Southern Region Rainbow PUSH Coalition

And The Citizenship Education Fund, Inc.

Working on the Issues that Matter Most!

Volunteer - Sign Up for a Committee – Get Actively Involved – We Need Your Help!

Email jmathis@rainbowpush.org or call 404 525 5663

Dignity and Decency - RPC is participating in a national coalition

working to improve the images of women and blacks media. As part

of that effort, Janice Mathis led a demonstration against Viacom in

Times Square, New York, in April, 2007.  Rainbow PUSH also screened and critiqued the premiere of BET’s controversial “Hot Ghetto Mess” for a diverse audience at Atlantic Station.

Access to Capital – During the 2008 Georgia legislative session, RPC worked with the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus to create more opportunity for community based alternative investments and a policy of minority inclusion in state contracting.  RPC held a series of small interactive sessions to

encourage pension fiend plan sponsors and legislators to work harder

to employ the services of qualified minority-owned asset management

firms and spur capital flows into under-served areas.

Civil and Criminal Justice System - RPC hosted a criminal justice panel during the 2007 Creating Opportunity Conference to educate the public and lawmakers about the advantages of alternatives to incarceration, in terms of cost and crime deterrence.  Rev. Jesse L. Jackson subsequently met privately with Georgia Pardons and Parole Board Chair Garland Hunt to discuss ways to minimize the lifetime employment disability on persons convicted of a crime.  RPC helps those who have served their debt to society seek pardons in Georgia.  RPC’s criminal justice committee is continuing its advocacy in this arena.  RPC also opposed the appeal of the reduction of Genarlow Wilson’s conviction to a misdemeanor, opposed imposition of the death penalty on less than a unanimous

jury vote, opposed prison factories and mandatory minimum sentences

that strip courts of judicial discretion.

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. and Janice L. Mathis participated in an historic

meeting of civil rights leaders with the U.S. Department of Justice to

urge investigation into whether the Jena District Attorney exercised

prosecutorial discretion arbitrarily. Janice L. Mathis joined civil rights leaders Mark Morial (NUL),  Dennis Hayes and Julian Bond (NAACP) in a meeting with new Attorney General Mukasey early in 2008 to urge vigorous enforcement of existing civil rights litigation.  Mathis also provided written testimony to the U.S. Sentencing Commission during the successful effort to reduce the crack/powder cocaine sentencing guidelines disparity.

Parents Involved - RPC filed an amicus brief in the Parents Involved case out of Kansas that resulted in a split decision upholding consideration of race in

school assignment decisions.  Unfortunately the Supreme Court used Parents Involved to limit the use of voluntary affirmative action, weakening the independence of local school systems.

Media Programs - The Rainbow PUSH Coalition continues Issues, a

weekly magazine television show on Comcast Cable Channel 25 and

its Wednesday Community Talk broadcast on News and Talk 1380

WAOK-AM in Atlanta. The shows supported RPC work by keeping

listeners and viewers informed on key RPC priorities and timely topics including criminal justice, financial literacy, education, parental involvement, economic development, access to health care, safe teen driving access to capital, voter education and more.

Trade Bureau – Business Development Director Randolyn “Tina” Jones is focusing the Trade Bureau monthly meetings on promoting new enterprise among minority and female-owned firms, as well as increased access to contracting opportunities with corporate America. The TB also specializes indentifying and connecting TB members with public and private contracting opportunities.   Several member firms trace new business with firms like SunTrust, BP and Viacom directly to TB efforts and contacts.

The TB is organized into industry-specific spokes, including financial services, real estate and construction, professional services, advertising,  public relations and food.  Among this year’s guest speakers are representatives from Focus Brands, The Home Depot and Georgia Power.

Equal Employment Opportunity - When Cooper Standard decided

to shutter its Griffin plant, it intended to leave several hundred hourly

workers out in the cold. Instead, RPC worked successfully with them

to obtain reasonable severance packages and other benefits. John

Deere, Nationwide, BP, Waffle House, Belk, Value City are among the

companies that are more inclusive as a direct result of RPC efforts in

the Southern Region.

International Affairs - Southern Region Director Joseph Beasley stays

busy building relationships and expanding ties to Namibia, Brazil, Haiti,

Zambia and other ports-of-call for Africans in diaspora. He also speaks

out forcefully for the homeless and other disadvantaged groups.

Keep the Vote Alive! - RPC took a bus from Atlanta to Memphis in April 2008 to observe the 40^th Anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  RPC members Caroline Davenport and Thelma Godwin were among the participants who toured the Lorraine Motel and museum, met Mrs. Jacqueline Jackson and Senator Hillary Clinton.  RPC did its part in 2005 by organizing more than 25,000 volunteers and members to celebrate the 40 anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and protest efforts to block its reauthorization. As a result, President Bush signed the reauthorization in July, 2006. Keep the Vote Alive

represents the largest black-led civil rights demonstration in Atlanta

history, which included a robust coalition of labor, clergy, civil and

human rights organizations. RPC opposed mandatory government

issued photo id. requirements for voting.

International Affairs - Southern Region Director Joseph Beasley stays

busy building relationships and expanding ties to Namibia, Brazil, Haiti,

Zambia and other ports-of-call for Africans in diaspora. He also speaks

out forcefully for the homeless and other disadvantaged groups.

CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION FUND, INC.

Foreclosure Prevention

CEF in Atlanta counseled hundreds of families facing foreclosure and escalating mortgage payments.  CEF made applications for payment forbearance, modification, refinance and other foreclosure prevention measures.  CEF sponsored “Community Talk” on WAOK -AM frequently focusing on foreclosure with community experts such as Mechelle Glass of CCCS and mortgage counselor James Glenn

PUSH-ing for Safety

CEF participated in the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation auto safety braintrust in September, in Washington, D.C. After discovering that the leading cause of teen deaths in the South is auto collisions, UPS and The Peachtree

Street Project have partnered with public schools to teach safe driving

techniques to nearly 10,000 metro youth, using UPS’ Five Seeing Eye

Habits interactive curriculum.  PUSH-ing for Safety was prominently featured in the Parent Power event at the Mall at Stonecrest, in August, 2007.

Research - In 2005 the Peachtree Street Project produced a new

study, The Best and Worst Corporations in the South for Diversity,

ranking publicly traded companies on three criteria: commitment to

diversity, diversity leadership and board composition. Several of the

“worst” companies have made measurable improvement since the

study’s release. An updated version is being prepared by graduate

students of Clark Atlanta School of Business, under the leadership of

Ed Davis, Ph.D. Previously, the PSP published “Diversity in Corporate

Governance in the Southeast” in 2002. CEF continues to monitor

diversity and inclusion progress by conducting surveys and attending

annual meetings of shareholders.

Education - The project hosted its eighth annual “Creating

Opportunity” event on October 25-27, 2007 featuring a Town Hall

Meeting on Criminal Justice, live WORD Network television broadcast

from Ebenezer and sessions on avoiding mortgage foreclosure, access

to capital and faith and finance.

Dignity and Decency - RPC is participating in a national coalition

working to improve the images of women and blacks media. As part

of that effort, Janice Mathis led a demonstration against Viacom in

Times Square, New York, in April, 2007.

Access to Capital - RPC held a series of small interactive sessions to

encourage pension fiend plan sponsors and legislators to work harder

to employ the services of qualified minority-owned asset management

firms and spur capital flows into under-served areas.

Civil and Criminal Justice System - RPC opposed the appeal of the

decision reducing Genarlow Wilson’s conviction to a misdemeanor,

opposed imposition of the death penalty on less than a unanimous

jury vote, opposed prison factories, mandatory minimum sentences

that strip courts of judicial discretion. RPC participated in an historic

meeting of civil rights leaders with the U.S. Department of Justice to

urge investigation into whether the Jena District Attorney exercised

prosecutorial discretion arbitrarily.

Media Programs - The Rainbow PUSH Coalition continue Issues, a

weekly magazine television show on Comcast Cable Channel 25 and

its Wednesday Community Talk broadcast on News and Talk 1380

WAOK-AM in Atlanta. The shows supported RPC work by keeping

listeners and viewers informed on key RPC priorities including criminal

justice, education, parental involvement, economic development,

access to health care, safe teen driving, voting rights and access to

capital and more.

Equal Employment Opportunity - When Cooper Standard decided

to shutter its Griffin plant, it intended to leave several hundred hourly

workers out in the cold. Instead, RPC worked successfully with them

to obtain reasonable severance packages and other benefits. John

Deere, Nationwide, BP, Waffle House, Belk, Value City are among the

companies that are more inclusive as a direct result of RPC efforts in

the Southern Region.

Keep the Vote Alive! - RPC organized more than 25,000 volunteers

and members to celebrate the 40 anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

and protest efforts to block its reauthorization. As a result, President

Bush signed the reauthorization in July, 2006. Keep the Vote Alive

represents the largest black-led civil rights demonstration in Atlanta

history which included a robust coalition of labor, clergy, civil and

human rights organizations. RPC opposed mandatory government

issued photo id. requirements for voting.

Parental Involvement - Television judge Greg Mathis visited the Mall at Stonecrest in DeKalb County to urge parental involvement and academic excellence for youth on August 13, 2007. More than 1500 parents and youth participated in the UPS-sponsored event.  Participants received school supplies, answered black history questions in a fun contest format,  sang conscious Hip Hop with chess master Orrin Hudson, received information from various resource and support agencies and took the PUSH Excel Parent Pledge.

One Thousand Churches Connected - Interest and membership

are steadily growing under the leadership OTCC director Axel Adams

and members Bishop William Deveaux, Rev. Fred Gray, Dr. Barbara

King, Rev. Cameron Alexander, Rev. Anthony Armstrong, Rev. T. DeWitt Smith, Rev. Jasper Williams and a host of other progressive pastors. Financial literacy

classes are blossoming in congregations across the region.  OTCC has plans to  expand the program during 2008 to include health awareness and wellness.

Voter Education Tour for Jobs, Peace and Justice - Rev. Jesse L.

Jackson, Sr., CEF staff, RPC members and volunteers took a five-day,

12 city tour of South Carolina in September, 2007. During the tour CEF

registered more than 2000 voters. .

Supplier Diversity - The Project maintains regular ties to many of the

Southeast’s major corporations and public entities, including AirTran,

State of Georgia, Home Depot, Georgia Power Co., DeKalb County, Regions Bank and others to promote utilization of a diverse group of suppliers. Janice Mathis previously served on the Coca-Cola Company’s Procurement Advisory Council and currently serves on the Georgia Power Diversity Advisory Council.

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