Seguridad Pública: We Deserve To Be “Free From Fear And Need
Rukia está comprometida con el desarrollo continuo de un distrito que esté“libre de miedo y necesidad”.Esto significa trabajar con residentes, grupos/organizaciones defensores de la comunidad, organizaciones sin fines de lucro, empresas pequeñas y grandes, fuerzas del orden público, los tribunales, otras agencias de la ciudad y filantropía para garantizar que cada parte de nuestro sistema de seguridad pública funcione en conjunto de manera efectiva para que cada residente del Distrito 72 este seguro y reciba un trato justo.
Soluciones que funcionan. Bringing more than a decade of work on criminal justice issues, Rukia is considered a national expert in the field of community-centered public safety solutions. She has worked to develop effective alternatives to incarceration programs in New York, South Carolina, and Mississippi. In Mississippi she co-led the development of Mississippi’s only gun violence de-escalation program – Operation Good Cure Violence – and the state’s first and only credible messenger mentoring program – Strong Arms of MS. Both programs are trusted by the communities they serve and have a proven record of contributing to a decrease in violence and reduced youth recidivism rates in the communities in which they operate. Operation Good had more than 200 days of no gun violence in their zone and Strong Arms had a 6 percent recidivism rate for court involved youth they mentored.
Rukia believes that those closest to the problem are closest to the solutions. That is why she has met with residents across the Jackson Metro Area to hear their safety concerns and to learn from those harmed. Rukia’s public safety platform is informed by her extensive experience and guided by insights and solutions from people most impacted by violence and crime.
Educación Nuestros niños merecen un sistema educativo completamente financiado
Rukia está comprometida a luchar por la educación pública y la expansión de las oportunidades educativas. Rukia creció en el Distrito 72, donde asistió a la escuela primaria North Jackson, a la escuela intermedia Bailey Magnet, a la secundaria Murrah y al Tougaloo College, donde se enorgullecía de servir como Miss Tougaloo College. Rukia cree firmemente en la educación como un derecho humano. Cuando está completamente financiada, la educación pública puede brindar educación de calidad a todos nuestros niños. Ella formó el Capítulo de Dignidad en las Escuelas de Nueva York para el tratamiento equitativo de los estudiantes negros, marrones y de escasos recursos y fue una voz fuerte al unirse a Nuestro JPS para tomar medidas para evitar una toma de posesión estatal de las Escuelas Públicas de Jackson. La plataforma de educación pública de Rukia refleja su compromiso con el financiamiento completo y equitativo para todas las escuelas públicas como una prioridad en nuestro presupuesto estatal.
Atención médica Merecemos un sistema de atención médica que priorice nuestras necesidades
Rukia continúa trabajando en temas para mejorar el acceso a una atención de calidad para los residentes del Distrito 72. Es una firme defensora de nuestro bienestar y trabaja para promover la salud reproductiva, la expansión de Medicaid y un sistema de atención médica en el estado que sea integral y asequible. La plataforma de salud de Rukia se centra en su creencia de que todos los residentes tienen derecho a la atención que necesitan. Nuestras comunidades merecen hacer más que sobrevivir. Merecemos prosperar.
Desarrollo Económico/Infraestructura Merecemos Inversiones Que Proporcionen Una Mejor Calidad De Vida
Rukia entiende que cuando eliges a un representante, estás eligiendo a un defensor para luchar por las cosas que te importan. Comida en la mesa. Trabajos bien pagados. Barrios seguros. Como organizadora desde hace mucho tiempo, Rukia sabe lo que se necesita para organizar y generar poder en nuestras comunidades. Ella lleva más de una década uniendo a las personas para ganar beneficios materiales como trabajo y vivienda para lograr que nuestras comunidades puedan vivir mejor y en paz, ver nuestras vidas avanzar y garantizar el futuro de nuestros hijos para tener una mejor calidad de vida. Rukia ha realizado este trabajo a través del desarrollo de varios programas, incluido Community Love Fund, que brinda apoyo social y ayuda mutua a los miembros de la comunidad que necesitan asistencia financiera. También ha creado una Beca de Economía de la Dignidad para aumentar la empleabilidad y la rehabilitación de jóvenes que han experimentado el encarcelamiento. Ha visitado y estudiado economías cooperativas en todo el país y en todo el mundo para conocer las formas en que los habitantes de Mississippi pueden aumentar colectivamente nuestra riqueza personal, familiar y colectiva. La plataforma de desarrollo económico de Rukia refleja su compromiso con las soluciones colectivas que centran a los residentes que a menudo quedan excluidos o, lo que es peor, perjudicados por las políticas estatales ancladas en el status quo.
Infrastructure: We Deserve Reliable and Modern Infrastructure.
Rukia is dedicated to working with federal, state, and municipal government, as well as residents to support the development of infrastructure that is reliable and modern. Every resident has a right to clean water, affordable water bills, smooth roads, flood prevention, and proper sewage maintenance. When infrastructure has failed, as we have experienced with the ongoing water crisis, Rukia worked with community members, municipal government, and community based organizations to launch the MS Rapid Response Coalition, (MRRC). Since forming in response to the Covid19 pandemic and winter storms, MRRC has provided immediate and rapid response relief to residents impacted by infrastructure failures and climate change. Together, Rukia and MRRC’s 30 partner organizations have provided support to over 100,000 directly impacted Mississippi families. During the Jackson Water Crisis, the Mississippi Rapid Response Coalition, under Rukia’s leadership, has provided water to over 60,000 families and provided Water Filters and Water Tests to over 200 families. Rukia has pushed for full funding for rebuilding Jackson’s water system and funding for cities across Mississippi that are experiencing similar infrastructure issues. Rukia has demonstrated strong, accountable leadership in confronting the infrastructure crisis. Through rapid response and effective collaboration, Rukia showed us that she is the kind of leader that Mississippi residents can count on. She listens to residents and is dedicated to fighting for us even when times are tough. Rukia’s Infrastructure platform comes out of her direct experience leading – and listening – on the frontlines.
Voting Rights/Good Government: You Deserve To Have A Say.
We know that there are renewed and even more aggressive voter suppression efforts all over the country and here in our home state targeting Black voters, other voters of color, and people who were formerly incarcerated. The silencing of our voice and denial of our political power extends far beyond voting to the systemic barriers we face in education, housing, neighborhood investment, the criminal justice system, and more. That is why we need leaders who are willing to open the doors of governance to our people, not just settle for making decisions behind closed doors of power. Rukia believes that the ultimate goal of “Good Government” should be opportunities for the full participation of residents without barriers. Residents should have protected voting rights as well as the ability to engage in co-governance with their elected leaders. Co-governance, or deciding and governing together, requires more than our electeds representing us. It requires elected leaders who make room for their constituents’ voices by creating vehicles for transparency and real resident engagement.
This way of doing politics is essential for reinvigorating democracy, especially now when trust in government and our elected leaders’ ability to solve the most critical problems is at an all time low. As a founding Board Member of Black Voters Matter, Rukia understands the importance of making it easy for community members to fully engage in the governing process. As State Representative she will work to increase residents’ access to information, access to government and voice in the decision-making process. For five years she has worked to build a solid infrastructure for resident co-governance through her leadership in the Jackson People’s Assembly. She plans to use the assembly model to present proposed legislation to residents, discuss the pros and cons and receive input on how she should vote. Rukia’s platform on good government is another element of her unique brand of leadership. She is committed to bringing politics back to the people, where it should be.
