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 Unive

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.

This week’s featured guest Tina Fletcher is an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner (ANC) in Washington, DC. A living example of how to make a big impact at the local level, Tina shares her story of being a former high school teacher and running to represent her students and their families.

In the Season 2 premiere episode of Changing the Face of Power Podcast, East Point, GA Mayor Jannquell Peters shares her story of how she has used her platforms as an advocate + elected official to provide a voice for the voiceless.

This week’s featured guest is Leslie Andrews, a candidate for the Detroit Public School Community District Board with over 20 years of experience in non-profit development, community relations and corporate giving. Running for one of 7 seats in a staggering field of over 60 candidates, Leslie shares her journey as a first time candidate aiming to leave her mark.

Most of the women featured on the Happy Black Woman podcast are businesswomen; entrepreneurs who are building their dreams through a successful company. Today’s guest is a bit different. Rebecca Thompson is fulfilling her life-calling by championing a cause: black women in politics. Rebecca’s determination and spirit are a powerful demonstration of what can happen when black woman get energized toward public office. You will be inspired and encouraged - possibly even motivated to get involved in your community's politics - by listening to this episode of the podcast. The face of power tends to be male and it tends to be white. If you haven’t noticed how things are in this world, the faces of power tend to be male and they tend to be white. There’s nothing wrong with that - anyone can be an elected leader in the United States if they truly have the heart to serve the people. But those two facts do show us that the black community, and black women in particular, are underrepresented among the elected officials

This week’s featured guest is Misha Stallworth, a candidate for the Detroit Public School Community District Board. Misha’s journey as a candidate began in June 2016 when legislation was passed to end emergency management in Detroit Public Schools. With just 5 months to mount a campaign, Misha is running for one of 7 seats in a staggering field of over 60 candidates. In this week’s episode of Changing the Face of Power, Misha shares her story of how she’s building on her family’s legacy in Detroit politics and creating a name for herself.

This week’s featured guest is Leslie Herod, a candidate for the Colorado House of Representatives. A millennial with extensive policy experience, Leslie won her June 2016 primary with an impressive 61% of the vote and will now face a republican challenger on November 8th. In this week’s episode of Changing the Face of Power, Leslie shares her story of starting as a student leader and how she is now paving the way for others.

This week’s featured guest is Regina Thomas, a candidate for 3rd Circuit Judge from Detroit, MI. An accomplished wife, mother, and lawyer, Regina made it through a crowded primary with 21 candidates and is on the November 2016 ballot vying for 1 of 4 seats on the 3rd Circuit Court. In this week’s episode of Changing the Face of Power, Regina shares her journey as a first time candidate fighting to be the voice for justice in her community.

This week’s featured guest is first time judicial candidate Kenyetta Stanford-Jones. In August 2016, Kenyetta earned the highest number of votes in a crowded primary and will be on the November 2016 ballot. A wife, mother, and attorney in the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Kenyetta shares her story of running as a first time candidate and how she’s changing the face of power in Detroit.

This week’s featured guest is Erin Jones, a candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction from Seattle, WA. If elected, Erin would make history as the first African-American elected statewide. Raised in the Netherlands, Erin is an award winning educator who speaks 4 languages. In this week’s episode of Changing the Face of Power, Erin shares her powerful story of using her privilege to transform the lives of others through education.

A rising star and politico, Maurielle Stewart is currently the youngest member of the Town Council in the Town of Cheverly, MD. In this week’s episode of Changing the Face of Power, Maurielle reinforces that all politics are indeed local and the importance of young women in politics.