“America has 400 years of racist policies to undo. There’s never been a better time to get started than now.”
My Brother’s Keeper
Personally understanding the racial inequities that impact communities of color every day, Council President Hardin worked with former Mayor Coleman to create Columbus’ My Brother’s Keeper initiative. My Brother’s Keeper aims to reduce opportunity gaps for young men of color through city-wide goals, service provider coordination, and collective action.
Getting Minority-Owned Businesses Their Fair Share
- As Chair of the Small Business Committee, Council adopted the Columbus Disparity Study, which provides the foundation to increase the City of Columbus’s minority and female-owned business utilization.
- During COVID, Council President Hardin sponsored legislation to provide more than $10 million dollars in small business grants. Almost 80% of those grants went to business owners of color and more than 60% went to Black business owners.
Marijuana Decriminalization
- Recognizing the disproportionate impact past marijuana laws have had on Black men, Council President Hardin led Council to pass a two-part marijuana justice package: decreasing penalties for low-level marijuana possession and supporting record sealing services to get formerly incarcerated residents back into safe housing and good-paying jobs.
- As a result of state and city action, the City of Columbus no longer prosecutes low-level marijuana offenses.
