Social and environmental justice initiatives are vitally important to me for our community .The challenges of a high cost of living and lack of work force housing in Suffolk County and especially on Eastern Long Island make it extremely difficult for many whose families have lived here for generations to stay, the exodus to the southern states over the years of many of our long standing community members is a tremendous loss for our area. If I am fortunate enough to be elected to the Suffolk County Legislature in District #2, following in the footsteps of Legislator Bridget Fleming , I will do my best to be a strong voice for the African American Community on the South Fork. Working with community leaders such as Bonnie Michelle Cannon of The Bridgehampton Child Care Center on her newest initiative to provide 24 hour child care for her members, Reverend Michael Smith of The Shinnecock Nation Presbyterian Church, Reverend Tisha Dixon-Williams of The First Baptist Church of Bridgehampton , Theresa Roden of I-tri (targeting at risk middle school girls and teaching them empowerment skills as they train for a triathlon) and others to identify and connect funding to programs benefitting our Black Long Islanders will be a top priority to retain and support much needed diversity within our community.