When I was a kid, pro-choice made so much sense to me, like, of course I should be able to make my own choices about my body. As I got older and started getting into politics, I began to realize how much that right was being threatened, and it really influenced my politics… then when Roe v. Wade fell, it really influenced my motivation to run.

My life has changed since I’ve been in recovery. I started schooling and working as an alcohol and drug counselor. I am going to graduate with a social work degree. I’m a first-time home buyer. All these good things I did in the healing process. I found my voice. I found the things that are important to me. As soon as I got the letter in the mail that said that I could vote again and could run for office, I was like, “That’s the next step”. It was funny because at the same time my friend had messaged me…

Everyone who runs for office is putting themselves out there, and that only increases for women, for young people, and especially for people of color. When people step up to run, we’ve got to have their backs. Otherwise, we’re missing out on quality people who have so much to offer their communities.

If anything, the past couple of months have shown that democracy isn’t guaranteed. We have to tend to it and care for it — we can’t take it for granted. And we can’t take our rights and our own reproductive healthcare for granted.

When we talk about equity, it is not the icing on the cake — something extra, something additional. It has to be the butter in the cake, embedded in how we do our work. I want to help my colleagues be intentional about doing our work through a race equity lens.

It is time for us, not to intentionally inflame the other side, but to make sure we’re doing everything in the law to protect people’s reproductive freedom… it’s time for us to get rid of barriers, and make sure people think of abortion care and reproductive care as healthcare — because they are.

I’m thankful for the women around me and the leaders across our state who are looking at this crisis with unique perspectives. Women are asking important questions… Women are looking to work together, come together, and make the situation better for everybody. There are bumpy spots ahead, but we will persevere and come out strong.

We have a number of women running for President and, while they still face a bigger uphill challenge than the men running, we can see [sexism] and we are more prepared to talk about it. The sunlight helps us. These conversations are uncomfortable, but it’s how we clear the path.