; and youth. San Diego Convention Center, 111 West Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, August 7th, 12:30P: Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD), chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, will speak at a National Press Club Headliners luncheon and address the Oversight Committee’s investigations into the Trump administration. National Press Club, 529 14th Street, N.W., 13th Floor, DC. Click here for more information.
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