Why Winning = Running on Reproductive Justice
Session Type(s): Panel
Starts: Friday, Jul. 12 9:00 AM (Eastern)
Ends: Friday, Jul. 12 10:00 AM (Eastern)
https://www.facebook.com/NetrootsNation/videos/1307641856064419/
For too long Democrats and the entire progressive movement have compromised on reproductive freedom believing discussion will doom most candidates. Since 2016 state, local and federal campaigns have proved that myth false in red, purple and blue areas across the country. ‘Nontraditional’ candidates from the New American Majority: communities of color, LGBTQ+ and young people are running reproductive freedom and winning.Hear from these newly elected officials and strategists about key approaches to electing this new wave of leaders and why running on a reproductive justice platform should be implemented everywhere.
Moderator
Atima Omara
Atima Omara directs the Candidate Engagement program for #VOTEPROCHOICE(VPC) that provides strategic guidance and support to VPC endorsed candidates at the state, local, and judicial level to win elections and build a prochoice majority in government. She is also the Founder and President of Omara Strategy Group, a consulting practice she founded with the goal of building political power for women, people of color, LGBTQ and other historically marginalized communities through winning political campaigns and strengthening advocacy organizations.
Atima has worked for a Governor and has served as staff for over 9 federal, state, and local political campaigns including working for labor unions and PACs focused on organizing immigrants and people of color and as well as electing and organizing women. She has spent the last 15 years working to engage women, communities of color, and youth in the political process.
Atima is the Immediate Past President of the Young Democrats of America. When elected in 2013, Atima became the first African American and fifth woman President of the Young Democrats of America (YDA) in its 83-year history. She served as President from 2013-2015, the nation’s largest youth partisan organization. As President of YDA, she grew membership, oversaw the first national Lobby Day in a decade and increased work with allied organizations. Atima has also previously served as Vice President of the the Reproductive Health Technologies Project. She has held board leadership roles with Planned Parenthood Metro Washington, the DC Abortion Fund, and the National Organization for Women. She just finished serving as Board Chair of the Planned Parenthood Metro Washington Action Fund that covered most of the Northern Virginia area including the District of Columbia and Southern Maryland. For her work, Ebony Magazine listed her as 2013 “Power 100” and Jet Magazine listed her as 2013’s “40 under 40”
Panelists
Jennifer Carroll-Foy
Delegate Jennifer Carroll Foy currently represents the Second House District, which contains parts of Prince William and Stafford County. She was the first public defender to ever serve in the Virginia General Assembly and now devotes her time as an attorney advocate representing abused and neglected children in court. Delegate Carroll Foy was also a foster mother for eight years. Because she believes so strongly that no child should be without a nurturing home, she started the Foundation for Foster and Orphan Children, a nonprofit committed to building better futures for orphan and foster children. Delegate Carroll Foy is also #VOTEPROCHOICE. Additionally, the Delegate was one of the first African-American women to graduate from Virginia Military Institute. Delegate Carroll Foy was born in Petersburg, VA, and currently resides in Woodbridge with her husband and twin boys, Xander and Alex.
Delia Garcia
Delia Garcia serves as the Cabinet Secretary for the Kansas Department of Labor, confirmed by the Senate on May 3, 2019. Garcia returned to Kansas after serving eight years in executive, senior leadership in the national organizations ReflectUS, National Migrant Seasonal Head Start Association, and the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. In 2004, she was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives, where she served six years and served on the Commerce and Labor Committee at her request. Delia made Kansas history by becoming the first Latina and the youngest female to serve in the Kansas Legislature in 2004. Garcia is utilizing her business, policy, national management, and advocacy expertise to serve hard working Kansans and their families. Garcia presented last year at the Netroots Women’s Pre-Conference 2018, and excited to be back with #VoteProChoice.
Delia received her Master’s Degree in Political Science, with an emphasis in Public Administration from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wichita State University. She is also a graduate of the Harvard University Executive Leadership Program, the Aspen Executive Leadership Institute and the Kansas Leadership Center. Garcia received numerous recognitions for her leadership and community service, including a permanent exhibition in the State of Kansas Historical Society Museum as the first Latina elected in Kansas.
Secretary Garcia was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, and was raised with her four sisters in her family’s Mexican restaurant, which is Kansas’ Oldest Family Owned Mexican Restaurant established in 1963. She is the proud aunt of five nieces and nephews whom all reside in Wichita, and the rest of her family is in Garden City, Kansas and Texas.
Brianna Titone
Brianna is a Geochemist and software developer who ran for office because of her long life history of service to her community. She finished serving her first term in the 72nd Colorado General Assembly and is running for re-election in 2020. She was a volunteer firefighter in high school and college, served as her HOA board president, and as a citizen scientist helping law enforcement with Necrosearch International. She also is a board member of TYES Colorado, an organization who works with families with trans kids to help find support and resources for them to thrive.
She is a strong advocate for marginalized people and for thinking about planning for the future. Brianna values the views and opinions of her constituents and works hard to be sure their voices are heard. She has advocated for LGBTQ equality, affordable housing, reproductive rights, and expanding mental health initiatives.