On Monday, February 22, LBCC’s Active Minds Club President Camesha Maxwell and ASB Representative of Student Services Kyra Childress, spoke with Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell during a Facebook live event.
Mitchell spoke about her experience as an African American woman in politics, leadership, and the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on communities of color.
Mitchell has previously served in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate. Currently, she is a representative for California’s District 2 on the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors.
Mitchell was able to gain an understanding of the importance of leadership while serving as CEO of Crystal Stairs, a non-profit child care organization based in Los Angeles. “It was there that I really understood and began to try to find my own leadership style,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell has many people who have guided her on her journey to County Supervisor. One in particular is Diane Watson, the first African American woman to be elected to the California State Senate, whom she worked for.
“I could not have asked for a better boss. (Watson) just opened doors for me and created opportunities for me. .. She took me under her wing and exposed me to the Democratic Party,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell was also greatly inspired by N.O.B.E.L Women (National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women). The group’s members are Black women serving in U.S. legislative offices. “It was the women of N.O.B.E.L who showed me the courage it took to be a Black woman in public office in this country,” Mitchell said.
During Mitchell’s time as California state senator, she introduced The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair).
The Crown Act was signed into California law on July 3, 2019, and prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles and hair texture (including braids, locs, and twists).
Mitchell was very proud to carry the bill and said, “I thought it was a great opportunity for me, as a living example of a woman who has worn her hair natural and in protective styles, to showcase to the world that the way I choose to wear my hair has no bearing on the quality of my work.”
Mitchell was featured in O Magazine because of her leadership role in passing the CROWN Act.
The law is now in seven U.S. states across the country.
“I am proud that (the CROWN Act) is one piece of the body of work that’s been done to really give us a sense of cultural pride and protection under the law,” Mitchell said.
During the interview, Mitchell also addressed the current COVID-19 pandemic and the disproportionate effects it has had on communities of color in Los Angeles county.
Many communities of color are densely populated, making it impossible for some to socially isolate from others in their households. “Economics, housing policies, and the conditions in which we live as a people have continued to impact the frequency of which we get this virus, more so than our white counterparts” Mitchell said.
Mitchell also states that people of color are at a great risk because many of them are essential workers who have not had the luxury to stay home amidst the pandemic. “It’s Black and brown people who are on the front line in many of these industries…That is why I think we’ve been disproportionately impacted by the virus,” she said.
Mitchell said that she and other community leaders are working overtime to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are made available to Los Angeles County residents, especially those living in vulnerable communities.
Mitchell, during the live, raised the issue of the underrepresentation currently occurring in United States political offices. “Right now there are no Black women in the California State Senate and in our U.S. Senate…Our voice is missing. That’s a problem,” Mitchell said.
She urges women interested in positions of leadership to not be afraid of bringing their valuable life experience to the table. These experiences, according to Mitchell, allows for the leadership body to be a true reflection of the people.
Maxwell and Childress both believe that it is important for Black women to be represented in leadership and political roles. “It encourages the younger generation and lets them know that they can do it as well,” Maxwell said.
“It helps me, as a student, see myself in those types of leadership roles and I learned the importance of knowing that I deserve a place at the table,” Childress said.
A recorded version of this event can be found here.