It’s been a long, powerful, exhausting, inspiring, heart-breaking, infuriating week. I hope that whatever you’ve been doing -- whether that’s protesting, donating, reading, speaking out, listening, grieving, or resting -- you’re okay, safe, and healthy.

It once again feels bizarre to send you an email meant to make you feel good and be inspired when there is so much to be furious about.

But like I said in last week’s update: The brutal murder of Black people at the hands of the police and the subsequent protests have reinforced for so many how important it is to elect new local leadership who can hold these police departments accountable, in both big blue cities and small red ones, and everywhere in between.

While elections aren’t the only solution, they’re absolutely part of the solution.

Don’t listen to me. Listen to President Barack Obama.


With that, I want to highlight the ways in which our candidates and alumni have been leading, whether that’s by protesting, speaking up, using their offices to hold police accountable, or encouraging community members to do and say more.

First: The Washington Post profiles Tay Anderson: “At 21, the Denver school board member is the youngest African American ever elected to public office in Colorado. He has also become the de facto leader of protests in Denver following the killing of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis.” On Friday, Tay introduced and got the votes for a resolution removing police from the county’s schools.

This is a trend: Minneapolis public schools ended their relationship with the Minneapolis police department -- the resolution was introduced by RFS alum Josh Pauly. We’ve been working with school board members across the country to do the same.

I implore you to read the speech Nada Elmikashfi gave at a protest in Madison. A small snippet:

I want to be a black mother, a black mother who doesn’t have to bury her children before they bury her.

I want to see my black brother, 16 and tall and dark and handsome, live until he’s old.

We cannot depend on those who fail to deliver to take us forward, to make those simple dreams of ours come true.

We have to hold power in our government, we have to organize and replace those that do not see us as worth more than that shop right there.

The biggest secret in that Capitol is the illusion that we do not belong in there. That we have to pass some wealth and achievement litmus test to qualify to sit next to them. That our voices can only fill the hallways during visiting hours.

I am here to tell you that that is only an illusion, no matter your history, no matter your career, you belong in that Capitol and in City Hall because our only other option is to wait to die by their unforgiving hands.

Run for office. Run for office on your blackness, for your blackness.

You should also watch Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta’s speech at a protest in Philadelphia. If you need more inspiration, watch Councilman Delvin J. Moody speak in Utica, NY.

Sheena Barnes, Toledo Public Schools board member, spoke up at a meeting with Black leaders and the Toledo mayor: “I’m not waiting any longer for my son to be a hashtag. I’m not waiting any longer for my brother to be a hashtag.”

The list goes on and on and on. We couldn't be more proud to have worked with all of these elected officials, or more grateful for their leadership. But -- as always -- there is more work to be done. We’ll keep you updated as our candidates and alumni do what they can now and for the long-haul.

On a personal note: It was so good to hear from so many of you about what you’re reading, watching, and listening to this week as you work to learn more, and to hear about the protests you’re attending and organizations you’re donating to. Please keep sending things to me at [email protected]; I genuinely appreciate hearing your stories. Two things I read you might like: “They Can’t Kill Us All” by Wesley Lowery, a deeply reported story of the protests in Ferguson, Baltimore, and Charleston; and “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett, a beautiful new novel about twins who separate as teens; one grows up Black and the other passes as white.

I also want to say thank you for those of you who’ve contributed to us this week — we are so grateful for your generosity and acknowledgment that this work is one critical piece of the path forward. If you’re looking to do more, consider giving to Black-led organizing to elect new sheriffs.

Thank you, as always.