From First-time Activist to First-time Candidate: Justan Fields for Allentown City Council

Justan Parker Fields had never really been involved in politics before -- it had run in his family, sure, but he'd never been too engaged. But when the police shot and killed Philando Castile back in 2016, he decided to try and organize a protest in his hometown of Allentown, PA. Not too many people showed up. A few years later, when George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis, Justan tried again -- and this time, hundreds came out to show their support for Black lives. From there, Justan became one of the founders of Black Lives Matter Lehigh Valley, and now he's fighting for a seat on the Allentown City Council, because as he says: while there's power in protest, there's also power in policy. If he wins, he'll be the first gay Black man on the city council. Learn more at his website: https://www.justan4allentown.com/ Produced by Dear Media.

Om Podcasten

Amanda Litman is the co-founder and executive director of Run for Something (and the author of a book by the same name) -- since launching in 2017, RFS has recruited 60,000 people to run for local office across the country. Every Tuesday, you'll meet some of the RFS candidates (and newly elected public servants!): They're parents, scientists, teachers, refugees, artists, veterans, and more, of all races and ethnicities -- the one thing they all share is their commitment to solving problems in their communities. If you're new to the political process, don't worry, we'll explain how the whole thing works. Subscribe and listen in for a conversation about politics in 2020 that, in spite of everything, will make you hopeful for the future.