Who We Are
The Black Men's Roundtable (BMR) is an intergenerational civic engagement network of the Florida Coalition on Black Civic Participation. At the forefront of championing just and equitable public policy on behalf of Black men, BWR promotes their health and wellness, economic security, education and global empowerment as key elements for success.
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Desmond Meade is the Convener of Black Men's Roundtable and is also President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, a collection of organizations and individuals working to end Florida’s felony disenfranchisement law. Florida’s law is the nation’s harshest and farthest reaching. Currently, over 1.3 million Floridians who have completed their sentences cannot vote because of their prior convictions. The FRRC encompasses a broad range of groups that bring diverse approaches and tools to the Coalition’s effort. Desmond is also the former state director of PICO Florida’s Lifelines to Healing Campaign, an effort that aims to address the root causes of violence in cities.
BLACK MEN'S ROUNDTABLE
What We Do
BMR seeks to bring together men representing diverse views and interests within the Black community around the theme of men's advancement with a particular focus on motivating Black men to engage in all levels of civil society.
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Through public policy forums, leadership training, and civic engagement and issue education campaigns, BMR provides men with a voice and the skills training to use the political process to improve the quality of life for themselves and their communities.
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BMR Programs
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Our programs include:
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Outcomes-based projects to increase the civic engagement, base-building and voter empowerment of Black men;
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Education on the political process, leadership development, and preparation of young Black men interested in running for public office; and
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Engagement of Black men in policy discussions to ensure significant impact of Black men voters in the political process.
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Engagement of Black men and youth adolescent boys in healthy, wealthy and wise topics.
RESTORING
VOTING RIGHTS
As an intense advocate for Florida Rights and Restoration, Black Men Roundtables are a platform for the epitome of citizenship, the epitome of being an American, is being able to cast a vote. BMR assists the communities across the State of Florida that are suffering… [and] don’t have a voice. Many citizens have made mistakes and have been incarcerated and released to return to the community and can't vote.