Florida Rising

Our communities have the strength to rebuild, but we need your help to make it happen. 🫂 The Florida Grassroots Recovery Fund, led by Florida Rising and other Florida-based powerhouse organizations, ensures that resources go directly to those on the ground, providing vital mutual aid and advocating for equitable recovery after each storm. 🫱🏾🫲🏼 After Irma, Ian, and now as we face #HurricaneHelene, we've mobilized for our people. Donate today at HeleneResponse.org to help us continue the fight for justice and resilience. 🔗 #CommunityCare #TogetherWeRise

We are thrilled to announce that as of November 1st, Florida Rising will have a new leader. Victricia Simmons will transition into the role of Interim Executive Director for Florida Rising. Victricia has served Florida Rising and our legacy organizations for over a decade. Together, we’re going to keep bringing home wins for Black and Brown Floridians by securing #JusticeOnEveryBlock. #WinWithBlackWomen #BlackWomenLead

Today's #LatinxHeritageMonth highlight goes out to Ivanna Gonzalez (she/her), the Chief Campaigns Officer at Florida Rising!   When we asked Ivanna what inspired her to pursue community organizing, she said: "I do this work because the value of community care is deep: my liberation is tied up in yours, and if you're not well, then neither am I." 🖤 

Our 2024 Statewide People’s Assembly (SPA) was another one for the history books. We were honored to convene over 200 members from across the state to celebrate our wins and strategize for more to come. 🙌🏽 We were honored to host speakers from Haiti, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and Texas, including: Pascale Solages, Co-Founder of Neges Mawon/Haitian Feminist & social activist; Rosario Mendez, Executive Director of Taller Salud; Marta Alanis, Católicas por el Derecho a Decidir/Catholics for the Right to Choose, Argentina and Brianna Brown, Co-Executive Director of the Texas Organizing Project. But of course, we couldn’t be in the MIA without hitting the streets! We knocked on over 1,000 doors, engaging in 346 meaningful conversations with our neighbors about voting #YesOn4. 🗳️ Thank you to all of our phenomenal members, organizers, speakers, and staff who made this weekend possible! Don’t miss out next year— become a member today!

🗣️ Big news from Florida Rising! After almost eight transformative years, our powerhouse Executive Director, Andrea Cristina Mercado, is stepping into a new role as President & CEO of The Climate & Clean Energy Equity Fund and the Climate Equity Action Fund in January. In November, our dynamic Chief of Staff, Victricia Simmons, will become our Interim Executive Director! 🎉 From registering over 200,000 new voters to winning landmark electoral victories for climate justice and voting rights, Andrea’s leadership has left an incredible mark on Florida’s political landscape and the communities we continue to serve. ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 While we’re sad to see her go, we’re ready to build on this legacy and keep fighting for our communities. Next up is us continuing to make history together — the movement doesn’t stop here! 🧡🫂

Primary elections are about selecting the candidates we want to represent us when facing off in a general election. Of our endorsed candidates, 13 won their election on Tuesday, while 14 are moving to the general election. 🏆 Together, Florida Rising made the difference: Helped 25,000 people register to vote 🗳️ Knocked on over 13,000 doors 🚪 Made 24,000 calls 📞 Spoke directly to 2,700 voters 🗣️ Our heartfelt thanks go out to each and every one of our staff, volunteers, and supporters. Your unwavering dedication and hard work are the heart of our organization. We also extend our gratitude to WESH 2 CW18 for interviewing our COO, Chevalier Lovett and shining a light on our vital work. 🫂

Our colleagues at the Stanford Law School Rule of Law Impact Lab recently released a report alongside Florida Rising and Human Rights Watch arguing that Florida leaders are reshaping elementary, middle, and high school classroom content through new laws and policies that censor, distort, and discriminate. They suggest that these laws restrict classroom instruction about race in U.S. history, sexual orientation, and gender identity, ban books reducing the information available to students, and promulgate inaccurate and misleading civics and history standards. Read their report titled, "'Why Do They Hate Us So Much?': Discriminatory Censorship Laws Harm Education in Florida," linked below. 

FLORIDA RISING IS HIRING! 🧡 We are proud to be expanding our team with positions ranging from Community Organizers to our Executive Program Manager! 🫱🏾🫲🏼 If you are committed to advancing justice for everyday Floridians in climate, housing, criminal systems reform, reproductive rights, and democracy, this is your sign to join us at Florida Rising! Are YOU 🫵🏽 ready to join the organization building collective power for the new majority? Then apply today! https://lnkd.in/e-3HupXr #TogetherWeRise 

Check out these Juneteenth events in your city starting this weekend!🧡 Experience Juneteenth's rich heritage and significance through music 🎵 , food 🥘, education 👩🏽🏫, and art 🖼️. Join Florida Rising for cultural performances, historical exhibitions, and community gatherings honoring freedom and unity. ✊🏾 Let’s celebrate Juneteenth together across every region of Florida.🫂 #Juneteenth #JuneteenthEvents #ThingstodoFlorida #JusticeOnEveryBlock #FreedomForAll

Florida Rising is once again being recognized for our work, this time in Central Florida! 🧡 We are honored to be finalists in 2 categories: Orlando Weekly’s Best of 2024. 🙌🏽 Florida Rising has been nominated under ‘Local Notables’ for ‘Best Local Activist Group,’ and our COO, Chevalier Lovett, has been nominated for ‘Best Local Big Shot Who's Not an Elected Official’.🏆 🗳️Visit flrising.win/bestof2024 to vote TODAY! P.S. You can vote ONCE a day until July 15th, so start now! 🤭