View as Webpage --=====---- Broadband Across Our Communities ---------- May 9, 2020
Greetings!

In March of 2014, COAL issued a commentary on a City of Chicago Broadband Initiative that had three main goals:

  • Ultra-fast gigabit-bit speed internet
  • Extending low-cost, high-speed internet to under-served areas
  • Free WI-FI access in all public parks and other spaces.

COAL titled the commentary, Once Again, the old 'Bait and Switch' on Our Community? , recognizing that the goal of extending low-cost, high-speed internet to underserved areas would go the way of other commitments, nowhere.

So we're now in 2020, caught in the midst of a deadly pandemic, with plans for our youth to be educated via the internet, and yet, a critical need for broadband access across all communities, particularly, the under-served, still exists and is of even greater import.

Please read the following Broadband Press Release from State Rep LaShawn Ford. COAL urges its membership and community-of-interest to sign the petition to the Governor and General Assembly to finally End The Digital Divide In Illinois .


Respectfully,
COAL Board of Directors
   
"The time to work seriously and collectively, to improve the state of our Community, is upon us..."
Let's Get to Work
PLEASE SIGN PETITION
The petition can be found at the following link: Expand Broadband Access for Education
To let our elected officials know what you think:    Contact the Mayor  here . 
Find your Alderman  here . 
Contact the Governor  here .    Find your State Legislators  here .

As of May 9, 2020 4pm:
About COAL
COAL is an umbrella organization founded by 13 of Chicago's historic African American mens clubs. COAL's overarching mission is to identify, examine, illuminate and find resolution to issues impacting the greater community. We strive to use our collective experience, expertise and resources to improve the quality of opportunity, quality of preparedness and the quality of outcomes (expressed as 'quality of life') for our community.
What We Believe
The Coalition of African American Leaders believes that it is important to examine the critical issues confronting the African American community where injustice, inequality and the absence of access and opportunity continue to prevail, thereby negatively impacting us as a people. COAL is an assemblage that advocates and organizes for appropriate and responsible public policy change, system behavior change and equality of opportunity. We aim to achieve for all of our people the fullness of the life experience without any form of racism or exclusion as a deterrent. We believe we must prepare ourselves for the opportunity of this full participation, thereby achieving the necessary education and training to participate.
Founding Member Organizations
100 Black Men Of Chicago ■ Chicago Assembly ■ Chicago Connection ■ Druids Club ■ Frogs Club ■ Lunch Bunch ■ New Committee ■ Original 40 Club Of Chicago ■ Rat Pack ■ Royal Coterie Of Snakes ■ Saints ■ Sigma Pi Phi Beta-Boule  ■ UIC Male Forum (now Chicago Good Health Group)