Changing the Face of Power Podcast with Rebecca Thompson: Run for Office | Fulfill Your Purpose | Change the World

This week’s featured guest Raeisha Williams is a candidate for City Council in North Minneapolis, MN. A millennial with a background in communications, Raeisha has worked for BET, TV One and CNN and has served as a publicist and marketing consultant. As a fierce advocate for social justice, she shares her story of how she now uses her expertise to lift up the issues impacting her community and why she’s working to change the face of power.

One of the biggest reasons more women don't run for elected office (besides the fear of raising money) is because of the negative self talk + conversations we have with ourselves about why we can't such as “I don't have enough experience, people will wonder "Who does she think she is? Or what if I lose?”. In this week’s bonus episode Rebecca shares 10 ways to stop doubting your brilliance so you can run for elected office.

This week’s featured guest Myya Jones made national headlines when she announced her candidacy for Mayor of Detroit at just 22 years old. The recent college graduate shares her story of how she was inspired to get into politics and her mission to give people of color, women, and millennials a seat at the table in local politics.

This week’s featured guest LaToia Jones is an organizer, community leader, activist, and former candidate for Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair. Usually working behind the scenes to create change within democratic politics and the labor movement, Jones shares her story of why she decided to transition from strategist to candidate and how she’s fighting to change the face of power within the Democratic Party.

Leslie Love was elected as State Representative in the 10th House District of Michigan in November 2014. She sits on the House Committees on Commerce and Trade, Financial Services, and Workforce and Talent Development in the 98th Legislature of the Michigan House of Representatives. She serves as the Democratic Caucus Vice Chair and Chaplain for the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, as well as being a member of the Progressive Women’s Legislative Caucus, Greater Wayne County Caucus, and Hispanic Caucus. Leslie was appointed to serve on the MiSTEM Advisory Council, a group of business, K-12 and higher education and philanthropic leaders dedicated to helping make Michigan a world leader in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. Prior to her election to office, Leslie was the director of theatre operations and an adjunct professor at Marygrove College for 12 years. She was a professor for Wayne County Community College District as well. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Siena Heights University, a Master of Fine Arts from Wayne State University and a Master of Arts in Human Resources Management from Marygrove College.

This week’s featured guest Channel Powe serves as an elected board member for the Balsz School District and as President of the Arizona School Board Association’s Black Caucus. Named the 2015 Advocate of the Year by the Arizona School Board Association, Powe uses her platform as a mom, policy maker and activist to fight for everything from police accountability and transparency to combatting disproportionate suspensions and bullying.

This week’s featured guest Holly J. Mitchell is a mom, state senator, and social justice advocate. Mitchell shares her story of how she uses her platform to be a champion for working families across the state of California.

This week’s featured guest Dee Dawkins-Haigler is a former state representative, wife, mother, ordained minister and international businesswoman. Dawkins-Haigler shares her story of balancing it all while making a global impact.

This week’s featured guest LaDawn Jones is a wife, mother, lawyer, entrepreneur, political commentator and former Georgia State Representative. Jones shares her story of balancing it all and how being an elected official can be just one of many ways to serve your community.

This week’s featured guest is Brenda Carter, a member of the Pontiac School Board and President of the Michigan Association of School Boards. A passionate advocate for children, Brenda shares her story of how she uses her voice to create change at the local level.