Blavity Opinion: Elected Leaders Look Less And Less Like The Country That They Govern, And That’s A Huge Problem
Our National Director Michael Bland shared his thoughts on diversity in elected positions in Blavity.
"We can cultivate more diverse leaders with the passion and commitment to succeed, if given the appropriate support. Underinvestment in Black and brown-led organizations and leaders is as well documented as it is galling. And that inadequately funded ecosystem of leaders of color means that fewer Black and brown folks are able to make the leap from community leadership to elected leadership. The result is plain as the day is long: elected leaders look less and less like the country that they govern. The politics and policies that flow from these leaders are designed to preserve their power at the cost of diverse communities. ... Our goal is to bridge the gap between the tremendous talent of community-based leaders of color and the resources and investment required to empower those leaders to create lasting civic change."
