When I get in the room...

[View this email in your browser]( Michael’s Monday Motivation In the past few days, people around the country and college basketball teams have doing everything possible to make it, just in time. Whether it be to vote this past Super Tuesday or as a special guest at the State of The Union or a team playing in a conference tournament hoping to get into the Big Dance, you embrace excitement along nervousness to just get there. Maybe you were at the Doctor's office or rushing to work or just barely arrived at the game to watch your team, we spend a lot of energy on rushing to get to the destination. But, I encourage us to think more about: What will I do, WHEN I get in the room! Not if, but when. Let that reflection inspire us on the journey so that the trip there doesn't become more important than us arriving! Election campaigners Michael Blake and Cynthia Wallace said accurate information and community involvement are needed to protect electoral integrity and empower underrepresented voters. Strategies for countering misinformation range from sourcing internet posts to hosting barbershop meetings, they said. See Also: [User Entity & Behavior Analytics 101: Strategies to Detect Unusual Security Behaviors]( Blake, founder of Atlas Strategy Group, which collaborates with historically Black colleges and universities to enhance voter engagement, said communities of color are often targets of misinformation and disinformation used to quell voter participation and influence election outcomes. "Many will say it's the new 'Jim Code.' Algorithm discrimination, misinformation, disinformation - all three - are being spent out. We have now launched the Kairos Democracy Project. It is for issue awareness and how democracy is relevant to communities of color," Blake said. Wallace, co-founder of the New Rural Project, which seeks to make the voices of rural young people and marginalized residents heard, underscored the importance of accurate information and community engagement to increase voter turnout among rural minority populations. "We found that there was almost 60,000 Black, Hispanic, Native American, and AAPI voters who were registered but didn't turn out to vote in 2020," she said. Misinformation played in how people voted or didn't vote in that election." In this video interview with Information Security Media Group, Blake and Wallace discussed: - The difference between misinformation and disinformation and how each is used to target communities of color; - How the Kairos Democracy Project aims to provide accurate information and counter misinformation; - Insights from the New Rural Project on how to increase voter turnout among minority populations in rural areas. Blake is a former New York state assemblyman and Democratic National Committee vice chair. He served in the Obama-Biden administration as the White House associate director of public engagement and deputy associate director of the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Wallace was the 2020 Democratic nominee for North Carolina's 9th Congressional District and has been active politically in the state since 2008. Prior to running for office in 2019, she chaired the North Carolina Democratic Party 9th Congressional District, where she led strategy for eight counties. Black voters in critical background states want to see federal and state governments tackle criminal justice reform, according to a national poll released Wednesday. The [poll conducted by]( BSG on behalf of [FWD.us]( found that 78 percent of likely voters in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Michigan support criminal justice reform, including 87 percent of Democrats and 82 percent of independents. Two out of 3 Republicans also supported criminal justice reform. [Read the Full Article]( NEW: NATIONAL AND KEY SWING STATE POLLS SHOW STRONG SUPPORT FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORMS WITH HIGHEST SUPPORT AMONG BLACK VOTERS Voters nationwide and in Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania indicate overwhelming support for reforms that address mass incarceration WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an extremely fractured and politically polarizing time, newly released polling shows that support for criminal justice reform - and specifically for reducing the number of people in jail and prison - remains high across parties, with majorities of Republicans and Independents saying that it is important, and with particularly high support from Democrats and Black voters. The national poll, conducted by BSG on behalf of FWD.us, sampled likely and unlikely voters nationwide and oversampled Black voters. It was complemented by three state polls in key swing states with large populations of Black voters in Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and was fielded between February 13-20, 2024.  Despite much hand-wringing about how both the realities and the politics of crime defined elections over the past two years, high support for criminal justice reform has remained largely unchanged since FWD.us conducted a similar poll in 2022. Voters in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan support reform just as much or more as the national average. While public opinion research consistently shows Black voters take safety and crime in their communities more seriously than the average voter, any assumption that they have abandoned their commitment to reducing incarceration is not borne out by the data. Black voters remain both motivated by and committed to criminal justice reform, and specifically to reducing the number of people in jail and prison. The detailed poll memo and national & state toplines can be viewed [here]( and [here](. Key findings from the poll include: - Overwhelming support for criminal justice reforms remains high across all political parties, with majorities of Republicans and Independents supporting reform, and with support especially high with Democrats and Black voters - Voters strongly supported specific policies that would reduce jail and prison populations including sentencing reforms, parole reforms, pretrial reforms and, especially, the First Step Act remains astoundingly popular - Nationally, 67% of likely Black voters say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supported criminal justice reform, compared to only 8% who would be less likely - Voters (particularly Black voters) say mass incarceration causes many of the issues that lead to unsafe communities such as homelessness, poverty, and drug and mental health challenges; and voters across political parties believe that most elected officials talking about crime rates are playing politics with the issue of public safety “Black voters from across the country recognize the shortcomings of our current criminal justice system - failing to rehabilitate people, not reducing crime, and ignoring pressing social problems that continue to go unrecognized,” said Rena Karefa-Johnson, Vice President, National Initiatives at FWD.us. “There’s clear opportunity for candidates to embrace meaningful reform, but it is essential to put actions over rhetoric as voters have continued to say they will support elected leaders that put community safety, reuniting families, and justice at the forefront of policy-making.” “The vast majority of voters - around 78% - support criminal justice reform, and they want elected leaders to reduce incarceration and follow evidence-based solutions that actually make communities safer,” said Shannon-Janean Currie, Vice President at BSG. “Voters recognize that these solutions - like funding mental health and substance use treatment, access to education, re-entry programs, and access to safe and affordable housing, rather than relying on the failed mass incarceration policies of the past - are the interventions that truly strengthens communities. “Mass incarceration continues to be one of the single largest threats to civil rights in this country so it should be no surprise that Black voters remain deeply committed to and motivated by criminal justice reform,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League. “We cannot afford to return to the failed “tough on crime” narratives and policies that ballooned our jail and prison populations, disproportionately harming Black communities. Candidates who claim to support racial justice must also stand firmly behind commitments to advance criminal justice reform and end mass incarceration.” “We deserve Justice; We deserve Safety; We deserve Democracy. We should not be forced to decide between the three,” said Michael Blake, Founder & CEO, KAIROS: Democracy Project & Atlas Strategy Group, Former Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee and New York Assembly Member. “The powerful poll results from FWD.us prove that Democrats can run on the policy of embracing criminal justice reforms because it will not run away voters. We can decrease mass incarceration while we increase public safety. We can strengthen the economy while not being weak on our values. We can do policy and politics together so that Communities of Color come together to vote for Democrats.” “It’s time for politicians to wake up and realize people are done voting for “tough on crime” candidates whose “lock em up” ideas always backfire. The continued popularity of Trump’s First Step Act proves that smart reform is still a winner across party lines. Black voters want safer streets— and this poll shows they see a fairer, smaller and more focused justice system as the best way to go,” said Van Jones, Dream Machine Innovation Lab. “These poll results demonstrate what many of us who have been organizing Black, brown and working-class communities already knew: voters have never stopped demanding more freedom and more justice from our broken criminal legal system. The movement to end failed “tough on crime narratives” came out of the communities most ravaged by them. If Democrats want to win, they need to stand firmly behind criminal justice reform,” said Maurice Mitchell, National Director of the Working Families Party. “These poll results reflect what I have consistently heard as someone who has spent over 25 years speaking to, organizing and uplifting the voices of Black voters, and especially Black voters in the South: we want real criminal justice reform that brings people home and transforms our unjust criminal system,” said LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter Fund and Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute and Founder of Southern Black Girls & Women's Consortium. “For far too long, Black communities have borne the brunt of the ways in which harsh sentences and mass incarceration harm and destabilize communities and families, without making us any safer. Black voters have a clear understanding that we deserve more freedom and justice from our elected officials, and that those efforts are critical to the work of building and investing in safe, thriving communities.” About FWD.us: [FWD.us]( is a bipartisan political organization that believes America’s families, communities, and economy thrive when more individuals are able to achieve their full potential. For too long, our failed immigration and criminal justice systems have locked too many people out of the American dream. Founded by leaders in the technology and business communities, we seek to grow and galvanize political support to break through gridlock and achieve meaningful reforms. Together, we can move America forward. A Non Partisan 501c4 Our Time. Our Moment. Our Democracy. KAIROS: DEMOCRACY PROJECT exists to promote social welfare and civic betterment by mobilizing and engaging Communities of Color and Young Adults through Issue Advocacy and awareness on the impact of safeguarding our Democracy on their everyday lives. From deploying local Influencers and surrogates of Color from the KAIROS Communications war room to hosting KAIROS CONVERSATION Listen & Learns to executing a targeted media and message mobilization, the KAIROS: DEMOCRACY PROJECT will be the go to place for engaging Leaders of Color around Issues and Democracy in the country, not just for one election but for future generations. Join the fight for Democracy by helping us mobilize and engage Communities of Color and Young Adults through Issue Advocacy and awareness on the impact of safeguarding our Democracy on our everyday lives. [$50 ⮕]( [$500 ⮕]( [$100 ⮕]( [$1000 ⮕]( [$250 ⮕]( [Other ⮕]( We are excited to announce our historic one-night-only fundraiser in New York City on Thursday, March 28 — we hope you will join us! This event will be an incredible night to remember. [An Evening for President Joe Biden with Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton]( will feature a moderated conversation with Stephen Colbert, along with special guests to be announced! [Get Your Tickets Now!]( Tuesday March 12th 11:00am-12:00pm PT / 2:00-3:00pm ET AI Open Mic: Briefings on AI in Research, Messaging, and Polling Join industry practitioners at our [upcoming AI Open Mic]( cohosted by HGL's Progressive AI Lab, Analyst Institute, Cooperative Impact Lab, and Research Collaborative. This event is an opportunity for progressive leaders and practitioners to receive briefings, see case studies of AI initiatives out in the field, and ask questions on the intersection of AI and research, messaging, and polling. [RSVP Now!]( Weekly KAIROS Conversation with Kevin Beckford Kevin Beckford Senior Associate, Pretrial Justice Institute Co-Founder, The Hustlers Guild Doctoral Student, Vanderbilt University Over the past decade, Kevin has provided strategic support to nonprofits and campaigns nationwide, heavily on issues of equity in education and more recently on criminal justice. Serving as a Senior Associate at the Pretrial Justice Institute (PJI), Kevin oversees PJI’s external partnerships, collaborating with stakeholders within the criminal legal system, community-based service providers, and advocates to combat racism entrenched in the criminal justice system. Kevin also offers consulting services to school districts and nonprofits across the country, addressing issues of equity in education. In 2017, Kevin co-founded The Hustlers Guild, dedicated to bridging the opportunity gap among youth of color by offering them exposure, skill development, and financial opportunities. Before this endeavor, Kevin held positions as the domestic policy portfolio lead in the White House Presidential Correspondence Office and as Special Advisor to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro. Before relocating to Washington, D.C., Kevin taught Social Studies and English/Language Arts to high school students in Philadelphia. Kevin's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies and Political Science from Yale University, a Master of Philosophy in African Studies from the University of Cambridge, and a Master of Science in Secondary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Kevin is in the final year of his doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University, specializing in Education Leadership and Policy. Kevin's commitment to racial equity is further demonstrated by his role as a Senior Fellow for Racial Equity with The Atlantic Fellowship for Racial Equity. He has also been recognized as a 2020 Black Enterprise Magazine's BE Modern Man, a recipient of the 2020 Fund for New Leadership Award, and was recently inducted into the Alpha Pi Chapter of the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. Raised in New Jersey as a first-generation high school and college graduate, Kevin attributes his professional journey to the influence of his grandmother and his Jamaican heritage. See you Wednesday! Wednesday, March 13 · 1:00pm – 2:00pm EST Video call link: [( Or dial: ‪(US) +1 651-571-1259‬ PIN: ‪460 226 103‬# More phone numbers: [ We're getting closer to Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action on April 1st, and we want to make sure you're ready to participate!  [Our next webinar]( will take place on March 14th at 4:00 p.m. EDT – and it's a special one. We're offering an opportunity to engage with a youth-led organization that has been involved with Take Down Tobacco for years: New Jersey's Incorruptible.Us campaign! [Sign up for the Webinar]( Thursday March 21st @ 12pm ET As the November election comes into sharper view, our rights and reproductive freedoms are on the ballot. Right here in New York, we will have a tremendous opportunity to guarantee protections for New Yorkers by passing the New York Equal Rights Amendment! [Please join us on Thursday, March 21st at 12PM at 1199SEIU (498 7th Ave, New York, NY) to officially launch New Yorkers for Equal Rights!]( Hear more about our campaign and learn how you can get involved. Upcoming KAIROS Conversations March 20 Terri Broussard WilliamsAuthor of “Find Your Fire: Stories and Strategies to Inspire the Changemaker Inside You” Save the Dates March 11-13 National League of Cities Congressional City Conference Washington, DC Register [here]( Date TBD (Likely late March)[Du Bois Freedom Center]( Event With Special Guest TBA March 28 NYC Biden, Obama and Clinton Joint Fundraiser April 3-April 7 The Transformative Justice Coalition Presents: Gen Z & Millennial Votes Matter Training Phoenix, AZ HBCU All-Star 2024 Paid Leadership Opportunity All Expenses Paid $500 Fellowship Stipend Ages 18-35 [Read More]( April 14-15 Collective PAC Black Leadership Summit Los Angeles, CA [Read more]( April 14-15 NewDeal Forum Ideas Summit Phoenix Arizona[Read more]( April 24-27 African American Mayors Association Atlanta, GA[Register here]( April 25-May 5 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival New Orleans, LA[Read more]( KAIROS "a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action : the opportune and decisive MOMENT" "The right or critical MOMENT" [Facebook icon]( [Instagram icon]( [Website icon]( [YouTube icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( Copyright (C) 2024 Atlas Strategy Group. 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