Advocating for Political Wellness Worldwide with Penny Abeywardena

People Power with Irene Godinez

Irene is an expert in building people-power, engaging and empowering immigrant communities and reproductive justice. She is on the front lines of the fight for our democracy in North Carolina where — just five days before recording! - the State Supreme ruled to push back the state’s primaries due the partisan drawing of redistricting maps [https://www.npr.org/2021/12/08/1062542865/north-carolina-delays-2022-primaries-to-give-redistricting-challenges-more-time]. Tune in for a discussion on empowerment and current issues.

Advocating for Political Wellness Worldwide with Penny Abeywardena

Erin chats with Penny Abeywardena, the first woman of color and immigrant to serve as commissioner of international affairs for New York City. They will discuss the global connectedness of New York City and the UN and democracies around the world, the creation of the NYC Junior Ambassadors program [https://www1.nyc.gov/site/international/programs/nyc-junior-ambassadors.page], and the need for diversity and inclusion in all decision making

Building Power with AAPI Women and Girls with Sung Yeon Choimorrow

Erin talks with Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director at National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, about increasing the political power of Asian American and Pacific Islander women, NAPAWF’s deep approach to investing in community and what they’ve learned that you need to know.

Moms Getting it Done with Liuba Grechen Shirley

For this episode, Erin sits down with Founder and CEO of Vote Mama, Liuba Grechen Shirley, who in 2018 petitioned the Federal Election Commission, and became the first woman to receive federal approval to spend Campaign Funds on Childcare. Since that ruling, 51 federal candidates and more than 60 state candidates have used their campaign funds to pay for childcare. Erin and Liuba will discuss policies that help create gender equity in politics today -- like family leave hanging in the balance -- and how we can break the institutional barriers moms face while running for office. Learn how Vote Mama is working hard to give voice to the issues that moms are silently facing and bring visibility to the solutions that working families need.

Leading by Example with Rep. Joyce Mason

Erin Vilardi sits down with Illinois State Representative Joyce Mason who — after beating a two-term incumbent in 2018 — has been a vocal advocate for reproductive rights. Most recently, she co-sponsored “The EXpanding Abortion Services Act” aka The TEXAS Act, which would allow $10k bounties on sexual abusers and those who cause unwanted pregnancies.