Mayes honored with PLBC’s Crystal Bird Fauset Award
PLBC named the award in honor of former state Rep. Crystal Bird Fauset
Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes April 2, 2024 | 2:59 PM
PITTSBURGH, April 2 – The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus recently honored state Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, and four other awardees Thursday, March 28 with the Crystal Bird Fauset Leadership Award.
The award honors former state Rep. Crystal Bird Fauset, a Democrat elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1938. She was the first Black woman elected to any state legislature and represented the 18th Legislative District.
“As the first Black woman to represent the 24th Legislative District, I aspire to continue the legacy of former state Representative Fauset and I am especially honored to be recognized by my peers for my leadership in the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus,” Mayes said. “While Representative Fauset served in the House, she advocated for Black Pennsylvanians, especially to make housing more affordable for Black communities in Philadelphia, health care more accessible, and women’s rights in labor.
“The groundbreaking work of the PBMHC will change the lives of Black moms and birthing individuals who face an alarming rate of maternal morbidity and mortality in our commonwealth. It is in the legacy of Representative Fauset that the PBMHC introduced Pennsylvania’s MOMNIBUS, eight bills to increase access to maternal health care by expanding mental health care, eliminating maternal health deserts, and addressing social determinants of health and implicit bias in health care.
“I stand on the shoulders of Representative Fauset, who was a woman before her time and blazed a trail for me and so many women to serve in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to create lasting social change.”
In addition to Mayes, awardees include:
- State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila.
- State Rep. Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware.
- Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge Tamika Lane.
- Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker.
Two of the awardees, Cephas and Curry, co-chair the Pennsylvania Black Maternal Health Caucus with Mayes.
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