Ernestine Byers-Lowery and Mary Metzmeier represented the Beekman Corridor Coalition at the Policy Link Conference August 24-28 in Washington, DC. The trip was sponsored by Interact For Health and included representatives from Lower Price Hill, Middletown, and Lincoln Heights, as well as groups from all over the United States.
Participants were encouraged to think about 2026 as a period for re-founding our country- much like other historical periods like the Civil Rights Movement and the Women’s Suffrage Movement. We spent time digesting the words of the 14th Amendment and understanding that equal protection under the law prevents exclusion based on race, gender, disability, immigration status, geography or economic position… and promises fair outcomes for all. Participants envisioned a government that is accountable to the Rule of Law and Democracy is designed around the consent of the governed.
What does this mean for the Beekman Corridor Coalition? We will try to use this lens to view our work around food access, housing for all, and traffic safety. We will continue to hold government accountable to deliver the things we need in our community and to support each other as we work together.