Page 10 - San Diego Woman Magazine POWER WOMEN ISSUE

“We are still celebrat- Women of Color De Josef said the most
ing the historic elections powerful moment from
of women of color," the breakfast was hearing
said Angela de Joseph. Montgomery, who recent-
“Although we have made ROAR BREAKFAST ly was elected, talk about
gains, there is much work “the power of community
to do.” to choose an elected
De Joseph is the Articles and Photos by Jacqui Busick official. Her community is
founder of Indivisible the one that developed
WATU and the architect of and supported her.”
Women of Color Roar. In the panel dis-
On Saturday, February cussion, Gómez and
2, Indivisible WATU Montgomery emphasized
hosted its second annual the importance of service
Women of Color ROAR to others as an essential
breakfast. development in the inner
Lines formed for life of a leader –– a piece
warm coffee and food of this puzzle that too
in a ballroom filled with often is overlooked.
young women, prom- Weber spoke about
inent members of the how women often think
community, government of obstacles through the
representatives, donors image of a glass ceiling
and the hearts and souls to be shattered, but for
behind the organization women of color, she
hosting the breakfast. views obstacles as a steel
The theme of the ceiling.
event was “Running and “When you are in a
Winning,” and was held room with a steel ceiling,”
not only to celebrate the she said, “the other
election victories and rooms in the political
milestones of African arena are often not open
American female office to you, whether it is the
holders, but to encour- room for fundraising, or
age young women of getting to know signifi-
color to run for office and cant people, often times
seek careers in public you don’t even know
service. Indivisible WATU they’re there –– things
is a nonprofit Southeast are occuring which you
San Diego grassroots are not a part of. And that
volunteer advocacy is the reason I try my best
group dedicated to voter to encourage women
education, engagement, to become involved in
and political activism. All organizations that will
four Democratic Con- introduce them to the
gressional Representa- other rooms.”
tives participated in the Komen San Diego’s Circle baby steps in its direction. of San Diego studying Also present at the
breakfast. of Promise Community This breakfast served as education. She attend- breakfast was Chardá
Currently, there are 43 Resource Advocate, were an invitation through ed the breakfast as one Fontenot, recently elected
women of color in the US honored with the Women the door to other rooms, of the Future Leader Governing Board Member
House of Representatives, Warrior award for their an invitation to take the scholarship recipients. “It for La Mesa Spring Valley
making up 10%. There fierce commitment to em- simple steps of making is nice to see a lot of the Schools after her first time
are 456 women of color powerment and justice. connections. pedagogy and theory running for office. “I think
in all US state legislatures, The keynote was a Scholarship recipients that I am studying in we should be building
making up 6.2%. And in panel discussion of hon- were invited to mingle action,” she said. each other up, motivating
San Diego, there's some esty and encouragement with women already no- Rivera said that each other, especially to
strong representation, including Assembly mem- ticeably making change in from the breakfast she motivate our young wom-
with 3 women of color as ber Dr. Shirley Weber, City their local governments. understood that “going en that it’s okay to run for
33% of the San Diego City Council President Geor- Speaking about the out to the community,” office,” she said.
Council. gette Gómez, and City usefulness of internships, was essential. “Instead Fontenot said that
During the break- Council member Monica Weber said, “It will prepare of being cookie-cutter the breakfast represented
fast, Sonja Robinson, a L. Montgomery. you to deal with the wind and just studying policy, an important moment in
member of the San Diego The women on the that is coming in your face. going out and making her story for her to take
Community Choice Alli- panel all emphasized Change is not easy.” those connections –– the next step of “letting
ance and organizer with the reality that change is Laura Rivera, a because you are serving people know that I did it
Greenpower, and Wendy hard, but only requires a 25-year-old graduate the people,” is what will and that they could do
Shurelds, a Susan G. fearless attempt to take student at the University make change. it, too.”

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