This Land Is Our Land

Dear Leading Ladies,

The swirl of feelings continues to envelop so many of us in the days following the election. We feel relief that we may soon enjoy an end to the divisive and harmful name-calling; hope that real progress borne of an expansive national plan may result in a reckoning with the Covid-19 pandemic; optimism that the country may heal and move forward in providing equity in access to jobs, housing, food, education, and health benefits under an administration that values all people. 

But we also fear that the current president will encourage violence among his followers rather than concede his loss; anxiety that the nearly 49% of the electorate and 57% of the white population in this country who voted for the current president may not be led by the “better angels of their nature” to join with their country people to form a more perfect union; and, yes, fear that so many Americans embrace an ideology and system that sustains and fosters racism and supremacy of one group of our population over another.

So, indeed, while we celebrate the first woman vice president in US history, the first person of color vice president in US history, and a new beginning in the fight for equal civil rights and opportunities for people of all colors, ethnicities, religions, sexual identities, abilities, and socio-economic standing, we acknowledge once again that there is so much work still to be done.

In the short run, we can work with Stacey Abrams in her herculean efforts against voter suppression and for voter turnout in the runoff elections in Georgia. Votefwd.org is starting another letter writing campaign and postcardstovoters.org is organizing a new campaign as well. We will pass on more information as we receive it.

After the new administration is in office, we commit to dig in our heels and learn more about what we can do to make sure the schools in our neighborhoods are spending the same per child and getting the same resources as those in the richer or poorer neighborhoods near and far from us. If they are not, we are committed to changing that.

We want to learn more about housing and mortgage policies that still act against some in our communities, and then we want to make some noise where we find inequities.

And we will be watching carefully what the Biden/Harris administration does about food insecurity, affordable daycare, and college, support for our most vulnerable populations, particularly during the duration of the Pandemic, health care, and immigration.

If this presidential campaign has done nothing else, it has taught us the need to be vigilant over our government - local, state, and federal - and to keep making noise about issues that hold our nation back from being true to its ideals.

Stay tuned. You will be hearing from us as we ask you to make some noise with us. 

Stay safe.

Therese
Judy
Mary
Kim

Leading Ladies Executive Team
LeadingLadiesVote .org