I’ll be the first to tell you that there’s a big difference between a discussion and actual policy change. That said, when you get the right people in a room, you can plant the seeds to do something truly special.
That’s exactly what happened Sep. 22 during the Fireside for City Council “Run, Empower, Lead” panel. I was happy to be a special guest for this conversation on empowering underrepresented women in local government that featured author, business coach, and certified badass Annie Weller, as well as Rep. Andrea Salinas, LOSD School Board member Neelam Gupta, Lake Oswego High School alum Camryn Leland and, of course, LO City Council candidate Melissa Fireside.
Some highlights of the discussion included Weller’s newfound interest in moving to LO and Leland expressing her interest in running for office in town after college. While it might not seem dramatic to some reading this, please believe that there’s a lot of white LO residents quivering in their boots and shaking their brunch tables at the thought of more people of color exerting their power. I hope candidates like Melissa and others continue to give them something to fear. Watch the full video below.