Rep. Sims Appointed to Ohio's Commission on African Americans

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Veronica R. Sims (D-Akron) today announced that she has been appointed as a member of the Commission on African-Americans (the Commission) for the 136th General Assembly.

“This appointment is a tremendous source of pride for me, and I look forward to helping champion the important work ahead. African Americans have made significant contributions—not only to our great state, but to the nation, and I would venture to say, to the world at large. Yet as a people, we continue to face deep disparities due to systemic and structural racism. These include, but are certainly not limited to: economic exclusion, adverse health outcomes, impeded access to quality healthcare, high rates of infant and maternal mortality, exposure to gun violence, lack of safe and affordable housing, overrepresentation in our penal systems, and more. Despite a climate that seeks to unravel the very racial and cultural fabric that makes us a great and enviable nation, we must remain ever vigilant—interrupting further erosion and advancing real, condition-changing progress with urgency,” said Rep. Sims

Advancing the causes of marginalized, underserved and underrepresented communities has been a lifetime labor of love for Rep. Sims. Her meaningful, impactful work has included historic legislation declaring racism a public health crisis, gun violence interruption initiatives, food access that is healthful and relevant, tasers as standard issuance for local police force, and her passionate advocacy and work to help bring the Sojourner Truth Legacy Plaza to fruition, in Akron, Ohio.

The Commission received a name change following the 120th General Assembly passage of House Bill 152, from the Commission on Socially Disadvantaged Black Males to the Commission on African-Americans.