Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2024 - Emily Kinkead, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 20

This week we are highlighting Emily Kinkead (she/her), a millennial lawyer who is a founding member the Leadership Team of the Pennsylvania Progressive Caucus. Collectively, this Caucus works to push progressive priorities like criminal justice reform, affordable housing, access to healthcare, affordable childcare, expanding access to public transit, and more. She is the House Chair of the Legislative Hunger Caucus and Secretary of the House Agriculture Committee, working to address hunger-related issues as well as advocate for more investment in programs that would address food insecurity. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Capitol All-Stars Softball Game, which is a softball game where legislators raise money for their charitable food network. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime & Corrections, she has been working hard to address criminal justice reform.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 54Andrew FApril 24, 2024millenial, woman, woman rights, election day, election, #electionComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Christy Holstege, California State Assembly District 47

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 45Andrew FOctober 27, 2022queer, #queer, bisexual, millenial, woman, mothers, Mother, politician, politics, Politics, #politics, political, get politicalComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Erin Maye Quade, Minnesota State Senate District 56

This week we are profiling Erin Maye Quade (she/her/hers), a former Minnesota State Representative currently running for Minnesota State Senate. A biracial LGBTQ millennial, she and her wife Alyse are active in Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) politics. Erin focuses on a variety of important policy issues such as reproductive rights, health, and justice; gun safety (leading a 24-hour sit-in protest at the Minnesota House after the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting); and economic justice for all. At nine months pregnant, she went into labor while delivering a speech at the DFL party convention in April 2022; she later gave birth to daughter Harriet.

SWAC: Influencer, zIssue 44Andrew FSeptember 15, 2022biracial, lesbian, queer, millenial, black, politician, politics, Politics, #politics, political, get politicalComment

Our Favorite Progressive Candidates in 2022 - Taylor Small, Vermont House of Representatives - Chittenden-6-7

This week we are profiling Taylor Small (she/her/hers). Taylor is a millennial member of the Vermont House of Representatives and is the first openly transgender legislator in Vermont, running on the Vermont Progressive Party ticket. She is also the Education Manager at Pride Center of Vermont and has worked in mental health with homeless and runaway youth at Spectrum Youth and Family Services. She promotes youth literacy and local libraries, among other education issues.

Courtney Starks: The Real Life Iron Man

Courtney Starks is making impactful changes with words! We mean literally. Starks is a millennial motivational speaker who shares his testimony of overcoming and inspires his audience through topics that affect millennials today. He is the real-life Iron Man, rising as a kidney failure survivor and using his own strength to help his community. His power is a cause of celebration from recently giving his 100th lunch during his "Lunch on Me" initiative for Women's History Month to hosting a holiday giveaway for kids in need. Check out our exclusive interview with Starks on his incredible journey in giving back to his community and changing lives through words.

Laura Marano's New Deluxe EP Has Strong Bestie Energy

Strong Bestie Energy is the best way to describe the actress-turned-singer-songwriter, Laura Marano. Known for the role of Ally on Disney Channel’s Austin and Ally, Laura Marano has always been known as the best friend, the girl next door, and overall, a down to earth star. All of these qualities are manifested in Laura’s EP You. This past month, Laura released the Deluxe EP of You, featuring duets “Honest With You” with Alextbh Duet and “Can’t Help Myself” with Poe Leos and Jean Deaux. Jejune got the opportunity to sit down with Laura in a live listening session of the album from Laura’s cozy home (via Zoom of course) and learn all about the album’s new sound.