From gerrymandering and strategic voter suppression designed to dilute our power at the ballot box, our civil rights are being stripped away before our very eyes, and this group of black executives is ready to do something about it. Dozens of power players have been quietly organizing a political action committee (PAC) to pool contributions and donate funds to campaign for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, and legislation.
Organized by corporate heavy hitters — including Charles Phillips, chief executive of the software company Infor; Tony Coles, head of the biotech firm Yumanity Therapeutics; Marva Smalls, global head of inclusion strategy for Viacom; and William M. Lewis Jr., co-chairman of investment banking at Lazard — the group of 10 or so core organizers is planning to activate by early 2018 with a goal of creating a new fundraising model for corporate executives of color.
What is that agenda? The group is focused on areas like access to education and employment, as well as voter participation. Their plan is to create the following three structures:
- A Super PAC – to run political ads or host events
- A Federal PAC – to support candidates
- A 501(c)(4) Group (or social welfare nonprofit) – to do a combination of the two.
While they're still working to come to a consensus, they have agreed to a non-partisan approach. They are open to supporting candidates of any political party who fit the PAC’s agenda. “What we’ve been doing is just writing checks for years, and we don’t know what happened” once the money was received, Mr. Phillips told the New York Times. “We’ve got to learn from the Koch brothers, do what they do, have them sign pledges.”
This PAC is backing our interest with power and dollars. This could be a game changer.
