women make up more than half the population in America yet we are one
population in America yet we are one
population in America yet we are one fifth of us representatives and senators
fifth of us representatives and senators
fifth of us representatives and senators we are only one out of four state
we are only one out of four state
we are only one out of four state legislators we are only six out of 50
legislators we are only six out of 50
legislators we are only six out of 50 governors and we are only 19% of Mayors
governors and we are only 19% of Mayors
governors and we are only 19% of Mayors in America break that down to women of
in America break that down to women of
in America break that down to women of color and people of color and it’s even
color and people of color and it’s even
color and people of color and it’s even less are we cultivating the next
less are we cultivating the next
less are we cultivating the next generation of women of color and people
generation of women of color and people
generation of women of color and people of color to be in the room where it
of color to be in the room where it
of color to be in the room where it happens to make sure that our voices are
happens to make sure that our voices are
happens to make sure that our voices are heard and our perspectives and lived
heard and our perspectives and lived
heard and our perspectives and lived experiences that we bring are
experiences that we bring are
experiences that we bring are represented to make good policy and if
represented to make good policy and if
represented to make good policy and if we’re not in the room where it happens
we’re not in the room where it happens
we’re not in the room where it happens is it going to be good policy I think
is it going to be good policy I think
is it going to be good policy I think Kim McMillan the Clarksville Tennessee
Kim McMillan the Clarksville Tennessee
Kim McMillan the Clarksville Tennessee mayor summed it up best when speaking to
mayor summed it up best when speaking to
mayor summed it up best when speaking to the New York Times about the recent
the New York Times about the recent
the New York Times about the recent scandals of sexual harassment and if
scandals of sexual harassment and if
scandals of sexual harassment and if you’ve been falling along even our own
you’ve been falling along even our own
you’ve been falling along even our own Springfield Capitol is dealing with this
Springfield Capitol is dealing with this
Springfield Capitol is dealing with this sexual harassment you need people at the
sexual harassment you need people at the
sexual harassment you need people at the table who can explain to them what the
table who can explain to them what the
table who can explain to them what the effect of their words are if there are
effect of their words are if there are
effect of their words are if there are no women to explain why that is sexist
no women to explain why that is sexist
no women to explain why that is sexist or why they can’t say that I don’t know
or why they can’t say that I don’t know
or why they can’t say that I don’t know if you can ever get people to understand
if you can ever get people to understand
if you can ever get people to understand that their words really do matter and
that their words really do matter and
that their words really do matter and their actions really do matter if women
their actions really do matter if women
their actions really do matter if women are not at the table or in the rooms
are not at the table or in the rooms
are not at the table or in the rooms then decisions about our lives are being
then decisions about our lives are being
then decisions about our lives are being made without us and to illustrate this
made without us and to illustrate this
made without us and to illustrate this point and the perspective that I now
point and the perspective that I now
point and the perspective that I now bring into my leadership role is to
bring into my leadership role is to
bring into my leadership role is to share a little bit about myself
share a little bit about myself
share a little bit about myself I’m from Granite City Illinois born and
I’m from Granite City Illinois born and
I’m from Granite City Illinois born and raised this is my childhood home it’s a
raised this is my childhood home it’s a
raised this is my childhood home it’s a town of about 30,000 people once home to
town of about 30,000 people once home to
town of about 30,000 people once home to three still factories now sadly idling
three still factories now sadly idling
three still factories now sadly idling at one my dad still to this day a union
at one my dad still to this day a union
at one my dad still to this day a union painter proudly stripes our streets my
painter proudly stripes our streets my
painter proudly stripes our streets my mother who worked for a non-profit for
mother who worked for a non-profit for
mother who worked for a non-profit for over 20 years helping our youth and
over 20 years helping our youth and
over 20 years helping our youth and after-school programs
after-school programs
after-school programs but with the first state budget impasse
but with the first state budget impasse
but with the first state budget impasse sadly lost her job as she was the first
sadly lost her job as she was the first
sadly lost her job as she was the first to go because she did not have a college
to go because she did not have a college
to go because she did not have a college degree but they were never better
degree but they were never better
degree but they were never better always resilient always wanted their
always resilient always wanted their
always resilient always wanted their children to have better opportunities
children to have better opportunities
children to have better opportunities than they did so they sacrifice so that
than they did so they sacrifice so that
than they did so they sacrifice so that their kids would have more and they
their kids would have more and they
their kids would have more and they taught us how to treat people with
taught us how to treat people with
taught us how to treat people with respect and how we want to be treated to
respect and how we want to be treated to
respect and how we want to be treated to stay grounded in our faith and to make
stay grounded in our faith and to make
stay grounded in our faith and to make sure that we always gave back to our
sure that we always gave back to our
sure that we always gave back to our communities and to people for the
communities and to people for the
communities and to people for the opportunities we received so I went on
opportunities we received so I went on
opportunities we received so I went on to college the University of Illinois
to college the University of Illinois
to college the University of Illinois first my family to graduate college and
first my family to graduate college and
first my family to graduate college and from there I signed up for an internship
from there I signed up for an internship
from there I signed up for an internship for a local judges race and it was there
for a local judges race and it was there
for a local judges race and it was there where I actually saw where people ran
where I actually saw where people ran
where I actually saw where people ran for office to effect change in their
for office to effect change in their
for office to effect change in their community and that’s where I was first
community and that’s where I was first
community and that’s where I was first exposed to actually that public service
exposed to actually that public service
exposed to actually that public service could be a career however as I moved on
could be a career however as I moved on
could be a career however as I moved on in my career at 25 working with Senate
in my career at 25 working with Senate
in my career at 25 working with Senate President John Cullerton the Senate
President John Cullerton the Senate
President John Cullerton the Senate Democrats to bring elections in 2010 and
Democrats to bring elections in 2010 and
Democrats to bring elections in 2010 and victories in 2010 to 28 being Senator
victories in 2010 to 28 being Senator
victories in 2010 to 28 being Senator Durbin’s campaign manager running a ten
Durbin’s campaign manager running a ten
Durbin’s campaign manager running a ten million dollar budget and a state
million dollar budget and a state
million dollar budget and a state statewide campaign to age 30 becoming
statewide campaign to age 30 becoming
statewide campaign to age 30 becoming mayor Emmanuel’s
mayor Emmanuel’s
mayor Emmanuel’s second female legislative director in
second female legislative director in
second female legislative director in the history of Chicago I’m talking 1837
the history of Chicago I’m talking 1837
the history of Chicago I’m talking 1837 people and the first Latina to at 32
people and the first Latina to at 32
people and the first Latina to at 32 at 30 my time I got to go at 30 to being
at 30 my time I got to go at 30 to being
at 30 my time I got to go at 30 to being the second female to hold this office at
the second female to hold this office at
the second female to hold this office at City Clerk of Chicago the second female
City Clerk of Chicago the second female
City Clerk of Chicago the second female and second Latina but as I moved along
and second Latina but as I moved along
and second Latina but as I moved along in my career I noticed that less and
in my career I noticed that less and
in my career I noticed that less and less women were in the room and women of
less women were in the room and women of
less women were in the room and women of color were in the room at the table on
color were in the room at the table on
color were in the room at the table on the political side and the government
the political side and the government
the political side and the government side and I want to share one short story
side and I want to share one short story
side and I want to share one short story to illustrate this further in 2014 I was
to illustrate this further in 2014 I was
to illustrate this further in 2014 I was not only running senator Durbin’s
not only running senator Durbin’s
not only running senator Durbin’s campaign but I was also in charge of
campaign but I was also in charge of
campaign but I was also in charge of putting together the Democratic strategy
putting together the Democratic strategy
putting together the Democratic strategy to get Democrats from the top of the
to get Democrats from the top of the
to get Democrats from the top of the ticket to the bottom of the ticket
ticket to the bottom of the ticket
ticket to the bottom of the ticket elected and I was super excited I was
elected and I was super excited I was
elected and I was super excited I was building coalitions I was trying to herd
building coalitions I was trying to herd
building coalitions I was trying to herd the cats I was building the plan and we
the cats I was building the plan and we
the cats I was building the plan and we were ready we were prepared and the
were ready we were prepared and the
were ready we were prepared and the sitter senator asked me to come along to
sitter senator asked me to come along to
sitter senator asked me to come along to a meeting to talk about this plan and
a meeting to talk about this plan and
a meeting to talk about this plan and strategy with the governor the Speaker
strategy with the governor the Speaker
strategy with the governor the Speaker of the House and the Senate President I
of the House and the Senate President I
of the House and the Senate President I remember being so excited to be part of
remember being so excited to be part of
remember being so excited to be part of this meeting and walking in and taking
this meeting and walking in and taking
this meeting and walking in and taking my place at the table and I’m ready and
my place at the table and I’m ready and
my place at the table and I’m ready and I’m organized I’m prepared and noticing
I’m organized I’m prepared and noticing
I’m organized I’m prepared and noticing again I’m the only woman at the table
again I’m the only woman at the table
again I’m the only woman at the table and woman of color but watsonater Durbin
and woman of color but watsonater Durbin
and woman of color but watsonater Durbin did for me at that moment with that he
did for me at that moment with that he
did for me at that moment with that he gave me the space and opportunity to
gave me the space and opportunity to
gave me the space and opportunity to become a leader he let me run that
become a leader he let me run that
become a leader he let me run that meeting as an ally with him but I was
meeting as an ally with him but I was
meeting as an ally with him but I was ready to step into that moment and seize
ready to step into that moment and seize
ready to step into that moment and seize that opportunity and I did not
that opportunity and I did not
that opportunity and I did not disappoint
disappoint
disappoint I brought the perspectives of the girl
I brought the perspectives of the girl
I brought the perspectives of the girl from Granite City in the Latina here in
from Granite City in the Latina here in
from Granite City in the Latina here in Chicago to that room those perspectives
Chicago to that room those perspectives
Chicago to that room those perspectives were the success of that plan and
were the success of that plan and
were the success of that plan and because that we won in 2014 and I think
because that we won in 2014 and I think
because that we won in 2014 and I think it’s often this story and these moments
it’s often this story and these moments
it’s often this story and these moments that have helped get me to where I am
that have helped get me to where I am
that have helped get me to where I am today and it’s the qualities about the
today and it’s the qualities about the
today and it’s the qualities about the leadership that we must build and as I
leadership that we must build and as I
leadership that we must build and as I go ahead and now this new position of
go ahead and now this new position of
go ahead and now this new position of leadership I think about what is it as a
leadership I think about what is it as a
leadership I think about what is it as a leader that I need to be well we as
leader that I need to be well we as
leader that I need to be well we as leaders all in this room need to be
leaders all in this room need to be
leaders all in this room need to be intentional we need to be intentional
intentional we need to be intentional
intentional we need to be intentional about finding that diverse talent
about finding that diverse talent
about finding that diverse talent because there are more a novelette CEA’s
because there are more a novelette CEA’s
because there are more a novelette CEA’s out there that are ready
out there that are ready
out there that are ready that are organized that are prepared and
that are organized that are prepared and
that are organized that are prepared and just need that moment an opportunity
just need that moment an opportunity
just need that moment an opportunity that Senator Durbin gave to me to lead
that Senator Durbin gave to me to lead
that Senator Durbin gave to me to lead we are not unicorns and we have to meet
we are not unicorns and we have to meet
we are not unicorns and we have to meet these these next Millennials out there
these these next Millennials out there
these these next Millennials out there we have to help them find the door of
we have to help them find the door of
we have to help them find the door of opportunity when they don’t even know a
opportunity when they don’t even know a
opportunity when they don’t even know a door exists and then we have to bring
door exists and then we have to bring
door exists and then we have to bring them along and power them and let their
them along and power them and let their
them along and power them and let their voice matter at the table and to the
voice matter at the table and to the
voice matter at the table and to the Millennial leaders here today my
Millennial leaders here today my
Millennial leaders here today my generation we also need to cultivate our
generation we also need to cultivate our
generation we also need to cultivate our talent we need to make sure that we are
talent we need to make sure that we are
talent we need to make sure that we are preparing ourselves and organized and
preparing ourselves and organized and
preparing ourselves and organized and ready when those moments come and we
ready when those moments come and we
ready when those moments come and we need to seize them and we need to
need to seize them and we need to
need to seize them and we need to continue to hustle for these
continue to hustle for these
continue to hustle for these opportunities as well and we have to
opportunities as well and we have to
opportunities as well and we have to stop texting and start talking and
stop texting and start talking and
stop texting and start talking and having dialogues and discussions with
having dialogues and discussions with
having dialogues and discussions with people that we want to be and make them
people that we want to be and make them
people that we want to be and make them notice us and help them get us ready and
notice us and help them get us ready and
notice us and help them get us ready and I love a good protest but we also have
I love a good protest but we also have
I love a good protest but we also have to participate we have to get inside the
to participate we have to get inside the
to participate we have to get inside the room because when we get inside those
room because when we get inside those
room because when we get inside those room that’s where the magic happens
room that’s where the magic happens
room that’s where the magic happens that’s when we are making policies that
that’s when we are making policies that
that’s when we are making policies that will positively impact our communities
will positively impact our communities
will positively impact our communities and here in Chicago in the last few
and here in Chicago in the last few
and here in Chicago in the last few years we have really made progress and
years we have really made progress and
years we have really made progress and finding and cultivating leaders that
finding and cultivating leaders that
finding and cultivating leaders that reflect our communities and just I think
reflect our communities and just I think
reflect our communities and just I think in Chicago the work we’ve done here can
in Chicago the work we’ve done here can
in Chicago the work we’ve done here can be a national model and a state in
be a national model and a state in
be a national model and a state in something for our state and other cities
something for our state and other cities
something for our state and other cities to look to in the last few years we now
to look to in the last few years we now
to look to in the last few years we now have our first black female Cook County
have our first black female Cook County
have our first black female Cook County State’s Attorney the only female of
State’s Attorney the only female of
State’s Attorney the only female of color at a hundred and two counties in
color at a hundred and two counties in
color at a hundred and two counties in Illinois we now have an asian-american
Illinois we now have an asian-american
Illinois we now have an asian-american US Senator in DC representing our state
US Senator in DC representing our state
US Senator in DC representing our state and we now have a Latino leading city
and we now have a Latino leading city
and we now have a Latino leading city colleges who is focusing our youth on
colleges who is focusing our youth on
colleges who is focusing our youth on college to careers and we now have a
college to careers and we now have a
college to careers and we now have a black female leading rural business
black female leading rural business
black female leading rural business Chicago focusing on getting global
Chicago focusing on getting global
Chicago focusing on getting global corporations to move to Chicago and can
corporations to move to Chicago and can
corporations to move to Chicago and can anyone dispute that these institutions
anyone dispute that these institutions
anyone dispute that these institutions are stronger now because we have leaders
are stronger now because we have leaders
are stronger now because we have leaders that have lived experiences and know and
that have lived experiences and know and
that have lived experiences and know and understand that the people they serve
understand that the people they serve
understand that the people they serve because they once were the people that
because they once were the people that
because they once were the people that they now serve that is what’s going to
they now serve that is what’s going to
they now serve that is what’s going to make this country stronger that’s what’s
make this country stronger that’s what’s
make this country stronger that’s what’s going to unite this country and so we
going to unite this country and so we
going to unite this country and so we must ask what’s at stake if we don’t do
must ask what’s at stake if we don’t do
must ask what’s at stake if we don’t do this if we aren’t being intentional
this if we aren’t being intentional
this if we aren’t being intentional about finding these leaders out there
about finding these leaders out there
about finding these leaders out there and cultivating them empowering them and
and cultivating them empowering them and
and cultivating them empowering them and giving them their leadership roles then
giving them their leadership roles then
giving them their leadership roles then in the next 30 years we’re going to
in the next 30 years we’re going to
in the next 30 years we’re going to still have the same fight we do Frings
still have the same fight we do Frings
still have the same fight we do Frings income equality and we’re gonna still
income equality and we’re gonna still
income equality and we’re gonna still have the same fight 30 years now on
have the same fight 30 years now on
have the same fight 30 years now on sexual harassment and 30 years from now
sexual harassment and 30 years from now
sexual harassment and 30 years from now we’re gonna still be fighting for access
we’re gonna still be fighting for access
we’re gonna still be fighting for access to affordable childcare many barriers
to affordable childcare many barriers
to affordable childcare many barriers that women and women of color face to
that women and women of color face to
that women and women of color face to get to the top of the leader so I ask
get to the top of the leader so I ask
get to the top of the leader so I ask you today to ask yourself what you’re
you today to ask yourself what you’re
you today to ask yourself what you’re doing to cultivate the next talent and
doing to cultivate the next talent and
doing to cultivate the next talent and that’s what’s at stake thank you
”
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