SAYA Youth Attend Women in Politics Q&A

On August 12, over 40 youth attended SAYA’s Women in Politics Q&A with Ashmi Sheth, a congressional candidate running in the 2022 democratic primary for NY’s 10th congressional district, which serves a portion of Brooklyn and Manhattan. Youth were able to ask Ashmi about her upbringing, influences, goals and more. This event underscored the importance of representation within our government: women comprise 51% of the population in the US, but only 24% of the US Senate and 27% of the US house of representatives is made up of women (according to the Center for American Women in Politics). The numbers are even lower for women of color: in 2021, data reveals that of the women serving in congress, only 36% of them are women of color. That’s less than half. This Q&A served to inspire youth to recognize the power of their voice in our legal system. Additionally, we had the chance to hear first hand about campaigning, fundraising, and networking while running for politics.

As a young woman of color, I have quickly realized the flaws within our political system and lack of representation. Hearing about Ashmi’s resilience and determination to run for office made me realize how rare it is to see a young woman of color running on a federal level - which shouldn’t be the case.

When asked about what influences helped get her to where she is now, she answered being positive towards yourself and believing in yourself. This stood out to me because this mentality can be applied to all areas of our lives: in our career, family, studies, etc. Hearing and seeing in action how much her positive attitude has contributed to her drive and passion helped me recognize the importance of self-confidence. It was refreshing to hear about Ashmi’s passion for her community and her determination to truly represent her district.
- Ruyi