MS NAACP April 2018 Newsletter
MS NAACP April 2018 Newsletter
Making Headlines Across the State
Medicaid in Mississippi - Georgetown Report
Mississippi legislators recently proposed adding a work requirement for Medicaid recipients to remain eligible to receive health coverage. The proposal—referred to formally as the Mississippi Workforce Training Initiative—would result in a loss of coverage for a large portion of the state’s most vulnerable citizens, who would have to prove they are working 20 hours a week if this legislation is enacted.
The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute’s Center for Children and Families in partnership with the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program and the Mississippi Center for Justice recently released an analysis of the potential impact of the Medicaid work requirement on the Mississippi’s Medicaid recipients. “This report sheds light on the distinct and devastating long-term consequences of a work requirement, particularly for African-American mothers and families living in Mississippi’s small towns and rural communities,” said Charles Hampton, president of MS NAACP. Visit the link below to read the full report.
Advocacy and Action
Public health remains a top priority in our state and nation. For the second consecutive year, Mississippi ranked last in the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings, the longest running annual assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis. As members of NAACP and as citizens of a broader, economically diverse community, it is, in large part, our responsibility to advocate for access to adequate health coverage for all Mississippians and all Americans.
Regardless of economic status or vulnerability, all people should be able to maximize their health outcomes and be afforded the opportunity to live better lives. This month, we can advocate for access to health care for thousands of Mississippi children and families by sharing the Georgetown Medicaid work requirement report with the local and federal policymakers in your community.
American Stroke Month
Stroke is one of the top five causes of death in Mississippi, claiming about 1,500 Mississippians each year. According to the National Stroke Association, African Americans are at greater risk for stroke. May is American Stroke Month, a time for us to learn the warning signs of stroke and take steps to reduce your risk. Learn more about how you can prevent stroke at www.stroke.org
MS NAACP Mother of the Year Event
The Mississippi State Conference NAACP will host its 2018 Mother of the Year Program on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at M W Stringer Lodge, following the 2018 State Meeting. The event, first organized in 1959 by NAACP Field Director Medgar Evers, serves as a key fundraising event and opportunity to foster friendly competition among local branches.
Members from across the state will compete in either of two branch divisions to win cash rewards and earn the exclusive honor of being crowned 2018 Mother of the Year. Event tickets are available for $15.00 and may be purchased at the door. For more information, contact us at info@naacpms.org.
April Member Spotlight
Hollis Watkins
“Often, what you’ll find is that when there is an issue you care about, there will be someone in your community who cares as much as you do and is willing to get involved.”
For five decades, Hollis Watkins has stood alongside those at the forefront of the Mississippi Freedom Movement. When he joined the movement at only nineteen years old his goal was simple: “to stand for something.” As he observed how people in and around his Lincoln County community operated, Watkins felt there were issues he could help solve, which led him to join the NAACP after being invited by then Field Director Medgar Evers. He immediately began organizing and mobilizing people of color across the state.
Watkins recalls one of his first direct action demonstrations at the segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in McComb, Miss, where he and longtime friend, Curtis Hayes, were arrested for attempting to order a cup of coffee at the counter. After serving thirty days in jail—an experience that would have discouraged most—Watkins chose to intensify his efforts. He engaged in more direct action demonstrations that helped alter perspectives, crisscrossed the state supporting voter registrations that led to the election of Black leaders, and inspired other young people to learn how to get involved in the political process. “Often, what you’ll find is that when there is an issue you care about, there will be someone in your community who cares as much as you do and is willing to get involved,” Watkins reflects.
He advises young people seeking to get involved in similar movements today to “look where you are and take note of what it is that you see.” As President and Founder of Southern Echo, Inc., Watkins continues the work he began in 1961 by educating leaders on political processes and providing training and technical assistance to groups and individuals across the south.
For his steadfast commitment to the causes that advance people of color in Mississippi and abroad, Hollis Watkins is the April 2018 Member of the Month.
What We're Reading
Join the wave and see what we’re reading this month!
OPINION: Gun Safety is about Freedom
In the wake of the Parkland, Fl. shooting, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson says comprehensive, sustainable gun control is achievable. Johnson uses Australia’s gun control policies as an example.
How Mississippi’s Proposed Medicaid Work Requirement Would Affect Low-Income Families with Children
Mississippi legislators have proposed adding a work requirement for Medicaid eligibility. The following report provides an in-depth overview of the impacts such a decision would have on the children and families who need it most.
NAACP in the News
WLOX: April 14, 2018 – Racist flyers considered a “personal death threat” to local NAACP president
http://www.wlox.com/story/37955895/racist-flyers-considered-a-personal-death-threat-to-local-naacp-president
JFP: April 4, 2018 – Suit: Mississippi Flag’s Rebel Symbol ‘Racially Demeaning’
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2018/apr/04/suit-mississippi-flags-rebel-symbol-racially-demea/
Mississippi Today; April 24, 2018: Education funding top issue as Delta towns get update on legislative session.
https://mississippitoday.org/2018/04/24/community-forum-updates-delta-towns-on-key-topics-during-legislative-session/
