Ep 3 - Leadership through Listening ft. Council Member Isaiah Thomas
In episode 3 of UNABRDG, Dom sits down with Coach, Father, and Councilman Isaiah Thomas. As an At-Large member of the City Council of Philadelphia, Thomas’s leadership style has consistently rung out as unique which has propelled his mission greatly. Having just gained over 100,000 votes in the 2023 Democratic Municipal Primary, Thomas has consistently set records, all while being his most authentic self…Zeke. In this episode, we dive into the ways he not only built this leadership style but how he maintains it during some of the most challenging times.
Council Member Isaiah Thomas’s Link
www.phlcouncil.com/isaiahthomas/
Instagrams
@IsaiahThomas4Philly
@CMThomasPHL
@CouncilmanThomasJobsandResources
X (or Twitter)
@CMThomasPHL
@CandidateThomas
Isaiah Thomas (CMThomasPHL)
Citizens for Isaiah Thomas
Quotes or follow0 up from Interview
NOT AN ORDINARY ACTIVIST
By: ELLA BAKER
Ella Baker was my name and civil rights was my game.
Equality for all, that was what I wanted,
And that is what I would work for my whole life.
I learned from my grandmother's stories about her life as a slave,
And that is when it began, my want for social justice.
I went to school like everyone else,
But I did not follow all of the rules.
In college I challenged every school policy I thought was unfair,
And it didn't stop there.
After I graduated as valedictorian I moved to New York City
Where I joined numerous social activists groups.
I knew I wanted to spend my life working to get equal rights for everyone.
I was inspired by Miss Rosa Parks and her bus boycott.
I then co-founded my organization In Friendship,
Its purpose to fight against the Jim Crow Laws in the South.
I believed that the future lied in our young people.
I wanted to help the upcoming young activists in our country.
The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was born.
Nonviolence seemed to work well for us,
We joined with activists from the Congress of Racial Equality
And together we organized the Freedom Rides.
Was I crazy?
Maybe, but I wasn't done yet.
Getting the right to vote was next on my agenda,
I believed that voting was a key to gaining freedom.
Working with the younger generation,
Not only helped the civil rights movement,
It helped me realize my dream.
Many people consider me to be an influential leader,
But the truth is,
I could have never done it alone.
Let’s Get Into Links & Details
Local & (somehow) Federal
Philly City Council voted to condemn the Hamas attack against Israel
Protestors came to Council Session on Thursday, Oct. 19 in response to a resolution introduces by CM Johnsons and Driscol
Resolutions by nature are symbolic and don’t really have much real action outside of being a note added to the City’s official record.
Source: https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/city-council-israel-palestine-hamas-resolution-20231019.html
Video: https://x.com/mrernestowens/status/1715051322624373100?s=46&t=IaCt_yp68v9mFoZnLc4SCA
***Background & timeline of Israel-Gaza War 2023
https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/?id=103804516
State
Election Day - Nov. 7 is set to be a higher turnout than normal off-years
Requesting a mailed ballot: The last day to request an absentee or no-excuse mail-in ballot is Oct. 31
Source: https://www.pennlive.com/elections/2023/10/pa-election-chief-hoping-for-a-higher-than-usual-voter-turnout-for-nov-7-election.html
**Notable Races**
298 Municipal races taking place across te state, including
Supreme Court, Superior Court, Commonwealth Court
School Board Members
Council Commissioners & Councils
City Council Members
Timika Lane - Statewide Office - Judge of the Superior Court (10-year, vote for 2) - Democrat
Cherelle Parker - City of Philadelphia - Mayor (4 - year, vote for 1) - Democrat
Sources:https://www.pennlive.com/elections/2023/10/pennlives-2023-general-election-voters-guide-statewide-races.html#lane
