RFS feel-good update (7/31): Volunteer before next week's elections
Seriously: It's not an off year!
Hi all -
First, quick election update! Last week Sharon Durkan won a special election for a seat on the Boston City Council. Her top priorities are affordable housing and expanding mental health services for city workers.
We’ve got a bunch of elections coming up on August 8th. If you’ve got some time in the next week, we have a bunch of candidates who could use your help! (To regularly get updates on ways to volunteer, sign up here.)
Justin Lofton is running for Pike County Board, District 1, MS. If elected, Justin would be the youngest person to serve on the Pike County Board of Supervisors. Email here to volunteer.
Cheniqua Johnson is running for Saint Paul City Council, Ward 7, MN. If elected, Cheniqua would be the first Black woman to be elected on the East Side of Saint Paul. Saint Paul has not had a Black woman on the council since 2007. Sign up here to volunteer.
Fabian Nelson is running for Mississippi House, District 66, MS. Fabian is a foster parent with children attending public school. His top priority is fully funding MS public schools for the first time in 15 years! Sign up here to volunteer.
Michael Howard is running for Warren City Council, At-Large, MI. Michael has lived in Warren for over 20 years and after graduating from college, he returned to his community to create positive change. Sign up here to volunteer.
Zakiya Summers is running for Mississippi House, District 68, MS. Zakiya is running for re-election. For the past four years, she has accomplished so much for her constituents, and wants to continue enacting critical policy changes so that all Mississippians thrive and flourish. Email here to sign up.
Tamera Carter is running for Lansing City Council, At-Large, MI. If elected, Tamera will use her 10 years of organizational leadership and oversight to support the Lansing City Council. Sign up here to volunteer.
Ashlie Castaldo is running for Duluth City Council, At-Large, MN. If elected, Ashlie would be the first Autistic, bisexual, Latina represented on the Duluth City Council. Sign up here to volunteer.
Aaron Martinez is running for Mayor of Novi, MI. If elected, Aaron will oust a 14 year incumbent and be the youngest Mayor in Novi history. Sign up here to volunteer.
Justis Gibbs is running for Mississippi House, District 72. If elected, Justis will be the youngest member of the Mississippi Legislature in both the upper and lower chamber. Email here to volunteer.
Mai Xiong is running for Warren City Clerk, MI. Mai is the first Hmong American elected in Michigan and if elected for Clerk, would be the the first Asian American elected in the city of Warren. Email here to volunteer.
Jenna Yeakle is running for Duluth City Council, At-Large, MN. If elected Jenna will create a city that works for everyone, specifically speaking to the community about development funds that are not controlled by the people anymore. Sign up here to volunteer.
JaWhan Jackson is running for Kentwood City Council, At-Large, MI. If elected, JaWhan would use his experience as a Union President to fight hard for all of Kentwood’s residents, prioritizing public safety. Email here to volunteer
In other RFS community updates:
Austin City Councilmembers Vanessa Fuentes and Zo Qadri have been leading the way on a flurry of legislation that is opening up Austin to more affordable housing, including the necessary removal of parking minimums for new developments.
Also from Austin City Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes: Prioritizing protecting employees of the city’s utility companies, who are working outside during the miserably hot summer.
Some of the many challenges working class candidates like Jade Harris face are fundamental obstacles in transportation. We’ve got her back in her race for VA Senate.
In Maryland, Montgomery County Councilmember Kristin Mink successfully passed legislation limiting unsustainable increases on rent for stabilized housing.
NY Sen. Jessica Ramos is fighting hard against tech companies that are trying to delay historic legislation that raised the minimum wage for deliveristas.
TX Republicans are trying to kill public education — Rep. James Talarico, a former teacher, is not going to let them get away with it.
Thanks to the persistent leadership of Sen. Jason Hoskins and Rep. Mallory McMorrow, Michigan has become the 22nd state to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors.
The kind of “boring” thing that’s a big deal: Sen. Dylan Roberts in CO is doing incredible work on the state’s headwater systems and water restoration.
MO Rep. Ashley Aune is gearing up to run for House Minority Leader, taking on critical fights around the state’s budget. We love to see it.
Chris de Barrena-Sarobe, candidate for Chester County DA in PA, is calling out Republicans who claim to support law enforcement but attack the agencies investigating Trump.
As we continue to 🔨 build 🔨 that 🔨 bench 🔨, a few campaigns to keep an eye on:
Durham City Councilmember (and RFS alum!) Leo WIlliams has announced his campaign for city mayor.
Alum Steve Dunwoody has announced his campaign for Congress in LA.
In related reading:
Young people are only getting more progressive. Keep an eye on this.
Meanwhile, another chart that should alarm you, also from the Washington Post - this is not reflective of the American people, and not a promising sign of a healthy democracy. It’s also worth reading the NYT on the larger question about our gerontocracy and how we got to this point.
Across Virginia, the fight to ban books has come to public libraries as various county governments are intermittently firing library staff and protecting libraries as the politics require.
Finally, two upcoming events to flag!
On August 12th, we’re hosting a small get together in the Hamptons. Reply to this email for details on how to RSVP.
On August 16th at 8pm: A special conversation for people with disabilities about how to run for office, featuring some amazing RFS alum and our partners at Disability Victory. RSVP now for free.
Thank you as always for making this work possible and empowering the next generation of leaders. You’re doing the damn thing.
- Amanda