John, 

Today is Juneteenth and I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect on this occasion and give you an important update on Emerge’s work to achieve fair representation at every level of our government.

We can’t afford to let the meaning of this day fall out of focus. After the Emancipation Proclamation, the news that slavery had been abolished was deliberately withheld from enslaved Black Americans across the South. It was more than a century later that all Black Americans won the right to vote. And now, all these decades later, that right is under attack again. That's why we chose the theme "Defenders of Democracy” for our annual Emerge event for the second year running. We showcased the incredible Emerge alums who have been protectors of our fundamental rights and champions of progressive change at all levels of government.

As Emerge’s first Black woman president, I’m proud to lead an organization dedicated to changing the face of power, politics, and leadership in our country – so we can achieve policies that address the lived experience of all our communities. To that end, we must empower more Black women to lead at every level of office – from school boards to the U.S. Congress – and continue to support committed changemakers in our communities across the South.

Juneteenth is a reminder that real and lasting change won’t happen overnight, and an important opportunity to look clear-eyed at the state of our democracy right now. We must pay close attention to the ongoing battles for fairness, equity, and meaningful representation at every level of our government. And we must act to ensure that Black voices are heard and uplifted in the halls of power.

In the face of far-right extremists attacking our rights and democratic institutions, concerned Americans are counting on progressive, compassionate, and diverse leadership to turn our country around. Emerge is critical to this mission. We have 246 Black alums proudly serving in office right now, and we work day in and day out to train more bold women of the New American Majority to run and win.

Our work is far from over, but by continuing to build our movement, Emerge is advancing the fight for real representation so that all our communities can thrive.

Thank you for being a part of this crucial work. 

Standing with you, 

A’shanti Gholar
President, Emerge