It's Official: We Now Have a Congressional Caucus For Black Women and Girls

In an effort to eliminate barriers and injustices experienced specifically by Black women and girls, three African-American women in congress made history Tuesday when they announced the creation of the first and only Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls.

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According to The Grio, Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.) confirmed the formation of the caucus with a press release stating that its mission would be to create policy that “eliminates significant barriers and disparities experienced by black women.”

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“Black women and girls are disproportionately affected by myriad [of] socioeconomic issues that diminish their quality of life and threaten the well-being of their families and communities,” Rep. Kelly said in a release.

“The Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls gives black women a seat at the table for the crucial discussion on the policies that impact them while also providing a framework for creating opportunities and eliminating barriers to success for black women,” she added.

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Ifeoma Ike, the co-founder of Black and Brown People Vote, inspired the creation of the caucus along with Nakisha M. Lewis, Tiffany D. Hightower, Shambulia Gadsden Sams, Sharisse Stancil-Ashford, Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever and Sharon Cooper who are part of the black women’s rights advocacy group, the #SheWoke committee. 

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