RELEASE: Wes Moore unveils Bold Plan to Unlock Economic Opportunity for Maryland’s Black Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 19, 2021

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Wes Moore unveils Bold Plan to Unlock Economic Opportunity for Maryland’s Black Families

Future-facing policy from Maryland gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore focuses on expanding work, wages, and wealth

BALTIMORE (Oct. 19, 2021) – Maryland gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore unveiled his Bold Plan to Unlock Economic Opportunity for Maryland’s Black Families.

This agenda follows the framework that Moore has described as North Stars for the campaign – focusing on expanding work, wages, and wealth for every family in Maryland – and represents one of the ways the campaign will affirm that commitment through clear, actionable policy. 

“This bold action plan to unlock economic opportunity for Black families in Maryland seeks to both meet the urgent needs that families across the state are facing and address longstanding fragilities and disparities,” Moore said. “I am proud of this roadmap as a clear and actionable demonstration of how this campaign will bring coalitions to the table and create work, wages, and wealth for every family in Maryland.” 

The policy prescriptions outlined in this agenda include creating pathways to homeownership and ensuring equitable appraisal values, building supports for Black entrepreneurs entering high growth industries, implementing a baby bonds program to build wealth in low-income families from birth, and leveraging Maryland’s HBCUs to create talent pipelines to meet the jobs of the future and the new industries the Moore Administration will bring to the state. 

Read the full proposal here >>

“This future-facing plan from Wes Moore shows exactly why he is the right leader to serve as the next Governor of Maryland,” Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (D-At Large) said. “Wes has the right vision, the right professional experience, the lived experience, the momentum, and we see clearly now — the right policy frameworks to move Maryland forward at this critical time.”

“Maryland needs a governor who understands the historic, chronic, and systemic pain facing Black families and has the vision to create bold policies to unlock opportunity now and in the future,” said Del. Stephanie Smith (District 45) and chair of the Baltimore City delegation. “It is clear today that Wes Moore is that leader and his campaign for Governor represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create real change.”

“I’m excited by the plan Wes Moore has laid out to increase economic opportunity for Black families in Maryland, including his vision to address the economic effects on families that come from contact with the criminal justice system, and his plan to help people who were incarcerated better re-enter society and participate in the workforce,” Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy said. “This is the kind of bold thinking and systems-level approach that is needed to create safer communities and provide hope for the future.”

Moore has a long record of creating impact on systemic economic issues facing Black families. In his last role as CEO of one of the largest anti-poverty nonprofits in the United States, the organization raised and distributed over $600 million in programs to create economic mobility including housing, emergency food, education, early childhood, college access, and workforce development.

Moore also launched critical initiatives around racial equity and economic empowerment. The Power Fund, a $20 million investment in nonprofits led by leaders of color, closed critical shortfalls in philanthropic capital to Black-led organizations. NinetyToZero brought together leaders from Goldman Sachs, Starbucks, the ACLU, the Children’s Defense Fund, and more with an actionable roadmap to build wealth in their workforce and increase capital to Black-owned and Black-led businesses. 

Moore also founded and served as CEO of BridgeEDU, a successful Maryland-based small business that helped first generation and first in family college students make it to and through college. 

Since launching his campaign for Governor in June, Moore has earned the endorsements of VoteVetsPAC, one of the top veterans advocacy organizations in the country; Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman; Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando (At Large); Baltimore City Councilmembers Zeke Cohen (District 1);  Mark Conway (District 4); James Torrence (District 7); John Bullock (District 9); Phylicia Porter (District 10); Eric Costello (District 11); Odette Ramos (District 14); Sen. Antonio Hayes (District 40); and Delegates Marlon Amprey (District 40), Frank Conaway, Jr. (District 40), Melissa Wells (District 40); and Stephanie Smith (District 45), who is Chair of the Baltimore City Delegation. 

“This campaign has the experience, the vision, and the path to finally be bold, and turn the key to unlock opportunity for Black families across this state,” Moore said in a speech to the Maryland Black Caucus Foundation last week. 

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