Medium: We Are the Ocean

This week a dream of mine came true, and it wasn’t just my dream, it was the dream of all of our godmothers. On September 20, 2018, I launched the first-ever national summit of women of color in politics. The sold-out inaugural She the People Summit, held in the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco, drew nearly 600 attendees, mostly women of color, from 36 states.

Throughout that day I heard from young and old that, for most of us, it was the first time being in such a warm, loving, inclusive and powerful room. Our speakers spoke truth — and we met and embraced each other. I have been re-watching the brilliance from the stage and my heart is full anew.

Elected officials, activists, organizers, campaign professionals, journalists, and others from across the country came together to drive a new conversation that centers women of color as the most important voters, advocates, strategists, and leaders who are dedicated to creating a deeply inclusive and just society, one that centers on love, justice, belonging and democracy.

I heard from young and old that, for most of us, it was the first time being in such a warm, loving, inclusive and powerful room.

Together we heard from an all-star line-up of powerful speakers, and their videos are now online on Facebook including Rep. Barbara Lee; Rep. Pramila Jayapal; activists Linda Sarsour, Dolores Huerta and Alicia Garza, and candidates Deb Haaland and Rashida Tlaib, among many others. My personal favorite — 10-year-old Lyric from Sacramento, California sharing her words of inspiration and representing her generation.

Together, we pledged to turn the summit into a lasting movement for women of color in politics. We’re telling a new story to the nation — and I need your help to reach all corners of our country. To quote Rashida Tlaib, who is set to become one of the nation’s first Muslim congresswomen, in her speech yesterday, forget the Blue Wave. We are the ocean.

Love, Justice, Belonging and Democracy