Texas State Representative, Christian Manuel, has been involved in politics for over two decades, and today, we are chatting about how his family's background in education and leadership influenced his passion for serving others to make the world a better place. Rep. Manuel begins today's conversation by explaining the significance of Juneteenth for Americans before detailing his early entry into public office and his team's commitment to supporting survivors. Rep. Manuel shares how he turns the concerns of the public into actionable policies, the achievements that he's most proud of from his time in office, how his position as an out, black man affects the way he works, and how he stays motivated in a profession riddled with fresh daily challenges. We also discuss why it's important for policymakers to listen to young voices, why we need to understand the intersectionality of the issues that we address, the role of education in achieving gender and socioeconomic balance, and how newly elected officials can go about being the best champions for their constituents.
Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for domestic violence, transphobia/homophobia, and violence against the LGBTQ+ community and may be sensitive to some listeners. Please listen with care.
Please see the resources below:
https://www.equalitytexas.org/