Trancita Ponce on Running Two Campaigns for Our Communities

Trancita Ponce is leading two campaigns in the Bay Area for Sister Warriors Action Fund. Read more about her experience below.

How is your experience running a campaign?

Leading Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker’s campaign has been rewarding to me, and to be able to endorse somebody who looks like us, speaks like us, has the same background as us, and who has overcome the odds and who has been told so many times she couldn’t do it. Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker has won twice already! We’re hoping to get her 4,000 votes. That’s what she needs to win this election.

The Councilmember is also formerly incarcerated, so working with her has been so huge for me because it changes the narrative on incarceration, and it tells people, you know, no matter what your beginning is, you have the ability to write your end. She’s paving the way for folks like me.

Tamisha is also a person who is in the community. She’s showing up for our events. One of our members, Alaysha (Lay) Jenkins, met her at our chapter meeting in August and she has provided her with opportunities, and Lay is systems-impacted. Her mother is serving life in prison, and just to see Tamisha step into the community and walk alongside Lay has been probably the greatest reward. It’s like Tamisha is not just someone who says what they’re gonna do. She’s actually doing it.

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon came and she did a meeting with the Bay Area, and we had a really good turnout. What I love about Congresswoman Simon is that two days after I came home, she asked me if I had housing. She cared about me.

I went to a graduation this last week and a guy spoke on self-advocacy. He was on the verge of losing his apartment because his financial aid had not come through, and he did his own work and he found out that actually the funding was stopped at the Congresswoman’s office. Congresswoman Simon immediately took action when she found out, and his funding was released the day after, so he was able to pay his rent again.

Congresswoman Simon is stepping in her power. She’s action-based, and that’s what I love about both Councilwoman Torres-Walker and Congresswoman Simon. They also support each other.

Congresswoman Simon was the youngest Executive Director of the Young Women’s Freedom Center at just 19 years old, while being a single mother. Her making it to Congress gives our young folks, and other folks, the ability to know, like you’re looking in the mirror: if that’s your choice and your decision, you can go to Congress and do it as well.

What are ways people can get involved this upcoming campaign season?

I just got a message from the Councilwoman right now. Her campaign needs door knocking, some phone banking, some text banking, poll watching. We need all hands on deck! People educating the community, stopping at a gas station, stopping at doors, just to talk to them. Educating your families. I think that’s what we desperately need, and if it’s people’s first time ever doing it or they’re nervous, I’m always available.

I think it’s like, for people who have not voted, one thing that I shared recently was, you know, there were people like Martin Luther King. We had Malcolm X. We’ve had Harriet Tubman. We’ve had so many folks who have lost their lives to educate folks on their ability to be free and their right to vote. That’s what the March on Selma was all about: the right to vote. I think that people are still struggling with what these ancestors years and years ago were fighting for. It’s imperative that we vote.

We have to understand that the people that are elected into office, they work for us, so make sure we’re putting the right people in there. To the people who are first-time voters: I stand with you, I support you. I’ll go with you to vote. You know, we’ll do some outreach and get some folks with you so you know you’re not alone, and you know we’re better when we stand together.

What has been a meaningful moment for you this campaign season?

I believe the most meaningful moment throughout this campaign, and I always give it back to our members, is Alaysha Jenkins. She has been systems-impacted, losing her mother at a very young age, 6 years old, and then her father at eight years old, and she stepped into this work. She went from not knowing how, and throughout her experience I’ve watched her grow and mature. Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker walked beside her, supported her, and now Lay is going out on her own canvassing and going out to promote Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker. Lay, who has never voted before, using her power has been my most meaningful moment throughout this campaign for sure.