Michael "Harry O" Harris - Press Photo - Our Community First Action Inc

Published on October 3rd, 2024 | by Dr. Jerry Doby

Michael “Harry O” Harris Challenges 2024 Presidential Candidates with Comprehensive Plan to Empower Underserved Communities

Michael “Harry O” Harris, co-founder of Death Row Records, unveils his O-Plan, a bold initiative aimed at economic empowerment, education reform, and rehabilitation for underserved communities. He calls on 2024 presidential candidates to adopt this transformative agenda.

Michael “Harry O” Harris Presents the O-Plan to 2024 Presidential Candidates: A Blueprint for Community Empowerment

By Dr. Jerry Doby

Earlier today, as the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, Michael “Harry O” Harris, entertainment executive and community advocate, issued a direct challenge to the presidential candidates: Adopt policies that foster real change for underserved communities. Harris, best known for co-founding Death Row Records and later receiving a presidential commutation in 2021, recently unveiled his ambitious “O-Plan” in an interview with The Hype Magazine. Watch the entire live session below.

The O-Plan is a detailed initiative designed to address systemic issues in areas such as economic empowerment, education, and rehabilitation. Harris insists that communities must no longer be ignored during election cycles. He argues that effective policy change requires candidates to focus on long-term solutions that uplift historically marginalized populations.

The O-Plan Summary: A Two-Part Strategy for Change

Harris’ O-Plan is divided into two major components: the Access Agenda and the Redemption Agenda.

Access Agenda: Economic Empowerment and Community Development

The Access Agenda centers on fostering economic self-sufficiency within underserved communities. Harris aims to bring over $500 billion into these areas through initiatives that promote responsible home ownership, workforce training, and targeted economic empowerment programs. He envisions creating sustainable opportunities for individuals and families to thrive financially.

Harris acknowledges that the issues these communities face are too serious for quick fixes. He believes deep, long-term solutions are necessary, not temporary measures.

This agenda also includes efforts to expand workforce training, especially in emerging fields such as technology and artificial intelligence. Harris emphasizes the importance of preparing communities for future job markets as a means to secure their long-term success.

Redemption Agenda: Rehabilitation and Job Creation for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

The Redemption Agenda advocates for reforms in hiring practices to ensure that individuals from underserved communities, particularly those who have been formerly incarcerated, are given fair opportunities. Harris sees second-chance hiring as a critical step toward reintegration, and he stresses the importance of equipping people with the necessary skills for meaningful employment after incarceration.

Drawing from his own experiences, Harris highlights the need for education and financial literacy as key tools to help individuals avoid making life-altering mistakes. He suggests that more robust educational programs, both in schools and in prisons, can play a crucial role in breaking cycles of recidivism.

Harris also encourages community-based hiring practices, similar to models used by major Japanese companies such as Mitsubishi and Toyota, where local talent is prioritized. Full O-Plan details are listed below our interview!

Michael “Harry O” Harris: Press Photo – Founder of Our Community First Action, Inc

Holding 2024 Presidential Candidates Accountable

In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Harris has directly challenged candidates to adopt the O-Plan as part of their platforms. He argues that underserved communities have long been overlooked, and this cycle of neglect must come to an end. Communities, he asserts, should demand more from their leaders and hold them accountable for real policy changes.

Harris’s nonprofit organization, Our Community First Action, Inc., is committed to amplifying community voices and pushing for action on key issues such as home ownership, job creation, and educational reform. He encourages both community leaders and citizens to join in holding politicians accountable and ensuring their needs are met.

Economic Empowerment Through Home Ownership

A key pillar of the O-Plan is responsible home ownership, which Harris sees as essential to building generational wealth. By promoting rent-to-own programs and providing financial literacy education, Harris aims to empower individuals to own homes and improve their economic standing.

He points out that in cities like Los Angeles, high housing costs and low wages create insurmountable barriers for many families. Harris argues that cities must make home ownership more accessible through innovative programs and financial education, which can lead to lasting economic change.

Education Reform: Preparing for the Jobs of the Future

Another core focus of the O-Plan is education reform, with a particular emphasis on creating specialized training programs to prepare individuals for jobs in emerging sectors such as technology and AI. Harris believes that underserved communities often lack access to the education necessary for success in the modern economy.

He advocates for expanding Pell Grants to include vocational and specialized training programs, ensuring that individuals can pursue careers in these fields without the burden of debt from traditional higher education.

Harris also stresses the importance of staying ahead of technological changes and ensuring that people in underserved communities have the training and skills needed to remain competitive in the future job market.

A Call for Collective Action

Harris’s Our Community First Action organization is at the heart of his efforts to create meaningful change. He emphasizes that the community must work together to push for these initiatives, rather than relying on politicians to deliver results.

He sees this as more than just asking for help; it’s about communities using their own resources and collaborating to achieve the changes they want to see. Harris encourages people to engage with the process, insisting that now is the time for collective action, not passivity.

In the weeks leading up to the 2024 election, Harris will continue to promote the O-Plan, working with local leaders, activists, and community members to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are addressed.

Final Thoughts: A Pathway to Lasting Change

Michael “Harry O” Harris’ “O-Plan” presents a bold and comprehensive strategy to address underserved communities’ critical challenges. By centering his approach on economic empowerment, educational reform, and rehabilitation, Harris is advocating for a future where these communities are no longer marginalized but given the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. As the 2024 election approaches, his challenge to presidential candidates serves as a pivotal moment for real change. If embraced, the O-Plan has the potential to reshape how underserved communities are supported and pave the way for lasting progress.

For a deeper dive into Michael “Harry O” Harris’ vision, watch the full interview below:

The O-Plan Details

The Access Agenda creates access to opportunities for the Community

Promote economic self-sufficiency to end the vicious cycle of generational debt
Incentivize responsible home ownership through the expansion of “rent to own” programs
Develop a comprehensive and targeted economic empowerment program that fosters financial literacy, career development, and entrepreneurship education
Expand workforce training for the jobs of the future
Increase access to capital for the Community by MORE than $500 billion
Address barriers throughout the federal contracting process to create equal access for all contractors and incentivize state and local governments to do the same
Empower Community Development Financial Institutions to grow businesses and create generational wealth opportunities, breaking vicious cycles
Optimize Opportunity Zones and other geographical tax incentives to maximize impact for local Communities
Expand educational opportunities for all Communities
Expand incentives for high-performing teachers to work in the schools that need it most and put a cap on the administrative budgets of school districts that receive federal funding to maximize funds going to students, not bureaucrats
Expand school choice options for students in failing schools so that parents can choose the best education for their children, ensuring zip codes do not decide their future
Allow Pell grants to be used for short-term trades programs

The Redemption Agenda fosters stories of Redemption within the Community

Advocate for hiring practices that promote seeking well-qualified applicants from the local Community
Incentivize accountable policing and the hosting of “Community Days” for the Community to build meaningful relationships with law enforcement
Pass a second round of reforms i.e. the 2nd Step or Next Step Act
Look for opportunities to expand prison education and promote second-chance hiring, reducing recidivism and increasing connectivity to the Community

The O-Plan is a project of Our Community First Action, Inc. (OCFA), a non-profit focused on cultural approaches to boost awareness and engagement in overlooked communities.

OCFA’s goal is to demonstrate the power of the community’s voice and promote bold policies that improve neighborhoods, families and lives.

Community First is producing a series of concerts to bring our community together and show the collective power of our voices to elevate the Community.

For more information, check out their website below or at www.communityfirstaction.org and via social media: Instagram @communityfirstaction | X @cfirstaction.

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Tags: 2024 presidential candidates, Community First organization, community-based hiring, economic empowerment, education reform, Financial Literacy, generational wealth, home ownership, Michael “Harry O” Harris, O-Plan, Pell Grants, rehabilitation programs, rent-to-own programs, second-chance hiring, underserved communities, workforce training

About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.