Coalition4Justice and Racial Equity has had a remarkably busy and impactful Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 advancing equity and justice in Montgomery County and beyond. We provided our YouthBuild Diversity Ambassador Leadership program to two classes of middle school students at Eisenhower Science and Technology Academy (ESTA), and a community afterschool youth program, C-CATE in Norristown, PA. Two master’s Level seasoned educators, Sally J. Moore, and Tola Aiyegbuisi taught the classes along with Dr. Bernadine Ahonkhai. A total of seventy-five students from both settings benefited from our youth program.
Coalition4Justice Team with ESTLA Students, Norristown Area School District
The Coalition spent six months (October 2023 through March 2024) creating awareness and educating people about the Montgomery County and PA homelessness crisis using our Speaker Series and Community Conversation platforms. We also collaborated with community leaders and other community organizations with similar mission and goals, including the Interfaith community in creating county wide and regional awareness about housing insecurity, injustice and the consequent behavioral health issues experienced by our unhoused residents. Our efforts and work resulted in Montgomery County changing the temperature requirement for Code Blue, multiple Faith organizations setting up Code Blue shelters, donations and other assistance given to the shelters. Coalition4Justice, in collaboration with the HealthSpark Foundation and the Bucks-Mont Collaboration held a Summit on Housing Injustice and Homelessness in February 2024 attended by our three County Commissioners, several grassroots organizations and businesses.
While creating awareness and educating the public about social justice issues, Coalition4Justice team are also learning and fine tuning their skills. Two Steering Committee members, Tola Aiyegbuisi and Roberta Brooks, and Dr, Bernadine Ahonkhai attended an Education Summit hosted by the POWER Interfaith in March, 2024, where we not only learned a lot about important regional racial equity and social justice issues, including education and housing justice, but also made some important connections with like-minded individuals and other grassroots organizations in the greater Philadelphia region as well as advocated with PA legislators on unintended consequences of some legislations and policies and their impact on marginalized and underserved communities.
The Coalition is also involved in advocacy on critical social justice and racial equity issues. In partnership with Bucks-Mont Collaborative and as a member of the Collaborative’s Community Action Team the Coalition participated in planning and mobilizing community residents for the May 7, 2024, "Advocacy Day" in Harrisburg. The group met with Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Secretary of Health & Human Services, and Akbar Hossain, Secretary of Policy, and Planning as well several key legislators on two key priority issues - Housing and Behavioral Health. Dr. Bernadine Ahonkhai, Coalition4Justice Founder & CEO led two group meetings with PA legislators.
L - R, Tola Aiyegbuisi, Representative
Matt. Bradford & Dr. Ahonkhai at the
POWER Interfaith Education Summit
On May 10, 2024, Coalition4Justice, in collaboration with the POWER Interfaith organization met with Representative Steve Malagari about Education Justice and shared with the legislator our concerns.
To round up our intensive activities, Coalition4Justice participated in a Summit at Gwynedd Mercy University, Lower Gwynedd, PA on May 22, 2024. Two Coalition Steering Committee members, Roberta Brooks and Tola Aiyegbuisi attended the Summit along with Dr. Bernadine Ahonkhai who was one of the panelists for a session on "Advocacy, Power & Coalition Building and Best Practices.”
Dr. Bernadine Ahonkhai (Front Row next to
Senator Haywood) at the Press Conference
Dr. Ahonkhai with her team at the meeting with Mr. Akbar Hossain, PA Secretary of Planning and Policy
L-R Tola Aiyegbuisi, Dr. Bernadine Ahonkhai and Roberta Brooks at Bucks-Mont Collaborative Summit, Gwynedd Mercy University, PA
How can you help us? We are grateful to those who have supported us since our inception. With the continued and consistent support from our audience, we will expand our reach in Pennsylvania and beyond our borders. Donate today and help us achieve our mission and vision of a safe, healthy society where everyone is welcome and respected. You can also volunteer your knowledge and skills.
Dr. Bernadine Ahonkhai
Education &DEIJ ConsultantFounder & CEO, Coalition4Justice
Question? Email us at coalition4justiceandequity@gmail.com
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Coalition4Justice is a grassroots organization of individuals in Pennsylvania committed to racial equity and social justice and the eradication of laws, legislations, policies, and practices deeply entangled in the United States history.