we live in a time in history when multiple cataclysmic forces converge
multiple cataclysmic forces converge
multiple cataclysmic forces converge racism misogyny homophobia extreme
racism misogyny homophobia extreme
racism misogyny homophobia extreme income inequality and our changing
income inequality and our changing
income inequality and our changing climate just to mention a few and while
climate just to mention a few and while
climate just to mention a few and while all of these are extremely concerning it
all of these are extremely concerning it
all of these are extremely concerning it is out of this concern that an
is out of this concern that an
is out of this concern that an unprecedented opportunity emerges this
unprecedented opportunity emerges this
unprecedented opportunity emerges this moment really demands that we show up
moment really demands that we show up
moment really demands that we show up stand up and step up like never before
stand up and step up like never before
stand up and step up like never before so many of us have been waiting to get
so many of us have been waiting to get
so many of us have been waiting to get involved wanting to take action but what
involved wanting to take action but what
involved wanting to take action but what were we waiting for well we were waiting
were we waiting for well we were waiting
were we waiting for well we were waiting for the horrible thing the worst case
for the horrible thing the worst case
for the horrible thing the worst case scenario that it would inspire us to
scenario that it would inspire us to
scenario that it would inspire us to finally take action and that is the
finally take action and that is the
finally take action and that is the great gift of this moment if we treat
great gift of this moment if we treat
great gift of this moment if we treat climate change as the true planetary
climate change as the true planetary
climate change as the true planetary emergency that it is it will be a
emergency that it is it will be a
emergency that it is it will be a galvanizing force for Humanity a force
galvanizing force for Humanity a force
galvanizing force for Humanity a force that puts the long-term success of all
that puts the long-term success of all
that puts the long-term success of all of us over the short-term economic gains
of us over the short-term economic gains
of us over the short-term economic gains of a very few a force that no matter
of a very few a force that no matter
of a very few a force that no matter what your political party is your race
what your political party is your race
what your political party is your race your gender a force that will inspire us
your gender a force that will inspire us
your gender a force that will inspire us all to get involved to be engaged to be
all to get involved to be engaged to be
all to get involved to be engaged to be active participants in creating the
active participants in creating the
active participants in creating the world we want for me wanting to make a
world we want for me wanting to make a
world we want for me wanting to make a difference began in fourth grade so I
difference began in fourth grade so I
difference began in fourth grade so I ran for office
honestly I didn’t know what
honestly I didn’t know what sergeant-at-arms
sergeant-at-arms
sergeant-at-arms even was or why we needed one in grammar
even was or why we needed one in grammar
even was or why we needed one in grammar school but I knew that participating was
school but I knew that participating was
school but I knew that participating was important my dad took me aside and said
important my dad took me aside and said
important my dad took me aside and said Heidi if you’re gonna run for office you
Heidi if you’re gonna run for office you
Heidi if you’re gonna run for office you need a slogan and a slogan that rhymes
need a slogan and a slogan that rhymes
need a slogan and a slogan that rhymes well there’s not a whole lot that rhymes
well there’s not a whole lot that rhymes
well there’s not a whole lot that rhymes with Heidi but my tea does so it was
with Heidi but my tea does so it was
with Heidi but my tea does so it was vote for Heidi because Heidi is my tea
vote for Heidi because Heidi is my tea
vote for Heidi because Heidi is my tea and that’s stuck and it was the 1970s
and that’s stuck and it was the 1970s
and that’s stuck and it was the 1970s and with my amazing Wonder Woman posters
and with my amazing Wonder Woman posters
and with my amazing Wonder Woman posters and my supercool slogan I thought for
and my supercool slogan I thought for
and my supercool slogan I thought for sure I was gonna win but I didn’t and I
sure I was gonna win but I didn’t and I
sure I was gonna win but I didn’t and I thought that that would probably be the
thought that that would probably be the
thought that that would probably be the end of my admittedly pretty short
end of my admittedly pretty short
end of my admittedly pretty short political career after high school I
political career after high school I
political career after high school I moved to San Luis Obispo to go to the
moved to San Luis Obispo to go to the
moved to San Luis Obispo to go to the local junior college and then to attend
local junior college and then to attend
local junior college and then to attend Cal Poly University almost right away I
Cal Poly University almost right away I
Cal Poly University almost right away I got married and soon after that my
got married and soon after that my
got married and soon after that my daughter Zoe was born and a couple of
daughter Zoe was born and a couple of
daughter Zoe was born and a couple of years later Jack was born
I know they’re pretty great I started to
I know they’re pretty great I started to look at my life through the lens of
look at my life through the lens of
look at my life through the lens of being a mother and tried to figure out
being a mother and tried to figure out
being a mother and tried to figure out what it meant to raise kids in today’s
what it meant to raise kids in today’s
what it meant to raise kids in today’s world I really felt that the best thing
world I really felt that the best thing
world I really felt that the best thing that I could do to create a better world
that I could do to create a better world
that I could do to create a better world was by raising better people soon after
was by raising better people soon after
was by raising better people soon after they were born I became a multitasking
they were born I became a multitasking
they were born I became a multitasking single mom an overworked house cleaner
single mom an overworked house cleaner
single mom an overworked house cleaner and a b-level artist as I scrub the
and a b-level artist as I scrub the
and a b-level artist as I scrub the floors of other people’s homes day after
floors of other people’s homes day after
floors of other people’s homes day after day with my two kids in tow I would
day with my two kids in tow I would
day with my two kids in tow I would dream about what my life might be like
dream about what my life might be like
dream about what my life might be like when they grew up I thought for sure I
when they grew up I thought for sure I
when they grew up I thought for sure I would be living in Berlin and an
would be living in Berlin and an
would be living in Berlin and an artist’s loft making paintings and
artist’s loft making paintings and
artist’s loft making paintings and drinking cocktails but then as so often
drinking cocktails but then as so often
drinking cocktails but then as so often happens some guy comes along and alters
happens some guy comes along and alters
happens some guy comes along and alters all your plans
it’s one of my guys when former vice
it’s one of my guys when former vice president and early climate champion Al
president and early climate champion Al
president and early climate champion Al Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth came
Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth came
Gore’s film An Inconvenient Truth came out it really changed the trajectory of
out it really changed the trajectory of
out it really changed the trajectory of my life it was through his work that I
my life it was through his work that I
my life it was through his work that I began to understand the urgent nature of
began to understand the urgent nature of
began to understand the urgent nature of climate change and I realized that my
climate change and I realized that my
climate change and I realized that my children’s lives were at stake and that
children’s lives were at stake and that
children’s lives were at stake and that all of our children’s lives are at stake
all of our children’s lives are at stake
all of our children’s lives are at stake and that I knew it wasn’t gonna be
and that I knew it wasn’t gonna be
and that I knew it wasn’t gonna be enough for me just to understand that
enough for me just to understand that
enough for me just to understand that fact that I had to do something because
fact that I had to do something because
fact that I had to do something because whatever issues inspire us knowledge
whatever issues inspire us knowledge
whatever issues inspire us knowledge alone isn’t enough because knowledge
alone isn’t enough because knowledge
alone isn’t enough because knowledge without action is meaningless so I
without action is meaningless so I
without action is meaningless so I wanted to get involved and I kept
wanted to get involved and I kept
wanted to get involved and I kept looking around waiting for someone to
looking around waiting for someone to
looking around waiting for someone to follow waiting for someone to take the
follow waiting for someone to take the
follow waiting for someone to take the lead here locally and as no one emerged
lead here locally and as no one emerged
lead here locally and as no one emerged I started to wonder could that person be
I started to wonder could that person be
I started to wonder could that person be me but I didn’t think that I was at all
me but I didn’t think that I was at all
me but I didn’t think that I was at all the kind of person to do this type of
the kind of person to do this type of
the kind of person to do this type of work it was essential to me to be my
work it was essential to me to be my
work it was essential to me to be my true self and while I was an expert in
true self and while I was an expert in
true self and while I was an expert in getting kids to wake up and get out the
getting kids to wake up and get out the
getting kids to wake up and get out the door I had no experience and getting
door I had no experience and getting
door I had no experience and getting groups of people to wake up to the world
groups of people to wake up to the world
groups of people to wake up to the world and get involved but it turns out what I
and get involved but it turns out what I
and get involved but it turns out what I lacked in experience I made up for
lacked in experience I made up for
lacked in experience I made up for encouraged even though I was really
encouraged even though I was really
encouraged even though I was really scared of what that was going to look
scared of what that was going to look
scared of what that was going to look like I don’t want to speak in front of
like I don’t want to speak in front of
like I don’t want to speak in front of groups
I was afraid of being judged of messing
I was afraid of being judged of messing up of not knowing enough but the
up of not knowing enough but the
up of not knowing enough but the important thing for me and the important
important thing for me and the important
important thing for me and the important thing for all of us is not to get it
thing for all of us is not to get it
thing for all of us is not to get it right it’s not to win it’s to begin
right it’s not to win it’s to begin
right it’s not to win it’s to begin begin exactly how we are and where we
begin exactly how we are and where we
begin exactly how we are and where we are so I grabbed one of my favorite
are so I grabbed one of my favorite
are so I grabbed one of my favorite dresses got a trusty clipboard put a
dresses got a trusty clipboard put a
dresses got a trusty clipboard put a rose in my hair and headed out the door
rose in my hair and headed out the door
rose in my hair and headed out the door to try and figure out how to be the
to try and figure out how to be the
to try and figure out how to be the leader that I had been looking for
leader that I had been looking for
leader that I had been looking for I started small I joined with groups of
I started small I joined with groups of
I started small I joined with groups of people that shared my concerns I
people that shared my concerns I
people that shared my concerns I organized marches I started groups I
organized marches I started groups I
organized marches I started groups I left groups
left groups
left groups I joined groups I had important
I joined groups I had important
I joined groups I had important conversations with people of all types
conversations with people of all types
conversations with people of all types of viewpoints after a while I still felt
of viewpoints after a while I still felt
of viewpoints after a while I still felt like I wasn’t quite doing enough and I
like I wasn’t quite doing enough and I
like I wasn’t quite doing enough and I wanted to do more so I tried new things
wanted to do more so I tried new things
wanted to do more so I tried new things not all of them were successful I went
not all of them were successful I went
not all of them were successful I went to Texas to join the tar sands blockade
to Texas to join the tar sands blockade
to Texas to join the tar sands blockade errs a group of really committed
errs a group of really committed
errs a group of really committed extremely disheveled eco anarchists
extremely disheveled eco anarchists
extremely disheveled eco anarchists living in the woods trying to put a stop
living in the woods trying to put a stop
living in the woods trying to put a stop to this pipeline as you might imagine I
to this pipeline as you might imagine I
to this pipeline as you might imagine I was so out of place there that I’m
was so out of place there that I’m
was so out of place there that I’m pretty sure that they thought that
pretty sure that they thought that
pretty sure that they thought that either the FBI or their parents had sent
either the FBI or their parents had sent
either the FBI or their parents had sent me to spy on them
other things I tried were more
other things I tried were more successful though I joined a group
successful though I joined a group
successful though I joined a group called 350.org one of the most renowned
called 350.org one of the most renowned
called 350.org one of the most renowned international groups on climate change
international groups on climate change
international groups on climate change all right and we were able to put a stop
all right and we were able to put a stop
all right and we were able to put a stop to dangerous oil train set to roll
to dangerous oil train set to roll
to dangerous oil train set to roll through this community this came after
through this community this came after
through this community this came after years of organizing and dedicated work
years of organizing and dedicated work
years of organizing and dedicated work all of this really in an attempt to get
all of this really in an attempt to get
all of this really in an attempt to get our elected officials to do the right
our elected officials to do the right
our elected officials to do the right thing
activists spend a lot of time outside
activists spend a lot of time outside the halls of power hoping that those
the halls of power hoping that those
the halls of power hoping that those inside make the right decisions I
inside make the right decisions I
inside make the right decisions I realized that we needed to not just be
realized that we needed to not just be
realized that we needed to not just be on the outside demanding the right thing
on the outside demanding the right thing
on the outside demanding the right thing but on the inside doing the right thing
but on the inside doing the right thing
but on the inside doing the right thing because it’s not enough just to march in
because it’s not enough just to march in
because it’s not enough just to march in the streets we need to march on to our
the streets we need to march on to our
the streets we need to march on to our school board and into our city halls and
school board and into our city halls and
school board and into our city halls and onto Congress to make the changes that
onto Congress to make the changes that
onto Congress to make the changes that we really need because we need elected
we really need because we need elected
we really need because we need elected officials that care more about the next
officials that care more about the next
officials that care more about the next generation than they do about their next
generation than they do about their next
generation than they do about their next election
so I was ready not only to show up but
so I was ready not only to show up but to step up in a way that I might be able
to step up in a way that I might be able
to step up in a way that I might be able to make a bigger impact and the 2014
to make a bigger impact and the 2014
to make a bigger impact and the 2014 state assembly race was my opportunity
state assembly race was my opportunity
state assembly race was my opportunity my opponent was a gas station owning
my opponent was a gas station owning
my opponent was a gas station owning fossil fuel money taking longtime
fossil fuel money taking longtime
fossil fuel money taking longtime politician and I knew I didn’t really
politician and I knew I didn’t really
politician and I knew I didn’t really stand a chance to win in the traditional
stand a chance to win in the traditional
stand a chance to win in the traditional sense but I also knew this was a great
sense but I also knew this was a great
sense but I also knew this was a great opportunity to make a change and I
opportunity to make a change and I
opportunity to make a change and I learned that it’s really not political
learned that it’s really not political
learned that it’s really not political experience but really it’s political
experience but really it’s political
experience but really it’s political will that we need to make an impact by
will that we need to make an impact by
will that we need to make an impact by the end of my campaign my gas station
the end of my campaign my gas station
the end of my campaign my gas station owning competitor was posing in front of
owning competitor was posing in front of
owning competitor was posing in front of giant solar fields talking about
giant solar fields talking about
giant solar fields talking about renewable energy yeah and I knew then
renewable energy yeah and I knew then
renewable energy yeah and I knew then that even though technically I had lost
that even though technically I had lost
that even though technically I had lost ultimately this campaign had been a
ultimately this campaign had been a
ultimately this campaign had been a victory but after that I was certain
victory but after that I was certain
victory but after that I was certain this time that was it that’s the end of
this time that was it that’s the end of
this time that was it that’s the end of my political career for sure but later
my political career for sure but later
my political career for sure but later that year I went to a conference and
that year I went to a conference and
that year I went to a conference and across a crowded room I met the man who
across a crowded room I met the man who
across a crowded room I met the man who would become the love of my life
I see you’ve got some competition for
I see you’ve got some competition for that
that
that he’s my ride-or-die he’s my ride-or-die
he’s my ride-or-die he’s my ride-or-die
he’s my ride-or-die he’s my ride-or-die I so admired the way that Bernie had
I so admired the way that Bernie had
I so admired the way that Bernie had transitioned from activists to elected
transitioned from activists to elected
transitioned from activists to elected and loved how he was able to inspire a
and loved how he was able to inspire a
and loved how he was able to inspire a whole new generation of people to get
whole new generation of people to get
whole new generation of people to get engaged I was sitting in the front row
engaged I was sitting in the front row
engaged I was sitting in the front row at the National Convention when he said
at the National Convention when he said
at the National Convention when he said his goodbyes and left the stage it was
his goodbyes and left the stage it was
his goodbyes and left the stage it was devastating and so disappointing and I
devastating and so disappointing and I
devastating and so disappointing and I was one of those people that you might
was one of those people that you might
was one of those people that you might have seen on TV with tears streaming
have seen on TV with tears streaming
have seen on TV with tears streaming down my face clutching my future to
down my face clutching my future to
down my face clutching my future to believe in the sign in my hands and in
believe in the sign in my hands and in
believe in the sign in my hands and in that moment I really felt like giving up
but Bernie’s parting words kept ringing
but Bernie’s parting words kept ringing in my ear
in my ear
in my ear don’t get mad go home and run for office
I did both at first I got mad and I
I did both at first I got mad and I stayed mad and I didn’t leave the house
stayed mad and I didn’t leave the house
stayed mad and I didn’t leave the house for three days but on that third day
for three days but on that third day
for three days but on that third day instead of giving up I got up grabbed my
instead of giving up I got up grabbed my
instead of giving up I got up grabbed my clipboard put the rose back in my hair
clipboard put the rose back in my hair
clipboard put the rose back in my hair and decided once again to run for office
and decided once again to run for office
and decided once again to run for office and after a really short campaign with
and after a really short campaign with
and after a really short campaign with very little political experience and the
very little political experience and the
very little political experience and the odds stacked against me I was elected
odds stacked against me I was elected
odds stacked against me I was elected mayor of San Luis Obispo by 46 votes
after that election someone I had never
after that election someone I had never met before I came up to me and said wow
met before I came up to me and said wow
met before I came up to me and said wow you make me feel like literally anyone
you make me feel like literally anyone
you make me feel like literally anyone could be mayor
and I’d like to think that was a
and I’d like to think that was a compliment
because if I can be mayor you can be
because if I can be mayor you can be mayor and that means no matter what
mayor and that means no matter what
mayor and that means no matter what issues inspire us we can do literally
issues inspire us we can do literally
issues inspire us we can do literally anything so many of the things I have
anything so many of the things I have
anything so many of the things I have been fighting for for so long on the
been fighting for for so long on the
been fighting for for so long on the outside things people would tell me over
outside things people would tell me over
outside things people would tell me over and over again were impossible the city
and over again were impossible the city
and over again were impossible the city is now bringing to life we’ve committed
is now bringing to life we’ve committed
is now bringing to life we’ve committed to being a NetZero city which is a city
to being a NetZero city which is a city
to being a NetZero city which is a city that creates as much renewable energy as
that creates as much renewable energy as
that creates as much renewable energy as it takes to support all that live here
and for the first time in our history
and for the first time in our history climate action is one of our major city
climate action is one of our major city
climate action is one of our major city goals we’re fighting to create more
goals we’re fighting to create more
goals we’re fighting to create more affordable housing in the hopes of
affordable housing in the hopes of
affordable housing in the hopes of diversifying our city and we are a
diversifying our city and we are a
diversifying our city and we are a welcoming city which means that we stand
welcoming city which means that we stand
welcoming city which means that we stand in support of undocumented people here
we’ve created safe routes for cyclists
we’ve created safe routes for cyclists and have adopted a core philosophy of
and have adopted a core philosophy of
and have adopted a core philosophy of better relationships with both the
better relationships with both the
better relationships with both the campus and the community and yes we are
campus and the community and yes we are
campus and the community and yes we are fixing the potholes
yeah a potholes a community really gains
yeah a potholes a community really gains and strength by the ideas and intention
and strength by the ideas and intention
and strength by the ideas and intention intentions and character of its people
intentions and character of its people
intentions and character of its people engagement is an essential aspect to
engagement is an essential aspect to
engagement is an essential aspect to democracy and at a time when it is more
democracy and at a time when it is more
democracy and at a time when it is more difficult than ever to be politically
difficult than ever to be politically
difficult than ever to be politically engaged the people of San Luis Obispo is
engaged the people of San Luis Obispo is
engaged the people of San Luis Obispo is engagement is at an all-time high yeah
engagement is at an all-time high yeah
engagement is at an all-time high yeah [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] we often show up for one another when
we often show up for one another when
we often show up for one another when there’s been a disaster as we’ve seen in
there’s been a disaster as we’ve seen in
there’s been a disaster as we’ve seen in the aftermath of so many recent
the aftermath of so many recent
the aftermath of so many recent tragedies it’s in the everyday moments
tragedies it’s in the everyday moments
tragedies it’s in the everyday moments that we need to show up because standing
that we need to show up because standing
that we need to show up because standing in solidarity with people is more than
in solidarity with people is more than
in solidarity with people is more than just a sentiment it’s more than posting
just a sentiment it’s more than posting
just a sentiment it’s more than posting on Facebook
on Facebook
on Facebook solidarity takes action because
solidarity takes action because
solidarity takes action because ultimately solidarity is a verb it’s
ultimately solidarity is a verb it’s
ultimately solidarity is a verb it’s when immigrant children’s rights are
when immigrant children’s rights are
when immigrant children’s rights are threatened that we need to speak up for
threatened that we need to speak up for
threatened that we need to speak up for those whose voices are oppressed it’s
those whose voices are oppressed it’s
those whose voices are oppressed it’s when mosques are burned that we need to
when mosques are burned that we need to
when mosques are burned that we need to stand hand in hand with our Muslim
stand hand in hand with our Muslim
stand hand in hand with our Muslim friends to talk about what freedom
friends to talk about what freedom
friends to talk about what freedom really means it’s when people of color
really means it’s when people of color
really means it’s when people of color are killed across this country that we
are killed across this country that we
are killed across this country that we need to listen to their voices to
need to listen to their voices to
need to listen to their voices to understand what it looks like to support
understand what it looks like to support
understand what it looks like to support them and it’s when queer students in our
them and it’s when queer students in our
them and it’s when queer students in our own backyard are discriminated against
own backyard are discriminated against
own backyard are discriminated against that we need to step up and be active
that we need to step up and be active
that we need to step up and be active allies not silent bystanders and it’s
allies not silent bystanders and it’s
allies not silent bystanders and it’s also in our our elderly neighbor is
also in our our elderly neighbor is
also in our our elderly neighbor is alone
alone
alone and we bring her a cup of tea and
and we bring her a cup of tea and
and we bring her a cup of tea and conversation and it’s when we invite our
conversation and it’s when we invite our
conversation and it’s when we invite our friends and neighbors over to share meal
friends and neighbors over to share meal
friends and neighbors over to share meal around our table this is how we build a
around our table this is how we build a
around our table this is how we build a movement one cup of tea at a time the
movement one cup of tea at a time the
movement one cup of tea at a time the friendships I have made the
friendships I have made the
friendships I have made the relationships I have built and the
relationships I have built and the
relationships I have built and the unexpected moments of joy are now what
unexpected moments of joy are now what
unexpected moments of joy are now what bring meaning to my life because while
bring meaning to my life because while
bring meaning to my life because while we are building this movement this
we are building this movement this
we are building this movement this movement is building us people that take
movement is building us people that take
movement is building us people that take active and engage dances in their
active and engage dances in their
active and engage dances in their communities they make great elected
communities they make great elected
communities they make great elected officials they can get it done they can
officials they can get it done they can
officials they can get it done they can galvanize the community they are the
galvanize the community they are the
galvanize the community they are the consensus builders and the visionaries
consensus builders and the visionaries
consensus builders and the visionaries we need to make change showing up will
we need to make change showing up will
we need to make change showing up will lead us towards our true destiny towards
lead us towards our true destiny towards
lead us towards our true destiny towards the thing that we’re born to do we must
the thing that we’re born to do we must
the thing that we’re born to do we must show up maybe for you that’s showing up
show up maybe for you that’s showing up
show up maybe for you that’s showing up to a meeting or a conversation or a
to a meeting or a conversation or a
to a meeting or a conversation or a march maybe for you that’s stepping up
march maybe for you that’s stepping up
march maybe for you that’s stepping up to a board position in your organization
to a board position in your organization
to a board position in your organization or mentoring a young person maybe for
or mentoring a young person maybe for
or mentoring a young person maybe for you that’s looking at your life through
you that’s looking at your life through
you that’s looking at your life through the lens of social justice to be part of
the lens of social justice to be part of
the lens of social justice to be part of creating a more fair just and
creating a more fair just and
creating a more fair just and sustainable world maybe for you as it
sustainable world maybe for you as it
sustainable world maybe for you as it was for me it’s running for office this
was for me it’s running for office this
was for me it’s running for office this is where our stories will unfold this is
is where our stories will unfold this is
is where our stories will unfold this is how we create a life of purpose a life
how we create a life of purpose a life
how we create a life of purpose a life of meaning it doesn’t matter our age or
of meaning it doesn’t matter our age or
of meaning it doesn’t matter our age or gender or our experience it doesn’t
gender or our experience it doesn’t
gender or our experience it doesn’t matter whether we won or lost in fourth
matter whether we won or lost in fourth
matter whether we won or lost in fourth grade our potential doesn’t hinge on
grade our potential doesn’t hinge on
grade our potential doesn’t hinge on what we already know it hinges on what
what we already know it hinges on what
what we already know it hinges on what willing to do so when something speaks
willing to do so when something speaks
willing to do so when something speaks to you so deeply that you must act then
to you so deeply that you must act then
to you so deeply that you must act then act do the thing you can’t not do this
act do the thing you can’t not do this
act do the thing you can’t not do this is how we make the impossible the
is how we make the impossible the
is how we make the impossible the inevitable thank you
inevitable thank you
inevitable thank you [Applause]
”
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