On October 18th, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) hosted a hill briefing in partnership with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. The briefing featured remarks by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and a panel discussion with young women of color who shed light on the systemic barriers they face, what Congress can do to dismantle those barriers, and the federal policies they consider most helpful to their communities.

The goal of the briefing was to start a conversation about the importance of including the voices and experiences of young women of color in the legislative process. We look forward to continuing to work together on ensuring that young women of color are remembered and prioritized in policy conversations—and that they have a seat at the table. Only by understanding and naming the roots and the ground that produce outcomes for young women of color can we begin to dismantle these barriers and challenges to avoid replicating inequity. As our sister-in-solidary Rep. Pressley powerfully said, “Women of color have been marginalized in history when in fact we have been the architects and blueprints… We are preservers of democracy.”  

The panel featured:

• Bao Chu Lee, Co-Founder and Board Member, Transforming Generations;
• Brenda Perez, Youth Organizer, DC;
• Isabel Coronado, Champion for Change, Center for Native American Youth and Policy Entreprenuer, Next 100;
• Nala Simone Toussaint, Founder, Reuniting of African Descendants; and
• Marlén Mendoza, Consultant, CLASP (Moderator)