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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2020

CONTACT: Ken Taylor, Executive Director ktaylor@kidsforward.org | 608.206.5237

In twenty-two days Wisconsin goes to the polls at a momentous time in our state’s and nation’s history. Faced with the interwoven challenges of the pandemic, the recession, and racial injustice, we need leaders who will work to ensure that everyone thrives and has access to opportunity – specifically children and families of color.

Kids Forward invites Wisconsinites to participate in Race to the Polls, an educational campaign to emphasize policy solutions that directly address the needs of children and families of color.

Race to the Polls is a campaign for the people by the people. People who are ready to make racial justice a priority. People who are ready to vote for candidates who talk about and commit to working on issues affecting people of color. People who will hold elected officials accountable to dismantling the systemic racism that exists in policies affecting children and families furthest from opportunity in our state and throughout our nation.

“As we continue to work to deconstruct oppressive institutions and build a new, more equitable future through transformative change, we remain committed to pursuing advocacy through the lens of antiracism. We seek to hold elected officials accountable for ending the massive economic, educational, health, and community injustices that persist in our communities,” said Stephanie Muñoz, Project and Community Engagement Associate at Kids Forward.

With so much dialogue and concern focused on the mistreatment of people of color in Wisconsin and across the nation, it’s important that Wisconsinites engage in dialogue and begin working to address the substantial disparities in well-being.

This point is reinforced by Dadit Hidayat, a Policy and Outreach Specialist at Kids Forward: “As a father of an Indonesian immigrant family, it is vital to assure my teenage kids that opportunities and resources are there for them. Like many other children, they have dreams and plans to realize those dreams. However, as they grow older, they start to realize that opportunities are not equally available for them compared to their White friends. As parents of color in this society, our job has become challenging to keep them motivated, chasing their dreams. The election is one way to ensure that we have leaders who care about the future generations and that resources are available for everyone. The assurance that communities of color can safely cast their votes, and be counted, is how we can realize a more just society.”

Our future is diverse, engaged, compassionate, equitable, inclusive, healthy, factual, and thriving. We must demand leaders who will engage with Wisconsin’s communities of color, amplify their voices, and work to advance policies that promote racial justice. Join us in bringing racial justice issues to the forefront this election season.

More information about the campaign can be found at https://kidsforward.org/race-to-the-polls/