1. It’s Our Time: Womxn of
Color in Leadership
By: Erica Fuller
College Democrats of America National Programs Director
2. Ground Rules/Community Agreements
•Use Pronouns
•Avoid Gendered & Ableist Language
•Be Mindful of People’s Needs and Experiences
•Share the Air/ W.A.I.T.
•E.L.M.O.
•Expect Unfinished Business
•Ouch, Oh
•Assume the Best Intentions
•Use I Statements
•People First Language
•Mistakes Are Awesome.. When You Learn From Them
•Vocabulary Breaks
•Take Care of Yourself
•Group Confidentiality/ Share Lessons Not Details
3. Outcomes and Goals
1. Learn the Evolving Definition of Womxnism
2. Gain a Basic Understanding of Intersectionality and the importance of including it
in every area of your leadership.
3. Learn Effective Ways of Networking as a Person of Color
4. Gain a Basic Understanding of the importance of developing leaders under you
(Both POC & Allies)
5. Develop basic developing leadership techniques
6. Gain Important Understanding of S.E.L.F Care
4. Wind Raises it Higher
Womxnism
Intersectionality
Networking
Development
S.E.L.F Care
True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher. - John Petit-Senn
5. Feminism vs. Womxnism
Feminism: the advocacy of women’s rights of
grounds of political, social and economic equality
to men.
Womxnism: is a social theory deeply rooted in the
racial and gender-based oppression of black
women. There are varying interpretations on what
the term “womanist” means, and efforts to provide
a concise and all encompassing definition have
only been marginally successful.
7. 7 Key Principles of Intersectionality
1. Human lives cannot be explained by taking into account single categories, such as gender, race, and socio-economic status.
2. When analyzing social problems, the importance of any category or structure cannot be predetermined.
3. Relationships and power dynamics between social locations and processes (e.g.,racism, classism, heterosexism, ableism,
ageism, sexism) are linked.
4. People can experience privilege and oppression simultaneously.
5. Multi-level analyses that link individual experiences to broader structures and systems are crucial for revealing how power
relations are shaped and experienced.
6. Scholars, researchers, policy makers, and activists must consider their own social position, role and power when taking an
intersectional approach.
7. Intersectionality is explicitly oriented towards transformation, building coalitions among different groups, and working towards
social justice.
9. Lauren Wesley Wilson
Lauren, is the President of ColorComm, Inc.,
which houses the professional membership
organization for women of color in
communications and our upcoming
conference C2:
ColorComm strengthens the voices of those
who are often underrepresented in business
and political discourse.
Her Hopes: “To see more women of color
holding senior positions in communications.”
10. Saru Jayaraman
Saru, is a 38-year-old Oakland resident, is emerging as
one of the nation's top activists for restaurant workers.
She's trying to forge a link between two groups that are
dear to many Bay Area residents but don't have a history
of working together - organized labor and foodies.
Her goal is to improve the working conditions for the
nation's 10 million restaurant workers, people who are
twice as likely to be on public assistance as other
Americans.
11. Ilhan Omar
Ilhan Omar, is the first ever elected Somali
American in the US House of Representatives
for the State of Minnesota.
She won House District 60B in southeast
Minneapolis with 80 percent of the vote.
Her Campaign: "Our campaign has been about more
than just uniting a district, more than winning back
the House, more than making history," Omar said.
"Our campaign has been about shifting narratives,
restoring hope and re-establishing access in our
democracy."
12. Sarai Geary
Sarai Geary, a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation,
program manager for the U.S. Department of Energy,
Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, and a
staff attorney for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Reintegration Program.
“I have dedicated my life to furthering social justice initiatives both
personally and professionally.”- Sarai Geary
13. Doua Thor
Doua Thor, serves as the Executive Director of the White House
Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Previously,
she served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at the
Initiative. Doua also serves as a Senior Fellow with the National
Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
(National CAPACD). Prior to this Doua was the Executive
Director of the Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
(SEARAC) for nearly 9 years.
15. Developing Up and Below
The act or process of growing or causing something to
grow or become larger or more advanced.
Actively Develop
One on One meetings
Educate them through concepts and experience
Let Them Ask Questions
Be Patient
Encourage and Empower
Let them experience
