#TalkRadio – September 17: I’ll Rise and Vote: Gen Z and Young Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training and Upcoming Jacksonville, Florida Voter Activation and GOTV Concert

SPEAKERS:

Makayla Myers: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM ET
Transformative Justice Coalition-certified Voting Rights Advocate & Alumni, September 2024 Class; Full time student, Community College of Philadelphia, Majoring in Public Health; Community Education as a Youth Commissioner (Mayoral Appointee) for City of Philadelphia’s Office of Youth Engagement; In Partnership with City Commissioners Office; Vice President & Political Action Chair of NAACP PA State Conference, Youth & College Division; NAACP Fired Up 2024 Cohort; President of the Youth Council & Adult Branch Executive Committee Chair for NAACP Philadelphia; Black Voters Matter Partner; Canvassed in low-propensity neighborhoods, door-knocked, community education; Students Learn Students Vote; Phone bank & Canvass Volunteer w/ PA Democrats; President of Black Girls Vote, Community College of Philadelphia Chapter; Young Black Voters for Harris, volunteer/Policy & Social Media Committee Member #CCPVotes Volunteer; this includes tabling, voter registration, update/change registration, voter education, student engagement, speaking/presenting to classes, handing out literature, requesting absentee ballots, etc.; Founder of Stars of Giving, an youth-led org focused on volunteerism, education, and mentorship; What I Wish I Knew Foundation x Students Demand Action “Motion Conference” Voter Education Keynote Speaker; African American Policy Forum

Dr. Kylar Wiltz: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM ET
Transformative Justice Coalition-certified Voting Rights Advocate & Alumni, September 2024 Class; Over the past six years, Dr. Kylar Wiltz has been able to pursue his educational aspirations at prestigious graduate and professional institutions that bear footprints in various corners of the United States, having earned Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees from Howard University, along with the Master of Public Administration (MPA)-Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree (double concentration program) from Eastern Illinois University. As a first generation physician with aims of becoming a surgeon, Dr. Wiltz’s greatest motivations are being able to tackle, dissect, and solve various facets of healthcare disparities domestically and globally, whilst serving as a community leader and mentor to those of the most significance to him. He understands and embraces the role and responsibility that his contribution to breaking such barriers serves for his family and for those who look similar to him.

Adam Green: 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM ET
Transformative Justice Coalition-certified Voting Rights Advocate & Alumni, September 2024 Class; Student, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Anthropology; Has done Voter registration; has worked as a Poll worker; worked with local Democrat group to register people to vote on school campus

Gwen McKinney: 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM ET
Creator & Campaign Director, Unerased: Black Women Speak; Trainer at the September 2024 Transformative Justice Coalition Gen Z and Young Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training, for the Media Training entitled “Young Gifted & Vote: Winning Appearances: Presenting Your Best Self”

Angel Edwards: 12:35 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Transformative Justice Coalition-certified Voting Rights Advocate & Fellow, April 2024 Class; Organizer, TJC’s “I’ll Rise and Vote 2024 Voter Activations and GOTV Concert Series” for Jacksonville, Florida; received a degree in Political Science with a double concentration in History and Africana Social Sciences from Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL; a Black Voters Matter, Liberators In Training student fellow’s 2024 Cohort; Former Research Fellow at the Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center; Community/ Campus Organizer Fellow at Dream Defenders, a call center operator at the Andrew Gillum Campaign, an Operations Fellow at the Museum of Science and History, and an African American History Tutor at Bethune-Cookman University; has participated in several conferences, including the Freedom of Speech Conference at Florida Southern College, HBCU Climate Change Awareness Conferences hosted in Hampton, GA, Howard University, and Xavier University.  Policies and Politics Convenings, Leesburg, FL and Charleston, SC; attended Leadership Trainings in Orlando, Jacksonville,Tallahassee and Phoenix; member of various organizations, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Red Alliance for Justice, Jacksonville Leadership Coalition, Metro Gardens Association, and Black Voters Matter

Tony Hill: 12:35 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Former Florida State Senator; served two decades in state Legislature and as aide to Rep. Al Lawson and Mayor Alvin Brown; Successfully led the fight which mandated teaching African American history in the Florida K-12 school system

INTRODUCTION:

Hi Igniters For Change! The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled “I’ll Rise and Vote: Gen Z and Young Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training and Upcoming Jacksonville, Florida Voter Activation and GOTV Concert”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and will feature special guests Dr. Kylar Wiltz, Makayla Myers, Adam Green, and Gwen McKinney. This show will preview the upcoming September 21st Jacksonville, Florida “I’ll Rise and Vote” Voter Activation and Concert and will review their experience during the Transformative Justice Coalition’s Gen Z and Young Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training held September 11th – 13th in Washington D.C. This train-the-trainer classroom-style interactive event prepared 24 young people to be non-partisan voting rights advocates in their communities, with 20 panels with 25 expert trainers, an event during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, a movie, debrief dinner discussions, and a reception. Graduates of the program, now TJC Alumni, each received a certificate and a $500 stipend for completing the entire training and completing a workplan detailing how they will bring their training back to their communities. Dr. Kylar Wiltz, Makayla Myers, and Adam Green are now all graduates of the program. Gwen McKinney was a trainer at the program and conducted the Media Training entitled “Young Gifted & Vote: Winning Appearances: Presenting Your Best Self”.

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the Transformative Justice Coalition with its national, state, and local partners, including the A. Philip Randolph Institute, First Coast Leadership, League of Women Voters US, League of Women Voters Jacksonville, NAACP, Black Voters Matter, Rainbow/Push Coalition, NNPA, PFAW, and the Divine 9 are hosting “I’LL RISE AND VOTE: A Multi-state Concert Series and Engagement Initiative to Get Black, GenZ, and Millennials Out to Vote Ahead of the November Election!” Join us register to vote and check your voting status while enjoying good food, music, and games as we transform voting and the voting experience.

This event will kick off a multi-state “I’ll Rise & Vote” Activation and Concert Series beginning on September 21st in Jacksonville, Florida, and ending on November 2nd in Cincinnati, Ohio. Each activation and concert series will feature massive public outreach, Votercades, Portable gaming stations, Free Banned Book Give-A-Ways, Cornhole games, and lawn games; Popular local and national musical groups; Food trucks; Voter registration; Voter empowerment information; Voter Restoration Booths for formerly incarcerated and returning citizen; Voter Information for Homeless and housing insecure voters; Trained “Freedom Fighters” (GenZ/M voting rights activists) on our nationally acclaimed TJC “John Lewis ‘Make Good Trouble’ Vote Bus.” This is a free event; all are welcome and invited to participate.

As of 2024, GenZ/Millennial (GenZ/M) voters, ages 18-35, make up the most significant and surging voting bloc in the United States. In the last few weeks, voter registration has reached a fever pitch. However, this voter enthusiasm will confront a daunting minefield of deliberate disenfranchising barriers at the ballot box. The GenZ/M voting bloc is also the most diverse, multicultural, multi-racial, and inclusive bloc of voters in our country’s history.

As a result, the GenZ/M voter is targeted by some state legislatures with malicious voter suppression laws calculated to make it more difficult for GenZ/YMs to vote. Additionally, the targeting of GenZ/M voters with the intentionally deceptive social media “no vote/don’t vote” campaigns is meant to discourage young voters, especially African Americans, from using their ballot power. 

“This is the first time African Americans, GenZ, and Young Millennials are positioned to lead the way forward in the general voting process,” said Barbara Arnwine, Founder and President of the Transformative Justice Coalition. “Collectively, this key constituency can vote to preserve democracy. TJC,” Arnwine continued, “intends to do its part to ensure all eligible votes are cast and counted. In 2024, Young voters will not be deterred, confused, nor denied from voting.”

From 12:35 PM – 12:40 PM, Igniting Change guest Gwen Mckinney will give the media her scorecard on the new weekly segment called “Election 2024 and Race Media Report Card” and her report card on the media’s coverage of the Apalachee High School shooting. Over the years, Igniting Change has pointed out the many failures and misadventures of the U.S. media’s coverage of racial issues. This journalistic incompetence reaches a new high during political contests, especially during presidential elections. From misguided headlines which thoughtlessly give credence to racial attacks, to the lack of fact checking, and the treatment of racial slurs, tropes, and stereotypes as fair commentary, this period has reeked of abysmal journalism. We will discuss some of these matters and what is necessary to be done to make the overall media more competent. 

QUESTIONS:

• We are happy to welcome the Deputy Secretary for the USDA. Deputy Secretary Rainge, please tell our audience about your position. What are the duties for Deputy Secretary of Civil Rights for the USDA?
• On Friday, July 7th, the USDA announced this $2.2 billion fund for Black Farmers. Why did the USDA announce this fund?
• Let’s talk about some specifics of this fund. Who is eligible? 
• Let’s discuss who can apply and how can they apply to this new fund?
• How do we best outreach to all of these farmers, particularly Black farmers, who are eligible?
• How can our diverse audience of racial justice activists from around the country, and many of our audience has family members who are farmers. What can our listeners do to help right now to outreach to the farmers and help them?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners? Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?
• Thank you, Dr. Malveaux. As Board Chair for PUSH EXcel, how do you view Rev. Jackson’s announcement of his pivot? What impact will that have on the fight for racial justice in the United States?
• We’re here at the RPc Convention. One of Rev Jackson’s most amazing accomplishments has been in the area of voting rights. Today there are significant voting rights developments, including the introduction of the Freedom to Vote Act. Last week, the GOP introduced their attempt to federalize voter suppression called the American Confidence in Elections Act. How do you expect Rainbow PUSH, with Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III and Rev. Jackson, will be a leader to pass the FTVA and to oppose the ACE Act? 

Final Questions to guests:

• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?