#plugintodevin - Your Mark on the World with Devin Thorpe

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Scott N. Howell

Office Held: Utah State Senate

Issue: Healthcare and Education. I am concerned about my grandchildren receiving the best healthcare and education. Making sure healthcare if affordable. Providing the best quality education.

Bio: Scott N. Howell currently is a consultant providing government relations consulting to businesses and organizations, including several development companies and various business and civic entities. Scott spent 34 years with the IBM Corporation most recently as Director for the Public Sector Industry guiding government and business leaders in pursuit of outcome-based strategies and successful delivery of implementation initiatives. During 1990 to 2000 Scott served as a Utah State Senator. For eight of those years he served as the Senate Minority Leader. In 2000 and 2012 Scott was elected as the Democratic Nominee for the United States Senate.

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Listen to my town hall to hear around various issues!

#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Karina Brown

Office Held: City of Nibley Planning Commissioner

Office Sought: Lt. Governor

Issue: Healthcare Access - Medicaid Expansion is available for people in need. Complete expansion up the 138% of the poverty level went into effect 1/1/20. I was one of the five signatories or sponsors of Proposition 3 to expand Medicaid. I became interested in this issue because my mother passed away in the healthcare coverage gap in 2013. I feel it is important for people to have access to quality primary care especially with the potential loss of employment during the pandemic.

Bio: Karina is President of the Cache County Friends of the Children's Justice Center Board and was a founding sponsor of the Medicaid Expansion ballot initiative (Proposition 3) adopted by Utah voters in 2018. She also serves on the Cache Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is Co-Chair of the Cache Chamber Legislative Affairs Committee. She is a Planning Commissioner for the city of Nibley, Utah. And she is the co-founder of the Cache Valley United for Change organization dedicated to promoting civic engagement. Karina also currently serves as Co-Chair of Cache Celebration of Women's Suffrage 2020, an organization working to celebrate the centennial of the 19th amendment granting women the right to vote. The organization is dedicated to educating Utah students about voting history including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and 1870 when Seraph Young of Utah was the first woman in America to vote under an equal suffrage law. The Women’s Suffrage 2020 curriculum includes an educational exhibit available to school districts across the state. Brown has an M.S. in Human, Environmental, and Consumer Resources from Eastern Michigan University and a B.S. in Family Resources and Human Development from Arizona State University. She is currently pursuing a Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Karina is married to Dr. Karl Brown, a physician and Air Force veteran and is a mother of four fabulous children in Nibley, Utah (Cache Valley). Her hobbies include fitness, spending time with family, listening to audio books, and playing violin and guitar.

Website: www.petersonforutah.com

Twitter: @petersonutah @karinaforutah

Facebook: facebook.com/karinaandelinbrownforutah

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-andelin-brown-23067aa6

Instagram: @karinaforutah @petersonforutah

Photo credit: Alina Brown

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Priyanka Bakaya

Bio: Priyanka Bakaya is Renewlogy’s CEO and is an entrepreneurial environmental leader. Bakaya worked in the energy research sector and in electronic waste, which led to her researching plastic waste technologies during her time at MIT. Bakaya also worked in venture capital on start-up financing for Silicon Valley firms Accel Partners and Globespan Capital. Bakaya has previously been selected as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper, a Lightspeed Venture Fellow and a Laureate for the Cartier Women’s Global Initiative. She has been named to the Fortune 40 under 40 Ones to Watch List, and Forbes 30 under 30 List in Energy and Waste360 40 under 40. She is a graduate of MIT and Stanford (Honors).

Website: http://renewlogy.com/

Twitter: @renewlogy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Renewlogy/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbakaya/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renewlogy/

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With questions submitted in advance, Devin answers 10 questions in about 10 minutes.

Topics include healthcare, the war on drugs, education, rural communities, water and ethics.

Questions from Carol Fineagan, Sean Thomas, Richard Davidson, Janis Baker Ferre, Nate Blouin, Walt Sorenson, Margie Broschinsky, Jake Garn, Cindy England and Richard Swart.

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Jamie Cheek

Office Sought: Utah's 1st Congressional District

Issue: Healthcare. Everyday I see people who can't afford or access healthcare. Growing up my family was on Medicaid. Growing up in a small town, my mother hated using it because "everybody knew everybody." I honestly believe this is why she delayed getting healthcare for herself when she was sick. By the time she went to the doctor, at the age of 35, she was diagnosed with Metastatic Colon Cancer and died within a month of being diagnosed. I was only 16 when she passed, and my brother was 15 and our younger sister was only 3, the same age as my daughter now. My take is that as your Congresswoman, I would fight for affordable and accessible healthcare. We hear too many stories of people delaying going to the doctor for treatable and preventable illnesses because they don't have healthcare. There have been so many stories of people dying from COVID-19 having their last concerns being the financial burden they are leaving to their families for their treatment. America must do better on this issue and I am willing to fight for this when I get to Washington.

I firmly believe that healthcare is a human right and that we need to be doing more to help our most vulnerable. We need to stop lining insurance companies profits and focus more on the people who need the access to affordable healthcare. People shouldn't have to worry about the costs of life saving treatment or waiting til the last moment to seek care.

Bio: Jamie grew up in Wyoming and moved to Utah nearly a decade ago. She now lives in Ogden with her husband and daughter. She works as a District Director for Utah State of Rehabilitation where she managers a $1 million+ budget as well as supervises over 15 people. Her work allows her to help many of the most vulnerable populations find greater independence through gainful and fulfilling employment. She has decided to run for this congressional seat because Utah Deserves Better. She is focused on issues that can make a difference in the lives of Utahns: a champion for the causes and policies that prioritize people over profits. This includes focusing on issues like affordable healthcare, clearing Utah's air and investing in education. As an unabashed optimist, she rejects the politics of fear and hate that pervade the status quo. “Utahns are compassionate people and our values are not being represented by our politicians, who remain impervious to public sentiment. It is time to elect someone different -- someone who will listen to her constituents and will tirelessly work to make their lives better.”

Website: cheekforutah.com

Twitter: @cheekforutah

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamie.cheek.33

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-cheek-14543930/

Instagram: @cheekforutah

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Jared Anderson

Office Sought: Utah 3rd Congressional District

Issue: Poverty

Better monetary income is an idea to bring hope back into the lives of the American people. I’d equate it to what the G.I. Bill was after the 2nd World War. I support it wholeheartedly.

Bio: Jared is a father, husband, student, and progressive. He is currently writing a book to defend the democratic institutions of our polarized nation. He is a history nut and loves the musical Hamilton.

Twitter: @jaredforutah

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Jazmin May

Issue: Immigration and Education. I am a DACA recipient. We need to find a pathway for Dreamers and their parents to obtain citizenship and grant us equal opportunity in this country.

Bio: Jazmin May has a passion for community work and advocacy. She believe that every member of the community has a right to access the resources they need to be successful. Jazmin had a lot of helping getting to where she is today. She came to the United States when she was five years old. Knowing no English she was places in 1st grade where she took it upon herself to learn English very quickly and do well in school. From a young age Jazmin loved learning and school. As she got older she knew the challenges that came with being undocumented. Applying to college and getting financial aid would be difficult. That however motivated her even more to work harder in high school. With the help of many of her teachers and the AVID program Jazmin was able to go to her dream school, Westminster College. The DACA program that started in 2012 created under the Obama administration helped Jazmin to get her work permit and be able to contribute to her education. But as luck would have it, not only did Jazmin get accepted to Westminster but she received a full tuition scholarship to attend. During her time at Westminster, she was very involved on campus. She was a tour guide, a class senator, on the student government events team, an orientation leader then assistant. Jazmin also mentored incoming first year students through a mentoring program on campus. Eventually she was the coordinator for that program in her last two years of college. All this helped her to become the student body president for Westminster. Jazmin found her passion to help people and empower others. She knew many people had helped her with her own goals that she wanted to give back to the community. During her college years she worked at East High School as an Outreach mentor in the GEAR UP program. She helped students get ready and understand college, how to apply for scholarships and financial aid etc. She understood what it was like to be undocumented, wanting to go to college but not knowing how to get there or if it was a possibility. That is why she wanted to guide others who are undocumented or come from minority backgrounds. Jazmin graduated with a degree in Communication, she received the Board of Trustees Charter Award at commencement. Afterwards Jazmin went to work for a charter school. There she got to see what education was like from the inside and how our current system impacts english language learners. And how we should be doing more for them. Jazmin is part of League of United Latin American Citizens and also worked for mayoral candidate Luz Escamilla, who inspired her to continue her path in politics. From there, Jazmin went to work for a presidential candidate and is currently working for Devin Thorpe for Congress. Jazmin hopes to continue working in politics to make sure the right people get elected. To ensure communities are being heard and we are understanding what the needs of the people are. To help show that a DREAMer can be involved in politics and create change to help her community.

Twitter: @1jazminmay

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jazmin.may.9

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazmin-may

Instagram: @jazzymay2

Photo credit: Ezra Schofield

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe

Issue: Currently I would guess the spread and impact of Covid19 infections and the impact on our lives and the devastating impact on our economy and all that flows from that. Also what will life be like post our country lockdown. Mainly just socially and the curtailment of ones ability to move around at will and as we know it. We can still go to the shops and put food on the table which is not the case for many people in our poorer communities. However as the schools are closed countrywide we cannot continue to do our work of handing out Tutudesks from the Desmond Tutu Tutudesk Campaign to learners at schools where they are needed so badly. A lot will need to be done to uplift and protect our poorer communities and the homeless. It cannot be just trying to get back to business as usual. This virus has highlighted what an unequal society South Africa is. There have had to be donations of food parcels but also some rioting and looting of grocery stores and supermarkets in some areas. I think there will be a greater need for the services of organizations such as ourselves the Tutudesk Campaign.

Bio: Thandeka Tutu-Gxashe is the CEO of the Desmond Tutu Tutudesk Campaign Centre (DTTCC). It addresses the 95 million desk shortage in sub-Saharan Africa, by aiming to provide 20 million of these environmentally friendly, portable Tutudesks by 2025. Thus positively enhancing the lives of African children, their communities and countries and making Africa a more globally competitive continent through improved literacy and education. Ms Tutu-Gxashe has been educated and worked in the UK, Swaziland, Botswana and the USA. She is passionate about education and public health, especially the fight against HIV/AIDS, and improving the health and education experiences of young people, thus promoting global peace and justice.She received several fellowships whilst completing her MPH at Emory University, Atlanta, These included from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Cancer Society, the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, the South East AIDS Training Center & the Dekalb County Board of Health. Much of her working life has been in clinical research both in the USA and in South Africa. She undertakes public speaking at universities, schools and community groups both locally & internationally. Thandeka has served on the Boards of several foundations and non-profit organizations. She is currently on the Board of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, HPSA (formerly Heifer International (South Africa)) and the Foundation for Sport, Development and Peace. She was named one of the global 100 real leaders by Real Leaders Magazine. Ms Tutu-Gxashe is the eldest daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu & Nomalizo Leah Tutu. She and her husband reside in Cape Town, South Africa and have one son.

Website: https://tutudesk.org/

Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/thandeka -tutu-gxashe

Photo credit: *|Photo Credit|*

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#plugintodevin Show - Devin Thorpe for Congress

Guest: Lynette Wendel

Office Sought: Utah House of Rep., Dist 39

Issue: Currently, the effects of COVID 19, schools, jobs, healthcare. Because of my community networks and commitment to service, I am utilizing my relationships and skills to support one to one connections in our district. We are connecting those who can to those who need assistance. This idea started off as a need to feel empowered and helping people. It started off as a thought of neighbor helping neighbor and has culminated in a volunteer team of 40 callers trying to reach thousands of our neighbors over the next several weeks. We have had an overwhelmingly positive response. The callers are energized and feel appreciated. The people we call feel connected again. Sometimes, we are the first person they have spoken to in days. In addition to worries about schools, jobs and the virus itself, the isolation has been very hard on a lot of people.

Bio: Lynette has a rich professional history in education and conflict resolution spanning more than two decades. Equally dedicated to public service, she has an extensive 15-year volunteer resume in community planning, education, public safety, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Lynette's decision to run for office is founded on improving conditions for everyone in our community. She is respected as a non-partisan leader for her ability to include all stakeholders and facilitate productive dialogue in a civil and respectful manner. Lynette will close the existing divide between our community’s priorities and current legislative policy.

Website: www.votelynette.com

Twitter: @votelynette

Facebook: facebook.com/votelynette

Instagram: @votelynette

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