Community Safety is Racial Justice. As long as the police continue to disproportionately arrest, incarcerate, and murder Black, Brown and Indigenous people, we cannot pretend that we live in a state where there is true public safety. Philando Castille was killed in this district. The trauma inflicted on communities of color is real and as a Black woman married to a Black man, this topic is personal. In the legislature, I will fight for policies that take a holistic approach to public safety, hold police accountable for misconduct, and ensure solutions are community-centered.

I support:

• Ending qualified immunity to hold law enforcement officers personally accountable for breaking the law and ensure victims of police brutality can receive justice

• Banning the use of no-knock warrants, tear gas, and chokeholds which disproportionately put our communities of color in danger

• Funding professional trained community healers to respond to crises and provide supportive services

• Legalizing cannabis for adult use and expunging all non-violent cannabis-related offenses

Healthcare is Racial Justice. Despite being home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, our state has deep racial health inequities. In Minnesota, Black women are twice more likely to die of childbirth-related causes, while Native women are four times more likely. State legislatures across the country are taking steps to pass laws that roll back our reproductive rights. Don’t think for one second that Republican legislators wouldn’t try to implement those same dangerous policies in Minnesota, if given the chance. I will fight hard in the Minnesota Senate to ensure that healthcare is accessible to all.

I support:

• Senator John Marty’s single-payer proposal known as the Minnesota Health Plan that provides comprehensive health coverage for all Minnesotans

• The Paid Family Medical Leave Act, so no Minnesotan has to choose between caring for a sick family member or taking home a paycheck

• The Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act, which establishes the fundamental right of Minnesotans to make individual decisions about reproductive healthcare, including contraception, abortion, and pregnancy

• The Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act, to implement anti-racism training, an implicit bias continuing education requirement and a maternal death studies expansion to include maternal morbidity

Housing is Racial Justice. My husband and I recently became first-time homeowners. This home will enable us to build wealth for our family and future generations to come. In a state where only 24% of Black households own their home, we know that redlining and systemic racism has historically stripped homeownership away from the Black community. Whether it’s protecting the rights of renters or removing barriers for communities of color seeking homeownership, I am committed to fighting for legislation that ensures every Minnesotan has safe, stable and affordable housing.

I support:

• Strong tenant protections including pre-eviction notice, lease fairness, requirements for timely repairs, tenant screening guidelines, and limits on rent increases

• Strengthening the statewide emergency services program to address our homelessness crisis

• Removing barriers to homeownership by providing down payment assistance and cracking down on discriminatory lending practices

• Updating statewide zoning laws to allow for more homes to be built

Education is Racial Justice. As the daughter of a retired public school teacher, I saw how much my dad loved being an educator and helping mold the next generation of leaders. I also saw first hand the impact of the budget cuts that left our educators without the critical resources to do their jobs. The lack of support disproportionately impacts students of color and widens the education gaps that exist in our state. School districts are also frequently asked to carry the full responsibility of meeting the needs of teachers, students and families, without additional help from the state legislature. I will fight to ensure that our public schools are fully funded and work to close the gaps that are a disservice to the success of our state.

I support:

• Universal pre-k and increased childcare tax credits so all families can access childcare

• Fully funding our public schools by significantly increasing the per-pupil funding formula and tying it annually to inflation

• Free tuition at public universities and student loan forgiveness for state-issued loans

• Funding pre-apprenticeship and trades programs that prepare students for careers immediately after high school

Climate Justice is Racial Justice. Climate change continues to have serious implications for our state. We must act quickly to address this crisis. As a state we have an opportunity to build a clean energy economy and workforce for the future. One that protects both our environment and solves for the disproportionate impacts to Indigenous communities and communities of color.

I support:

• A statewide commitment to 100% clean energy

• A clean energy economy built on good paying union jobs

• Expanding the transit system by investing in electric charging infrastructure, energy efficient buses, light rail and bike lanes

• Improving the energy efficiency of commercial building and homes