‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
[link removed] [[link removed]]
Dear Friend,
I’m reaching out to you as an honored member of the Ruth’s List Board and as a Black woman who has dedicated the past 53 years to public service in Florida.
I was one of the first Black women in the state to be admitted to the Florida Bar, the first Black woman to practice law in Hillsborough County, and the first Black person to practice law in Polk County. I’m the longest practicing Black woman attorney in Florida history. I served 16 years in the state legislature, first as a member of the Florida House and then in the Florida Senate, where I became the first Black woman to become the Senate Minority Leader.
I recognize these are historic firsts and I’m humbled to be called a trailblazer. But it’s time we do more to ensure Black women have opportunities to lead. We need more Black women in positions of leadership — in corporations, in politics, and certainly in elected office. Florida’s legislature continues to be overrepresented by white men. There are currently only 3 Black women serving in the state senate and 14 in the house.
I’m proud of the work Ruth’s List does to recruit and elect Black women. Last cycle, over half of our endorsed candidates for state and local office were Black women. Since 2008, the organization has raised more than $7.5 million, trained nearly 2,500 candidates and staff, and helped women win nearly 250 elections, including 72 women of color.
In honor of Black History Month, will you join me in making a contribution to Ruth’s List to help recruit, train, and elect more Black women to public office? [[link removed]]
CONTRIBUTE [[link removed]]
Serving in the Florida legislature was the highlight of my career. To know that my community believed in me and trusted me to speak up and fight for them was my greatest honor. I want young Black women to experience that feeling. I believe we must open doors so that others can follow. With your support, we can do just that [[link removed]] .
[[link removed]] With gratitude,
Arthenia Joyner, Ruth’s List Florida
[link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]
DONATE [[link removed]]
Paid for by Ruth's List Florida Incorporated. Contributions are not tax deductible.
Ruth's List FL
PO Box 4558
Tampa, FL 33677
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe: [link removed] .