1 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: Good morning, peeps, and welcome to WOKF Daily with Meet 2 00:00:15,000 --> 00:00:19,439 Speaker 1: your Girl Danielle Moody recording from the Home Bunker. Folks, 3 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: I am very excited to kick off. You can't ban 4 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: queer Joy on WOKAF as you know, if you've been 5 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: listening to the show for a few years now, that 6 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: we do our best to bring you some of the 7 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: most important voices, conversations issues that are affecting the LGBTQ 8 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: plus community during the month of Pride. We take Pride 9 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:52,840 Speaker 1: very seriously on WOKF and we're working in collaboration with 10 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: our friends at GLAD in order to bring you some 11 00:00:56,240 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: of the best guests and really dig into the issues 12 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: as well as the joy. Folks. You know, it is 13 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: a really hard balance that we are walking these days 14 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 1: with trying to remain hopeful and joyful and stand in 15 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: faith about our ability to continue to march forward with 16 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: progress given everything that is being thrown at our democracy, 17 00:01:20,640 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: at our ability to persevere when there are unrelenting forces 18 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: that want nothing to do then erase us, oppress us, 19 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: and drown us out with hate. And so you know, 20 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 1: in these conversations, I think that it's really important for 21 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: us to look at what solutions look like, which is 22 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: why I'm really excited to bring you this conversation today 23 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 1: with Lauren Bear, who is the executive director of Arena, 24 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: an organization that we've brought to you before on WOKF 25 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: whose work is to convene, train, and support the next 26 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: generation of candidates and campaign staff. And what does that 27 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: look like right in this climate? Lauren and I talk 28 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 1: about the ways in which the challenges I guess, and 29 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:14,240 Speaker 1: the ways in which the campaign staff and just folks 30 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: in general who want to get involved in politics are 31 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: having to weigh their personal safety, the safety of their family, 32 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: versus their commitment to public service and wanting to do good. 33 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: And what does that look like? What does it look 34 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: like to train people in this climate When we've had 35 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: conversations on WOOKF about democratic offices being shot at or 36 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: staff being beat up, all of which we have covered, 37 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: there is a heightened sense of fear and anxiety and 38 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,679 Speaker 1: arise in political violence, and so all of that right 39 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: is to deter good people from wanting to get involved 40 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,120 Speaker 1: in their communities and for us to all feel like 41 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:02,079 Speaker 1: we are helpless. But you know the purpose of Arena 42 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 1: is really to give people the support, the network, and 43 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,680 Speaker 1: the skill set to be able to not only run, 44 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: but to be able to win. And for those people 45 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: who are interested in what it means to run a campaign, 46 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 1: what it means to be a campaign staffer, Arena is 47 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: a one stop shop for all of that information as well. 48 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: And in my conversation today with Lauren, you know, she 49 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: also comes to it from a queer lens, as a 50 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 1: queer woman who is married with two children, and will 51 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: share with us the fears that she has for her 52 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:43,840 Speaker 1: own children and why this work that she is doing 53 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: is so incredibly important and personal, how the politics have 54 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: become personal for her now that she is a mother 55 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: and a wife, And what does it mean right at 56 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: a time when you can't really look at your children 57 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: and think you know your future is going to be bright? 58 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: And so what is the work that each and every 59 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,400 Speaker 1: single one of us are doing to ensure that the 60 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: next generation is better off than the last generation? And 61 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: right now that's not how it looks, folks, not by 62 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 1: a long shot, and not by the statistics. So I 63 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: really hope that you enjoy this conversation that I get 64 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,760 Speaker 1: into with Lauren Bear from Arena, and that if you 65 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: are interested in connecting with them. We will put that 66 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: in the show notes as well. Coming up next my 67 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 1: conversation with Lauren bear Folks. I am very excited to 68 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: welcome back to WOKF Daily Lauren Behar, who is the 69 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: managing partner of Arena, a progressive organization that trains and 70 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: supports diverse democratic campaign operatives and helps provide a critical 71 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: staff for competitive races up and down the ballot across 72 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: the country. Lauren, let's jump right in first. You know, 73 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:07,920 Speaker 1: every election, whether it is state, local, or national, what 74 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 1: we are seeing outside of the US Senate, of course, 75 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: is a progressive slate of candidates. Is also candidates that 76 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:22,040 Speaker 1: actually look like the areas that they are serving. We're 77 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: seeing people, women, people of color, queer people, those that 78 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: live at the intersections of multiple identities enter into politics 79 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: because they actually want to make a difference and they 80 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: want they want to stop waiting for other people to 81 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: save them. I want to open, you know, with the 82 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: first question with regard to what are you hearing and 83 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 1: seeing with regard to what is motivating people, whether it 84 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:57,160 Speaker 1: is to run for elected office or the trainings that 85 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: you do for operatives, to say, you know, what all 86 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: is not lost, and I want to go all in well. 87 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:07,359 Speaker 2: First of all, Danielle, thank you so much for having 88 00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 2: me back. Love to be here on looke Af, And 89 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 2: I think you're right. We are seeing more and more 90 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 2: diverse individuals running for office and more and more diverse 91 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 2: people working on campaigns. And in the first instance, I 92 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 2: think part of why we're seeing that is because we 93 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 2: realize as progressives and as a party that when we 94 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 2: run people for office and when we build campaign teams 95 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 2: that look like the communities they're going to represent, they're 96 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 2: more effective, they win more often because people want to 97 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 2: see themselves reflected in their leaders. And there is so 98 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 2: much that is bringing people into the arena today. You 99 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: just need to look around the country from the federal 100 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 2: level down to the state level, and this really awful 101 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 2: space of negative and harmful legislation that's coming from Republicans, 102 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:09,679 Speaker 2: coming from the GOP, and whether it's limiting the rights 103 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 2: of the LGBTQ community and particularly trans people, or whether 104 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: it's limiting women's reproductive freedom or standing by idly in 105 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:25,280 Speaker 2: the face of gun violence, people are pretty frustrated with 106 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 2: what a grim and bleak future that kind of governing 107 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 2: presents for America. But while they're frustrated, they haven't given 108 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:42,440 Speaker 2: up hope. There isn't a lack of optimism. And you know, 109 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 2: one of the most interesting and hopeful things for me 110 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 2: is how all of these terrible things that are happening 111 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:56,320 Speaker 2: are actually driving people in particularly new voices, to enter 112 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: the political arena to say that we can do better. 113 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 2: In fact, we must do better if we want to 114 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:06,360 Speaker 2: fulfill the kind of broad promises on which our country 115 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,880 Speaker 2: was found in this notion truly of having liberty, justice, 116 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 2: equality for all people. 117 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: I feel like you have so many different kinds of 118 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 1: buckets of people, but there are some that when they 119 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 1: are faced with a considerable amount of obstacles, that they 120 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: look for the opportunities in them that they say, you 121 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 1: know what, maybe as things are falling apart, right, that 122 00:08:34,160 --> 00:08:38,080 Speaker 1: there is an opportunity to grow something better because there 123 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: are always going to be those people that we need 124 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:48,720 Speaker 1: to hold on to that authentic, real, raw hopefulness and faith. Right. 125 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: You know, I'm not a religious person, but I am 126 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: a person that does believe that you have to have 127 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: some type of faith and hopefulness or to enter into 128 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: the arena of politics, particularly now, like there just has 129 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: to be something that is greater than yourself that is 130 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: driving you, because there are so many other things excuse me, 131 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: that are working against you. And so when we see, 132 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: on one hand, you have a political party that is 133 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:27,160 Speaker 1: hell bent on a rasure, that is hell bent on 134 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:36,600 Speaker 1: white grievance, that is hell bent on coddling white anxiety, 135 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: and that at the other side of that is to 136 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 1: make sure that you are punishing as many people that 137 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: you believe is causing the harm. So there is a 138 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: significant push and pull that is happening right now. It's 139 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,360 Speaker 1: not the same as it was before. I'm assuming, but 140 00:09:57,440 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: you tell me in how you were training operatives to 141 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: deal with how to manage campaigns. Because I don't know 142 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: about you, Lauren, but I keep seeing stories about attacks 143 00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:16,840 Speaker 1: that are happening, whether it be physical attacks, shootings that 144 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:21,480 Speaker 1: are occurring at political offices, but there is heightened political violence. 145 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: And so how do you train in a way that 146 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 1: is different now than it was, say seven eight, you know, 147 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: pre Trump time, when our politics hadn't been hijacked by 148 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: you know, domestic terrorists. 149 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, human you raise so many good points there, Danielle. 150 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,760 Speaker 2: And first of all, you're right, I think individuals are 151 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:52,559 Speaker 2: being confronted with this choice right now. Do I stand 152 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 2: idly by where at a time when I am being attacked, 153 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 2: when my community is being attacked, when there is this 154 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 2: active effort at erasure, or do I raise my hand 155 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 2: and say, very much so, I am, I'm here, I 156 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:11,080 Speaker 2: am present. I want to be counted and I want 157 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 2: to make change in my community. And we're seeing so 158 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 2: many people do that, but it is very much an 159 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:22,600 Speaker 2: act of bravery to do so. You know, at Arena, 160 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:27,240 Speaker 2: we give individuals the hard skills that they need to 161 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:31,440 Speaker 2: run campaigns, to be organizers, but we're also very clear 162 00:11:31,559 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 2: eyed about what the risks are in this day and 163 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 2: age to be involved in politics, and we train individuals 164 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:45,079 Speaker 2: how to protect themselves online and offline, how to protect 165 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 2: the communities that they are working in. It's a sad 166 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 2: fact that this is a feature of politics these days, 167 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 2: and it's a feature by design, right. The Republican motivation 168 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:06,520 Speaker 2: and here is to attempt to govern by fear and 169 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 2: to make the other side, to make progressives feel so 170 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: concerned for their physical and mental well being that they 171 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 2: stay at home. And what we're trying to do is 172 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 2: teach individuals that despite these these very real and heavy 173 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 2: burdens that we bury carry when we enter the political arena, 174 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 2: that there are ways to do the work to keep 175 00:12:32,800 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 2: yourself safe and to better your community. Uh, at the 176 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 2: same time that you're proving that these Republican tactics are 177 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 2: ultimately ineffective at creating uh, this kind of bleak, dark 178 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 2: picture of America that that they want to So it 179 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 2: does involve new tactics, new new curriculum, but at the 180 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 2: same time, it's very much a motivator for people who 181 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 2: want want to see something different. 182 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,079 Speaker 1: Right now, what are some of the biggest concerns that 183 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: that you are hearing that come up in your trainings 184 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: or in conversations, and particularly what are what are the 185 00:13:13,000 --> 00:13:16,240 Speaker 1: areas in which you do train. I want people to 186 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: be reminded of the areas that you do train, because 187 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 1: campaigns are a behemoth onto themselves, right, and so for 188 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 1: people to really understand the different apparatus that we're talking 189 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: about here. 190 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, So, first of all, I guess, stepping back a minute, 191 00:13:32,240 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 2: you know, arena exists to really expand and diversify who 192 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:40,040 Speaker 2: can enter politics. You know, again, we feel that our 193 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 2: democracy is more effective when it's more reflective and we 194 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,840 Speaker 2: bring folks in. You don't have to have any campaign 195 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,040 Speaker 2: experience to do one of our trainings, and we train 196 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 2: folks along all of the different disciplines you might find 197 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 2: work on in a campaign. So whether you want to 198 00:13:56,280 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 2: be a campaign manager, or work on fundraising, or do 199 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 2: communications or data or digital work, or be out in 200 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 2: the field knocking doors as an organizing director, we have 201 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 2: a training for you because we really want to bring 202 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 2: the whole breadth of people who are interested in entering 203 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:23,880 Speaker 2: politics to the work. And what's been really interesting to 204 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:27,920 Speaker 2: me over the past couple of weeks whenever anyone applies 205 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 2: to one of our training and if you're interested, I 206 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 2: would say, we have an application open right now. You 207 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 2: can visit Arena dot run and apply. People have to 208 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 2: talk about what's motivating them to get involved in campaign work, 209 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 2: you know, upload a brief video, write a short essay. 210 00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 2: And what's been amazing to me over the past year 211 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 2: and change is how personal those statements of involvement have 212 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 2: been individuals who never saw a place for themselves and 213 00:14:59,280 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 2: put politics before. But maybe someone is trans and they 214 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 2: live in a state where an anti trans bill has passed, 215 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:10,720 Speaker 2: or maybe it's it's a young woman and they're concerned 216 00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 2: about their ability to have access to an abortion, or 217 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 2: someone who's lived in the suburbs and always felt safe 218 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 2: and all of a sudden has been directly confronted by 219 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 2: the scourge of gun violence. These are the stories that 220 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:29,960 Speaker 2: people are bringing to us, And what we're doing is 221 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:34,640 Speaker 2: providing really a soft landing place and an entry point 222 00:15:34,720 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 2: into politics that they can take that motivation and then 223 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,240 Speaker 2: translated into action. And you know, even better than that. 224 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,760 Speaker 2: We don't just train folks, We then go and help 225 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 2: them find their first job in politics. So it's not 226 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 2: just getting the skills, it's actually giving you an open 227 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:54,280 Speaker 2: door to doing the work. 228 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 1: You know. I it's it's really interesting because when I 229 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 1: entered into politics what feels like one hundred years ago, 230 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: it was really out of a desire to want to 231 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 1: be a part of the vision that would perfect this union. 232 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: It was really about wanting to be in public service. 233 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 1: And I there, you know, and again I'm not saying 234 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: that all politicians come in to make things better, Clearly 235 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: they do not, and some come in purely as a grift. 236 00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: How does ARENA go about? You know, one, you are 237 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:41,160 Speaker 1: a place where people can come who are already interested. 238 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: But what do you say to those people that are 239 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 1: kind of skirting around the edges right? Like again, you know, 240 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: folks that listen to wok F I think are very 241 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:55,440 Speaker 1: politically engaged, very politically active, but they're always looking for 242 00:16:55,520 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: opportunities to help because they recognize the crisis right that 243 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 1: our democracy is in, that the country is in in 244 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,639 Speaker 1: so many different ways. And so for those people that 245 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 1: are kind of sitting on the edges, that are are 246 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: not quite ready to make the dive, what are some 247 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:16,359 Speaker 1: of the things that you would offer and say to 248 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: them about, you know, fence sitting and deciding to actually 249 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:22,440 Speaker 1: enter into the arena. 250 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, the first thing I'll say is that 251 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 2: there's a place for you. I think some of what 252 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 2: has kept people so afraid of entering the arena is 253 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 2: the extent to which politics has been an old boys 254 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 2: club for so long. It's been a place for straight, 255 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 2: cisgendered white men where you had to know someone to 256 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 2: know someone to feel like you could could get a 257 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:51,120 Speaker 2: job and make meaningful change. And so, you know, we're 258 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 2: cracking that nut open. At the same time, we're building 259 00:17:55,119 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 2: a community of like minded people who rely on one 260 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,880 Speaker 2: another as they do work. So you know, it might 261 00:18:02,920 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 2: be scary to take that first step. And if you 262 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 2: attend a training, it doesn't mean you necessarily need to 263 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,639 Speaker 2: change your whole career at once. We have tons of 264 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 2: wonderful people who come and train with us and then 265 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:19,479 Speaker 2: use that to become super volunteers in the next election 266 00:18:19,640 --> 00:18:22,440 Speaker 2: cycle or in all of the political battles that frankly, 267 00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 2: we're fighting three hundred and sixty five days a year 268 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 2: here in our country because democracy is really on the line. 269 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 2: But you know, if someone's on the fence, what I 270 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 2: think about is, you know, this is not a time 271 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 2: historically to sit on the sidelines. If you look at 272 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 2: the American experiment, and it really is an experiment with democracy, 273 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: it's anomalous in the context of world history. Democracies don't 274 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 2: normally last this long. They are fragile, they break, and 275 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 2: once they break, and once they backslide, they're hard to 276 00:19:03,920 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 2: get back. And I rarely, rarely talk to an individual 277 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 2: who has chosen to get engaged who regrets having made 278 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 2: that choice. Yes, change is difficult, Yes it's hard. Sometimes 279 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 2: it's incremental. But if we really are going to build 280 00:19:24,720 --> 00:19:28,600 Speaker 2: that more perfect union, that you just reference it's going 281 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,679 Speaker 2: to require all of us rolling up our sleeves, getting 282 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:37,399 Speaker 2: in doing the work together. And so you know what 283 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 2: I would say is is brush aside fear for the 284 00:19:40,359 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 2: moment and jump in and try to make that change 285 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 2: because it's a time when our country really needs all 286 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 2: of us. 287 00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: You know, you said that so eloquently, And I think 288 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:58,040 Speaker 1: honestly that we have been lulled and I've said this 289 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: many times on this show. We've been loved into a 290 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:06,840 Speaker 1: place of complacency around what it means to hold a democracy. 291 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 1: The assumption has always been, for the last two hundred 292 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:12,960 Speaker 1: plus years that this is the way it has been. 293 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:18,040 Speaker 1: We learn about empires falling, but we've actually never outside 294 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: of discussing it from a fifty thousand foot view, we've 295 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:26,240 Speaker 1: actually never looked at the human toll of what happens 296 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,159 Speaker 1: when these empires actually fall, what it does look like 297 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:32,960 Speaker 1: to experience the crumbling in real time. And I say 298 00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: to people like I believe that our democracy, as imperfect 299 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: as it is, is worth fighting for. I believe that, 300 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: as imperfect as it is, that more people are conscious 301 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:50,360 Speaker 1: to the fact that this isn't something like your heartbeat 302 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,720 Speaker 1: that just kind of continues like your breath, that you 303 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: don't really need to think about right Like it is 304 00:20:55,800 --> 00:21:00,320 Speaker 1: something that requires a heightened level of consciousness, vigilance, and 305 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: then action in order for it to continue. So all 306 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: of the things that you said with regard to that 307 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,920 Speaker 1: are truth. Now is not the time to be self 308 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: protective in a way of let me watch from the sidelines. 309 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:18,879 Speaker 1: I want to shift gears for with a couple of 310 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,520 Speaker 1: minutes that we have left to talk specifically around the 311 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: lgbt Q community, to talk about the policies and the 312 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:31,399 Speaker 1: attacks that we have seen against elected officials who are out, 313 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: whether they are trans, whether they are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, 314 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:41,119 Speaker 1: the attacks that we've seen in the weaponization of policy, 315 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: and particularly speaking to the queer community about their political engagement. 316 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,919 Speaker 1: You know, what message do you send in that way 317 00:21:54,359 --> 00:22:00,280 Speaker 1: and about how you know how quality is not something 318 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: that is just given once and then it blossoms and 319 00:22:04,560 --> 00:22:07,040 Speaker 1: it just continues. So just wanted to give you an 320 00:22:07,040 --> 00:22:11,240 Speaker 1: opportunity to kind of speak to that aspect of where 321 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: we are. 322 00:22:12,680 --> 00:22:16,159 Speaker 2: I think what you said is so true there, Danielle, 323 00:22:16,200 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 2: And as a member of the queer community and as 324 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,120 Speaker 2: a queer woman who's married and has two young daughters. 325 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 2: I think about this a lot. My first daughter was 326 00:22:26,680 --> 00:22:30,800 Speaker 2: born two weeks before Donald Trump was elected president, and 327 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:35,160 Speaker 2: I remember at that time my wife and I thought 328 00:22:35,240 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 2: our daughter was being born into this beautiful moment in 329 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,520 Speaker 2: human history where she would know the first female president, 330 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 2: and where we would be at this time, where her 331 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 2: rights asn't an individual and our rights as a family 332 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 2: would be expanding. And instead, much to my surprise and 333 00:22:53,480 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 2: many in the country's surprise, instead it has been six 334 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 2: and a half tumultuous years with quite a bit of contraction. 335 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:06,440 Speaker 2: And now I look at her and her younger sister. 336 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,640 Speaker 2: I have two daughters now, and I'm confronted with the 337 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 2: stark reality that they actually have fewer rights than I 338 00:23:14,920 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 2: did in some ways as a woman born in nineteen 339 00:23:19,640 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 2: eighty certainly when it comes to their reproductive freedom, and 340 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:29,720 Speaker 2: that when it comes to their ability to fully blossom 341 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:32,840 Speaker 2: and express themselves whoever they may turn out to be 342 00:23:33,480 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 2: in our country right now, that's very much contingent upon 343 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,440 Speaker 2: what state they happen to live in. We are seeing 344 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 2: unprecedented attacks on the LGBTQ community, particularly the trans community, 345 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:51,720 Speaker 2: and precisely because they are the most vulnerable among us. 346 00:23:52,160 --> 00:23:55,640 Speaker 2: So you know, this should be a wake up for 347 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:59,480 Speaker 2: all of us who consider ourselves part of the community 348 00:23:59,520 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 2: queer unity and anyone who is an ally that this 349 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,919 Speaker 2: is not time to sit idle LEVI. This is a 350 00:24:07,960 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 2: time to stand up, to be counted and to fight. 351 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:15,360 Speaker 2: And by the way, it's also a time to recognize 352 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:19,360 Speaker 2: that in some ways, this attack on the LGBTQ community 353 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 2: is the canary in the coal mine. We have seen 354 00:24:23,560 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 2: historically that it is often queer communities who are attacked 355 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 2: and scapegoaded first before that kind of evil and hatred 356 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 2: and discrimination is extended to others. And so you know, 357 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 2: if you're sitting here listening to this and you think, well, 358 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:45,399 Speaker 2: that's happening to them, but it's not happening to me, 359 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:49,320 Speaker 2: the response that I have is your next. And so 360 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:54,080 Speaker 2: it's really time for all of us to have this 361 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 2: heightened awareness and do something about it. Because I just 362 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 2: haven't given up hope on the idea that ultimately the 363 00:25:02,640 --> 00:25:05,399 Speaker 2: world can be better for my daughters, but I know 364 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 2: I've got to put a lot into it to make 365 00:25:07,640 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 2: that happen. 366 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 1: Lauren, what does pride mean to you now? Right? Like 367 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:15,760 Speaker 1: what it is? And I ask you that because I 368 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:22,479 Speaker 1: think that you know, my understanding of pride has really 369 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:28,240 Speaker 1: evolved over time, and I feel like it has changed 370 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 1: depending on if the community that we're a part of 371 00:25:33,720 --> 00:25:37,239 Speaker 1: is at a place of pure celebration like it was 372 00:25:37,359 --> 00:25:41,760 Speaker 1: in twenty fifteen when when marriage equality became the law 373 00:25:41,800 --> 00:25:46,120 Speaker 1: of the land, or it's in a place of mourning right, 374 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:51,160 Speaker 1: which is happening in patchwork across the country right now. Right. 375 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:56,400 Speaker 1: I had a conversation with, you know, with with folks 376 00:25:55,320 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: from from an LGBTQ organization in Florida, and I got 377 00:26:00,640 --> 00:26:03,239 Speaker 1: off of that interview and I was in tears, Like 378 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 1: I literally I had to wrap it up so that 379 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 1: I could get off the phone, could get off of 380 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 1: the interview before I burst into tears with what they 381 00:26:12,320 --> 00:26:16,240 Speaker 1: are going through. So I'm just curious as to how 382 00:26:16,359 --> 00:26:19,879 Speaker 1: you understand pride now and how it is, how it 383 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:20,920 Speaker 1: might have shifted. 384 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:26,400 Speaker 2: So I start understanding pride from a personal perspective, which 385 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:32,160 Speaker 2: is to say, pride is about living authentically and unafraid 386 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:38,160 Speaker 2: as who you are, presenting your full self to the world, 387 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:43,479 Speaker 2: and not only living with that authenticity, but fighting every 388 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:48,400 Speaker 2: day to secure your own rights and freedoms. But then 389 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:52,760 Speaker 2: pride also has to go beyond the cells, and I think, 390 00:26:52,800 --> 00:26:57,520 Speaker 2: particularly as members of the LGBTQ community, we need to 391 00:26:57,560 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 2: look at all of the letters in that wonderful alphabet 392 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 2: and recognize that some among us are feeling disproportionate harms 393 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 2: at this time. And so pride is about showing allyship. 394 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 2: It's about making sure that if I'm a lesbian, I'm 395 00:27:16,359 --> 00:27:20,879 Speaker 2: out there protesting for my trans brothers and sisters because 396 00:27:20,880 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 2: they're feeling the brunt of what is happening in our 397 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:27,600 Speaker 2: country right now. And then to take an even bigger 398 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 2: step beyond that, it's about recognizing allyeship with the other 399 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:37,640 Speaker 2: movements for rights and freedoms in our country. It's about 400 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:43,439 Speaker 2: recognizing that the fight for LGBTQ equality is inextricably linked 401 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:48,119 Speaker 2: to the flight for equality for black people and people 402 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:52,920 Speaker 2: of color and religious minorities, and that while we feel 403 00:27:54,080 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 2: the experiences of hate and the impacts of it differently, 404 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:04,520 Speaker 2: because we all are differently situated, there is a fundamental 405 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:08,919 Speaker 2: thread that ties what we are experiencing together, and that 406 00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 2: if we're going to preserve all of our rights and 407 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:16,000 Speaker 2: freedoms and perfect our democracy and make a better future 408 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:19,119 Speaker 2: for all of us. You know, we have got to 409 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:24,320 Speaker 2: be linking arms instead of raising our hands, and so 410 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 2: that that is pride to me. It's authenticity and action 411 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:30,080 Speaker 2: in a nutshell. 412 00:28:30,920 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: I love it so much, Lauren, Thank you so much 413 00:28:34,359 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: for making the time to join us on well k app. 414 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 1: Please remind people how they can find Arena and how 415 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:41,880 Speaker 1: they can get involved. 416 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:45,320 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me, Danielle. You can 417 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 2: find Arena on all of the social media platforms at 418 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 2: Arena Summit and you can find us online at Arena 419 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 2: dot Run. Please join us for one of our many 420 00:28:56,240 --> 00:28:59,120 Speaker 2: trainings this year because you have a spot in the 421 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 2: Arena and where they're to help you claim it. 422 00:29:02,080 --> 00:29:10,320 Speaker 1: Appreciate you. That is it for me today. Dear friends, 423 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,959 Speaker 1: on Woke a f as always Power to the people 424 00:29:14,080 --> 00:29:17,400 Speaker 1: and to all the people. Power, get woke and stay 425 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 1: woke as fuck.