The Importance of Community: Reflecting on an Interview with City Councilwoman Yvonne Flowers

IMG_4963.jpeg

BY: KARA JENSEN, SUMMER 2020 COLLABORATOR AT POWER IN PLACE

A few months ago, on a chilly February morning, I drove down to a small park on the banks of the Hudson River in downtown Poughkeepsie, New York. The photoshoot was taking place in Waryas Park at the John M. Flowers Circle, and we were there that day with John Flowers’ daughter, Poughkeepsie City Councilwoman Yvonne Flowers. I was fortunate enough to be able to interview Councilwoman Flowers—my first time ever interviewing someone—and the experience utterly transformed the way that I thought of local government and community power. In our current political climate, I feel as though it is more important than ever to recognize the importance of local officials in building safe and inclusive communities. 

Councilwoman Flowers’ father, John, was the one who initially inspired and pushed her to get into politics in the first place. Renowned and beloved throughout Poughkeepsie and the larger Dutchess County area, John Flowers lived his life with the conviction that just one person can make a huge difference in someone’s life, and it brought him immense joy to help others in the community. He passed this conviction on to his children, as he actively involved them in his annual Easter Egg Hunts in Waryas Park, Father’s Day Parades, gift giving to veterans, and countless other community strengthening efforts. 

During her time as a City Councilwoman, Yvonne Flowers has put her community first; emphasizing the importance of community spaces and sports programs for kids, all while carrying on her father’s legacy and expanding the number of eggs involved in the annual Easter Egg Hunts to the tens of thousands. Last summer she set up a free basketball program for the kids of Poughkeepsie, who loved it so much that they begged her to continue the program into the school year. Councilwoman Flowers is so passionate about her job and uses her position and energy to build up her community and invest in the well-being and futures of the children. Her passion really shone through in the interview and it was such a privilege to be able to meet and talk with her. 

I interviewed Councilwoman Flowers in February, at a time when COVID-19 was not yet ravaging the United States and the murder of George Floyd had not yet sparked national outrage and protests across the country and world. Thus, we were not able to discuss many of the issues that people have been actively considering in recent weeks. However, as so much of my conversation with Councilwoman Flowers was about her and her family’s commitment to their community, I can’t help but connect her efforts to lift up her community to the larger conversation that is now taking place. As the Black Lives Matter movement has resurged at the forefront of national attention, many protestors and BLM supporters are calling to “Defund the Police.” In essence, this a call to divest the exorbitant amount of money that goes to police departments and invest instead directly into communities and essential services that have been largely neglected such as mental health care, housing, and education [1]. Many proponents of defunding the police want to dismantle law enforcement as we know it and instead invest in community approaches to create safer and more unified communities. I know that this is a huge issue and cannot be encompassed in just a few sentences, but I think the focus on investing resources into communities and ensuring that children have the freedom to join a basketball program and grow up safely is immensely important. 

 

Reference

[1] Andrew, Scottie. “There's a Growing Call to Defund the Police. Here's What It Means.” CNN. Cable News Network, June 16, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/06/us/what-is-defund-police-trnd/index.html.


IMG_2617.jpeg

Kara Jensen is a rising junior at Vassar College majoring in International Studies and minoring in Hispanic Studies and English. She is involved in the Vassar Alliance of Women in Foreign Affairs, Project Period, and is the Social Coordinator for her Disney-themed a cappella group. She is interested in international development, foreign policy, and human rights.

Why We Riot

BY: SOPHIA CASTEN, SUMMER 2020 COLLABORATOR AT POWER IN PLACE

As we move, sit, protest, and isolate through the 51st anniversary of Pride Month, it is imperative to call upon white and non-Black members of the LGBTQ+ community, like myself, to recognize the roots of our celebratory month and its relevance given the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. The recent riots that took place across the country in response to the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man in Minneapolis and many more people like him, have gained copious amounts of criticism across political parties and social identities including from members of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Though the criticism is widespread, it is imperative to remember that Pride month was created from a series of riots. Specifically, the Cooper Do-Nuts Riot, The Black Cat Tavern riot, Gene Compton’s Café Riot, and most famously, The Stonewall Riots. The culmination of these riots, which were often led by trans people of color, were in direct response to homophobic and transphobic police violence that plagued the LGBTQ+ community for decades prior to the rioting. It is really easy to forget about the beginnings of Pride when it is now a celebration trademarked with rainbows, sexual liberation, and nation-wide parades and not violence, criminalization, and blatant police brutality. 

I urge members of the LGBTQ+ community, including allies, to see the Black Lives Matter riots and protests happening now as a sign of a revolution that could turn into a celebration. Just as Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman, is hailed for throwing the first brick at Stonewall, we must hail the young leaders, mainly women of color, who continue to organize and fight back against racist police brutality. Many women politicians who have been outspoken about social justice issues from the beginning are urging all supporters and members of the LGBTQ+ community to support the Black Lives Matter movement in its entirety. 

New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (affectionately known as AOC), shared in a June 1st 2020 tweet that she, along with a few other politicians, introduced a resolution “calling on the FDA to allow gay and bisexual men to donate blood without discrimination.” During a global pandemic where blood donation is necessary and where Black people are disproportionately impacted by the virus, prohibiting members of the LGBTQ+ community from donating is “especially cruel.” Continuously, we are seeing Black and non-Black members of the LGBTQ+ community speak out against racial injustice while remembering the beginnings of Pride over 50 years ago. 

Activists have been diligent in sharing resources that folks can donate to/support, if able. Below is a list of organizations and groups that support Black LGBTQ+ rights. 

https://www.glitsinc.org/

https://transgenderlawcenter.org/support

https://marshap.org/donate/

https://my.truecolorsunited.org/give/118989/#!/donation/checkout


1.jpeg

Sophia Casten is a rising junior at Smith College majoring in Government with a certificate in Reproductive Health Rights and Justice. She is a Yoga teacher and a Community Health Organizer at the Smith Wellness Center and is passionate about spreading inclusive wellness practices. Sophia is interested in reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights advocacy, and public policy reform.

 


Drug Laws, Racism, and Women

BY: SOPHIE LOVERING, SUMMER 2020 COLLABORATOR AT POWER IN PLACE

Black Americans account for 30 percent of all drug-related arrests, even though only 12.5 percent of substance users are black [1]. Black and white Americans use substances at equal rates; however, black Americans are about six times more likely to be incarcerated for drug-related offenses than their white peers [1]. In court, prosecutors are twice as likely to pursue mandatory minimum sentences for black defendants than white defendants, and black defendants are less likely to evade these mandatory minimums [1]

In 1971, President Richard Nixon established the war on drugs, which in turn increased sentencing and enforcement actions for low-level drug offenses [1]. 15 years after Nixon’s presidency, Congress passed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, establishing mandatory minimum sentencing for drug-related offenses [2]. The increased criminalization of substance use tied with increased drug law enforcement led to the American phenomenon of mass incarceration. Since 1980, the number of American arrests for drug possession has tripled and today one-fifth of the prison population is serving time for a drug-related offense [1]

This mass incarceration has differentially impacted black Americans. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 included sentences for offenses involving crack cocaine, used more commonly by black Americans, that were one hundred times more severe than sentences for offenses involving the equally dangerous powder cocaine, used more often by white Americans [2]. As aforementioned, prosecutors are more likely to seek the mandatory minimum sentence for a black defendant than a white defendant even when the defendants are charged with the same crime [3]

Often, the criminal justice reform narrative has centered on men. It is also important to recognize how the war on drugs has affected women, and specifically women of color. Since the war on drugs and subsequent tough on crime initiatives, the number of female inmates in the United States has increased by 646 percent, which is nearly double the rate for men [4]. In 1988, Congress amended the Anti-Drug Abuse Act and applied mandatory minimum sentences to any member of a drug trafficking conspiracy; this includes activities such as “living where drugs are sold, being present during a drug sale, or counting money” [4]. Considering not only that women are expected to contribute to the household but also that women often remain in relationships with men involved with drugs because of fear of assault, women are frequently at a heightened and unfair risk of incarceration [4]

Black women are almost twice as likely as white women to be incarcerated for drug-related offenses, even though drug use occurs at similar rates across racial groups [5]. In addition to these continued racial disparities in sentencing, black women were unjustly labeled “welfare queens” in the 1980s [6]. Policymakers and the media depicted black women as unfeminine cheats who gave birth to “crack babies,” wrongly blaming them for the cause of the social and economic decline of the late 20th century [6]

Prejudiced people and laws have impacted not only how many people get arrested, but also who gets arrested. Drug law enforcement initiatives have targeted black Americans. Often, women who are in fact victims are incarcerated on conspiracy charges, and this disproportionately impacts black women. Unfair arrest practices and sentencing create cycles of not only poverty, but also racism, and perpetuate long-standing ills of American society. To address these wrongs, we must fundamentally amend drug laws and their enforcement practices and examine our own prejudices.

References

[1] Pearl, Betsy. “Ending the War on Drugs: By the Numbers.” Center for American Progress. June 27, 2018. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/criminal-justice /reports/2018/06/27/452819/ending-war-drugs-numbers/.

[2] HISTORY.COM Editors. “War on Drugs.” May 31, 2017. https://www.history.com/topics/crime/the-war-on-drugs#section_6.

[3] Drug Policy Alliance. “The Drug War, Mass Incarceration and Race.” January 25, 2018. http://www.drugpolicy.org/resource/drug-war-mass-incarceration-and-race-englishspanish.

[4] Mesic, Aldina. “Women and the War on Drugs.” Public Health Post. May 16, 2017. https://www.publichealthpost.org/research/women-and-the-war-on-drugs/.

[5] Drug Policy Alliance. “Women and the Drug War.” https://www.drugpolicy.org/issues/women-drug-war.

[6] Harris-Perry, Melissa. “The rest of the story: Black women and the War on Drugs.” The Undefeated. September 15, 2016. https://theundefeated.com/features/the-rest-of-story-black-women-and-the-her-story-of-the-war-on-drugs-jay-z-melissa-harris-perry-nyt/.


PIP.jpg

Sophie Lovering is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and minoring in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies. She has a passion for criminal justice reform and is involved in Beyond Arrests: Re-Thinking Systematic Oppression.

When Amazing Grace Finds You

An impromptu rendition of Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace by Councilwoman Adrienne Adams of New York City Council, 28th district. Art by Yang Sun.

BY: SHANIA THOMAS, SUMMER 2020 COLLABORATOR AT POWER IN PLACE

Last year, in an interview with us, Councilmember Adrienne Adams was asked what injustice angered her most. At that time, it was the Eric Garner case. This both surprised me yet was not shocking at all. What were the odds that this interview would mention the same injustice that has been so vividly brought to light over the last week: police brutality and the killing of innocent black people? That is, in turn, what surprised me the least. That even though we had just fought the battle for Garner, a battle fought and lost with the effective acquittal of Officer Pantaleo, we were here again fighting for the right to survive as black Americans.

As the sick irony of it began to subside to the same hopelessness I had felt since I saw the video of a man die from knee strangulation, the sweet sound of Amazing Grace began to play. It was Adam's voice echoing in the cathedral as she paid tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.

As she soared through the hymn, I couldn't help but feel calmed and renewed. This song of hope, salvation, and redemption pierced my broken heart. It is no wonder that all people across the nation, black, white, Christian, or not, feels the power of these words almost as if it were another national anthem. Perhaps its universality comes from us all knowing that each of us, just like our country and the institutions of which she is built, may be broken, but no one and nothing is beyond redemption. Change and the ability to be rescued from the storm of your own wrongdoings is not out of reach. The best is yet to come if we hold on to Grace.

Thinking about how a song that gave me hope for a better future was written by a slave trader turned theologian, a new irony presented itself. Is it not true that fantastic art, especially music, has such a transcending power in its ability to speak in ways that seemed impossible? As council member Adams said, music allowed her "to find [her] voice, not just as a singer, but as an advocate and an activist in [her] community." 

My hope is that we will all use our voices, in every form they come in, to bring about our country's redemption. In the same way, Adam's song helped me, we each have a gift that will give us amazing grace.

Video editing and art by Yang Sun. You can find more of her amazing work on her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlemomentsinart/


IMG_0118.jpg

Shania Thomas is a rising senior at Brandeis University majoring in Health Policy and Politics with minors in Social Justice Policy and Legal Studies. She is also an Associate Justice for the Student Union and a Central Massachusetts Organizing Lead for the Every Voice Coalition. She has a passion for all things healthcare and believes the injustices against Black Americans to be one of the greatest public health crises of her time.

Power in Place's Dedication to Racial Equality

Art by Yang Sun.

Art by Yang Sun.

By: Sophie Lovering, Summer 2020 Collaborator at Power in Place

Power in Place has dedicated 2020 as the year we celebrate women of color. In 1920, women were granted the right to vote; but not all women. Women of color and immigrant women continued to battle for voting rights. Thus, we have dedicated this summer to exploring this narrative and celebrating women of color in the political sphere. 

As evidenced by police brutality and inequality in our criminal justice system, America still has a long way to go in the fight for racial equality. Power in Place would like to bring attention to the systemic racism that perpetuates our society and provide resources should you have the means to donate or participate in some other way.

There are several actions you can take to participate in change. Donating, signing petitions, having meaningful discussions, considering your prejudices, and joining peaceful physical movements are all beneficial to yourself and your community. The link at the end of this post will direct you to a list of resources compiled by Power in Place collaborators. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should help if you are looking for direction. 

Power in Place will continue to uplift Black women in politics. Please continue to check our blog and social media accounts for further information. Click here to find the aforementioned resources.


PIP.jpg

Sophie Lovering is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and minoring in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies. She has a passion for criminal justice reform and is involved in Beyond Arrests: Re-Thinking Systematic Oppression.

Powerful Positions Dictated by our Mothers

BY: BELLA LEVAVI, SUMMER 2020 COLLABORATOR AT POWER IN PLACE

The women who come before us are what make us who we are today. The female role models in our lives show us all we can accomplish and empower us to achieve great feats. 

While looking through the role models of the women on our website, I found they all had feisty mothers and grandmothers that worked hard to create communities and help others. It is no coincidence that our mothers, aunts, and grandmothers are the first women we see interacting with the world because they dictate what we will accomplish later on. It is clear that these mothers put all the female politicians on our website in the positions they are today.

Maura Healey, Massachusetts Attorney General, said, “I remember my grandmother as the backbone of the family...[I] saw the power and strength of a woman for the first time first hand through that experience.” 

Maura Healey and many other women we interviewed saw these powerful women in their own lives, and said I can do that too, and took the power that they saw and turned it into positions in government. 

As a young woman myself, I see other women around me creating great undertakings whether it is running for office or doing other work to uplift the community. I use their power to give myself the confidence to keep their legacy going and work hard to create change. These stories of ancestors of hard working women are not just single journeys of going against the current, but a chain of women uplifting each other to create even greater good every generation to come.


image-asset.jpeg

Bella Levavi is a rising junior at Smith College majoring in Government and English. She is involved in Smith's newspaper the Sophian and the college radio station. She is passionate about vegetarian co-ops, writing, and social justice.

On Self-Advocacy

Photograph by Billy & Hells for Time Magazine.

Photograph by Billy & Hells for Time Magazine.

By: Sophie Lovering, Summer 2020 Collaborator at Power in Place

Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser represents Senate District 8; she did not begin her career in public service as an elected official, however. When she had her first child, Sam, she spent much of her time in intensive care units and hospitals. She began to notice that “the privileges that [she] had meant that he was making faster progress than other kids whose disabilities organically might not have been as severe.” This realization inspired her to begin advocating for young kids with disabilities. Since running for office, she has dedicated her professional career to advocating for people who have been hidden or separated from communities not only by continuing her disability rights advocacy, but also by representing individuals lost in the criminal justice and foster care systems. Best said by her son Sam, Senator Gelser is a role model because she protects others. 

Senator Gelser has done more than advocate for her son Sam and countless other individuals in Oregon, however. In 2017, Senator Gelser spoke up about sexual harassment and was later featured as one of Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” Silence Breakers. This path did not come without its difficulties. According to Senator Gelser, “it’s a lot harder to advocate for [yourself] than it is to advocate for other people.” Prior to breaking her silence, she had done work around domestic and sexual violence advocating for other people. She knew the steps involved in the process, and she knew what was to come, but it did not prepare her for what it felt like. As explained by Senator Gelser, it was uncomfortable to need to have her story affirmed and she began to question herself. “Did I perceive this the right way? Did I explain it the right way? Am I doing the wrong thing? Am I being too mean? Do I just lack a sense of humor? Nobody will ever like me again.” 

By sharing her story, Senator Gelser sparked important change in the Oregon Capitol. Her experience advocating for herself also taught her how to better advocate for others. Having a discussion about herself made her think differently about how she works with people on issues such as foster care and disability rights. She now asks herself: “Am I keeping those individuals centered and not inadvertently exploiting or pushing their stories in ways that are not helpful to them?” By becoming a self-advocate, Senator Gelser has improved not only her life but also the lives of those she represents. We can certainly agree with Sam that Senator Gelser is one of our favorite female role models.


PIP.png

Sophie Lovering is a junior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and minoring in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies. She has a passion for disability rights advocacy; she was involved in Best Buddies in high school, and in college she serves as the Vice President of Penn Special Olympics and as a hearing ally of the Philadelphia Deaf community.

Speaking with Council Woman Evelyn Clarke about Feminism and Blackness

BY: Hakima SmithStone, SUMMER 2020 COLLABORATOR AT POWER IN PLACE

I always refrained from speaking about feminism because I could never differentiate the movement from the definition. I believe that men and woman are equal so I guess I’m a feminist... but when I look at the feminist moment today, I don’t see a place for me, for women of color that is. When I arrived at college, my first year was my first time attending a predominantly white institution and I learned quickly that there is a difference between the way I as a black woman view womanhood, and the way my white female peers did. When I look back at my life I view it through a lens of race. I think about the way people have treated me because I’m black. I think about the things people have said to me about my hair and my skin. I revisit my old desires and the ways I understood beauty standards as a little black girl. Only then can I begin to understand the way that society has shaped me as a woman. This is where it all becomes blurry to me and I usually find myself asking “did this happen to me because I’m black or because I’m a woman?”

On the way to Port Ewen, New York, to meet town council woman Evelyn Clarke at the Sojourner Truth statue in Ulster County, I thought about the word “feminist” for most of the drive. I thought about Mrs. Clarke and wondered what her life has taught her about feminism, womanhood, blackness and what she was going to say during her interview. I’ve only been a black woman in America for a short amount of time at 21, so I was excited to discuss her experience as a black woman in this country as both a citizen and a politician. I was also a bit nervous that my experiences and options would differ from Clarke’s and that we wouldn’t have much in common because of our age difference.

Evelyn Clarke started off the interview kind of shy as we sat in her living room with all eyes on her. As I asked more and more questions she began to open up, she answered my questions and soon got lost in the memories of her childhood, family, and career. She explained to us her duties on the town council and the road that led her there and to the church. The image she painted of her childhood community in Corning, New York, of her father who became a civil rights leader in their neighborhood, pushed me to understand how much has changed in America as well as what hasn’t. I could see in her eyes that she was empowered by Sojourner Truth’s legacy and was proud of the Truth statue that stood tall in the center of her town. I learned about Truth’s childhood in slavery and how she became a freed woman who would go on to help the suffragettes and meet American heroes like Fredrick Douglass. I thought to myself, “everyone should know that many of the suffragettes only wanted the vote for white woman and that Truth fought against this by supporting both the suffragette movement and the abolitionist movement.” But this is not the feminist history most of us are taught in school. As our discussion moved from Evelyn’s life to Sojourner’s we found that Truth’s life represented the struggles of intersectionality for black women when it comes to feminism. Clarke explained that Truth was focused on survival and avoiding slavery while white women were focused on issues that Truth didn’t have time to be worried about. As our conversation went on I could see that there might be a generational divide amongst black women when it comes to the idea of feminism, but there is also a common thread that connects us. It’s the same thing that connects us to women like Sojourner Truth, it’s the desire to be a part and to attain self-validation and love.

Evelyn Clarke ended her interview by saying that black Americans have built America and deserve to be a part of all aspects of the country. She is a great example of a woman in politics who has worked hard to be a part of her community and ultimately a part of this country. She gives a voice to the people of her community.

clake+.jpg

Travels through Oklahoma

My recent Power in Place (PiP) travels through Oklahoma spanned from Valentine’s Day to Presidents’ Day (extremely fitting since PiP was conceived from my passion for political parity). In 5 days with much driving in-between, I was able to photograph and interview 9 female politicians and 4 nominees.

I was moved by the overall support, and respect they all shared for one another, regardless of party affiliation.

Booking the various electeds, I sent invites to a diverse group of female politicians. I was aiming for a range of age, race, party, and geographic settings. Not only was my vision fully realized by the Oklahoma women I featured, but I was moved by the overall support, and respect they all shared for one another, regardless of party affiliation. Often, the legislators would ask who signed onto the project and when I recalled the list, they would recount virtues rather than cast aspersions on character. To me, this is a hallmark of what makes women in politics so necessary. We are not weaker, or less scrupulous– –rather we are (on the whole) apt to appeal to civility over disparagement. During this polarizing time, I see the potential of women in politics as a beacon of hope pointing to a more measured dialog at the governing table.

 Power in Place enjoys spotlighting “firsts”––women electeds achieving historical milestones ––like Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, the first woman of color from Massachusetts to go to Washington.

 

Here are the PiP Firsts this month:

AV4A5218.jpg

Cherokee Nation Councilwoman Mary Shaw

PHOTOGRAPHED by the stream that runs into the lake near her home in Broken Arrow, OK

FIRST shoot of 2019 and my first Cherokee Nation woman featured.

SHOOT HIGHTLIGHT was learning from Mary that she taught Chief Wilma Mankiller (the first woman elected to serve as Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1985) how to use a cell phone.

 

Cherokee Nation Councilwoman Janees Taylor

PHOTOGRAPHED at the Saline Courthouse by the Spring House, Locust Grove, OK

FIRST participant to bring along 10 other women (now that’s devotion) to her shoot wearing the most brilliant traditional Native American dresses.

SHOOT HIGHTLIGHT was being surrounded by the swirl of colors from women of the Pocahontas Club and feeling the love and support the women share for each other.

AV4A5294-3.jpg

Tulsa City Councilwoman Crista Patrick

IMG_5328b.jpg

PHOTOGRAPHED at Tulsa State University

FIRST whimsical portrait in a theater costume department, where a rainbow of clothing options hung above us & they doubled as a lively backdrop to match Crista’s personality.

SHOOT HIGHTLIGHT was when Crista and her nominee, Stasha, told each other why they appreciate the other during the interview. Their relationship is clearly built on trust, respect and mutual gratitude. So beautiful to witness this amongst women of different generations.





State Representative Carol Bush

PHOTOGRAPHED at the cycling trail head of the Gathering Place in Tulsa, OK

Not my first shoot that incorporates bicycles into the office holder’s place of special meaning but my FIRST attempt to capture the spirit of will, dedication and strength of Rep Bush, who started an all-female cycling club, which has grown over the years to 200+ riders.

AV4A5459.jpg

SHOOT HIGHTLIGHT was witnessing the friendship that Carol engenders. Two cycling girlfriends showed up to lend a hand (and their bikes) on a damp, cold and dreary afternoon. They were more than accommodating and happy to help, even though their fingers were frozen to the bone throughout the shoot. 

Norman, OK Mayor Lynne Miller

Photo: Steve Sisney

Photo: Steve Sisney

PHOTOGRAPHED at the Bizzell Memorial Library at Oklahoma University

FIRST shoot conducted entirely in whispers. The Mayor chose the library’s Great Reading Room as her setting. It’s one of those traditional “old school” elegant study halls where any minor sound reverberates tenfold. So I had to be extra quiet directing Lynne while photographing her. 

SHOOT HIGHTLIGHT was the admiration I felt for Lynne for entering public service after retiring from teaching. She is able to serve her community with wisdom and experience.

 

State Represent Ajay Pittman & (Mom) State Senator Anastasia Pittman

PHOTOGRAPHED at the Oklahoma State Capital Building

FIRST mother & daughter elected duo for Power in Place. What a treat!!! Often legacy politics is a father-to-son hand down, but these two courageous souls bucked the national trend. 

289A9746.jpg

SHOOT HIGHTLIGHT was realizing that these two women are not only mother/daughter, but they are each other’s best friend, to the point where they would finish each other’s sentences. What made me chuckle the most was how physically they were in sync. Without any prompting from me, they would cross arms at the same time. In addition, when they first walked into the building, I mistook Anastasia for Ajay.

Oklahoma State Representative Nicole Miller

PHOTOGRAPHED at her home in Edmond, OK

289A0250a.jpg

Even though Rep Miller was the 2nd person on our Oklahoma roster with the last name “Miller,” she earned her individual distinction of being PiP’s FIRST female office holder to pull off a flawless mid-air split. She requested to be photographed with her son (who also inherited Nicole’s athletic prowess). So I suggested they jump around on their backyard trampoline. 

The shoot was also, PiP’s sweatiest portrait session due to all the physical exertion. I had Nicole and her son repeat many of their airborne poses, so I could get the framing just right. Bar none, the SHOOT HIGHTLIGHT was beholding the joy that Nicole’s son brings to her. 

 

Oklahoma County Commissioner Carrie Blumert

PHOTOGRAPHED on the steps of Oklahoma County Courthouse

It wasn’t the first time I’ve shot in front of a courthouse, but it was the FIRST shoot on which an elected official brought along her sister to personify their shared passion for criminal justice reform. As children, Carrie and her sister experienced first-hand the whims of a system that punishes those with metal health and substances abuse issues. Luckily their family received the support they needed, but they’ve seen too many people fall through the cracks.

SHOOT HIGHTLIGHT was being in the presence of a newly elected woman public office holder, who is absolutely energized by the possibilities of her new role as a public servant. Carrie’s positive disposition and dedication to the job makes one believe in the possibilities of government to change lives for the better through dedicated advocacy.

Carrie&Sis.jpg

Oklahoma City Councilwoman Nikki Nice

PHOTOGRAPHED at her alma mater, Northeast Academy in Oklahoma City

AV4A5943.jpg

Not only is Rep Nice genuinely nice, she is an ardent champion for her community. Her ward has always been her home, and, as a young woman, her high school was the center of her world. Nikki is the FIRST in her family to attend Northeast Academy, a school whose court-mandated integration in the 70s led to a racially diverse student body. As her mom always suspected, Nikki flourished magnificently at Northeast, even though initially she didn’t want attend a magnet school.

SHOOT HIGHTLIGHT was getting to know a humble, genuinely honorable soul. She does not put on any pretenses and her radiant smile makes one feel at ease. I also enjoyed hearing about her days as a radio personality before she ran for office.

 

Izzy Barry interviewing Commissioner Carrie Blumert, CK Morris interviewing Representative Nicole Miller, Stasha Cole interviewing Councilwoman Crista Patrick and Emily King interviewing Representative Carol Bush

Izzy Barry interviewing Commissioner Carrie Blumert, CK Morris interviewing Representative Nicole Miller, Stasha Cole interviewing Councilwoman Crista Patrick and Emily King interviewing Representative Carol Bush

When I left Oklahoma, I couldn’t believe my good fortune. Not only was I impressed by the women office holders, I was also inspired by the amazing young female nominees. So a big shout-out to PiP’s Women on the Rise, who not only assisted me during the portrait shoots but who also posed insightful interview questions to their nominators. It is these young female students that will help bridge us toward a more equitable society. So THANK YOU-- Izzy Barry, CK Morris, Stasha Cole, and Emily King--you are the BEST!!!!

 

Regina Bateson: Candidate for California's Congressional 4th District

Photograph by Katrina Hajagos.

Photograph by Katrina Hajagos.

I was talking to one of my former high school teachers trying to get him to run. He flipped it around and said you should actually run. You got the local roots, you got the national and international experience . . . But I said no.
I hope they remember ordinary people stood up and were able to make a difference… Something that motivated me to run for Congress is the fact that I have three kids. I know in the future they’re going to look back and say, “what did you do?”
There was an article recently about women who ran for the House of Delegates in Virginia, particularly looking at women with young children who ran there, so I read it with great interest. I was a little disappointed to see that …

Click here to find the web link Regina shared to continue the conversation.