COMMITTEES, PLATFORMS &
PROJECTS
National Action Network Orange County is dedicated to breaking down obstacles to racial equality, promoting dignified aging, advancing education, reforming criminal justice, and achieving health equity through various committees, platforms, and projects.
GENNY'S SMILE
(HEALTH EQUITY FOR WOMEN OF COLOR)
In memory of our founding member Geneverteria Turner
Joan Powell, Chair
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.
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Deep-seated structural and systemic racism aren’t just obstacles to addressing Black women’s health issues—they are the health issue.
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African-American women are three times more likely to die of pregnancy-related causes than white women
POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY / CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
Kelvin Ward, Chair
Our 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
SOLO SENIOR ADVOCACY
Darlene Futrel, Chair
Our 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.
SECONDHAND SMOKE MATTERS
Darlene Futrel, Chair
Our 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.
Black Lives/Black Lungs (Documentary)
Created by filmmaker and activist Lincoln Mondy, the documentary comes at a time when tobacco-related illnesses are still the number one cause of death in the black community.
It's Like They're Smoking
Children speak of their "addiction" to cigarettes to raise awareness of secondhand smoke and its effects.
B.A.M. BY ANY MEANS
(MENTORING PROGRAM)
Solomon Byrd, Chair
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.
Ava Byrd
Chair of Food and Housing Insecurity Committee
FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY
Ava Byrd, Chair/Connie Jones, Co-Chair
Our 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.
LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY PROJECT
Chair, VACANT
Our 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.
ERASE THE STIGMA:
MENTAL HEALTH
Chair, VACANT
Our Mission
Our 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%
SOMEONE WHO LOOKS LIKE ME
Chair, VACANT
Our 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
VOTER
ENGAGEMENT
Chair, VACANT
Our 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.