WEBVTT - Strengthening Black Women in Leadership (How-To Monday) 0:00:00.160 --> 0:00:04.160 Hey, ba fam, we have another how to throw back 0:00:04.200 --> 0:00:07.240 for you. We've talked about before on the show about 0:00:07.240 --> 0:00:11.039 the amazing organization Higher Heights. They are a five to 0:00:11.160 --> 0:00:15.000 oh one C three that is building a national civic 0:00:15.040 --> 0:00:20.000 engagement infrastructure and network to strengthen black women's leadership capacity. 0:00:20.040 --> 0:00:22.239 We love a black woman leader. Okay, so this week 0:00:22.320 --> 0:00:24.759 we are looking back at our conversation with the one 0:00:24.880 --> 0:00:28.840 and the only founders, one of the founders of Higher Heights. 0:00:28.680 --> 0:00:29.360 Glinda c. 0:00:29.680 --> 0:00:32.320 Car Check it out, Check it out, check it out. 0:00:49.000 --> 0:00:52.479 Heyba fam, it's Mandy. I'm here with a pretty special 0:00:52.640 --> 0:00:55.840 and unusual show for you guys this week. It almost 0:00:55.880 --> 0:00:58.200 wasn't any show at all. For those of y'all who 0:00:58.280 --> 0:01:01.520 listened to our and joined our Instagram live the Tiffany 0:01:01.560 --> 0:01:04.280 and I did last week, thank you so much. We're 0:01:04.319 --> 0:01:06.679 sorry we weren't able to post the video for y'all. 0:01:06.760 --> 0:01:10.120 Apparently something happened with Instagram and Tiffany couldn't save it. 0:01:10.959 --> 0:01:13.959 Maya Kopa. But on the live we said that we 0:01:14.040 --> 0:01:16.039 have a bit of a surprise, and it's because of 0:01:16.040 --> 0:01:18.840 that surprise that we're not able to record a new 0:01:18.880 --> 0:01:20.880 show last week. So you might have noticed there was 0:01:20.920 --> 0:01:24.440 no episode. We're very sorry, but it's for a really, 0:01:24.520 --> 0:01:27.440 really good reason, a reason that I can't quite announce 0:01:27.520 --> 0:01:29.920 just yet, so we'll wait until next week when Tiffany's back. 0:01:30.400 --> 0:01:34.600 That being said, we are here. We are here, y'all. Okay, 0:01:34.680 --> 0:01:39.080 don't worry. We're fine. Since we couldn't record our regular show, though, 0:01:39.200 --> 0:01:41.679 I wanted to go ahead and share with you guys 0:01:41.800 --> 0:01:44.320 an amazing conversation that I had last week when we 0:01:44.360 --> 0:01:47.360 were off with the CEO and co founder of an 0:01:47.480 --> 0:01:51.120 organization based in Brooklyn, New York called Higher Heights for America. 0:01:51.640 --> 0:01:55.640 This is a nonprofit that actually focuses on getting black 0:01:55.680 --> 0:01:59.600 women elected to higher office. So I'm talking about mayor races, 0:02:00.080 --> 0:02:04.960 gubernatorial races, and beyond Kamala Harris. Yep, that is someone 0:02:05.120 --> 0:02:09.040 that Higher Heights has championed and endorsed and helped support 0:02:09.360 --> 0:02:13.040 and they are not stopping now. I had Glinda Carr 0:02:13.120 --> 0:02:15.680 join the show, and I'm thrilled to share that conversation 0:02:15.800 --> 0:02:20.000 with you guys. Why because yes, I had chills just 0:02:20.080 --> 0:02:22.200 like the rest of you last week when we watched 0:02:22.520 --> 0:02:26.080 Kamala get sworn in as the first female black vice 0:02:26.120 --> 0:02:29.480 president in our nation's history. I can never get tired 0:02:29.520 --> 0:02:32.560 of saying that. But that being said, when I started 0:02:32.560 --> 0:02:36.560 to do my googles about black women in politics, Kamala 0:02:36.960 --> 0:02:39.880 was a rarity, and I don't think even I appreciated 0:02:39.919 --> 0:02:42.960 how rare her presence was in our nation's capital until 0:02:42.960 --> 0:02:45.360 I really got down and dirty with the numbers. So 0:02:45.440 --> 0:02:48.640 let me share some with you. Okay. There are zero 0:02:49.480 --> 0:02:54.519 zero black women serving in our US Senate right now. Okay, Now, 0:02:54.800 --> 0:02:59.440 there were a record number of black women in the 0:02:59.480 --> 0:03:03.399 House of Representatives in twenty twenty one, twenty five, though 0:03:03.480 --> 0:03:08.079 y'all only twenty five. Like that's a record that is pathetic. Okay, 0:03:08.280 --> 0:03:12.320 Like I cannot twenty five out of four hundred and 0:03:12.360 --> 0:03:16.639 thirty five elected officials in the House are black women. 0:03:16.760 --> 0:03:20.560 And that's twenty five women Black women in Congress at 0:03:20.560 --> 0:03:23.040 a time when I mean, haven't you guys heard the 0:03:23.120 --> 0:03:27.560 pundits and the politicians thanking black women. How we saved 0:03:27.560 --> 0:03:30.000 the election for Joe and Kamala. You know how we 0:03:30.080 --> 0:03:32.400 saved twenty twenty, how we turned out in states like 0:03:32.440 --> 0:03:35.120 Georgia and gave them the edge that they needed. Thank you, 0:03:35.200 --> 0:03:37.640 Black women, Thank you Stacy Abrams, Thank you to our 0:03:37.720 --> 0:03:41.120 fore mothers like Shirley Chisholm, Fanny lou Hamer, and so 0:03:41.240 --> 0:03:44.280 many women who came before them and after. But what 0:03:44.440 --> 0:03:48.760 are we really seeing reflected on Capitol Hill. We are 0:03:48.800 --> 0:03:52.480 not seeing ourselves, and I think that's a problem. I'm 0:03:52.480 --> 0:03:54.920 not saying that we have to get out there and 0:03:55.040 --> 0:03:57.720 run for governor like Stacy Abrams or run for mayor 0:03:57.760 --> 0:04:00.880 like Kisha Land's Bottoms. But what I hope is that 0:04:00.960 --> 0:04:05.080 my conversation with Glinda encourages all of us to not 0:04:05.240 --> 0:04:07.840 just stop with casting our vote in the twenty twenty election, 0:04:08.000 --> 0:04:11.280 but to stay engaged at the local level. And maybe 0:04:11.280 --> 0:04:13.480 you're not someone who wants to run for an office, 0:04:13.480 --> 0:04:17.279 whether it's a town council or the school board or whatever. 0:04:17.800 --> 0:04:21.720 Maybe you're not someone who has aspirations of getting into politics. 0:04:22.080 --> 0:04:25.360 But before you give up on yourself, or before you 0:04:25.360 --> 0:04:28.280 think that it's not for you, listen to my conversation 0:04:28.360 --> 0:04:33.440 with Glinda and feel empowered. Our voices matter, Our voices 0:04:33.880 --> 0:04:36.600 can bring about the change that we need to see 0:04:36.640 --> 0:04:40.599 in this country, and twenty twenty was just the beginning. 0:04:40.839 --> 0:04:42.599 I am so excited for you guys to hear my 0:04:42.640 --> 0:04:46.440 conversation with Glinda. Please hit me up on Instagram. We're 0:04:46.480 --> 0:04:49.320 at Brown Ambition Podcast on the Gram. You can also 0:04:49.400 --> 0:04:52.200 send us an email at Brown Ambition Podcast at gmail 0:04:52.279 --> 0:04:55.520 dot com. Send us your thoughts, your questions. We can't 0:04:55.520 --> 0:04:57.359 wait to be back with you guys next week with 0:04:57.440 --> 0:05:00.680 a brand new show. In the meantime, I enjoy this 0:05:00.760 --> 0:05:03.640 conversation with Glinda and you can check her out at 0:05:03.720 --> 0:05:07.680 Higher Heights for America dot org. All right, Glinda, well, 0:05:07.720 --> 0:05:10.159 thank you very much for coming to Brown Ambition. It's 0:05:10.200 --> 0:05:13.279 really an honor to have you here, especially during a 0:05:13.440 --> 0:05:17.240 year when it seems like Brown Ambition really became a 0:05:17.240 --> 0:05:20.760 little bit less about money and career and a lot 0:05:20.839 --> 0:05:23.160 more about what is it like out there for black 0:05:23.200 --> 0:05:26.000 women in this world today? And how can we get 0:05:26.000 --> 0:05:28.880 more political? I don't know, political power. How can we 0:05:28.920 --> 0:05:32.279 feel more empowered other than you know, the news headlines 0:05:32.320 --> 0:05:35.320 will have you believe that, you know, black women really 0:05:35.360 --> 0:05:38.239 came out for this election in previous elections and saved 0:05:38.600 --> 0:05:41.520 you know, the progressive candidates and got them elected. But 0:05:41.760 --> 0:05:45.400 you often, personally, for me, you don't always feel like 0:05:45.680 --> 0:05:48.839 you're seeing the representation on Capitol Hill or even the 0:05:48.880 --> 0:05:54.560 state capitals that matches that you know, appreciation for Black 0:05:54.600 --> 0:05:57.880 women and our power politically. So I'm so excited to 0:05:57.880 --> 0:05:59.320 have you on the show because of what I want 0:05:59.320 --> 0:06:01.360 to talk to you about is, you know, first and foremost, 0:06:01.360 --> 0:06:05.280 what is Higher Heights? Why did you guys found this organization? 0:06:05.839 --> 0:06:09.839 And where do you see the future for Black women 0:06:09.880 --> 0:06:12.920 in politics? Is it an exciting time? Is it a 0:06:12.960 --> 0:06:16.960 time where you know, we're sort of you know, accepting 0:06:17.000 --> 0:06:19.240 that there's still a long way to go. How are 0:06:19.240 --> 0:06:22.799 you feeling these days? And especially for our listeners, we'd 0:06:22.800 --> 0:06:26.280 love to hear from you tips on how people can 0:06:26.320 --> 0:06:29.880 get involved in their local politics, day politics and beyond, 0:06:31.040 --> 0:06:34.159 you know, in a way that helps them contribute more 0:06:34.320 --> 0:06:36.200 than just a vote. 0:06:36.360 --> 0:06:36.720 Yeah. 0:06:36.760 --> 0:06:40.960 So, you know, black women have been the architects of 0:06:40.960 --> 0:06:45.200 our democracy since the nineteenth Amendment, in frankly earlier, but 0:06:45.279 --> 0:06:47.360 the nineteenth Amendment. We're in the one hundredth and one 0:06:47.520 --> 0:06:52.719 anniversary of that amendment and that movement, and so black 0:06:52.760 --> 0:06:57.760 women certainly, you know, sat among the suffrages of that movement, 0:06:57.920 --> 0:07:00.400 knowing that they weren't going to reap the benefits of 0:07:00.480 --> 0:07:02.320 the work of that decision making table. 0:07:02.680 --> 0:07:03.800 And that's been the work. 0:07:03.760 --> 0:07:07.200 Of black women across many of the milestones across our 0:07:07.240 --> 0:07:10.760 movement building history. You know, black women were clearly the 0:07:10.840 --> 0:07:15.280 architects and quiet organizers during the Civil rights movement. You 0:07:15.400 --> 0:07:18.640 had a Fanny lou Hamer, who frankly was an everyday 0:07:18.720 --> 0:07:21.400 woman sharecropper, who sat in the back of a church 0:07:21.680 --> 0:07:24.160 and got fired up and went from you know, being 0:07:24.240 --> 0:07:27.440 motivated to registering to vote to registering over eighty thousand 0:07:27.920 --> 0:07:32.000 residents in Mississippi, and went on and sat at the 0:07:32.040 --> 0:07:36.880 Democratic National Convention carrying the voices of African Americans demanding 0:07:37.320 --> 0:07:41.400 seats at that convention, which led to just more political power. 0:07:41.800 --> 0:07:45.240 And so we fast forward to twenty twenty and a 0:07:45.680 --> 0:07:48.760 once again a chorus of thank you Black women for 0:07:48.800 --> 0:07:49.560 saving the country. 0:07:49.800 --> 0:07:53.800 I'll be frank, we're not saving the country for our neighbors. 0:07:54.120 --> 0:07:57.520 Black women recognize that, you know, the access to the 0:07:57.600 --> 0:08:00.840 voting block and exercising the right to vote helps to 0:08:00.880 --> 0:08:04.640 build the power. What we demanded in twenty twenty, though, 0:08:04.760 --> 0:08:08.200 was that we want a return on our voting investment, 0:08:08.520 --> 0:08:11.000 and that's in the form of policies that directly impact 0:08:11.080 --> 0:08:12.960 Black women, our families, and our communities. 0:08:13.160 --> 0:08:15.480 And we certainly are continuing to claim seats at decision 0:08:15.520 --> 0:08:16.200 making tables. 0:08:16.640 --> 0:08:20.520 Our political power at the voting booth actually doesn't match 0:08:20.880 --> 0:08:26.520 equally match our representation at elected decision making tables. 0:08:26.920 --> 0:08:28.600 Yeah, I mean what does it mean to you? I 0:08:29.520 --> 0:08:31.960 think with the Capital riot, you know, how long has 0:08:31.960 --> 0:08:33.640 it been now? It feels like months, but it was 0:08:33.679 --> 0:08:35.120 only a week and a half ago that there was 0:08:35.160 --> 0:08:38.080 an insurrection against the US capital, which is still shocking 0:08:38.120 --> 0:08:40.839 to say. And part of me is a little bit 0:08:40.920 --> 0:08:43.360 sad because I mean, well, first of all, sad for 0:08:43.400 --> 0:08:46.040 so many reasons, but also it feels like it's sort 0:08:46.080 --> 0:08:48.280 of taking away from this moment of history of having 0:08:48.320 --> 0:08:53.040 the first black female vice president, women of South Asian descent, 0:08:53.160 --> 0:08:56.640 all of that. Kamala Harris, and I wonder how you 0:08:56.720 --> 0:08:59.640 feel and how you know, higher Heights is looking at 0:09:00.080 --> 0:09:04.680 her candidacy, her nomination, her win as vice president. What 0:09:04.760 --> 0:09:07.960 excites you about that? And do you feel like Kamala 0:09:08.640 --> 0:09:11.640 is bringing to the table that sense of listen, I 0:09:11.720 --> 0:09:13.440 am here, I'm a black woman, and I am going 0:09:13.520 --> 0:09:16.600 to be unapologetic about that and put forth policies that 0:09:16.640 --> 0:09:19.400 truly help black women in their communities. 0:09:20.040 --> 0:09:24.480 Absolutely so, we have been proud to stand with Vice 0:09:24.920 --> 0:09:28.680 President elect or as soon to be Madam VP Kamala 0:09:28.679 --> 0:09:32.480 Harris since her run for US Senate in twenty sixteen, 0:09:33.000 --> 0:09:36.840 so we've only had two black women ever elected to 0:09:37.120 --> 0:09:39.840 the US Senate, right, and so there's a lot of 0:09:39.920 --> 0:09:43.920 work to continue to ensure that we have representation at all. 0:09:43.800 --> 0:09:44.920 Decision making cables. 0:09:45.440 --> 0:09:48.920 But we certainly were excited that she joined the US 0:09:49.080 --> 0:09:52.400 Senate at a point where she brought not only her 0:09:52.559 --> 0:09:55.600 you know, years of qualifications as an elected official that 0:09:55.760 --> 0:09:58.840 ran one and governed on the city level, ran one 0:09:59.160 --> 0:10:02.080 and governed on the statewide executive level, and then carried 0:10:02.080 --> 0:10:04.720 her voice to the US Senate, and we proudly said 0:10:04.760 --> 0:10:08.280 with her when she ran for President of the United States, 0:10:08.520 --> 0:10:13.360 and her multiple identities as a woman, as a woman 0:10:13.400 --> 0:10:17.880 of color, as a daughter of two immigrants, and a 0:10:17.920 --> 0:10:21.280 black woman, as well as her identities around attending a 0:10:21.360 --> 0:10:23.679 historically black college, being a member of a Greek you know, 0:10:23.720 --> 0:10:28.040 a black Greek letter organization. You know, we're excited about 0:10:28.559 --> 0:10:33.160 her standing and presiding over the US Senate at a 0:10:33.200 --> 0:10:36.120 time where you know, her vice presidency will make her 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:39.479 one of the most you know, consequential, you know leaders 0:10:39.559 --> 0:10:42.960 in a generation with a fifty to fifty split Congress, 0:10:43.120 --> 0:10:46.480 and so although we are you know, very concerned that 0:10:46.640 --> 0:10:49.600 there is no representation in the body of the US Senate, 0:10:49.960 --> 0:10:54.360 we have literally a US Senator standing and presiding over 0:10:54.559 --> 0:10:58.560 the Senate, and so certainly many of the legislative pieces 0:10:58.559 --> 0:11:02.040 of legislation that she has introduced and authored and champion, 0:11:02.720 --> 0:11:04.960 you know, you know, it's something about a full circle 0:11:05.000 --> 0:11:07.680 moment that there may be times where she's the deciding 0:11:07.760 --> 0:11:11.040 vote to be able to move that legislation from her, 0:11:11.360 --> 0:11:15.520 you know, standing with Senator Corey Booker very clear about 0:11:15.559 --> 0:11:19.720 a discussion around racial disparities around COVID nineteen, the discussion 0:11:19.760 --> 0:11:23.080 around anti the trying to roll back old law around 0:11:23.080 --> 0:11:27.600 anti lynching, to her talking about black women in fibroids 0:11:28.200 --> 0:11:34.040 and the innovations around black women and infmortality and prenatal care. 0:11:34.720 --> 0:11:40.199 Those identities allow her to in the spirit of Maya 0:11:40.240 --> 0:11:44.880 Angela's poem Grandmothers, there's a Stanza a line that says, 0:11:44.960 --> 0:11:47.000 I come as one, but I stand as ten thousand, 0:11:47.360 --> 0:11:50.240 and that is certainly, you know, what we're excited about seeing, 0:11:50.559 --> 0:11:53.640 you know, our new Vice president do to bring all 0:11:53.679 --> 0:11:56.760 of the lived experiences she has as well as her 0:11:56.760 --> 0:12:01.600 for qualifications at a time that we are at the 0:12:01.679 --> 0:12:07.120 height of racial tensions during my generation, and a discussion 0:12:07.120 --> 0:12:11.960 around how do we move beyond COVID recover, survive, recover, 0:12:12.400 --> 0:12:16.760 and thrive beyond COVID nineteen, particularly when the very communities 0:12:16.800 --> 0:12:21.280 that she comes from have been disroportionately impacted back that. 0:12:21.440 --> 0:12:25.679 So we are definitely excited about this opportunity, but recognizing 0:12:25.720 --> 0:12:28.080 that our work has not finished and we need to 0:12:28.160 --> 0:12:33.560 accelerate the work around black women's elected leadership beyond twenty twenty. 0:12:34.320 --> 0:12:37.120 Now. Higher Heights has been around for nearly a decade, now, 0:12:37.200 --> 0:12:37.720 is that right? 0:12:38.200 --> 0:12:40.400 I know we were just planning that. We're like, it's 0:12:40.559 --> 0:12:41.120 a decade. 0:12:41.280 --> 0:12:46.040 Wow, Well, congratulations. Listen, we love entrepreneurs here and especially 0:12:46.040 --> 0:12:47.720 in the space that you guys in, so thank you 0:12:47.760 --> 0:12:50.600 so much for that it congrats. Take a moment to 0:12:50.840 --> 0:12:53.400 you know, accept the shine and all the work that 0:12:53.440 --> 0:12:56.560 you've accomplished. Do you feel more of a sense of 0:12:56.679 --> 0:12:59.640 urgency now than you did when you founded Higher Heights? Mean, 0:12:59.720 --> 0:13:02.120 this is like you said, this is a I mean 0:13:02.240 --> 0:13:05.880 all that there's so many things going on, it's too much. 0:13:06.240 --> 0:13:08.600 There's the race, I mean you say tension, but it 0:13:08.640 --> 0:13:13.600 is it feels like a civil wars bubbling under the surface. 0:13:13.640 --> 0:13:16.160 I mean, and there's an economic crisis, and of course 0:13:16.200 --> 0:13:20.120 Black Americans it feels like financially and health wise have 0:13:20.240 --> 0:13:24.720 been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic. What does that feel 0:13:24.760 --> 0:13:26.079 like to you? Do you feel like there's more of 0:13:26.120 --> 0:13:30.600 a sense of urgency around getting more power, getting more 0:13:30.679 --> 0:13:35.160 influence in politics and why what sort of are the 0:13:35.960 --> 0:13:38.120 platforms or the issues that are most important to higher 0:13:38.120 --> 0:13:38.600 heights now? 0:13:39.160 --> 0:13:41.560 Yeah, absolutely so. 0:13:41.640 --> 0:13:44.680 You know, Kimberly Peeler Allen, the other co founder, and 0:13:44.760 --> 0:13:48.400 I too, black women who happened to work in politics. 0:13:48.400 --> 0:13:52.200 But everyday black women sat in a Brooklyn cafe literally 0:13:52.559 --> 0:13:56.280 ten years this February and we actually Kimberly came to 0:13:56.320 --> 0:13:58.680 coffeecause I was trying to figure out my next career 0:13:58.720 --> 0:14:03.840 move within that, you know, I had grown some frustration 0:14:04.000 --> 0:14:07.280 around particularly progressive politics, which is what we worked in 0:14:07.360 --> 0:14:10.360 at the time, and being in rooms that were dominantly white, 0:14:10.400 --> 0:14:13.880 dominantly you know, male, and you know, being looked at 0:14:13.880 --> 0:14:18.520 as like a unicorn, like like black black politically engaged women, 0:14:18.640 --> 0:14:22.840 you know, women who you know, write checks and volunteer 0:14:22.920 --> 0:14:26.560 in our vocal that we're this like black Unicorn and 0:14:26.600 --> 0:14:28.920 so out of event because you know, you sometimes we 0:14:28.960 --> 0:14:32.120 all will have event conversation with a girlfriend. We literally 0:14:32.280 --> 0:14:35.600 we should start our own organization, and we sat and 0:14:35.760 --> 0:14:37.520 kind of just chatted about what it looked like. We 0:14:37.560 --> 0:14:40.840 wrote the words Higher Heights down that day and spent 0:14:40.920 --> 0:14:42.760 a year and a half researching, like what would this 0:14:42.840 --> 0:14:45.400 look like? And we we wanted to see an organization 0:14:45.480 --> 0:14:48.680 we could see ourselves in, and so you accelerate the work, 0:14:48.960 --> 0:14:49.880 you know we have. 0:14:50.800 --> 0:14:51.840 You know, we're in a moment. 0:14:52.080 --> 0:14:55.560 One of our foundation principles is we want to create 0:14:55.600 --> 0:14:56.640 the environment for black. 0:14:56.520 --> 0:14:57.680 Men to vote, run, women lead. 0:14:58.000 --> 0:15:01.120 And I certainly think that some of the successes of 0:15:01.560 --> 0:15:04.160 Higher Heights that we're in a moment where you know, 0:15:04.320 --> 0:15:07.440 everyone is talking about black women's political power and leadership 0:15:08.040 --> 0:15:11.160 and celebrating our leadership. But we also recognize there's a 0:15:11.160 --> 0:15:13.160 lot of work to be done by the numbers, right, 0:15:13.240 --> 0:15:16.120 and so in one hundred and seventeenth Congress, we have 0:15:16.680 --> 0:15:20.720 twenty four black women serving, and so over the last 0:15:20.720 --> 0:15:23.960 couple of elections, sorry, twenty four black women and two 0:15:24.320 --> 0:15:27.520 non voting delegates. So in total, twenty five twenty six 0:15:27.560 --> 0:15:30.120 black women serving in the House of Representatives, and that's 0:15:30.160 --> 0:15:33.080 been a steady gain over the last ten years. We've 0:15:33.120 --> 0:15:35.760 seen a record number of black women run and win 0:15:35.880 --> 0:15:39.120 each year, but we've never elected a black woman to 0:15:39.240 --> 0:15:41.280 governor or, as I would say, we've never had a 0:15:41.320 --> 0:15:44.560 black woman's serve because for me, Stacy Abrams did win 0:15:44.600 --> 0:15:46.800 that twenty eighteen election cycle. 0:15:47.080 --> 0:15:50.720 Beauheart twinges every time. Yes, Stacy Abrams, we cannot have 0:15:50.760 --> 0:15:52.160 this conversation without mentioning her. 0:15:52.600 --> 0:15:53.320 Yeah, yeah. 0:15:53.680 --> 0:15:56.800 And you know, out of the two one hundred and 0:15:56.800 --> 0:15:59.680 sixty two women who serve in state legislatures across the 0:15:59.760 --> 0:16:03.280 current only three hundred and seventeen of them as the 0:16:03.400 --> 0:16:05.160 end of the year are black women. 0:16:05.560 --> 0:16:07.480 And we've seen a steady gain of black. 0:16:07.240 --> 0:16:10.440 Women running and winning as mayors of top one hundred cities, 0:16:10.760 --> 0:16:13.080 but we currently have six and so when you look 0:16:13.120 --> 0:16:16.680 at those and I've already said, there's zero black women 0:16:16.720 --> 0:16:19.640 in the US in it. And so there's still work 0:16:19.680 --> 0:16:22.480 to be done. And it's not that black women aren't running. Yes, 0:16:22.560 --> 0:16:24.920 we need more black women to run, frankly, from the 0:16:25.000 --> 0:16:28.640 local office, may it be school board, to city council, 0:16:28.920 --> 0:16:31.760 to some of your state legislatures or county. 0:16:32.440 --> 0:16:33.440 Black women are running. 0:16:34.040 --> 0:16:38.120 Be clear, there's still barriers access to navigating the political 0:16:38.160 --> 0:16:42.320 process and party early party and institutional support, raising money, 0:16:42.640 --> 0:16:46.000 and you know, still a discussion around what does electability 0:16:46.040 --> 0:16:49.320 look like like. You don't hear anyone using the word 0:16:49.320 --> 0:16:51.000 electability to white men, right. 0:16:51.880 --> 0:16:54.360 It is reserved for women and particularly women of color. 0:16:54.680 --> 0:16:58.640 And so we know that a Kamala Harris or a 0:16:59.040 --> 0:17:02.080 New York State Attorney General Tis James. 0:17:01.840 --> 0:17:03.160 They're actually the road maps. 0:17:03.440 --> 0:17:05.280 Not because you go, oh, I want to be a 0:17:05.400 --> 0:17:07.560 g now or I want to be the vice president, 0:17:07.760 --> 0:17:11.240 is the fact that they ran for local office. Letitia James, 0:17:11.560 --> 0:17:14.520 you know, was a New York City council member and 0:17:15.680 --> 0:17:18.520 her career projectory was to run for a higher office. 0:17:18.760 --> 0:17:21.360 Oftentimes it could be you are going to make you 0:17:21.400 --> 0:17:25.000 are going to have your maximum impact, like I said, 0:17:25.040 --> 0:17:27.159 on your town council. And so our work is to 0:17:27.400 --> 0:17:31.920 you know, help identify, help to inspire, train, and support 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:36.359 black women. Our Political Action Committee currently supports women running 0:17:36.359 --> 0:17:40.040 for federal office, statewide executive office, and mayors of top 0:17:40.560 --> 0:17:43.119 hundred cities. But our network of black women across this 0:17:43.200 --> 0:17:47.040 country are elected or thinking about running for office at 0:17:47.040 --> 0:17:50.800 all levels and Frankly, many of our members are just 0:17:50.880 --> 0:17:53.159 like my best friend. They just want to be more 0:17:53.200 --> 0:17:57.120 civically engaged and grow into stretch in their political leadership, 0:17:57.160 --> 0:18:00.199 and that may be advocating on behalf of issue they 0:18:00.240 --> 0:18:04.320 care about. To their elected leaders, continue to help recruit, sorry, 0:18:04.359 --> 0:18:08.639 continue to help organize our community to the polls, and 0:18:08.680 --> 0:18:12.200 so we all should consider ourselves political leaders and then 0:18:12.240 --> 0:18:14.840 finding out what is the highest use of your time, 0:18:15.520 --> 0:18:19.119 talents and treasures to help move this democracy in this 0:18:19.200 --> 0:18:34.440 country to higher heights. 0:18:36.320 --> 0:18:39.439 I think what I know sadly about local politics is 0:18:39.440 --> 0:18:41.600 like parks and recreation. That was a really good show 0:18:41.640 --> 0:18:45.560 with a meere But honestly, ever since I told you 0:18:46.040 --> 0:18:47.440 a little bit when we were talking about the show 0:18:47.480 --> 0:18:49.680 my background, I bought a house a few a few 0:18:49.760 --> 0:18:52.520 years ago, and we live in a town and we've 0:18:52.560 --> 0:18:56.000 gotten to know our town councilmen and elected officials and 0:18:56.040 --> 0:18:59.240 they are so accessible and they've they're right here and 0:18:59.280 --> 0:19:01.040 it's kind of fun. My husband and I have gotten 0:19:01.080 --> 0:19:03.000 like we like to just email them and tell them 0:19:03.000 --> 0:19:05.560 about things that are going on. But let's talk about 0:19:05.600 --> 0:19:07.920 town council because that, to me is something that's really 0:19:07.960 --> 0:19:10.919 accessible for a lot of people looking for an entryway, 0:19:10.920 --> 0:19:14.760 a pathway into political leadership in their communities. But what 0:19:14.880 --> 0:19:17.399 kind of power is there in the town council to 0:19:18.240 --> 0:19:22.000 drive change that can really impact black communities? And what's 0:19:22.000 --> 0:19:25.920 that stake if we don't start having more diverse leadership 0:19:25.960 --> 0:19:27.840 at that level. If you can talk a little bit 0:19:27.840 --> 0:19:28.320 about that. 0:19:28.880 --> 0:19:33.320 Yeah, I mean, our diverse decision making tables make better decisions. 0:19:33.800 --> 0:19:38.719 And so we are seeking to ensure that black women's 0:19:38.760 --> 0:19:42.160 voices are heard at all levels. And as you know, frankly, 0:19:42.640 --> 0:19:49.480 local elected office has a more direct and immediate impact. 0:19:49.160 --> 0:19:50.400 On your day to day lives. 0:19:50.680 --> 0:19:53.360 I use an example like my I have a earlier 0:19:53.400 --> 0:19:55.480 in my career, I had a lot of friends that say, 0:19:55.520 --> 0:19:57.560 you know, I don't do politics, and I certainly believe 0:19:57.600 --> 0:19:59.880 we have a bunch of our networks that still say 0:20:00.000 --> 0:20:02.440 I don't do politics. And I give an example that 0:20:02.800 --> 0:20:05.359 you know, almost everything is tied to a public policy 0:20:05.440 --> 0:20:07.280 or a poor public dollar. And I usually use an 0:20:07.280 --> 0:20:10.560 example that in most places in the United States, we 0:20:10.680 --> 0:20:13.440 all have street lights, and so certainly when that street 0:20:13.480 --> 0:20:17.639 light goes out, there's a discussion around who do you 0:20:17.640 --> 0:20:19.880 you know, how do we advocate to make sure we 0:20:19.920 --> 0:20:22.800 have street lights, making sure that street light is on, 0:20:23.840 --> 0:20:26.399 and that is also tied to most likely a public 0:20:26.440 --> 0:20:30.480 policy or a public dollar. And those public dollars in 0:20:30.520 --> 0:20:32.639 public policies are tied. 0:20:32.400 --> 0:20:34.840 To an elected official that you voted for or not 0:20:34.920 --> 0:20:35.520 voted for. 0:20:35.920 --> 0:20:41.120 And so the work of you know, strengthening you know, 0:20:41.280 --> 0:20:46.280 our government is beyond the voting booth. Right, democracy doesn't 0:20:46.280 --> 0:20:49.080 begin in on election day. It actually begins, and so 0:20:49.119 --> 0:20:52.200 we need to all be active citizens in not only 0:20:52.240 --> 0:20:55.480 holding our elected officials accountable, but frankly creating the environment 0:20:55.480 --> 0:21:00.040 for our champions to push innovation in public policy and 0:21:00.200 --> 0:21:01.840 public budget processes. 0:21:02.720 --> 0:21:04.520 So what does that look like, you know, for someone 0:21:04.560 --> 0:21:07.800 who's listening at home and see something in their town 0:21:07.840 --> 0:21:10.159 that they don't like or wants to take action, do 0:21:10.240 --> 0:21:13.119 you just I mean literally, how do you get involved 0:21:13.160 --> 0:21:15.199 in the town council? Like? Do you just go to 0:21:15.880 --> 0:21:18.639 what is it town hall and say Hi, I would 0:21:18.720 --> 0:21:21.080 like to get on the ballot, or you know, I 0:21:21.720 --> 0:21:24.000 just break it down because this is just the level 0:21:24.119 --> 0:21:27.800 of detail that it's that access to knowledge of how 0:21:27.840 --> 0:21:30.119 things happen that you know, I'm certainly lacking, and I 0:21:30.160 --> 0:21:31.600 think a lot of other folks will be too. 0:21:32.440 --> 0:21:32.680 Yeah. 0:21:32.720 --> 0:21:35.200 So if you're you know, someone who's not thinking about 0:21:35.280 --> 0:21:37.920 running for office, but just want to be more actively engaged, 0:21:38.280 --> 0:21:43.000 it is attending town halls, in town council meetings or 0:21:43.040 --> 0:21:44.680 what a city council meet, whatever level. 0:21:45.119 --> 0:21:47.480 It is lobbying your elected officials. 0:21:47.520 --> 0:21:50.359 And so that is you know, I'm still I spent 0:21:50.440 --> 0:21:53.040 six years working for the New York State Legislature as 0:21:53.040 --> 0:21:55.680 a chief of staff, and you know, you know. 0:21:55.800 --> 0:21:56.800 The member I used to work for. 0:21:56.840 --> 0:21:59.320 We would say the squeaky wheel gets the oil right, 0:21:59.359 --> 0:22:02.480 and often people in our you know, people believe that 0:22:02.520 --> 0:22:07.399 the squeaky oil is wealthy people and people that are connected. Yes, 0:22:07.760 --> 0:22:12.440 they do have access, but frankly, votes matter to elected 0:22:12.440 --> 0:22:15.320