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A Message from Councilwoman Deborah Gray
A Message from Councilwoman Deborah Gray
Dear Neighbor,
I am proud to announce that legislation I sponsored, giving Black women much needed dignity and respect, has been unanimously approved by City Council. The legislation establishes the Cleveland Commission on Black Women and Girls, a 15-member body that will recommend programs, policies and legislation aimed at improving the quality of life for Black women and girls. Creating this commission is in response to a 2020 Bloomberg report showing Black women living in Cleveland ranked last in the nation regarding equity access to social, health, economic and education opportunities. But even without the study, we felt this. This is a national embarrassment and we cannot tolerate this glaring inequity. The commission creates a venue where Black women may express their concerns, experiences and challenges and where recommendations will be developed for programs that will improve their lives.
When Black women flourish, families and communities flourish. Commission appointees will come from different backgrounds and experiences, representing faith, education, organized labor, health care, social work and more. Now that the legislation has passed, the mayor’s office and council will begin the process of selecting the commission members. The commission will conduct research and public hearings and issue reports on the status of Black women and girls. It will serve as an advisor to the mayor and city council. The commission will also establish a girls’ subcommittee to identify, explore and recommend solutions to obstacles that Black girls are facing, primarily in the schools. This is real progress toward freeing Black women from so many dead-ends in their lives. I see this commission as a monumental step toward empowering black women and girls who for so long have been denied so much.
I want to thank Mayor Justin Bibb
and my council colleague Stephanie
Howse who co-sponsored the
legislation.
Thank you,
Deborah A. Gray
Cleveland City Councilwoman, Ward 4
Councilmember Gray,
Enlightened Solutions would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your public support of #BlackWomenEqualPayCLE, specifically for the Black Women and families in Ward 4.
During any given council meeting, you carefully make decisions that will impact several generations of Clevelanders - we are proud that you believe in this first important step toward economic stability for Black Women in Cleveland.
As a reminder, Black Women’s Equal Pay Day is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
This date is when Black Women finally reach pay equity with their white male peers, colleagues and co-workers. We hope that you will engage in meaningful conversations around pay equity both on and offline.
Councilmember Gray - through our communications, it has always been apparent that you take your role in local government seriously and you work each day to expand equity for all Cleveland residents, especially for Black Women.
Folks across our city are appreciative of this small yet truly historic step toward greater economic access and equity for Black families across our region.
Have a lovely rest of your day,
Enlightened Solutions
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