Please join Critical Connections and the Pioneer Valley Interfaith Refugee Action Group for a discussion on the central role women of color will play as voters, activists, and movement leaders in the 2020 presidential election.

SPEAKERS:

Helena Berbano is a second generation Filipina American, organizer, activist, campaign operative and now New American Leaders’ National Political Director. She has managed national voter engagement programs and advised a number of Massachusetts’ state and local grassroots advocacy groups on their campaigns. One of her biggest passions is getting more women and people of color elected into office. To that end, she has served on the campaign staff of several New Americans who ran for office, including Nicole Castillo, Tram Nguyen, and Dr. Mohammad Dar.

Tahirah Amatul-Wadud is an African-American Muslim attorney, who has a strong record of civil rights advocacy and interfaith activism. She was also a Democratic candidate for the Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, challenging 30 year Democratic incumbent Richard E. Neal. Tahirah spent a year traveling the Western Massachusetts district, receiving numerous state-wide and national endorsements. While on the campaign trail, she experienced several Islamophobic responses to her candidacy and will speak about it publicly for the first time post-election.