Marty Lanier Hoag’s Post

Project 2025 spells out second Trump term in alarming detail. That is no stretch | Opinion After reading the Project 2025 document it has the potential to cause harm to minorities, women of childbearing age, undocumented immigrants, and LGBTQ communities.  I can confidently say that if put into effect, it has the potential to cause immense harm to minority communities, women of childbearing age, undocumented immigrants, public education, diversity, equity and inclusion programs, unions, and the LGBTQ community. Project 2025 aims to reduce the size of federal agencies, ban abortion drugs, and overhaul popular programs like the Affordable Care Act — as "alarming." One claimed that if Trump is re-elected and implements Project 2025, it would grant him unprecedented and potentially dangerous powers unlike any occupant of the White House in American history. Document calls for ending civil service protections, expanding presidency The document lays out specific policy proposals and aims to have vetted conservatives in place in the early days of a new administration in order to take sweeping actions during the first 180 days in office. “Everyone should be reading this because this would take things back to the 1950s,” said Maurice Cunningham, a retired professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts Boston. Sounding the alarm:This version of Christianity distorts faith and destroys democracy Roberts, the leader of the Heritage Foundation, believes that Republicans are in the process of reclaiming the country. On Steve Bannon's podcast earlier this month, Roberts said America is is in the midst of a “second American Revolution” that will be bloodless “if the left allows it to be.” This could also lead to dismantling DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs in the workplace. During Trump's presidency he was able to nominate three hardline conservatives to the Supreme Court, in a move that tilted the court 6-3 to the right — a court that issued a historic ruling early this month giving presidents sweeping immunity protections for actions taken in office. (in addition to reversing Roe v. Wade, and taking power away from institutions and giving it to the Supreme Court.) Trump could gain the power to dismantle federal agencies, remove dissenting individuals who disagree with him, and give him dictator-like powers. “He essentially wouldn’t have to answer to anyone,” Jackson said. It does not support people who look like me or come from similar backgrounds. It also fails to address the progress of minority groups, the underprivileged, women, or LGBTQ individuals, which is clearly problematic. The document would have benefited from having a diversity of writers.

It’s time to make space for young voices 📢 Justice + Joy National Collaborative recently released insights from Fixing Democracy, a national initiative funded by The New York Women’s Foundation to gather insight and support youth civic engagement among girls, young women, and gender-expansive young people of color. Early this year, nationwide focus groups shared their issue priorities, values, and perceptions about democratic reform. “Young voters of color feel democracy has failed them, and it’s true…As we near a critical election year, our research finally puts them at the center of the conversation. It’s not enough to save democracy; it’s past time to fix it," said Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, President of Justice + Joy, formerly National Crittenton, on the findings. The initiative also works with young people to mobilize their peers to the ballot box and promotes intergenerational activism with pathways for young people to step into their power as catalysts for change and lead sustained civic engagement movements. 🔗 Read about the findings at https://lnkd.in/efRn2wQX #FixingDemocracy #CivicEngagement #2024Election #GenderJustice #GenderEquity #RacialJustice

Black women are deeply engaged in the national conversation as we approach the November election. According to a recent poll by HIT Strategies for Higher Heights Leadership Fund, 76% of Black women express the belief in the power of their vote, despite 26% feeling a decrease in influence as the election nears. Concerns over voter suppression are at the forefront, as highlighted by Glynda C. Carr, President and CEO of Higher Heights. Heading into November, the rising cost of living takes center stage for 58% of Black women. Public safety and affordable housing follow closely, tied at 35%, while 27% prioritize reducing racism and discrimination. Additionally, 40% of Black women are inclined to support candidates who advocate for reproductive freedom, according to the poll. Recent statistics have noted that addressing issues like abortion is crucial, as Black women are disproportionately affected by such policies. Despite feeling underrepresented in politics, the poll reveals that 81% of Black women voters believe in the transformative power of Black women elected officials. As we navigate these critical discussions, it's essential to amplify the voices and concerns of Black women in our political discourse and decision-making processes. #BlackWomenVote #ElectionInsights

NEW: Young changemakers care passionately about key political issues, but don’t feel represented or listened to by our political leaders and are turning to alternative routes for action Our new report finds that young changemakers care passionately about key political issues, but don’t feel represented or listened to by our political leaders, aren’t confident the government will act on their biggest policy concerns, and don’t see politics as a viable career choice. Fears of unsafe workplaces, disillusionment with politics as an effective tool to achieve change, and the lack of diversity and representation are the key issues turning young people away from politics. 9 in 10 participants say that Federal Government doesn’t represent their perspective or values, and young First Nations and Torres Strait Islanders are even more likely to feel unrepresented than their peers. The leading policy concerns for young changemakers are the climate emergency, First Nations Rights and addressing gender-based violence – but just 1% of those surveyed say that Federal Government is doing an adequate job addressing these issues. Yet, this lack of trust in political institutions has not led to political apathy, but rather young people finding and creating alternative ways to become politically active – like starting their own initiatives, volunteering, and using social media for activism. Read our NEW study with Raise Our Voice Australia ➡️ https://ow.ly/TuVn50QKxBt

Today I read that a federal judge ruled that the Minority Business Development Agency must desist in its mission. I read that Dr. Sherita Golden stepped down as CDO from John's Hopkins Medicine because she discussed privilege in a newsletter. I read that Missouri is trying to put teachers on the sex offender registry for acknowledging the social transitioning of Transgender students. Every day there is another assault on DEI. What do they all have in common? Every single policy or decision made above is completely contraindicated by widely available, validated data. Data shows that people with historically marginalized identities are underrepresented in spaces across the board - programs like those offered by the MBDA are designed to counter systemic inequities. Data shows that the over-representation of dominant culture values and 'privilege' impairs decision-making, collaboration, and employee satisfaction in organizations. And the data is SUPER clear that providing a safe and supportive environment for Trans and gender non-conforming children/teens saves lives and is a matter of public health. The facts don't seem to matter anymore. Every day there is another story similar to the above and everyone working in DEI, Human Resources, Learning and Development, etc. can feel it. It is exhausting. The communities committed to building fact-based, safe, equitable, and inclusive spaces are struggling. The 2024 Racial Justice at Work Summit: Justice for All is an effort to bring these communities together for support, connection, inspiration, care, and practical guidance to help combat not only these attacks to the work - but also to the attacks on our peace and well-being. This 3-day, virtual event has 7 keynotes, 10+ industry panels, 60+ sessions, performance artists, daily yoga practice, networking opportunities, and more. (And it's all being recorded, so there is no stress to pick and choose!) I hope you can join me and my whole team there. This is, without a doubt, one of the most important conversations this year. https://lnkd.in/gWaspgcZ

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN MONTH! A PEOPLE UNTIED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED! Millions of women of diverse ethnicity mobilize and organized there political, social and cultural base to take a anti Trump stance on his presidency and his policies. We have to commend these women for their strategical and tactical mobilization and organizational efforts . This broad-based Coalition was able to leverage voices throughout the world in exposing white supremacy and white nationalism and there political platform of oppression, repression and racial and gender marginalization. This national and International effort is out of the civil rights Playbook and black liberation Movement. We as black people have to reclaim our Legacy and tradition of social mobilization and direct actions. We have to learn how to Tactical begin to Leverage our political platform and merge into the broader National and International movement fighting against the rise of fascism and the dismantling of democracy. We have to raise our voices and move towards the unification and solidarity around a direct action campaign that move our agenda into a national Focus. Let's move out of our individual silo's ,self-serving ideological dogma and rhetoric..We have to position our selves in becoming a political player on the world stage. We have to have principal discussions on how to best move past our differences in move toward the unification of our movement. There have always been different tactical and political strategies in our struggle, we have to begin to create a space where contradictions can be resolved principally . The political consciousness and awareness of people in this country have been awakened, we have to be intentional in how best to coordinate and orchestrate our political platform. We as activist and revolutionaries have to commit to working together in heightening the contradictions and teach the masses how to resist in fight back. Repression breeds resistance,we have to begin to raise up the indigenous people of our community and teach them how to build a strong political platform and movement inaddition building institutions that's community base community-driven in service of our people. Anyone that fighting to dismantle imperialism colonialism, racial oppression and the dismantling of institutional racism and white supremacy we should be supporting... because these are the same things that we're fighting against. We need to amplify our collective voices in a universal Clarion call for PEACE JUSTICE and EQUALITY. The alignment of multiple political platforms makes our position even stronger. Let's move toward coalition-building to Leverage our Urban Agenda. .

Voting is important. Republican lawmakers in more than 30 states have introduced or passed more than 100 bills to either restrict or regulate #diversity, #equity, and #inclusion initiatives in the current legislative session. #DEI #diversityequityinclusion #DEIB #DEIpolicy

It comes as no surprise that progressives and liberals challenge their own government's policies. Pushing the envelope on human and civil rights, for all people, is as close to a mandate as is imaginable. What is confounding is when those same people side with the most repressive regimes and support them and their policies over the far more liberal and progressive democracies. How do people who demand a woman's right to choose at home fully support governments and cultures that do not consider women's rights? How do they stand up for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community at home and then support the very regimes that put Queer people to death? Why is it okay, almost a requirement to have two sets of standards? Why is it impossible to support the equality of people, no matter where they live, without taking political sides no matter what they believe? The Universal Declaration of Human Rights provides a blueprint on how and what is vital for human dignity, and human dignity is the cornerstone of human rights and the prospects for a more peaceful world. But, when progressives support governments and policies that deny human rights, deny human dignity, and eliminate the people's voice by terminating or simply not permitting democracy, it only brings us closer to a world in the final throws of decline. The most liberal of societies are moving to the right as they feel violated by social conservatives that have moved into their nations, ostensibly for freedom, but unwilling to part with their ultra conservative beliefs and practices, pushing for drastic changes in these historically liberal nations without regard to why they went there in the first place. This can look like prejudice and racism but is often pushback on ideology and a set of values that do not allow for the dignity of all people to be respected. The pressures keep mounting until both sides oppose democracy and human rights, and everyone loses. These tensions make the world less safe and threaten the very future of democracy and the voice of the people, in exchange for the voice of authoritarians and fearmongers. Just as we should be opening our hearts and minds, we are closing them. Learn from history, do not fear truth, and welcome change for it is the only constant in our world.

Good Way to become involved in the Financial Planning Community.

As global politics evolve, masculinity is increasingly being used as a tool to stoke fear and anxiety. In the #USElections, for example, we're seeing conservative narratives that equate leadership with dominant ideas masculinity. This trend isn’t isolated to the U.S.—it’s a global phenomenon. We are an alliance of thousands of organisations and individuals working every day to challenge and dismantle the idea that being a man is about power, control, dominance, or aggression. And to help more men and boys break down - and break free from - limited notions of how they should act or think based on "being a man". The work our members do around the world is essential to ending gender based inequalities and violence, and building a just and equitable society for all. Not to mention helping boys and men to live more authentic, connected, healthier and happier lives - for themselves and the people around them. To read more about how this is playing out in the U.S. Elections, read this article from The Guardian