South Jersey Women for Progressive Change Core Platform
Formed in 2016, SJWPC is an 8,000-member action network for intersectional grassroots advocacy and activism, open to all who identify as female or were assigned female at birth. Our work focuses on ensuring strong democratic processes and racial justice, as well as progressive policies in education, the economy, healthcare, housing and the environment.
Our core platform consists, in summary, of six key issues:
1) Democracy
We believe in supporting a strong democratic system, whereby debate occurs out in the open; where constituent voices are heard; and the needs of a diverse constituency are equitably addressed. We further believe that encouraging voting in primary elections is a very important part of the democratic process and that all elected officials should be held accountable to their constituents. We strongly stand against corruption in politics in all forms, including voter suppression, voter intimidation, nepotism, cronyism and "pay for play" politics. We support the implementation of early voting in New Jersey, automatic voter registration and overturning Citizens United.
2) Environment
SJWPC works to create and sustain healthy local, regional and global habitats and ecosystems and addresses the systemic causes of climate change. We believe that New Jersey has the potential to lead the nation in the production of renewable energy that uses Renewable Portfolio Standards to reach 100 percent clean, renewable energy from wind and solar by 2035. The protection of open space and our waterways are also urgent priorities, with a special focus on the Pinelands and the New Jersey Shore shore.
We are strongly against the privatization of our water, building additional pipelines and fossil fuel infrastructure, and we oppose irresponsible cuts to the EPA.
3) Education
SJWPC advocates for all youth to have access to equitable, high-quality public education that is culturally responsive to the needs of the whole child, including those with special needs and LGBTQ students. We believe that abusive, excessive or punitive standardized testing takes the joy out of learning, replicates inequality, and is the cornerstone of the effort to privatize education. We support the School Funding Reform Act so that all schools in New Jersey receive the amount of state funding that they need; the implementation of culturally responsible curricula; and addressing the racial and economic inequities that are so prevalent within our state.
4) Racial and Social Justice and Civil Rights
SJWPC works to dismantle all structures of racism and bias within our membership, communities, state and nation. We work to build communities of sanctuary for those historically and currently marginalized, underrepresented and voiceless. We strongly stand against structural and institutional racism and all forms of explicit and implicit bias; all policies and practices that unfairly impact people of color, those with disabilities, people who are LGBTQ; and others who are marginalized.
5) Economic Justice and Fair and Affordable Housing
We believe that all Americans should have access to a fair and living wage. We further believe that all New Jerseyans should have access to fair and affordable housing, and that race or income should not determine the safety of housing, education or economic opportunity. We stand strongly against "right to work" laws; the dismantling of collective bargaining; and exploitative working conditions. We support livable wages, paid parental leave, reducing unfair evictions and addressing the foreclose crisis in New Jersey through reforms.
6) Healthcare
We believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege enjoyed by only the wealthy or fully employed. All people in our country should have access to a public option, and we believe that we should join all the other industrialized nations around the world in providing healthcare to citizens. We stand strongly against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, turning Medicare into a voucher program and defunding Planned Parenthood. We support single-payer healthcare, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as an effective measure to improve the health of young people, and addressing the addictive drug crisis as a medical condition, not a criminal offense.
For the full version of our platform, click here.
Our core platform consists, in summary, of six key issues:
1) Democracy
We believe in supporting a strong democratic system, whereby debate occurs out in the open; where constituent voices are heard; and the needs of a diverse constituency are equitably addressed. We further believe that encouraging voting in primary elections is a very important part of the democratic process and that all elected officials should be held accountable to their constituents. We strongly stand against corruption in politics in all forms, including voter suppression, voter intimidation, nepotism, cronyism and "pay for play" politics. We support the implementation of early voting in New Jersey, automatic voter registration and overturning Citizens United.
2) Environment
SJWPC works to create and sustain healthy local, regional and global habitats and ecosystems and addresses the systemic causes of climate change. We believe that New Jersey has the potential to lead the nation in the production of renewable energy that uses Renewable Portfolio Standards to reach 100 percent clean, renewable energy from wind and solar by 2035. The protection of open space and our waterways are also urgent priorities, with a special focus on the Pinelands and the New Jersey Shore shore.
We are strongly against the privatization of our water, building additional pipelines and fossil fuel infrastructure, and we oppose irresponsible cuts to the EPA.
3) Education
SJWPC advocates for all youth to have access to equitable, high-quality public education that is culturally responsive to the needs of the whole child, including those with special needs and LGBTQ students. We believe that abusive, excessive or punitive standardized testing takes the joy out of learning, replicates inequality, and is the cornerstone of the effort to privatize education. We support the School Funding Reform Act so that all schools in New Jersey receive the amount of state funding that they need; the implementation of culturally responsible curricula; and addressing the racial and economic inequities that are so prevalent within our state.
4) Racial and Social Justice and Civil Rights
SJWPC works to dismantle all structures of racism and bias within our membership, communities, state and nation. We work to build communities of sanctuary for those historically and currently marginalized, underrepresented and voiceless. We strongly stand against structural and institutional racism and all forms of explicit and implicit bias; all policies and practices that unfairly impact people of color, those with disabilities, people who are LGBTQ; and others who are marginalized.
5) Economic Justice and Fair and Affordable Housing
We believe that all Americans should have access to a fair and living wage. We further believe that all New Jerseyans should have access to fair and affordable housing, and that race or income should not determine the safety of housing, education or economic opportunity. We stand strongly against "right to work" laws; the dismantling of collective bargaining; and exploitative working conditions. We support livable wages, paid parental leave, reducing unfair evictions and addressing the foreclose crisis in New Jersey through reforms.
6) Healthcare
We believe healthcare is a right, not a privilege enjoyed by only the wealthy or fully employed. All people in our country should have access to a public option, and we believe that we should join all the other industrialized nations around the world in providing healthcare to citizens. We stand strongly against the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, turning Medicare into a voucher program and defunding Planned Parenthood. We support single-payer healthcare, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) as an effective measure to improve the health of young people, and addressing the addictive drug crisis as a medical condition, not a criminal offense.
For the full version of our platform, click here.
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