1 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Anie and Samantha and welcome to stuff 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: I've never told to your production of I Heart Radio. 3 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: Any I do have question for you, and I feel like, 4 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: so I don't know this answer. What's the closest you've 5 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: ever been to being arrested? Oh, well, it depends on 6 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: it for including international, because internationally, I was almost arrested 7 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: in China because it's a long complicated story. Basically, my 8 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 1: visa was incorrect, so I went to Hong Kong. I 9 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: was told it would be fine and nothing. I had 10 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: the right visa. That was not the case, and they 11 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: canceled my visa. But I had to get back into China, 12 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: so I kind of snuck back in and I was 13 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: in the middle of teaching once and I got it 14 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: like a text from one of my other teachers and 15 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:01,280 Speaker 1: he was like, they're looking freak hide and so I 16 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 1: had to go hide and starewell take away for the 17 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: police to leave. And then when I left the country, 18 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: the guy at the border control place looked at my passport, 19 00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: looked at me and like put this big expany on 20 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 1: it and was like shook his head and I think 21 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:15,520 Speaker 1: I could have gotten arrested, but he was too tired 22 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: to do. Well, Damn, you got lucky on that one. 23 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,360 Speaker 1: I guess, yeah, I really did. So. Yeah, I've never 24 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:25,240 Speaker 1: been arrested, and I don't think I've ever been come 25 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 1: close to being arrested. I don't know, because who knows. 26 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: I have done silly things that could have been arrestworthy. 27 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: I've definitely shoplifted before when I was a kid. One 28 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:35,840 Speaker 1: time I felt guilty and I took it back immediately, 29 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: but you know, I did it as well as probably 30 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: whatever incidents that have happened when people were being childish 31 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: and doing stupid pranks and such, which I don't think 32 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: I ever did anything, but I was with people who 33 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: did things, if it makes sense. But yeah, this is 34 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: a little more serious. But we wanted to revisit an 35 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 1: episode of pretty much me fan girling over one of 36 00:01:56,080 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 1: our state representative who has made national headlines as becoming 37 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: a face for our state in the state of Georgia, 38 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: as someone who is fighting voter suppression and the new 39 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: law that has come to pass, s B two O two, 40 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: which you're also like pages worth of documentation that they 41 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:18,120 Speaker 1: slid in real quick, and it will say real quick. 42 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: They voted within a few days. Our governor signed it 43 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 1: behind closed doors with what we call the Jim Crow picture, 44 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:26,399 Speaker 1: what is now infamously knows the Jim Crow two point 45 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: oh picture. If you're wondering what we're talking about, you 46 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,600 Speaker 1: can go to my Twitter and I have posted some 47 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: pictures because I'm very angry about such things. But part 48 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: Cannon is who we're talking about, who I don't even 49 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: know if it's Bravely. I don't think she understood the level, 50 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: but she just did what she knew she had to do, 51 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: essentially knocking on the door of the office because she 52 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: wanted to a see what was happening and to have 53 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: a conversation about why it was happening. And she is 54 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: a sitting representative who has the right to be there 55 00:02:57,560 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: at that point in time when she started knocking and 56 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 1: you refuse to just go away, essentially they arrested her 57 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 1: and they charged her with two felony accounts, which we're 58 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: not even gonna talk about that, but yeah, part of 59 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 1: these bills that's being passed and going through a lot 60 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: of our states include things that allow for arresting people 61 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: who may be protesting or who may have questions about 62 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: this authority that they are taking away from the citizens 63 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: as I would say it. But yeah, Part Canon, if 64 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: you have been anywhere near than news, have been watching 65 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: as we are talking about the voting rights Amendment, which 66 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: we know is being discussed on a federal level, which 67 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: cross your fingers. This has made a big, big splash 68 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: essentially all around this country about what we're looking at 69 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: for our future and what our future in voting and 70 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: as you know, we are very passionate about the subject, 71 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: and Georgia has become quite a spotlight when it comes 72 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: to the politics in the US, and people like Representative 73 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: part Cannon have been the ones that have brought a 74 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: lot of change. So we wanted to revisit that episode 75 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: that we did of me again Fann girling a little 76 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 1: too hard over someone who loves her people. Is obviously 77 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: she loves her people and was talking about how to 78 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: be an activist and why she became a representative in 79 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: the first place. Yea, So please enjoy. Hey, this is 80 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: Anny and Samantha. Welcome to stuff. Won't never told your 81 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: production of I hear idios house stuff works. So today 82 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: we and by we I do mean me. I'm so excited, 83 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: so excited, Oh listeners, I saw such a sight. I 84 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: had a moment. Okay, but we're so excited to introduce 85 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: you to a member of the Georgia House of Representatives 86 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:00,720 Speaker 1: that I have been watching since the beginning of her 87 00:05:00,720 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 1: career in Atlanta. How she sounds white, creepier than I intended, 88 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: But hey, I have because it's been exciting. But her 89 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,559 Speaker 1: name is part Cannon, and I will tell you, yes, 90 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:16,239 Speaker 1: I got super excited. I got a kind of fan girls. 91 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: She definitely fanned girls. Um, and we know I'm not 92 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: the best that speech sometimes and yes, I fumbled quite 93 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: a bit that I had to restart a few times, 94 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: and she was very kind and patient. She was very 95 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: well spoken. Also, I feel like this is really indicative 96 00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:38,479 Speaker 1: of our relationship, which is antagonistic but beautiful friendship where 97 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: I just sat back and to let you struggle. Terrible, 98 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: it's such a terrible person. I really thought it was 99 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 1: so sweet because, as I told you afterwards, normally you 100 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: see people get that way about celebrities. It's Samantha Listeners. 101 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: She gets that way about representatives. I get that way 102 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 1: about people who are a powerhouse. And I love seeing 103 00:06:04,120 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 1: those who strive to go beyond, even more so when 104 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 1: I see someone who and she is twenty eight, by 105 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: the way, so a young un in comparison to myself, 106 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:18,840 Speaker 1: as well as she has been in this game since. 107 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 1: As well as the fact that, yeah, she's very well spoken. 108 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: And when I say well spoken, I mean she was ready. 109 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 1: She was ready every question. I had, no fumbling. I 110 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: was like, my gosh. And not only that, she and 111 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,359 Speaker 1: and as you will hear in the interviews, have some 112 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 1: of the best wit, like even politically when it comes 113 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:43,400 Speaker 1: to combating some of the ignorance that we often see 114 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: during political times whatever whatnot. She had some of the 115 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: best wit even in types of reform and types of bills. 116 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: And I love that so much because that kind of power, 117 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 1: that kind of level of assuredness of like, I know 118 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 1: this is not going to go anywhere, but I'm making 119 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: a statement is amazing to me. And she is one 120 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: of our representatives. She is a queer black woman who 121 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: is in our House of Representatives in a very conservative state. 122 00:07:14,840 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: So of course we do talk about the fact that 123 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 1: it's turning purple and we're hoping to be able to 124 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: be one of those swing state, but we do know 125 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:25,480 Speaker 1: Georgia is very conservative, and we know that some of 126 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: the biggest controversies came with the last gubernatorial election with 127 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: Stacy Abraham's and Brian Kemp, and it's been closely watched, 128 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: and Stacy Abrams herself has made a name in combating 129 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,840 Speaker 1: voter suppression. So just with all that, when I see 130 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: things like this in a powerhouse like this, making a 131 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: name for herself in a manner that is so just inspirational, 132 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:54,560 Speaker 1: I have moments, okay, and I it was beautiful to 133 00:07:54,640 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 1: witness Samantha, It really was, and for myself, um, and 134 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: I would imagine for a lot of people listening. It's 135 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 1: hard sometimes with politics. It's just it seems like no 136 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: matter what you do, it's just constant bad news and 137 00:08:11,240 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: there's no change in hearing from someone like part Cannon, 138 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: who does have all these intersectional identities and who does 139 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: sound so hopeful and like she was very positive, and 140 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: that was so nice to see. Yeah, it was really refreshing. 141 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: And we've spoke before about how sometimes change it just 142 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: takes a while, and it is happening, but bad news 143 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,600 Speaker 1: is so much easier to consume and so much easier 144 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:40,040 Speaker 1: to just bring in on yourself. But to hear her 145 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: have this positivity and this hope for We're going to 146 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 1: get more people to run and it's going to continue 147 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: to progress. Was really really refreshing, right, and before we 148 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: get into the interview the amazing conversation we had, we 149 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: wanted to throw some statistics out there, because you know, 150 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 1: we love some statistics. It's true. So acording to the History, 151 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: Arts and Archives site, there have been over seventy women 152 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: of color in US Congress since nineteen sixty four. Yes, 153 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: which I got my own chance to geek out about 154 00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: when Samantha gave me a mystery tax I did. I 155 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: was trying to make sure that this site was updated 156 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:21,640 Speaker 1: and I could not find the last updated date. So 157 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: you sat there for fifteen minutes fifteen ish trying to 158 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: find the site for me. And I said you, you 159 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,560 Speaker 1: definitely succeeded. But yeah, the excitement that you had when 160 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 1: you were like, let me find it, I can do this. 161 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: I was bored for them. Yeah, I'm like, she loves 162 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: some research. Research. My girl loves some research. So there 163 00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: have been going back to this, there have been thirteen 164 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 1: Asian Pacific American women, forty seven African American women, and 165 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:53,040 Speaker 1: twenty Hispanic American women in Congress. To this date, which 166 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: not the greatest number. No, definitely not the greatest number. 167 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: We we can certainly improve upon that, and I hope 168 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: that we will. And with those numbers. Patsy Mink of 169 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: Hawaii was the first Asian Pacific American woman to be 170 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: elected to the House in nineteen sixty four. Shirley chis 171 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: Home one of my favorites of New York as the 172 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: first African American woman elected to the House in nineteen eight, 173 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: and Aleana Ross Latian, Florida was the first Hispanic American 174 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,679 Speaker 1: woman won the election two House in nine nine. And 175 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: for extra credit, the first woman of color to be 176 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:28,880 Speaker 1: elected to the Senate was Carol Moseley Braun, an African 177 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:33,200 Speaker 1: American woman from Illinois, in nineteen two, and Maizie Herono 178 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,680 Speaker 1: from Hawaii was the first woman of color to be 179 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,559 Speaker 1: elected to both chambers. She was alighted to Senate in 180 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 1: two thousand twelve. Then, we have some statistics for lgbt 181 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: Q plus representation in politics. According to it gets Better 182 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: dot org, as there were ten members of Congress on 183 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: the federal level who identify as lgbt Q plus and 184 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: of those ten, five are women, and of those five 185 00:10:56,080 --> 00:11:00,080 Speaker 1: zero we're women of color. Now these are outdated, so 186 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:02,720 Speaker 1: changes are coming. When it comes to the state level, 187 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 1: constituents are more represented, which again is another example of 188 00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:10,439 Speaker 1: local politics. Pay attention, get involved, don't forget about those. 189 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: Local elections are so important. They are very important, and 190 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: they're more likely to hear your voice, unfortunately than those 191 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: in the federal level. And yes, these statistics that we 192 00:11:18,720 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 1: just gave you more more on the federal level, but yes, 193 00:11:21,520 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: these local elections, a would probably more likely to have 194 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: your voice be heard, you being able to be better represented. 195 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,880 Speaker 1: So these are wild Local elections are very, very important 196 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: and something that we need to be paying attention to. Yes, 197 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:38,880 Speaker 1: check your registration out and vote. And we're about ready 198 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 1: to get into our interview. But first we're going to 199 00:11:40,559 --> 00:11:42,440 Speaker 1: get into a quick break for word from our sponsor 200 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,360 Speaker 1: and we're back, Thank you sponsor. So let's get started 201 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: with our inner view with Park Cannon. I was born 202 00:12:03,240 --> 00:12:07,080 Speaker 1: Park Cannon, named after an actress who I found out 203 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,120 Speaker 1: ran for office in Tennessee. Her name is Park Overall. 204 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,720 Speaker 1: She's an environmentalist. It's really awesome to think about that. 205 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: But I am a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, 206 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: which is a part of our state's government. At twenty 207 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: three years old, I stepped off my college campus and 208 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,480 Speaker 1: decided I wanted to run for office. I did not 209 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,960 Speaker 1: know much more than that I was frustrated about what 210 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: was going on, and luckily, when we won our election, 211 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:38,880 Speaker 1: we brought a very progressive voice to the state capital. 212 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: I am openly queer. I love to make sure that 213 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: people talk about intersectionality because I am an abortion dou lah, 214 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:52,400 Speaker 1: a birth doula, and a preschool teacher. And I think 215 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: what's also pretty exciting is that last year at the 216 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:01,680 Speaker 1: state Capitol, they did an article about fashion at the 217 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:05,200 Speaker 1: state Capital and they said it was because of alphabetical 218 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 1: order that I was first. But you know I love 219 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,920 Speaker 1: me some fashion. Well, I'm gonna say you're killing it 220 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: with this outfit today. You're like, the shoes alone is amazing, 221 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: and they're hills, black and white polka dot hills, and 222 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: you call them there your rainboots. That's even better. I'm like, yes, 223 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 1: this is my type of person. Because I also only 224 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: wear hills and boots most of the time. It's rare 225 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:32,480 Speaker 1: to find me in anything else because I am a 226 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,480 Speaker 1: short girl at five five four, so I feel like 227 00:13:35,480 --> 00:13:37,760 Speaker 1: I need that little stature, just a little bit, you know, 228 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: to go with that personality. But yeah, as your fashion 229 00:13:42,080 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: is on point, so I would definitely say it's not 230 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,880 Speaker 1: just because of the alphabetical order thing. Yeah, I was 231 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 1: looking at your stuff and I'm thinking I'm about ten 232 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,120 Speaker 1: or so years older than you, and I feel very 233 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 1: much like an underachiever. O my god, the things that 234 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 1: you have done and know you're doing right now, it's 235 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,400 Speaker 1: just incredible. And again, like I said, I and girling 236 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 1: because I love seeing someone with such drive um and 237 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: you have so many good things behind you. I love 238 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: again watching you campaign. It was one of the beautiful moments. 239 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 1: And you are with the House of Representatives and District 240 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: fifty eight. So District fifty eight is in midtown downtown 241 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:21,280 Speaker 1: in southwest Atlanta. I like to call it a reproductive 242 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: justice district because you have neighborhoods like Virginia Highland with 243 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:29,000 Speaker 1: homes in the millions. And you have neighborhoods like Pittsburgh, 244 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: which is literally the nation's worst representation for UM predatory 245 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: lending back in their early two thousands UM within the 246 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: district as well. So you have all kinds of folks, 247 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 1: all kinds of families, and I'm really trying my hardest 248 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: to represent them all. Right, Um, and just for our audiences, 249 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: this is based in Georgia. Like I said, I love 250 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: kind of coming seeing what's happening in individual states and 251 00:14:57,200 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: in the state level, because I think that's where it 252 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: all begins. Obviously, when we're talking about voting rights and 253 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: we're talking about voting suppression, a lot of our voices 254 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: and all of our representatives are supposed to have our 255 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: best interests, and so we know that state representation is very, 256 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: very important. And you are a part of the Georgia 257 00:15:12,920 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: state representation because we have a very international audience. Yes, Atlanta, Georgia, 258 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 1: you know, in the south of the United States. And 259 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,720 Speaker 1: what we of course are fighting against in Georgia is 260 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,720 Speaker 1: the fact that we are a conservative state, but Atlanta 261 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: is a progressive city, right, So I represent them both. Yes, 262 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 1: And it's very interesting because we're quickly talking about Georgia 263 00:15:35,240 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 1: slowly becoming a very um purple state and then we're 264 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: talking about slowly becoming a swing state, and how important 265 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:43,120 Speaker 1: it is that we do keep an eye as we 266 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: are slowly changing some ideas in some heads hopefully, yeah, yeah, yeah, 267 00:15:47,160 --> 00:15:50,240 Speaker 1: As it goes spreads out beyond Metro Atlanta as well. 268 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: I love seeing that. But yes, you are a big 269 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: voice and a big representation of that progression. And if 270 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:58,480 Speaker 1: you don't mind talking a little bit about your history, 271 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: because I know you kind of dabbled or started working 272 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:09,800 Speaker 1: with Representative Simone Bell so in like, I was so angry. 273 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:14,560 Speaker 1: In twelve, our state passed a bill um that was 274 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: a part of a federal opportunity to restrict access to 275 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: reproductive healthcare. So our state was one of the first 276 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: in twelve and that really took that on to the 277 00:16:25,920 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: House and the Senate, and the governor loved it, and 278 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:32,560 Speaker 1: all of the departments of Public Health and community health 279 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: really had to change their operating procedures. I felt that 280 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: was a waste of taxpayer dollars and I wanted to 281 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 1: know who was responsible. So I got up, you know, 282 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:45,200 Speaker 1: put my college sweatshirt on, and went down to the 283 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:48,240 Speaker 1: state capital and tried to get to know my legislator. 284 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: I figured I was going to run into a white man. Instead, 285 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 1: I ran into an African American lesbian with locked hair, 286 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: and we really became friends. Um, I'm so proud to 287 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: know that she found me to be such a pivotal 288 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,440 Speaker 1: member of her district that when she decided to resign 289 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:14,840 Speaker 1: her office in she called me and personally asked me 290 00:17:14,880 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: to run for the seat. Now I was twenty three 291 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: years old, I had just gotten out of college. I 292 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 1: didn't think I was going to run for office until 293 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: maybe after law school, after a career. So we dropped 294 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: everything and picked up a grassroots campaign. We had a 295 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 1: month and a half to raise fifty thousand dollars and 296 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:38,119 Speaker 1: to try to talk to two thousand voters. And the 297 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:43,119 Speaker 1: first election we had in sixteen was in January, so 298 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: our legislative session, which I was running to be a 299 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 1: part of, had already started, so we felt the urgency 300 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: and tried to get as many voters to the polls. 301 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,399 Speaker 1: We actually had our celebration party planned for here in 302 00:17:56,920 --> 00:18:00,800 Speaker 1: Pont City Market at nine pm because the polls closed 303 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:05,359 Speaker 1: at eight. We left our house at like eight twenty, 304 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 1: gotten this parking lot by like eight thirty, and we 305 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: saw the results. We had lost the election by twenty 306 00:18:13,119 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: three votes out of twenty two thousand people. If twenty 307 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:20,560 Speaker 1: three more people had voted, we would have closed the deal. 308 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:23,360 Speaker 1: So we had to run off election in February, I 309 00:18:23,359 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 1: immediately started serving. The presidential primary was in March, so 310 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,480 Speaker 1: we were back on the ballot in March and once 311 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: again on the ballot in November. So if anyone out 312 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: there is interested in running for office and someone tells 313 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,800 Speaker 1: you you're gonna have to do it multiple times, that's 314 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 1: just a part of the game. And that's how we 315 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 1: got our seat. That's amazing. Yeah, And as you were 316 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,040 Speaker 1: talking about to the audience and to the people, what 317 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:49,760 Speaker 1: would your statements be about why it is important that 318 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 1: if you are as passionate and as as we are 319 00:18:51,920 --> 00:18:55,000 Speaker 1: all passionate to come out and represent and be a voice, 320 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: and especially for those who are women of colored, people 321 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: of colored, those in the lgbt q I Y, it's 322 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:04,160 Speaker 1: really important right now that that community step up. Culture 323 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: change is happening in our communities, and it's also happening 324 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,879 Speaker 1: in government buildings. If you look at the Georgia State 325 00:19:10,920 --> 00:19:14,800 Speaker 1: Capital right now, we just put in uh mom of 326 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: a which is for you if you are pumping or breastfeeding. 327 00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: We've never had that before, and this is because legislators 328 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:28,199 Speaker 1: who are female who had tiny's needed to breastfeed, and 329 00:19:28,240 --> 00:19:31,440 Speaker 1: they started breastfeeding on the floor of the state capital, 330 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:35,600 Speaker 1: and they started to say, we're doing this because people 331 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,360 Speaker 1: can't come here and do what they need to do 332 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 1: if they want to be a citizen advocate, they have 333 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: to choose whether they're going to feed their child or not. 334 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: And so there are opportunities for our state capital. I 335 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 1: believe to have gender neutral bathrooms. Currently we don't, and 336 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,479 Speaker 1: I believe that only if there are more people with 337 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:01,560 Speaker 1: intersectional identities who are not just say a queer like me, 338 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 1: but maybe our moms of queer kids, or maybe dads 339 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,479 Speaker 1: of trans kids, then that is when we'll see the 340 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: tide turn. That's a great point. I love that. So 341 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: in your time with the government, yes, we've been looking 342 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:19,560 Speaker 1: at I've been looking at some of your bills and 343 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: some of the things that you have been um pushing, 344 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:24,200 Speaker 1: and I did want to talk about because I love 345 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: it and I need to know more about it, the 346 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: testicular Bill of Rights. Thank you. Yeah, I want to 347 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,960 Speaker 1: know all about it. How you came to come together, 348 00:20:34,359 --> 00:20:36,439 Speaker 1: and I decided this needs to be talked about at 349 00:20:36,440 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: the very least as a way of protesting. That's right. 350 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:45,719 Speaker 1: So the abortion ban in twenty nineteen was really just 351 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 1: another day of business as usual at the Georgia State 352 00:20:50,119 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 1: Capital UM. Some of my colleagues, who identify as Caucasian 353 00:20:55,359 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: and Mail were up to what I consider to be 354 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:04,120 Speaker 1: business as usual, restricting people's rights, not listening to their constituents, 355 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,959 Speaker 1: and in fact doing something that is incredibly costly to 356 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: our state. They decided that in that day, even though 357 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: we had done five or ten direct actions on the 358 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:21,399 Speaker 1: state floor by turning our backs to the speakers, linking arms, 359 00:21:21,720 --> 00:21:26,399 Speaker 1: bringing media in, shouting out planned parenthood, not leaving the 360 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:29,159 Speaker 1: well when we were supposed to, and continuing to speak, 361 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:31,640 Speaker 1: but they were still able to get the bill passed. 362 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,600 Speaker 1: So we said, as much as you have the power 363 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: to go to Legislative Council and to what you say 364 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 1: is to write legislation that your constituents want you to write, 365 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:45,520 Speaker 1: we do too. So a few of us black women 366 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:50,680 Speaker 1: legislators went to Legislative Council and under the understanding that 367 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 1: our constituents had reached out to us about men's health, 368 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 1: we wanted to write some bills. So we did the 369 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: Testicular Bill of Rights, we auditioned only did the Vanishing 370 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 1: VIAGRAAH Act. We also tried to create a study Committee 371 00:22:05,240 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: on a Rectile Dysfunction, and we talked a lot about 372 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: the social and mental aspects of masculinity that are toxic 373 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: and in fact, those are the reasons why we have 374 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: unplanned pregnancy. Unfortunately, our bill has not gotten a hearing, 375 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: but it has gotten media from here across the world. 376 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:29,920 Speaker 1: We are open to talking about it anytime. I love it. Yeah, 377 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 1: as I was reading it, I think I was giggling, 378 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: but I was really excited because like, this is absolutely 379 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 1: the questions that we need to come back to. And 380 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 1: the weather. It's actually talking about sexual assault or again 381 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: unwanted praying, the seize, any of that. These are important 382 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,919 Speaker 1: questions that should be addressed. Why aren't men taking responsibility 383 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: for all of these actions that are happening. Why is 384 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: this being just dumped on two women or those who 385 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 1: identify as women, or those who have vaginas in general? 386 00:22:55,560 --> 00:23:00,200 Speaker 1: Why is that so states pay for state pay and 387 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: its health benefit plan for Viagra Tier one, you know, 388 00:23:04,640 --> 00:23:09,600 Speaker 1: get that paid for for active members as well as retirees. Additionally, 389 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:12,680 Speaker 1: you know, when we look at what happens when someone 390 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 1: is trying to get a DNA test to prove paternity, 391 00:23:16,200 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 1: does the state pay for that no, so just trying 392 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:23,639 Speaker 1: to pull out some of the fallacies and contradictions of 393 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,159 Speaker 1: the Georgia Code. I love it. And then as I 394 00:23:26,160 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: was doing through your stuff, you also do a lot 395 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 1: of work with homelessness and housing and displacement. Can you 396 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: talk a little bit more about that, because I know 397 00:23:33,080 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: it's always been a crisis, but it's becoming more more 398 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:39,840 Speaker 1: of unawareness, especially with that current administration not really caring 399 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:45,560 Speaker 1: about the underlying issues and echos socionomical, basic economic Thank you, yes, 400 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: you're no words. This is my job. This is my job. Yes, 401 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 1: so can you talk a little more about that please? Certainly? 402 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:58,199 Speaker 1: And thinking about housing insecurity is not just someone who 403 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: is sleeping on the streets. Sometimes it is mamas who 404 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,479 Speaker 1: are paying for one week in a hotel so her 405 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:08,000 Speaker 1: kids can stay in the area, so they can go 406 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:10,640 Speaker 1: to school, and no one in the school will know 407 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: what they're going through. We have been hearing from families 408 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: across the state of Georgia, rural, suburban, urban, you name it, 409 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:24,600 Speaker 1: who are facing housing insecurity. Most people are able to 410 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: talk about that issue when they see it. Um maybe 411 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: they see it when they're getting off the highway and 412 00:24:31,160 --> 00:24:34,720 Speaker 1: someone is asking for some help, or maybe they see 413 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 1: it when they're at a grocery store and someone is 414 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:42,600 Speaker 1: expressively hungry. But what we don't really talk about is 415 00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 1: the mental health aspects of that, in the physical health 416 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 1: aspects of that. So we have tried to coalesce with 417 00:24:50,280 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 1: some of the organizations that meet people where they are. 418 00:24:53,840 --> 00:24:58,240 Speaker 1: These are organizations like community land trusts. The whole point 419 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,240 Speaker 1: of a community land trust is to get some land 420 00:25:01,320 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: and to hold it in a trust so that no 421 00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 1: matter what, that house on that land will remain affordable. 422 00:25:08,800 --> 00:25:11,880 Speaker 1: Community land trust right now in the state of Georgia 423 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:15,320 Speaker 1: are so notable because Georgia is the first state to 424 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 1: ever have a community land trust, beating out Vermont, New York, 425 00:25:20,400 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 1: California years and years ago. But we have not done 426 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: anything to actually protect those community land trusts and staying affordable. 427 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: So this past year we worked with the City of 428 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: Atlanta's Housing Department and government relations as well as a 429 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 1: community land trust here in Atlanta to say, what are 430 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: your famili's experiencing And they said this, they don't own 431 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:47,440 Speaker 1: the land, but they own the house. So when property 432 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 1: tax time comes around, the community land trust is paying 433 00:25:51,920 --> 00:25:55,879 Speaker 1: for the land and they're paying for the house, but 434 00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 1: that homeowner cannot request an exemption from school taxes from 435 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: municipal taxes if they're old enough because they don't technically 436 00:26:05,359 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 1: own the land. So there are some administrative fixes just 437 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: like that that the governor did and signed and felt 438 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 1: was fine. But there are other issues like mental health, 439 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: protecting veterans, making sure that trans and gender nonconforming youth 440 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: who are sleeping under the bridge blocks from here because 441 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 1: we visit them, actually have a way to get back 442 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 1: on their feet. And sometimes that can be through a 443 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:36,040 Speaker 1: foster care system, other times that can be through a 444 00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:39,439 Speaker 1: supportive family. And we're trying to make some pathways for 445 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,159 Speaker 1: folks to get out of housing insecurity. That's awesome. As 446 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 1: I was reading that, it was really really inspiring, just 447 00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:49,239 Speaker 1: understanding how harmful gentrification can be, but how inevitable it 448 00:26:49,280 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: often is. Unfortunately there's no real solution, and seeing things 449 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,280 Speaker 1: like that, talking about different types of built how the 450 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 1: government canvass or should be a part of this conversation 451 00:26:58,680 --> 00:27:01,760 Speaker 1: instead of it just being based on income or based 452 00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,800 Speaker 1: on individuals, and it seems like it's hard press but 453 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:09,920 Speaker 1: slowly at least being conversational. Yeah, we're getting there, and 454 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:14,280 Speaker 1: you know. I'll say one of the most exciting moments 455 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:18,040 Speaker 1: I had working across the aisle last year was with 456 00:27:18,600 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 1: a rural legislator who told me about when he was 457 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:26,680 Speaker 1: growing up, he used to have bunnies at his house 458 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:30,119 Speaker 1: all the time, and he loved his bunnies until he 459 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:35,359 Speaker 1: found out they were rats, and in that understanding, he 460 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 1: would support my bill making sure that people had safe housing. 461 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: We were able to pass a bill that is a 462 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,919 Speaker 1: part of kind of a tenants bill of rights to 463 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:51,199 Speaker 1: say if you report your buddies or rats to your landlord, 464 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:54,679 Speaker 1: they cannot just go ahead and evict you, which is 465 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,120 Speaker 1: what's happening in the state of Georgia. If you report 466 00:27:57,400 --> 00:28:00,199 Speaker 1: mold or mild you, or any of the things that 467 00:28:00,240 --> 00:28:04,600 Speaker 1: are environmental or health and safety issues, they can actually 468 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:08,880 Speaker 1: terminate your rental contract. I don't know if I knew that. No, 469 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:11,439 Speaker 1: I didn't know. I didn't know that, So we changed 470 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:14,439 Speaker 1: that bill last year. I knew that there was some 471 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: changes happening with the winners rights. Things I did not 472 00:28:17,080 --> 00:28:19,160 Speaker 1: know included the fact that we could have been kicked out. 473 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,159 Speaker 1: And I'm a renter, so I'm like, what what, Wow, 474 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:28,159 Speaker 1: I'm learning things today Georgia. Okay, but we fixed it. 475 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,440 Speaker 1: You fixed it. That's amazing. Um. And then also we 476 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 1: kind of wanted to come background. You were talking about 477 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 1: foster care and such, something that's very passionate to me. 478 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 1: I am I used to be in social work. Thank you. 479 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:41,400 Speaker 1: Weird statement saying that because I'm not as was like 480 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 1: last week. That's very new. Um. But I was working 481 00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: with the Department Chieval Justice. I worked with foster care. 482 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:51,640 Speaker 1: I'm also adopted. And I know once again the whole 483 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:54,360 Speaker 1: idea of religious freedom bill is coming back around. I 484 00:28:54,400 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: know that legislators trying to reintroduce it again, and of 485 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:01,240 Speaker 1: course I am more than horrified because there are things 486 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: happening around the country that is allowing actual votes like 487 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,880 Speaker 1: this to go forward. UM. Can you kind of talk 488 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:10,240 Speaker 1: about what that because I know you've been in there 489 00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: while they were trying to fight this bill at the 490 00:29:11,960 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: begin with. As we're coming back to this, what are 491 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 1: some things that we need to be paying attention to. 492 00:29:16,320 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: How do we vocally advocate and physically advocate to fight 493 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:24,360 Speaker 1: against such a bill. When you hear the term religious freedom, 494 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: you should think religious restriction, right, And we're trying to 495 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:33,000 Speaker 1: make sure that people understand. Whether you believe in someone 496 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:38,080 Speaker 1: or something that gets you somewhere, that's fine. We're not 497 00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:41,840 Speaker 1: trying to stop people from believing or not believing. What 498 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:45,120 Speaker 1: we want to make sure that we do is create 499 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 1: the separation of church and state. Now, in a state 500 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 1: like Georgia in the Bible Belt, that's really difficult for 501 00:29:54,240 --> 00:29:58,760 Speaker 1: reasons like you have pastors running for office. You also 502 00:29:58,880 --> 00:30:04,240 Speaker 1: have government to policies that create a special space in 503 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: the state capital for prayer to always happen. So we're 504 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 1: juxtaposing people who believe strongly and people who understand what 505 00:30:14,560 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 1: the public wants. What the public wants today is for 506 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:22,240 Speaker 1: there to be the separation of church and state. You 507 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,840 Speaker 1: can look at even a place that I don't eat, 508 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:28,840 Speaker 1: Chick fil A, they don't even open on Sundays because 509 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 1: they understand for their beliefs that that is what they 510 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:36,520 Speaker 1: need to do on Sundays. Great, do that on Sundays. 511 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:40,400 Speaker 1: Maybe if you're Jehovah's witness, do it on Saturdays. Do 512 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:44,400 Speaker 1: whatever day you need to, except for when you are 513 00:30:44,760 --> 00:30:50,520 Speaker 1: restricting someone else's life. And in issues related to not 514 00:30:50,640 --> 00:30:54,120 Speaker 1: only baking a cake for a wedding, even though that 515 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 1: Supreme Court case really was disappointing to us, all um, 516 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: but also about adopting people. We saw this week as well, 517 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 1: the Senate dropped the anti LGBTQ adoption bill. In our words, 518 00:31:12,760 --> 00:31:17,280 Speaker 1: we know that research shows that same sex couples are 519 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:22,040 Speaker 1: four times more likely than opposite sex couples to be 520 00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:27,120 Speaker 1: raising adopted children. So you're already targeting the group of 521 00:31:27,160 --> 00:31:32,080 Speaker 1: folks who can help get the seventeen thousand children out 522 00:31:32,120 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: of our foster care system today. What we want for 523 00:31:35,400 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: Georgians and people across the world to know about religious liberty, 524 00:31:40,760 --> 00:31:45,800 Speaker 1: religious freedom, which we believe to be religious restriction, is 525 00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:48,840 Speaker 1: that if you are able to come to the table 526 00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:52,760 Speaker 1: on this conversation and say, hey, love thy neighbor, do 527 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:55,880 Speaker 1: not judge, then we need you right now, right So 528 00:31:55,920 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 1: what can we do? Because obviously I am someone who 529 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: is beyond passionate about things like this, because I have 530 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:05,880 Speaker 1: seen firsthand what that what happens to our children when 531 00:32:05,880 --> 00:32:08,000 Speaker 1: those types of restrictions happened, and what happens to the 532 00:32:08,080 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 1: families who oftentimes are more equipped to work with kids 533 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,200 Speaker 1: who are a little come from a dysfunctional background. Because 534 00:32:16,240 --> 00:32:17,920 Speaker 1: the one thing I've had to tell many of people 535 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:20,280 Speaker 1: who ask me about adoption and foster cared, be ready, 536 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:25,160 Speaker 1: these kids are not healthy. You're not getting an any 537 00:32:25,200 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 1: from you know the movies. You know, I love that movie. 538 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:34,080 Speaker 1: I also love you any But I'm just saying. But 539 00:32:34,080 --> 00:32:37,440 Speaker 1: that's the thing is, it's obviously these are very troubled 540 00:32:37,520 --> 00:32:40,720 Speaker 1: youths oftentimes, and we know that after age five they're 541 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:43,800 Speaker 1: less likely to be adopted. Actually at age three, um 542 00:32:43,880 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 1: must be real, honest, and that any child that old 543 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: has gone through some sort of trauma. And oftentimes I 544 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:51,920 Speaker 1: see people of the l g B t u I 545 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:56,160 Speaker 1: community understand that and are more equipped to handle or 546 00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: at least are more prepared to handle such trauma. So 547 00:33:00,200 --> 00:33:03,960 Speaker 1: with that, what can we do to continue to make 548 00:33:03,960 --> 00:33:06,600 Speaker 1: sure our voices are known beyond just the regular emails, 549 00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:09,560 Speaker 1: beyond you know? What can we do? Yes? Three things? 550 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 1: One is registered to vote, y'all. The deadlines are always happening. 551 00:33:15,840 --> 00:33:17,560 Speaker 1: You know, people like who wins the deadline so I 552 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:19,320 Speaker 1: can do it the night before or the day of 553 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 1: voter registration deadlines are always happening. Don't worry about whether 554 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:26,280 Speaker 1: or not you're trying to get it for this election 555 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:29,520 Speaker 1: or that election. We believe voting to be a practice 556 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:32,800 Speaker 1: registered to votes. You can see, oh, my polling place 557 00:33:32,880 --> 00:33:35,920 Speaker 1: is green today. Oh it was actually purple when I 558 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:39,520 Speaker 1: voted last time. I mean literally, just a practice of 559 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: knowing your space when you're going to make these decisions, 560 00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:46,760 Speaker 1: because these are the senators that you're voting for. If 561 00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 1: they have an incumbent letter by their name, please look 562 00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:52,880 Speaker 1: them up before you go. You can see your sample 563 00:33:52,960 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: ballot online across the state of Georgia by just going 564 00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 1: to the Secretary of State's web page. The second thing 565 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:05,200 Speaker 1: is know that politicians are playing games with people's lives 566 00:34:05,360 --> 00:34:09,160 Speaker 1: right now, and they deserve to be held accountable. Social 567 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:11,759 Speaker 1: media is a great way to do that. To make 568 00:34:11,800 --> 00:34:16,759 Speaker 1: people understand that your beliefs are equally as important to 569 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 1: your elected officials beliefs. Even if they have the power 570 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: to go in and to write a piece of legislation, 571 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:26,520 Speaker 1: you need to remind them that that is only a 572 00:34:26,719 --> 00:34:30,319 Speaker 1: fraction of their job. The main part of our job 573 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: at the state capital is to balance the state budget. 574 00:34:34,400 --> 00:34:37,480 Speaker 1: If your elected official cannot talk to you about the 575 00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,960 Speaker 1: money that they're trying to get into the state budget 576 00:34:40,239 --> 00:34:43,880 Speaker 1: for their hospitals and their schools and all they can 577 00:34:43,960 --> 00:34:47,520 Speaker 1: do is talk to you about restricting people's ability to 578 00:34:47,680 --> 00:34:53,319 Speaker 1: live in safe and healthy communities. Please quickly redirect them. 579 00:34:53,680 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 1: Help them understand that our state of Georgia has the 580 00:34:57,080 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: Department of Family and Child Services and they our budget 581 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:04,480 Speaker 1: line is possibly about to get cut. If they really 582 00:35:04,680 --> 00:35:09,200 Speaker 1: care about making sure that people have healthy lives, they 583 00:35:09,239 --> 00:35:12,239 Speaker 1: should be doing a better job of balancing that budget line. 584 00:35:12,600 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: The third thing that I truly, truly believe that we 585 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:18,520 Speaker 1: can all do is to talk to children. Um. When 586 00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:22,080 Speaker 1: you're talking to children, help them understand, um, what it 587 00:35:22,239 --> 00:35:26,040 Speaker 1: is that you have experienced, regardless of their age. Help 588 00:35:26,120 --> 00:35:29,480 Speaker 1: them understand why something makes you upset. Help them know 589 00:35:30,000 --> 00:35:32,239 Speaker 1: that they can speak up if they feel like something 590 00:35:32,400 --> 00:35:36,439 Speaker 1: is happening. Our children these days are at age three 591 00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 1: thinking about gender identity, and if we would have adults 592 00:35:43,520 --> 00:35:46,040 Speaker 1: who would just listen and talk to them and not 593 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:50,840 Speaker 1: push religion down their throat at that moment with conversion therapy, 594 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:54,840 Speaker 1: then they might actually be Okay, I am excited in 595 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:58,080 Speaker 1: the opportunity, you know, to keep registering people to vote, 596 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 1: to keep talking about the state budget, and of course 597 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:05,560 Speaker 1: to keep talking to children to stop religious restrictions from happening. 598 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:08,480 Speaker 1: Right that's awesome. We do have some more of our 599 00:36:08,520 --> 00:36:10,920 Speaker 1: interview for you listeners, but we do have one more 600 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:26,719 Speaker 1: put break for a word from our sponsor, and we're back. 601 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:29,879 Speaker 1: Thank you sponsor. Let's get back into it. As you're 602 00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:34,440 Speaker 1: talking about voting, obviously, Georgia is very very in the 603 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:37,240 Speaker 1: middle of all the controversy with the voter suppression issues 604 00:36:37,440 --> 00:36:39,880 Speaker 1: as well as the fact of the giant purge that 605 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:42,480 Speaker 1: has happened, which would be also another thing for everybody, 606 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:44,879 Speaker 1: all the listeners to go back and check make sure 607 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:47,080 Speaker 1: you have not been perished, because that is very very 608 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 1: important obviously, and then also having the conversation of voting 609 00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:55,040 Speaker 1: being a right and not a privilege. So with all 610 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:56,960 Speaker 1: of that, can you kind of speak on a little more. 611 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:00,040 Speaker 1: Obviously we're coming into a big year for everything, and 612 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:02,040 Speaker 1: you speak a little more on that for us to 613 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:05,520 Speaker 1: be aware not only of what's going on, maybe what 614 00:37:05,719 --> 00:37:07,440 Speaker 1: we should be paying attention to with that as well, 615 00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:10,680 Speaker 1: because obviously when it comes to the lawsuits and all 616 00:37:10,719 --> 00:37:12,960 Speaker 1: of that, and we know that Stacy Abrams is a 617 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:16,520 Speaker 1: big voice and has started her nonprofit which is freaking amazing. UM, 618 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:19,560 Speaker 1: But just kind of talking a little more and letting 619 00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:22,880 Speaker 1: us for the listeners who may not completely know kind 620 00:37:22,920 --> 00:37:26,720 Speaker 1: of detail that for us, that's right. And thinking about voting, 621 00:37:27,280 --> 00:37:30,080 Speaker 1: I think about people who have come before me and 622 00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:33,440 Speaker 1: people who will come after me. My vote is not 623 00:37:33,920 --> 00:37:37,759 Speaker 1: about what I want. It's really about what I have 624 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:42,160 Speaker 1: seen and what I want to see. Sometimes people get 625 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:47,279 Speaker 1: so tied up and voting for a candidate, voting, you know, 626 00:37:47,480 --> 00:37:51,040 Speaker 1: to make sure that if that person does not get elected, 627 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:54,280 Speaker 1: then I'm just throwing the baby out with the bathwater. 628 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,600 Speaker 1: And you know, I'll say, you know, even some of 629 00:37:57,680 --> 00:38:01,640 Speaker 1: my Democratic Socialist friends, that was the whole point of 630 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:05,160 Speaker 1: the Bernie or Bust mentality. It was like this or 631 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:08,400 Speaker 1: throw out the bath water and the baby, and that 632 00:38:08,680 --> 00:38:14,919 Speaker 1: mentality is really difficult. It is this cancel culture. It's 633 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:19,080 Speaker 1: all of this toxic nature that says, if something didn't 634 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:22,360 Speaker 1: go your way, then just kill it all together. But 635 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:26,279 Speaker 1: in fact, that's not what voting is about. Voting is 636 00:38:26,360 --> 00:38:30,200 Speaker 1: all about choice and opportunity. When you go to the 637 00:38:30,280 --> 00:38:34,239 Speaker 1: ballot in March for the presidential primary, there will be 638 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:37,640 Speaker 1: a bunch of people there. There's also a write in 639 00:38:37,800 --> 00:38:41,160 Speaker 1: slot if you don't want anyone right in who you 640 00:38:41,239 --> 00:38:44,200 Speaker 1: want to write in, but at least your vote gets counted. 641 00:38:45,080 --> 00:38:49,040 Speaker 1: If you understand that your candidate is not going to 642 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:53,320 Speaker 1: get selected right before the election, or maybe they have 643 00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:58,040 Speaker 1: a runoff like I did for their second election, those 644 00:38:58,160 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 1: votes matter even more. We should be looking out for 645 00:39:02,200 --> 00:39:07,120 Speaker 1: special elections and runoff elections, but they're not really jargon 646 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:09,520 Speaker 1: that people are used to. They're used to like, oh, 647 00:39:09,640 --> 00:39:13,640 Speaker 1: the primarya the general, But what about the special elections? 648 00:39:13,680 --> 00:39:16,920 Speaker 1: What about the runoffs? What about the times when twenty 649 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:21,600 Speaker 1: three votes changes something. Imagine if you and your apartment 650 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,839 Speaker 1: building of people or your block of people said we're 651 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:28,439 Speaker 1: going to vote, and you change the election. I bet 652 00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:32,400 Speaker 1: you that your ability to feel more invested in the 653 00:39:32,560 --> 00:39:37,520 Speaker 1: system would increase. What we do know about voters right now, 654 00:39:37,640 --> 00:39:41,520 Speaker 1: which makes me really excited, is that they're the youngest 655 00:39:41,719 --> 00:39:46,040 Speaker 1: they've ever been. And even when they say millennials don't vote, 656 00:39:46,280 --> 00:39:49,359 Speaker 1: what they actually mean is we haven't done the data yet. 657 00:39:50,040 --> 00:39:54,880 Speaker 1: They're pulling information from not only forty year olds who 658 00:39:55,000 --> 00:40:00,120 Speaker 1: have ten year olds and nineteen year olds who are 659 00:40:00,200 --> 00:40:02,560 Speaker 1: just getting into college. They can't figure out how to 660 00:40:02,640 --> 00:40:04,919 Speaker 1: do all that together. All of the pundits can't even 661 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:07,360 Speaker 1: do it, and so it's a farce. It is not 662 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:10,440 Speaker 1: true that millennials, gen X, all of us, that we 663 00:40:10,480 --> 00:40:13,920 Speaker 1: don't vote. We actually do. We've been voting in Georgia 664 00:40:14,239 --> 00:40:18,560 Speaker 1: at three hundred and sixty percent more than we ever 665 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:21,759 Speaker 1: have before. But we're doing it in a very specific way. 666 00:40:22,239 --> 00:40:25,839 Speaker 1: We are early voting. Yes, we're not waiting for election day. 667 00:40:27,040 --> 00:40:29,360 Speaker 1: So if the election was supposed to be on this 668 00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:33,960 Speaker 1: coming Tuesday, this whole week would be early voting in 669 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:38,000 Speaker 1: the state of Georgia. We'll do it the week before. 670 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:40,920 Speaker 1: Get off of work, get out of your place, go 671 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:43,680 Speaker 1: early vote. And that's really what's going to make the 672 00:40:43,760 --> 00:40:48,960 Speaker 1: difference in this presidential election. That's awesome, thank you. I've 673 00:40:48,960 --> 00:40:56,200 Speaker 1: been taking over. I get really excited. These are very 674 00:40:56,239 --> 00:40:59,759 Speaker 1: important issues right now. Um. I was gonna say, ask 675 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:03,080 Speaker 1: in too for those who are considering running, because those 676 00:41:03,080 --> 00:41:05,840 Speaker 1: who are considering and getting their their footwet. I'm not 677 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:08,320 Speaker 1: one of those people, just so you know, UM, what 678 00:41:08,440 --> 00:41:12,640 Speaker 1: would your advice for them? Be? Three things? Of course, One, 679 00:41:13,040 --> 00:41:16,640 Speaker 1: scrub your social media, not because you're trying to change 680 00:41:16,680 --> 00:41:19,359 Speaker 1: who you are, but because when voters come to look 681 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:23,080 Speaker 1: at you, they're looking for bite sized pieces they want 682 00:41:23,120 --> 00:41:26,359 Speaker 1: to understand. Okay, this person does that they went there 683 00:41:26,440 --> 00:41:29,400 Speaker 1: and they served in this capacity. We know the average 684 00:41:29,440 --> 00:41:33,360 Speaker 1: you know, like idle on a page. Um, you know, 685 00:41:33,520 --> 00:41:36,880 Speaker 1: mentality is ten seconds. If you hold your phone right 686 00:41:36,920 --> 00:41:39,080 Speaker 1: now and just stare at it for ten seconds, you're 687 00:41:39,120 --> 00:41:41,880 Speaker 1: gonna be bored. So people are not really going to 688 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: take that much time to look at like you're, you know, 689 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:49,880 Speaker 1: post about visiting the Grand Canyon unless you want that 690 00:41:50,040 --> 00:41:52,960 Speaker 1: there to prove that you're an environmentalist. Go ahead and 691 00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:55,440 Speaker 1: just clean it up so they can actually see you 692 00:41:56,000 --> 00:41:59,240 Speaker 1: in the noise of what is the internet. The second 693 00:41:59,320 --> 00:42:02,560 Speaker 1: thing of Core says, get a kitchen cabinet of people 694 00:42:02,600 --> 00:42:05,760 Speaker 1: who you trust that you can talk to. Your kitchen 695 00:42:05,800 --> 00:42:08,560 Speaker 1: cabinet is that thing. You open it, you're like, hey Cheetos, 696 00:42:08,800 --> 00:42:11,440 Speaker 1: Hey Derritos, Hey girl. You could go in there and 697 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:14,360 Speaker 1: just let it go and no one else has to know. 698 00:42:15,239 --> 00:42:18,200 Speaker 1: You need those handful of people who you can say, 699 00:42:18,280 --> 00:42:20,279 Speaker 1: did you know they pulled up my yard signs again, 700 00:42:20,320 --> 00:42:23,000 Speaker 1: I'm so frustrated, and my mail piece didn't go out 701 00:42:23,080 --> 00:42:25,000 Speaker 1: on time, and I'm late from an interview, and my 702 00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:27,120 Speaker 1: shoe broke and all these things, And then you can 703 00:42:27,239 --> 00:42:29,440 Speaker 1: zip it together and go in and do the interview. 704 00:42:29,840 --> 00:42:32,920 Speaker 1: You need to be able to have that kitchen cabinet 705 00:42:33,239 --> 00:42:36,080 Speaker 1: to carry you throughout the campaign. And the third thing 706 00:42:36,280 --> 00:42:40,400 Speaker 1: is raise some money. I was a twenty three year 707 00:42:40,440 --> 00:42:44,160 Speaker 1: old broke college student when I decided to run for office, 708 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:47,960 Speaker 1: calling all my twenty three year old broke friends, who 709 00:42:48,040 --> 00:42:50,680 Speaker 1: would say, yeah, I'm so proud of you. I'm so 710 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:54,319 Speaker 1: glad you're reading this is awesome. I really cannot give 711 00:42:54,360 --> 00:42:58,080 Speaker 1: you twenty five dollars. I would take five dollars from 712 00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:01,760 Speaker 1: my friends because that's one yards sign and really thinking 713 00:43:01,840 --> 00:43:06,720 Speaker 1: about how you can do exciting things on a grassroots campaign. 714 00:43:07,239 --> 00:43:12,240 Speaker 1: We raise money at drag shows in our election because 715 00:43:12,440 --> 00:43:14,920 Speaker 1: that was a part of our voter and that was 716 00:43:15,000 --> 00:43:18,160 Speaker 1: a part of our campaign. So don't think about raising 717 00:43:18,239 --> 00:43:22,360 Speaker 1: money as this yucky thing that is self serving. Instead, 718 00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:25,840 Speaker 1: like I said, if you're running for office, you're running 719 00:43:25,880 --> 00:43:29,400 Speaker 1: to balance a budget. You should be able to ask 720 00:43:29,560 --> 00:43:32,480 Speaker 1: for money. That's the job you're going to do. So 721 00:43:32,600 --> 00:43:36,960 Speaker 1: it's really some like job training. Yeah, yeah, money, he 722 00:43:37,120 --> 00:43:43,399 Speaker 1: has to have that money. It's true, damn money being 723 00:43:43,480 --> 00:43:47,440 Speaker 1: poor and now I'm like money, Um, would you like 724 00:43:47,560 --> 00:43:49,920 Speaker 1: to discuss anything that we haven't brought up these There 725 00:43:49,920 --> 00:43:52,919 Speaker 1: any projects, anything that's specific to you that you would 726 00:43:52,960 --> 00:43:56,360 Speaker 1: love for our listeners, to listeners to know about, words, 727 00:43:56,680 --> 00:43:59,359 Speaker 1: listeners to know about to all the families out there. 728 00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:01,880 Speaker 1: You know, I just want to thank you all for resisting. 729 00:44:02,239 --> 00:44:06,560 Speaker 1: It is difficult, you know, it's hard. I know that 730 00:44:07,080 --> 00:44:10,800 Speaker 1: as a Duela, I'm working with mamas who are about 731 00:44:10,840 --> 00:44:14,640 Speaker 1: to deliver or who have delivered right now, and the 732 00:44:14,719 --> 00:44:18,560 Speaker 1: state of Georgia has gotten the worst ranking and maternal 733 00:44:18,640 --> 00:44:22,560 Speaker 1: health outcomes, as people say, black women are three times 734 00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:27,200 Speaker 1: more likely to die than their counterparts in childbirth. As 735 00:44:27,320 --> 00:44:29,840 Speaker 1: much as we do want to educate the public about that, 736 00:44:30,480 --> 00:44:32,800 Speaker 1: I believe we should be sensitive in how we do 737 00:44:32,920 --> 00:44:36,960 Speaker 1: it because it is triggering. It's traumatizing to tell someone 738 00:44:37,160 --> 00:44:40,400 Speaker 1: that they might perish um for making this life decision 739 00:44:40,840 --> 00:44:45,040 Speaker 1: when you have also restricted their ability to terminate a pregnancy. 740 00:44:45,480 --> 00:44:47,560 Speaker 1: So I just want to thank families out there and 741 00:44:47,600 --> 00:44:49,880 Speaker 1: the people who support them, and to let you know 742 00:44:50,040 --> 00:44:54,520 Speaker 1: that I'm always here in Atlanta, Georgia, rocking out, fighting 743 00:44:54,680 --> 00:44:57,680 Speaker 1: for you know, the end to voter suppression and the 744 00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:02,480 Speaker 1: continuation of some progressive of politics. So I do want 745 00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:05,080 Speaker 1: to ask a personal question because obviously you have a 746 00:45:05,280 --> 00:45:09,560 Speaker 1: very heavy duty duty job, heavy heavy duty jobs. What 747 00:45:09,719 --> 00:45:14,720 Speaker 1: do you do to give yourself a chance to step away? 748 00:45:15,040 --> 00:45:19,640 Speaker 1: What is your outlet? Thank you? Family is definitely number 749 00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:22,880 Speaker 1: one for me. I went to college for dance, so 750 00:45:23,080 --> 00:45:25,719 Speaker 1: I really like to dance. That can be like in 751 00:45:25,840 --> 00:45:29,160 Speaker 1: a class or in a club. You might catch me 752 00:45:29,760 --> 00:45:33,120 Speaker 1: come on Atlanta or yes, yes Friday night, let's do this. 753 00:45:34,280 --> 00:45:37,640 Speaker 1: We're gonna be friends, so it's fun. Um. And then 754 00:45:37,680 --> 00:45:39,719 Speaker 1: the third thing, of course, is shutting down off of 755 00:45:39,800 --> 00:45:43,080 Speaker 1: social media. Sometimes it can be really toxic, and whether 756 00:45:43,160 --> 00:45:45,279 Speaker 1: you're in elected office or not, I think we all 757 00:45:45,360 --> 00:45:48,799 Speaker 1: need to do that. Awesome, Well, thank you so much. 758 00:45:49,080 --> 00:45:55,359 Speaker 1: I've been so excited. I've been telling everybody so yes, 759 00:45:55,440 --> 00:45:58,560 Speaker 1: I'm a fan girl over here. I'm really excited that 760 00:45:58,640 --> 00:46:00,759 Speaker 1: you are here. I'm really say that you are a 761 00:46:00,960 --> 00:46:03,759 Speaker 1: giant voice for our state and are part of the 762 00:46:03,880 --> 00:46:08,880 Speaker 1: fight in progressing Um, your your heart and obviously your 763 00:46:08,880 --> 00:46:11,560 Speaker 1: passion has been an amazing representation of Georgia. So thank you, 764 00:46:11,840 --> 00:46:16,320 Speaker 1: Thank you, And that concludes our interview with part Canon. 765 00:46:16,480 --> 00:46:18,759 Speaker 1: As you can tell, we were very excited and it 766 00:46:18,880 --> 00:46:21,800 Speaker 1: could have lasted a lot longer. I did have to 767 00:46:21,880 --> 00:46:24,080 Speaker 1: have a couple of moments all right, chill Smith, it's okay, 768 00:46:24,239 --> 00:46:27,960 Speaker 1: it's okay, it's okay. I loved it. I loved every 769 00:46:28,000 --> 00:46:30,080 Speaker 1: second of it. I'm sorry, I'll let you suffer, but 770 00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:33,080 Speaker 1: it was a beautiful thing. Behold. And I just want 771 00:46:33,120 --> 00:46:37,520 Speaker 1: to tell everyone, yes, please get involved and you never know, 772 00:46:37,680 --> 00:46:39,920 Speaker 1: reach out, talk to these people. They will reach back 773 00:46:39,960 --> 00:46:42,279 Speaker 1: to you and they will have a conversation with you. 774 00:46:42,440 --> 00:46:44,840 Speaker 1: And that is very, very important in getting to know 775 00:46:45,239 --> 00:46:49,719 Speaker 1: who your representatives are. Yeah, yeah, And I love her 776 00:46:49,880 --> 00:46:53,560 Speaker 1: story of she just was mad about who was representing 777 00:46:53,680 --> 00:46:56,680 Speaker 1: or went to the went to the capitol, and then 778 00:46:56,719 --> 00:47:01,120 Speaker 1: met someone who then mentored her, chapped her to run 779 00:47:01,400 --> 00:47:05,040 Speaker 1: and reach out. There's no telling what can happen if 780 00:47:05,120 --> 00:47:07,400 Speaker 1: you just put an effort in getting to know people. 781 00:47:07,719 --> 00:47:10,720 Speaker 1: In the story, it's true. I used to tell myself 782 00:47:10,800 --> 00:47:12,799 Speaker 1: that all the time. I could either stay in, which 783 00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:14,960 Speaker 1: I would love, but I could also go out and 784 00:47:15,080 --> 00:47:17,160 Speaker 1: meet people. And I don't know what that will lead to. 785 00:47:17,640 --> 00:47:23,000 Speaker 1: Can be rewarding, sometimes, can be I mean that's kind 786 00:47:23,040 --> 00:47:25,400 Speaker 1: of how we met. That's how we met. Yeah. So 787 00:47:25,600 --> 00:47:27,879 Speaker 1: I just want to say thank you part for coming 788 00:47:27,960 --> 00:47:29,919 Speaker 1: in with us and sitting with us and having such 789 00:47:29,920 --> 00:47:33,480 Speaker 1: a candid and open conversation for those who are thinking 790 00:47:33,520 --> 00:47:36,799 Speaker 1: about going out and actually trying to become a part 791 00:47:36,880 --> 00:47:40,439 Speaker 1: of the voice being involved by getting into politics. Listen 792 00:47:40,480 --> 00:47:42,560 Speaker 1: to our advice. That's some amazing things that you can do, 793 00:47:42,840 --> 00:47:47,880 Speaker 1: and encourage you to do so try represent us. We 794 00:47:48,000 --> 00:47:51,239 Speaker 1: need you, We need you, Yes, and we need more 795 00:47:51,400 --> 00:47:55,640 Speaker 1: voices like Park Cannon and in this which is Black 796 00:47:55,719 --> 00:47:59,560 Speaker 1: History Month, SYS comes out always want to spotlight women 797 00:47:59,600 --> 00:48:02,560 Speaker 1: of color or who are out there fighting the good fight, 798 00:48:02,640 --> 00:48:05,279 Speaker 1: fighting the good fight and doing amazing things and inspiring 799 00:48:05,680 --> 00:48:09,560 Speaker 1: all of us. Yes, So if if you would like 800 00:48:09,680 --> 00:48:12,000 Speaker 1: to email us, we would love to hear from you. 801 00:48:12,520 --> 00:48:14,799 Speaker 1: Our email is Stuff Media Mom Stuff at i heeart 802 00:48:14,840 --> 00:48:16,839 Speaker 1: media dot com. You can also find us on Twitter 803 00:48:16,920 --> 00:48:20,440 Speaker 1: at Mom's Podcast or on Instagram That stuff I've Never 804 00:48:20,480 --> 00:48:23,399 Speaker 1: told you where you can see a very well I'm 805 00:48:23,520 --> 00:48:26,920 Speaker 1: embarrassing a photo of part Cannon, Samantha and I and 806 00:48:27,000 --> 00:48:28,800 Speaker 1: I look like I just came in from a blizzard, 807 00:48:28,840 --> 00:48:32,160 Speaker 1: but I'm actually just cold. Don't you want to take 808 00:48:32,160 --> 00:48:35,240 Speaker 1: a jacket off? Thanks as always to our super producer 809 00:48:35,400 --> 00:48:38,480 Speaker 1: Andrew Howard. Thank you, and thanks to you for listening 810 00:48:38,840 --> 00:48:40,960 Speaker 1: Stuff I'm Never told you. The protection of I Heart Radios, 811 00:48:41,000 --> 00:48:43,239 Speaker 1: How stuff Works For more. Podcast from my Heart Radio 812 00:48:43,400 --> 00:48:45,719 Speaker 1: is the I Heartradio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you 813 00:48:45,760 --> 00:48:46,840 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.