Inauguration Weekend 2013...Part 1

During the Inauguration weekend of President Barack Obama, I swung by my Alma Mata, Howard University, on Saturday to check out “ACTION: Roundtable Political Forum” presented the Young and Powerful Group.

The main panel discussion featured Natalie Madeira Cofield, President  & CEO of the Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce in Austin; Daniel Hernandez, School Board Member, Arizona’s Sunnyside Unified School District; Malia Lazu, Executive Director of Future Boston; Justin G. Tanner, Obama Victory Fund 2012, National Finance Committee and others. The panel was moderated by Mayor Oliver Gilbert of Miami Gardens, Florida.  Grammy nominated Recording Artist Anthony David was a member of the audience.

Natalie Madeira Cofield with MzCEO.

Some of the topics discussed included keeping African-Americans excited about upcoming elections, both local and the presidential race as well as getting African-Americans that do not vote involved in the political process; placing young Black professionals at the table while policies that affect our communities are being made; choosing one issue each of us can work on once we left the panel and of course the significance of President Barack Obama’s winning a second term.

One line that put that fact into perspective came from Mayor Gilbert when he said:  This [presidential election] is historic the second time, we weren't mesmerized by a speech. It wasn't a ‘fluke’ this time. A majority of people voted for President Barack Obama again. 

MzCEO, Daniel Hernandez and MzCEO's twin sister, Stephanie

Hernandez reiterated the importance of voter registration drives not just at crunch time before an election but more importantly in the between time. He said “Don’t stop voter registration in the off year. Instead of working two months, work two years so that we have a better base for our future elections.” 

Furthermore, where will our new voters come from? Together Lazu and Cofield threw some controversial thoughts into the discussion. Lazu asked “How do we get the 11-year old prostitute excited about Barack and the political process?” She went on to stress that the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) needs to be stopped.

Cofield wondered if more voters are needed from Black communities and if some Black communities have a hierarchy with “dope boys” at the top, is it time to recognize the influence they have over some community members and get them involved in the political process.

That would be a very different approach to say the least. But if it will bring significant changes in our communities, it’s an option worth exploring.

After I attended a breakout workshop called “Womenmentum” which analyzed the impact of women’s vote in the 2012 election and beyond. Stacey Chavis, Chief Strategy Officer, Campaigns Academy; Kelley Robinson, Manager, Youth Organizing Public Policy Division; Angela R. Garretson, Council President in Hillside, NJ and Kellie Hawkins, Budget Analyst. This session was moderated by Amber English, a  HU classmate of mine from Howard who works for Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates.

The first question asked was how do we get more women involved in the political process?

Chavis strongly believes that for more women to be engaged in the political arena, they need to get trained.

She went on to say “Women don’t serve because we don’t see ourselves as leaders. Were wives, mothers, girlfriends. We serve in helping roles. Very rarely are we the number one. So we have to change the way we see ourselves.

“But I think one of the most important things we got to do is we have to ask women to run. We have to say I need you to run for city council. I need you to run for mayor, congress.”

Rightfully so especially considering that there are women leaders in communities of color already such block associations to parent teacher associations to church committees to business owner whether it be a beauty salon or restaurant.

Angela R. Garretson, Stacey Chavis, Kelley Robinson and Amber Adams.

However, Garretson said “I was one of the people [where] I did not need to be asked to run. Sometimes we sit at tables and we want to know if we can sit there. Don’t ask. Just sit there. ”

She went onto say that running in a campaign is not pretty but encouraged joining national political organizations for support.

“I would argue that the best thing that’s really helped shaped me and mold so much of the work I’ve done has been the national networks I’ve been associated with.” She thanks a mock campaign presented by the Congressional Black Caucus Boot Camp that took place before she became a councilwoman in 2004 since it showed her the mechanisms to making a campaign happen.

I was very excited to be surrounded by such inspired and informed women. I learned after the day's events that support and coming together under a common purpose could allow many changes to happen in our community.