Will the highest political glass ceiling in the United States finally break?
Musings of the Month
Will the highest political glass ceiling in the United States finally break?
When Kamala Harris became our 49th vice president, she made history by becoming our highest-ranking woman federal official. Previously, Harris served as a U.S. senator from California (2017-21) after serving as the state’s attorney general.
Harris is not only the first woman U.S. vice president, but also the first African American and first Asian-American to serve in that role. Only two other women have ever tried to become vice president of the United States: Geraldine Ferro in 1984 and Sarah Palin in 2008.
Now, we are once again watching history in the making. In the 248 years since our Declaration of Independence was ratified, the U.S. has never had a woman president. In fact, only three women have ever run for president: Shirley Anita Chisholm in 1972, Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2016, and now, in 2024, Kamala Devi Harris.
This election is also historic in that it presents an opportunity to rebuke Project 2025, which is a radical plan that has the potential to take our country down a path to autocracy that will take away rights and benefits from many people. Regardless of your political affiliation, it is the voters - you and me - who will determine the outcome of this election. By the time you are reading this newsletter - if you “gobble it up” as soon as it hits your in-box - there will be roughly 5 weeks remaining before one of the most consequential presidential elections of our lifetime on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. Americans have an opportunity to make a huge impact in this election. Please join all of us at data2insight to make your voices heard by voting and helping everyone you can to exercise their right to vote!
So let your voice be heard! AND encourage everyone you know to do the same up and down your ballot. Remember, local races are just as important as national races.
September Resource Highlight
Help!! I need info about voting in my area!
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. They inform voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels.
At VOTE411 you will find Personalized Voting Information specifically for wherever you live in the country.
✔ See What's On Your Ballot
✔ Check Your Voter Registration
✔ Find Your Polling Place
✔ Discover Upcoming Debates In Your Area
Book Spotlight
The Art of Power by Nancy Pelosi
The most powerful woman in American political history tells the story of her transformation from housewife to House Speaker—how she became a master legislator, a key partner to presidents, and the most visible leader of the Trump resistance.
In The Art of Power, Pelosi describes for the first time what it takes to make history—not only as the first woman to ascend to the most powerful legislative role in our nation, but to pass laws that would save lives and livelihoods, from the emergency rescue of the economy in 2008 to transforming health care. She describes both the perseverance, persuasion, and respect for her members that it took to succeed, and the joy of seeing America change for the better. Among the best-prepared and hardest working Speakers in history, Pelosi worked to find common ground and stand her ground with presidents from Bush to Biden. She also shares moving moments with soldiers sent to the front lines, women who inspired her, and human rights activists who fought by her side.
Her moral courage prepared her for the arrival of Trump, with whom she famously tangled, becoming a red-coated symbol of resistance to his destructive presidency. Here, she reveals how she went toe-to-toe with Trump, leading up to January 6, 2021, when he incited violence against Congress and attempted to interfere with the peaceful transition of presidential power. Pelosi gives us her personal account of that day. And she shares the horrifying day that her husband, Paul, was viciously attacked and the traumatic aftermath for her and her family.
The woman who has been lauded by her opposition as “the most powerful Speaker ever” shows us why she is not afraid of a good fight. The Art of Power is about the fighting spirit that has always animated her, and the historic legacy that spirit has produced.
#SelfCareCorner
5 Types of Self-Care for Every Area of Your Life
Self-care is a conscious act people take to promote their physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. It helps us build resilience to face the stressors we can't eliminate.
When you take steps to care for your mind and body, you'll be better equipped to live your best life.
Many of us view self-care as a luxury rather than a priority. So we often feel overwhelmed, tired, and ill-equipped to meet life's challenges. It is important from time to time to assess how you're caring for yourself.
How are you caring for yourself on these dimensions?
Physical
Social
Mental
Spiritual
Emotional
What’s new @data2insight?
Our Washington LGBTQ+ Survey research team recently shared the Year 1 report with the Washington LGBTQ+ Commission. We have over 3,000 survey completions and have the ambitious goal of reaching 10,000 by January 31, 2025.
You can help us reach that goal by sharing this survey link with your networks, companies, and neighbors at least once a month between now and January. It takes a few reminders before folx complete the survey. The more people we hear from, the more powerful the story we share with state officials will be. Thank you for your support.
Year 1 Washington LGBTQ+ Survey highlights
Researchers, Commissioners, and Commission staff grounded the study in the culturally responsive and equitable practices of connecting around why this work is important to us individually and agreed on what we wanted to bring to the community of learning and how we wanted to show up together.
Survey design, building, and testing included a wide variety of people and groups to shape the survey, including 30 testers from inside and outside the state. The study was approved by the Washington State Institutional Review Board and launched in English, Spanish, and Chinese as scheduled on June 1, 2024.
The Research Team and Commission staff, with Commissioner support, attended 30+ events statewide between June 1 and August 17. Outreach and dissemination efforts have been made with scores of businesses, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies.
Next steps are to print postcards and questionnaires in Spanish and Chinese and leverage PR/ad and research firms to grow the sample and increase representation of Latine/x and Asian, Southeast Asian, and Asian American communities, seniors, and Two-Spirit and Indigenous communities.
