Welcome to our Historic Firsts series, where historic first lawmakers will tell us how their identities have informed their work in local and state politics — and why it matters to us all.
“The problem is that for far too long, our legislative bodies have failed to reflect the diverse communities they serve. Until recently, most policymakers were wealthy white men and the laws they passed reflected their lived experiences, not ours." —Irene Shin in her must-read Historic Firsts op-ed.
John, we’re seeing it every day — state legislatures are growing more powerful.
Critical and life-altering policies, including abortion access, trans rights, voting rights, and fair wages and conditions for working people and families are increasingly coming from often-overlooked state legislatures rather than Washington, DC.
Fortunately, we bucked historical trends in 2022 and built significant power in our states. Now is the perfect time to tell resonant, meaningful stories about the power and promise of progressive state leaders.
In partnership with Teen Vogue, our Historic Firsts series uplifts inspiring, historic firsts among recently elected state lawmakers with a focus on women, people of color, young folks, LGBTQIA+ folks, and folks from nontraditional backgrounds.
This month in Historic Firsts, the Virginia Assembly's first female Korean-American lawmaker Irene Shin shares the real importance of having representatives who look like their constituents.
Click here to read the powerful op-ed.
Here’s an excerpt:
When I was elected in 2021, we had the most diverse, first women-majority Democratic caucus in our state’s history. I’m proud to be part of Virginia’s transition to a place where younger women with diverse lived experiences can lead.
It isn’t lost on me that the work I do, the weight of the office I hold, and my own identity as the first Korean American woman in the General Assembly, are all against the backdrop of Richmond being the capital of the Confederacy and Virginia being home to the first permanent English settlement in North America. When the Founding Fathers imagined the future of their nation, I would never have been part of that vision.
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Read Irene’s op-ed with Teen Vogue by clicking here — and then join us in lifting up the voices of historic first lawmakers by forwarding this email to your friends and family.
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When we lift up our voices and stories together, we have the power to push for the future we all deserve and inspire voters and the next generation to get excited about states and state leaders.
That’s the core of our work at Sister District — and that’s why we’re highlighting the stories of bold, historic first legislators like Irene in Virginia and others across the country.
Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more next month!
Gaby Goldstein, Co-Founder
Sister District
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Before you go…
Sister District’s mission is to imagine, build, and expand progressive power in state legislatures, and we know that organizing around elections is just one piece of the puzzle.
That’s why we’re amplifying the voices of local lawmakers, educating the public about the importance of state leaders and policies, and inspiring folks to deepen their civic engagement — especially locally and down-ballot.
There is power in storytelling, and the more people we bring into this fight, the more powerful our movement will become.
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