VOTER EDUCATION
VoteWe believe that a more informed and motivated electorate will ultimately advance the cause of social justice. That’s why IMA-SP is committed to voter education and participation as a priority to help influence policy. The systematic disenfranchisement of African American citizens, including laws and policies that attempt to block or discourage certain voter populations—such extreme voter ID laws, poll closures, the barriers of fees and fines, disinformation about candidates and the political processes– must be met with strategic, coordinated countermeasures.
From street-level registration and get out the vote efforts, to research and position statements on key issues, IMA-SP members will use their pulpits and their influence to achieve a more informed and engaged local electorate, particularly among young Black voters.
Ending the Opioid Epidemic
The Love your Neighbor campaign, Clergy and their faith communities will be engaged to address the epidemic with the education and support of trained faith leaders.
Public service announcements, social media campaigns, speaking engagements and media outreach will help reduce the stigma around HIV/AIDS and guide targeted groups in health promoting behaviors and testing. Women’s history month provides an opportunity to counsel affected female populations in prevention and treatment.
We have partnered with Live Tampa Bay to address the Opiod epidemic in our community. Rev. J.C. Pritchett II serves as the Faith outreach director and more information can be found at livetampabay.org
Poverty Reduction
A man doing work at the tablePoverty is associated with poor health, shorter life expectancy, higher rates of infant mortality, and higher death rates for the 14 leading causes of death.( AAFP.org “Poverty and Health – The Family Medicine Perspective”). All who care about humanity should be united in a fight against to reduce poverty in our communities.
In St. Petersburg, 28.6% of Black residents live in poverty—that’s 2.5 times the rate of white residents. As part of our campaign to reduce poverty, IMA will focus on identifying and eliminating the structural and historical barriers Blacks have faced in building wealth. Our activities will focus on increasing opportunities for education, higher wage employment and intergenerational wealth-building in Black and Brown communities.
Tropicana Field Redevelopment
Tropicana FieldWhen the original Tropicana stadium was built on the site of a thriving Black neighborhood, 285 buildings, 500 households 9 churches and 30 businesses were dislocated. Promises of jobs, economic development, and housing never materialized. Such stories are painfully common across the country, with minority neighborhoods and businesses frequently appropriated without proper compensation for roads, public facilities and private industry.
The redevelopment of the 86-acre Tropicana Field site represents a once-in-a generation opportunity to ensure that promises made to the community are realized in the site proposals and ultimate plan. IMA-SP is committed to working with the City of St. Petersburg, neighborhood watch groups, and land use experts to ensure that affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization and reconnection, transportation, a jobs creation plan for residents of the South St. Petersburg CRA, and other crucial, hard-won community benefits are actualized in the redevelopment plan.
Our ALLIANCE helps raise funds through various programs and initiatives, and we’d love for you to get involved. We depend on your support in order to improve lives and make the world a better place for generations to come. Contact us today to learn all about volunteering and donating options.
