The Democratic African American Women's Caucus (DAAWC), founded by Leslie Wimes, isn't pulling any punches. The 3,000-strong group -- now establishing itself statewide -- is looking to cultivate a crop of fresh, new candidates to bring renewed excitement to the Democrats' base in Florida.
Last Saturday the DAAWC staged its Looking Toward the Future candidate and leadership training event in Fort Lauderdale -- a day that culminated with speeches by Sens. Lena Taylor and Nina Turner, and prominent Stuart attorney and philantropist Willie Gary.
"I was so excited to organize this leadership conference because in this climate it is important to have good candidates to run for office, to be trained on how to run for office, to understand the process. Candidates need to know how toconnect with the community, because right now we are more polarized than ever," Wimes said.
The DAAWC is the voice for black women involved in the political process. The group organizes public policy forums and leadership training. It helps register voters for all elections and fundraises for candidates.
Wimes said black voters did their jobs to elect President Barack Obama twice, and she said they could do it again in 2016.
We built that table, said Wimes. We can do it again.
Also in attendance were candidates Pam Keith, Tinu Pena and also Alex Freeman. Freeman is running for Palm Beach County sheriff, a seat currently held by Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
The speakers brought the motivation by sharing stories about family struggle and outcomes.
Taylor, a member of the Wisconsin Senate representing the 4th District since 2005, and formerly the co-chair of the powerful Joint Committee on Finance, asked women in the room to support and help Wimes in her efforts. Its about a new dawn, said Taylor. Were all sisters in this struggle.
Both Taylor and Turner, the former minority whip for the Ohio Senate, and the state senator for the 25th District, emphasized how ordinary they were, and also how they came from families who raised them to be strong leaders and good women. They said the hardest critics of women were often other women.
My grandma and my mom taught me the example of service, said Taylor, who was taken by her mother to President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. They gave me self-esteem and confidence. I grew up with women who showed me this.
Taylor said she was one of 14 senators who left Wisconsin to deny the state Senate a quorum on Gov. Scott Walkers controversial "Budget Repair" legislation. Some of the legislators were rounded up and returned. She was subject to a recall attempt, but that attempt went nowhere, and she retained her office. Taylor said people have to speak truth to power when they felt it was necessary, and even to members of their own party.
Im a Democrat, said Taylor. "You tell your party what they should or should not do. Being a great leader doesnt mean you are always on the same side.
Women dont often run unless theyre asked to, said Taylor, so she told the women in the room to run. Black women are the vote-givers in the nation, she said.
Are you able to speak to the voiceless? said Taylor. Do you see a vision for a better tomorrow? Do we want to sit on the sidelines? Run, baby, run. Be a part of the change you see in the world. Run, baby, run.
Turner spoke of how President Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, who is running for president, stood on the shoulders of Shirley Chisholm, who declared decades ago her desire to run for that high office. Turner said that the values and principles of the Democratic Party were powerful, and that Democratic women running for those offices needed to embrace them. She spoke of what had taken place in the history of the country so that people could vote, and also what was going on in cities like Baltimore and states like Mississippi.
Too many people sacrificed so we dont have to do this again, said Turner.
Attorney Gary said he was no stranger to hard times and told those gathered about growing up in a shack the size of a two-car garage. Eventually, he said, he married a good woman who stuck with him through the tough times. The reason why he gave so much money back, he said, was because he was repaying a debt he felt he owed.
I talked to an eighth-grader who didnt know who Rosa Parks was, said Gary. Lets support our young people. We have an obligation to do that.
Wimes said as the 2016 election draws closer, more training programs will be offered.
"I started this organization. Its for you ... Pam [Keith] is running for U.S. Senate. Support her and support them, Wimes said.
Carol Porter wrote this story for The Miami Times. It was published in the Times' April 29, 2015 edition.
