The DNC is launching the “Our Values, Our Voice, Our Vote” series online at www.democrats.org to celebrate the diversity in the Democratic party and reflect on the many achievements African American democrats have made.

Each day in February, a new blog, graphic, or video will be centered around this theme, featuring many leaders from across the country.

DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins explains it this way with the first blog post:

As we kick off and celebrate Black History Month, democrats have so much to be proud of, and so much work left to do. That’s why throughout the month of February, they will be featuring various elected officials and leaders in the party from across the country, each speaking about “Our Values, Our Voice, and Our Vote.”

Our Values

The Democratic Party believes that every American, regardless of where you were born or what you look like, deserves access to a quality education, affordable health care, to earn a living wage, to get a little help from your neighbors when you need it. They are committed to making sure all children regardless of income have the opportunity to get a first-rate education. That’s why President Obama supports expanding programs like Head Start, since studies show early childhood education is critical to future success. And that’s also why President Obama has promoted initiatives like Race to the Top to reward schools for innovation and partnered with schools that need assistance to improve.

Many African Americans are still struggling to recover from the Great Recession, and unemployment in communities of color is disproportionately higher than the national average. President Obama has exhibited true leadership by calling on governors and businesses across the country to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, which economists say will lift millions of Americans out of poverty – with African Americans standing to benefit. Under the Affordable Care Act, 9 million Americans have already enrolled to receive health insurance coverage through private insurers via the health care exchanges, through the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or through the expansion of Medicaid.

But millions more stand to benefit if republican governors holding out would accept the federal dollars to help those in their states who need it most. 7.3 million African Americans already have access to benefits through the no cost-sharing feature of ACA, and free preventative screenings and procedures such as mammograms and colonoscopies. And while republicans in Congress allowed federal unemployment benefits to expire, President Obama is taking action to help the long-term unemployed through partnerships with more than 300 companies and special job training.