We receive lots of questions about our Ready to Win training. In this series, we enlist recent alumni to tell you about the Ready to Win experience in their own words. Here’s what Felicia Singh, an alumni of our 2018 Ready to Lead training in New York City, had to say.
Why did you choose to attend Ready to Win?
I chose to attend Ready to Win because I believe in the mission of New American Leaders, which is to ensure that there is equal representation and voices in positions of power in order to dismantle the oppressive systems that are impacting immigrant communities in our nation. My mission isn’t to just “win,” but to also work hard to change the systems which prevent marginalized groups from being a part of change.
What was your favorite part of the training?
My favorite part of training was our campaign simulation. I think it’s so important, whether you’re running for office or planning on leading a campaign, to understand the intricacies of what it will take to plan a campaign. I already knew I would value my future campaign team, but after this experience, I will never take their work and their role in assisting me to win for granted. Planning a campaign is hard work!
What’s was your biggest takeaway?
The New American Leaders’ network is family. These are people who understand your story, who want you to lead, and want you to win. They will be there to support you on your journey to run for office or lead a campaign because they fundamentally believe in your purpose and your mission. I am so grateful for my NAL family.
What inspired you to run for office/help manage a campaign?
When I see how much my parents and other families and friends work hard to ensure their children have all the opportunities they deserve, it upsets and angers me when this just doesn’t happen. It angers me to see families work for their version of the “American Dream” and be denied at getting it. This is what motivates me every day to run for office, because it’s not about me, it’s about the people who haven’t been invited to have a seat at the table and provide their input.
What position would you like to run for and what would you like to achieve should you win?
I will run for City Council in District 32 in Queens [New York]. As a representative in service to my community, I hope to bring pre-college programs to our neighborhood high schools, free finance workshops to families, add speed bumps and stop lights in areas that pose a threat to pedestrians because of speeding, and so much more. I can’t wait to keep learning about what my neighborhood needs and how I can best serve them.