MADISON, Wis. — Thursday marked Black Advocacy Day at the Wisconsin State Capitol.
It included policy discussions and workshops focused on some of the biggest issues, challenges and opportunities facing Black residents.
Many came representing different organizations and causes. Karen Nelson is with the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) in the Fox Valley.
“We are here to support voter registration, advocacy, health equity and the empowerment of Black women everywhere across our state,” Nelson said.
Markesha Grayson is focused on making health care more equitable. She donated her kidney to her father and now travels throughout the state and country educating people about kidney disease.
Black Americans are at a much higher risk of developing kidney disease.
“I’m really big on kidney prevention, especially educating the Black and Brown community on getting screenings, educating them on what we can do to prevent kidney disease,” Grayson said.
Grayson said it’s important for the Black community to raise its collective voice and have open communication with lawmakers.
“We just collaborated,” she said. “We’re going to have lunch and sit down and talk about something. So for me, it’s about collaboration.”
Black Advocacy Day is organized by the Legislative Black Caucus, of which State Senator LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, is a member.
“One of the things that you can do is to do your part,” Johnson said. “Not only hold us accountable but show up. Show up when it comes to legislation that is going to be balanced off the backs of our communities.”
Nelson said she left the Capitol feeling empowered to keep doing the work.
“If we are not included in the legislature and the bills that get through the legislature in this building, we’ll be left out,” she said. “We’re not at the table. We’ll be on the menu and we want to be at the table.”
