05/11/2024
Let’s talk about pain, purpose, and politics for a moment. In 2018, I nearly died while giving birth to my daughter and was treated horribly in the process. I launched as a way to discuss Black maternal health and to connect with and listen to other moms’ stories. That podcast has taken me all the way to the State Capitol, White House, and back. I’ve advised Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s team on Black maternal health policies, and for the past three years, I’ve worked in my current role implementing the strategic plan for children and families with Gov. Walz and LG Peggy Flanagan.
I could have easily complained about not being listened to as a Black mother and given up hope, but instead, I took my pain and turned it into purpose. The two people running for President and Vice President are individuals who gave me—a mom who wasn’t even listened to during childbirth—a seat at the table to make a difference for other mothers, children, and families.
For those who are undecided, consider this: there’s space, room, and opportunity for the issues you care about to become priorities for your elected officials. I encourage you to choose candidates who have demonstrated a history of listening, inclusion, and amplifying the voices of those historically unheard. I hope today that you vote, and I hope tomorrow you continue to push through your pain toward purpose.
