Governor Maura Healey formed an Advisory Council on Black Empowerment, like Governor Charlie Baker and Governor William Weld before her. Looking at the commonwealth’s website, it is hard to tell what if anything comes from these Black Advisory commissions. Can someone point to legislation, regulatory changes, or any type of action that came from these councils?

The new committee under Healey didn’t come with a charter that spelled out its mission, agenda, goals, and timeline, so what is their role and what can we expect from them? What’s their relationship to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus?  It is hard to take this group seriously without more clarity.

Feb. 27 marks a year since the establishment of The Governor’s Advisory Council on Black Empowerment. Have they identified their priorities? What came from the eight listening sessions they have conducted? Has the commission received input from the various secretariats or the Black and Latino caucus, or other organizations concerned with Black Issues such as the Urban League, BECMA?  Will the Council on Black Empowerment produce an interim report?

When Governor Baker formed the Black Advisory Commission, their first set of priorities and recommendations was on preparing the next generation of Black students for success and advancing the Black workforce through business ownership and competition. The stated deliverable for the group was: “Every two years deliver a report with various recommendations on each of three selected priorities that promote the Black community’s Economic Prosperity & Well-Being.”

I found the 2017-2018 report, were there others? The 2018 report said the Four Roundtable Panels with Industry Experts produced over 100+ comments and ideas and the Seven Commission Meetings produced another 100+ comments and ideas. What were they? Is there any way the new Black Advisory committee can build upon the prior committee’s work? If more doesn’t come from these commissions, is it fair to the participants who give up their time to participate in these listening sessions? Who should we hold accountable, the governor since it is her commission, or the commission itself? Given the importance of the Black agenda in Boston, someone should be responsible for articulating it clearly and lobbying for it.

Ed Gaskin is Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and founder of Sunday Celebrations.