ABOUT
HOW WE GOT STARTED
In May 2021, founding members Darlene Futrel, President; Pastor Yolonda Hughes, Vice President; Cynthia Franklin, Treasurer; and Marilyn “Peaches” Dow, Secretary, began meeting weekly to organize and form an Orange County Chapter of the National Action Network (“NAN OC”). On July 31, 2021, the 26 Founding Members of NAN OC held its INTENT TO CHARTER meeting. On October 19, 2021, the National Executive Director and President, Rev. Al Sharpton, approved and recognized NAN OC as a chapter in full compliance.
OUR STORY
National Action Network (“NAN“) was founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton. It is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. In May 2021, founding President, Darlene Futrel, formed an Executive Committee comprised of Pastor Yolonda Hughes, Cynthia Franklin, and Marilyn Dow. They would convene on a weekly basis to strategically organize and establish an Orange County Chapter of the National Action Network (“NAN OC”) with the intent to specifically address inequities in the healthcare system; secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing units (47% of Blacks encounter secondhand smoke); race hate (despite being only 2.1% of Orange County’s population, Black people are the most targeted for hate crimes and incidents); advocacy for solo seniors (1 in 5 elderly people do not have supportive family nearby); youth mentorship; food and housing insecurity; erasing the stigma of mental health; and the disproportionate rate of arrests and convictions of Black and Brown people in a county where Blacks make up only 2.1% of the population yet over 5.8% are criminally charged. On July 31, 2021, the 26 Founding Members of NAN OC held its INTENT TO CHARTER meeting. On October 19, 2021, the National Executive Director and President, Rev. Al Sharpton, approved and recognized NAN OC as an official chapter in full compliance.
In its two years of existence, NAN OC has doubled its membership, collaborated with multiple Orange County community organizations (i.e., ACLU, C.L.U.E., The Haitian Bridge Alliance, to name a few) to raise awareness and resolve community concerns and has built and delivered holiday baskets to over 200 Seniors who have no supportive family members nearby and will spend their holidays alone. NAN OC is a member of the governance board of the Health Equity for African American League (“HEAAL”), a community partner of Equity in OC (“EIOC”), an initiative of OC Healthcare Agency and works with a coalition of community organizations throughout Orange County to educate, empower and impact community and policies. NAN OC works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for health equity and one standard of justice, decency, and equal opportunities for all people regardless of age, race, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, criminal record, economic status, gender, gender expression, or sexuality. NO JUSTICE! NO PEACE!
OUR MISSION
NAN OC is a village of activists working to dismantle the barriers to racial equality, aging with dignity, education, criminal justice reform and health equity through policy change, community collaboration and by being the relentless voice of impact, influence, and empowerment for marginalized and underserved communities of Orange County.
OUR NATIONAL FOUNDER
President, Rev. Al Sharpton
With over 40 years of experience as a community leader, politician, minister, and advocate, the Rev. Al Sharpton is one of America’s most-renowned civil rights leaders and the founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN). Sharpton’s highly visible career began at the tender age of four when he preached his first sermon.
Hailed by former President Barack Obama as a “champion for the downtrodden,” Reverend Sharpton has championed police reform and accountability, calling for the elimination of unjust policies like “Stop-and-Frisk.” He has fought for voting rights, equity in education and healthcare, and LGBTQ rights. Across the years, Reverend Sharpton has advocated for those who have been victimized including Yusef Hawkins, Michael Stewart, Amadou Diallo, Abner Louima, Sean Bell, the Jena Six, Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, George Floyd, and others.
Reverend Sharpton is the host of “Politics Nation” on MSNBC; a nationally syndicated daily radio show that broadcasts in 40 markets five days a week titled “Keepin’ It Real; and a nationally broadcast radio show on Sunday, “The Hour of Power.”
ABOUT NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK ORANGE COUNTY
"NAN OC"
In May 2021, founding members Darlene Futrel, President; Pastor Yolonda Hughes, Vice President; Cynthia Franklin, Treasurer; and Marilyn “Peaches” Dow, Secretary, held their first NAN OC Executive Committee meeting. On July 31, 2021, NAN OC held their INTENT TO CHARTER meeting along with all 26 founding members.
NAN OC INITIATIVES
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GENNY’S SMILE (HEALTH EQUITY FOR WOMEN OF COLOR)Our Mission: To expose, reduce, and eradicate the systemic inequities and gaps in access to healthcare and outcomes through targeted interventions, improved access, and advocating for a fairer and more inclusive healthcare system that places a high priority on the health of ALL women of color. This requires a multifaceted approach involving healthcare providers, policymakers, community organizations, and individuals working together to eliminate these disparities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health equity is achieved when every person has the opportunity to attain his or her full health potential, and no one is disadvantaged in achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances. The history of Black women's access to health care and treatment by the U.S. medical establishment, particularly in gynecology, contributes to the present-day health disadvantages of Black women. Health inequality among Black women is rooted in slavery. White slaveholders viewed enslaved Black women as a means of economic gain, resulting in the abuse of Black women's bodies and a disregard for their reproductive health. The American healthcare system is beset with inequalities that have a disproportionate impact on people of color and other marginalized groups. These inequalities contribute to gaps in health insurance coverage, uneven access to services, and poorer health outcomes among certain populations. African Americans bear the brunt of these healthcare challenges. The health of Black women is measured in their disproportionally poor health outcomes, but it is a result of a complex milieu of barriers to quality health care, racism, and stress associated with the distinct social experiences of Black womanhood in U.S. society. Deep-seated structural and systemic racism aren’t just obstacles to addressing Black women’s health issues—they are the health issue. African-American women are three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than white women
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POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY/CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMOur Mission: To ensure that law enforcement agencies and officers are held responsible for their actions and behavior and to foster and develop trust between the police and the communities they serve. Black and Latino people made up the majority of Orange County jail bookings between 2010 and 2018, according to a recent report from a UCLA research team. Latino and Black people accounted for about 47% and 7% of jail bookings despite making up about 35% and 2% of the county's population, respectively.
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SOLO SENIOR ADVOCACYOur Mission: To advocate for Seniors who are alone, hospitalized, or in nursing facilities and have no family nearby by collaborating with government agencies, other nonprofits, and healthcare providers to develop and implement policies that enhance the quality of care and support services available to seniors in need. Advocating for seniors who are alone is essential for protecting their rights, ensuring quality care, providing emotional support, connecting them to resources, empowering their voice, preventing abuse, and promoting their well-being and independence.
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SECONDHAND SMOKE MATTERSOur Mission: To educate landlords and all communities of Orange County about the health dangers of secondhand smoke and to eliminate involuntary exposure with the goal that by 2033 all multiunit housing units will be Smokefree in OC Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in this country, killing 53,000 nonsmokers in the U.S. each year. For every eight smokers the tobacco industry kills, it takes one nonsmoker with them. Alarming statistics reveal that 2 in 5 children, 1 in 3 nonsmoking renters, and 47% of nonsmoking African-Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke, surpassing rates among white (21%) and Latino (22%) populations. The home is the main place where children are exposed to secondhand smoke.
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B.A.M. BY ANY MEANS (MENTORING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN)Our Mission: To enable young people to develop critical skills such as communication, problem-solving, and goal-setting, contributing to their personal growth and self-confidence and reduce the likelihood of them engaging in risky behavior by providing guidance and role modeling. According to “Mentor: The National Mentoring Partnership”, when young people are mentored, 55% more enroll in college, 78% volunteer regularly, 90% want to become mentors, and 130% hold leadership positions. That means every mentorship matters.
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FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITYOur Mission: To foster a more just and equitable society, promoting the health and well-being of individuals and building stronger communities by collaborating with government agencies, other non-profits, and community groups to combine resources, expertise, and funding along with sharing data and coordinating services to create comprehensive solutions. Orange County faces a significant challenge with over 400,000 food-insecure individuals, encompassing children, seniors on fixed incomes, veterans, people with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness. The LGBTQ Center OC highlights the plight of transgender individuals, noting that shelters and crisis housing are typically gender-specific or family-oriented, raising concerns about suitable accommodation options for homeless and housing-insecure transgender individuals in the region.
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LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAYOur Mission: Training, including role-playing scenarios, on how to effectively navigate interactions with law enforcement in order to ensure individuals survive and when necessary, pursue legal action.
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VOTER ENGAGEMENTOur Mission: To promote and enhance voter engagement by empowering individuals to exercise their right to vote, fostering a culture of civic participation, and advocating for policies that ensure accessible and inclusive elections for all. We believe that an engaged and informed electorate is essential for a thriving democracy, and we are committed to creating opportunities for citizens to participate fully in the democratic process. Through education, outreach, and advocacy, we strive to inspire and empower voters to make their voices heard and to have a meaningful impact on the issues that matter most to them. Together, we can build a stronger, more inclusive democracy for all.
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COMMUNITY REMEMBRANCE PROJECTA collaboration with Equal Justice Initiative and other Orange County organizations to memorialize documented victims of racial violence and lynchings and foster meaningful dialogue about race and justice. Stay tuned!
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ERASE THE STIGMAOur Mission: To create a more compassionate and understanding society that supports the mental health and well-being of all individuals by encouraging open conversations and education about mental illness and empathy towards those who are struggling. According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than half of people with mental illness don't receive help for their disorders. Often, people avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihood. That's because stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against people with mental illness is still very much a problem and can lead to harm. According to the 2019 Orange County Needs and Gaps Analysis, 6.7% of adults, 10.4% of transitional-aged youth, and 4.4% of veterans in Orange County have experienced serious psychological distress in the past year. The highest rates of distress were observed by the following demographic groups: Adults and TAY who are gay, lesbian, homosexual or bisexual, 18.3% and 39.7%; TAY with a high school education, 14.1%; Latino TAY, 16.6%; and African American TAY, 12.8%.
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SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE MEOur Mission: Increase representation of individuals from our communities in elected offices, on boards, on commissions, and on police review boards by encouraging them to run for office, advocating for diversity and inclusion in board and commission appointments, and supporting initiatives that promote equity and representation in all levels of governance. Having a representative from our community in the office ensures that our concerns and needs are heard and considered in the decision-making process, and a better understanding of the cultural nuances and specific challenged leads to more effective policy solutions.