Why I'm supporting the re-election of Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway

#GoodMorning?to you and yours!!! Yesterday, before hanging out with my son I had the opportunity to kick off?Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway 's announcement that she’s indeed running to be re-elected!

Those who know me well enough and I mean way back to when I first quit my job know the barriers that I encountered from folks in leadership over the years as I’ve simply worked to help folks get what they need to be more stable. From only being called when it was a Black “problem” vs being called when there was an opportunity to shift the city’s goals to better benefit households on the verge of homelessness — I was fed up and made a conscious decision to go off and lay the foundation for where you see me today (and where I’m heading).

So when people whom I have much respect for came to me a few years ago and asked if I would meet with Satya — they didn’t ask me to endorse her, they asked me to have a discussion with her. She met with me at the Center back in Fitchburg and what I remembered most is that she took notes. I shared what I/WE needed from a Mayor and I made a mental note of what I shared with her then.

I said to myself then that I would judge her leadership by how difficult or less difficult it made my work to support folks and for my own ability to grow in my leadership potential.

So, yesterday part of what I shared is: Q. Has her leadership made it more or less difficult to support those who seek out my support?

A. Definitely less difficult as witnessed by the ease I’ve had in reaching out to staff across the city of Madison’s various offices for answers when I find myself stuck. It’s necessary to have advocates across our city who understand the barriers folks are having to face around housing, transportation, hunger, and even simply having access to fun. From the men’s shelter to Mad Lit held annually on the top of State St., barriers have continued to be removed during her leadership and I’m looking forward to how that continues to look throughout her next term.”

Leading up to April I’ll share more about why I encourage you to vote for me, #MadisonForMadison, AND vote #SatyaForMayor!

Oh… also I’m a policy, data, and WI politics nerd so I don’t make decisions based on personal feelings — I make them with the next 20+ years in mind. Because of the ability for me/Black women especially to flourish long-term I have to evaluate my choices also with the future in mind…

Read more about the announcement: https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-mayor-satya-rhodes-conway-running-for-re-election/article_bfae4af2-6929-11ed-87cd-d3045f7aa3d2.html

#community #leadership #madisonwi #madisonwisconsin #vote