Policybridge

POLICYBRIDGE IS A RESEARCH AND ADVOCACY THINK AND ACTION TANK THAT PROMPTS AND SUSTAINS HIGH QUALITY DISCOURSE ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES AFFECTING AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND OTHER UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES WHICH ENLIGHTENS FELLOW CITIZENS AND CATALYZES ACTION.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS EMPLOYMENT STATUS INCREASED FROM PART-TIME TO FULL-TIME; TWO FULL-TIME PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY FELLOW WERE HIRED; AND ONE PART-TIME INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND COMMUNICATION CONSULTANT WERE ALSO HIRED.EXPANDED OUR OFFICE SPACE IN THE URBAN LEAGUE BUILDING FROM ONE TO THREE OFFICES. REDESIGNED OUR WEBSITE TO IMPROVE CONTENT AND CONSUMER INTEREST; CREATED AND IMPLEMENTED AN EMAIL SYSTEM, PHONE SYSTEM, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM. PURCHASED OFFICE FURNITURE, VIOP PHONES, COMPUTERS, SCANNERS, AND PRINTERS TO EXPAND OUR OPERATING FOOTPRINT, EFFECTIVENESS, AND PRODUCTIVITY.COMPLETED AND RELEASED THE ACCESS DENIED RESEARCH REPORT WHICH FOCUSED ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ISSUE AND THE MANY TOUCH POINTS THAT IMPACT MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT LACK INTERNET ACCESS.COMPLETED AND RELEASED AN URBAN AGENDA REPORT CALLED RESETTING THE TABLE.

DESIGNED AND FACILITATED THE LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM SERIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER CLEVELAND FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP; CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING; AND PUBLIC POLICY AND ADVOCACY SPONSORED BY DOMINION ENERGY.PARTNERED WITH BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS UNLIMITED ON THE MINORITY PIPELINE TASK FORCE INITIATIVE WITH THE GOAL OF EXPANDING THE NUMBERS OF MINORITIES SERVING ON NONPROFIT BOARDS IN THE NORTHEAST OHIO REGION.SERVED IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PARTNERSHIP-CUYAHOGAS (HIP-CUYAHOGAS) CROSS-SECTOR INNOVATION INITIATIVE (CSII) FUNDED BY ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION USING COMMUNITY BASED SYSTEM DYNAMICS (CBSD) MODELING AND ENGAGING COMMUNITY AND OTHER SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES TO IDENTIFY AND IMPROVE SYSTEMIC AND STRUCTURAL BARRIERS TO RACIAL AND HEALTH EQUITY.

THE POLICYBRIDGE TEAM ENGAGED IN CAPACITY BUILDING TO LEARN COMMUNITY BASED SYSTEM DYNAMICS (CBSD) MODELING TO FACILITATE CONVENING WITH COMMUNITY AND OTHER SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES. THE CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING INSTRUCTOR IS DR. PETER HOVMAND, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINES CENTER FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH INTEGRATION, WHO IS A COMMUNITY BASED SYSTEM DYNAMICS (CBSD) EXPERT AND METHODOLOGIST.CO-WROTE AND ADVOCATED FOR THE CIVILIAN INTERACTION BILL WHICH BECAME LAW IN APRIL OF 2021. THIS BILL, SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR SANDRA WILLIAMS, REQUIRES THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO MANDATE CLASSES/WORKSHOPS IN EVERY OHIO HIGH SCHOOL THAT TEACH THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITIZENS AND PEACE OFFICERS DURING TRAFFIC STOPS. THE BILL ALSO ADDS LANGUAGE TO THE OHIO DRIVERS MANUAL TO TEACH INEXPERIENCED DRIVERS ABOUT PRODUCTIVE INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE.