Speaker 2 00:00:27 Hello everyone. You're listening to fresh air community radio, K F <inaudible> F M Minneapolis, and on the web at K F a I dot or radio without boundaries. We have our Isha Guinea running for ward six. Hi, Aisha. Welcome to I.
Speaker 3 00:00:53 Hi, thank you for having me. I am actually running in ward 10.
Speaker 2 00:00:58 Oh, I am sorry.
Speaker 3 00:01:01 No, no, you're good. You're good to
Speaker 2 00:01:05 We'll blame that for B <inaudible>. Yeah, yeah. <inaudible> aye. So welcome to the show. Thank you. Um, so tell us a little bit about yourself. So the photo is, can get to know you.
Speaker 3 00:01:23 Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much for having me, um, and for hosting today. Um, my name is Ayesha <inaudible>. I am a renter in the Whittier neighborhood. I'm a union organizer. I work with frontline workers, um, at FCIU healthcare, uh, CIU local 26 and 2 84 here in Minnesota. Um, and I'm the first foreign daughter in a Muslim immigrant family. Um, yeah, my, um, I'm running for the Minneapolis city council here in ward 10, which includes the Whittier, uh, Lowry hill east, um, uptown, um, echo and east Harriet neighborhoods. Um, and I, um, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm running for the city council because I want to make sure that the people who are the most impacted by our decisions, um, are prioritized in decision-making. And, you know, my story is the story of so many people in our community. I know what it's like to struggle, to find affordable housing, to be a child, helping your immigrant parents, uh, navigate the world and to have to pick between, um, you know, buying groceries this week or a pit, you know, paying rent.
Speaker 3 00:02:40 Um, and I, you know, my parents I've been a working class person, my whole life. My parents were immigrants from Pakistan who worked blue collar jobs and did their best to keep their heads above water as they, uh, raised my three siblings and me and my, my dad was a mechanic. Um, my mom was a Koran. Um, and my, you know, like they, they sometimes they just couldn't do it. And, um, you know, I know things don't have to be that difficult and the same struggles that my family experienced are ones that families today are experiencing and I'm, you know, invested in making sure that, that we make it easier for people to, to make it in this community.
Speaker 2 00:03:21 Yeah. I can relate it to the, um, immigrant side as, um, I'm from Somalia. So I have immigrant parents and I can see where you're coming from. So my next question is, um, as I say, I shot, um, what's one thing that you want to voters to know about you.
Speaker 3 00:03:43 Yeah. I want voters to know that I am an organizer. I want them to know that I'm a coalition builder and I I'm a problem solver. You know, I, um, I understand that in this moment, uh, we have a lot of challenges as a community and we need someone who is going to make decisions, uh, with the people in mind who are always left behind, because I know what it's like to be left behind, and it will be my priority to make sure that our decision-making and our policymaking, um, it, it is reflective of the experiences that our community has. Um,
Speaker 2 00:04:24 Yeah, so, um, us being an immigrant and having immigrant parents and, you know, growing up here and, you know, having, uh, two different cultures, you know, from Pakistan and then, you know, westernized, I can really get that part, but, um, did you had any influence or mentor or someone to get you along?
Speaker 3 00:04:52 Yeah, I, well, you know, I was, I was lucky I was raised in, uh, I spent my early life in the, um, in the Muslim community, in Southwest Houston, um, and was surrounded by people who, um, really thought about, you know, um, community from a very like collective way, you know, um, when are, are both of my parents were very sick when we were children, we just had like aunties who we had no blood relation to, you know, who were like helping raise all three of us, um, when we were young. Um, and you know, so I, I started my career, like I've been working my whole life, you know, I used to help my mom cook and teach kids. Um, and I worked in retail for a number of years and in childcare, mostly taking care of children between ages two and three. Um, and then doing some youth programming, um, afterwards, but I've spent most of my career actually working in politics and in working to get, um, you know, progressive leaders elected to public office.
Speaker 3 00:05:55 And, um, in that time I've been fortunate to meet, um, and be mentored by a lot of really powerful women and powerful women of color and Muslim women. Um, you know, I, I used to manage the campaign of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and helped her, uh, get elected in 2018, um, and, uh, worked in her office for a few years. And, um, I really looked to, um, I really looked to folks like her, um, as, as the people helping me, um, you know, understand how to be in public leadership and, uh, you know, like do it in a way that, um, honors our identities and do it in a way that serves our communities.
Speaker 2 00:06:39 Yeah. That's beautiful. Thank you so much. And, um, I'm from Somalia and culturally, like how we get news is word of mouth. Um, so how do you learn and stay informed about local or even international issues? I mean, national issue.
Speaker 3 00:07:03 Yeah, yeah, yeah. For me, I was like, so in the, in the Pakistani community, we too, like getting news is through word of mouth. And for us, it's like, it's like the WhatsApp groups and it's our moms calling each other, you know, and that is how we stay in on, uh, who's getting married to who, how many theaters came this week, you know, all of those types of things, but then also like the big stuff, right? Like where, um, you know, where, how the elections back home are going and how, um, you know, like the way the cost of rent is gonna possibly push a family out of our community, things like that. Um, and so for me, like the, my very best teachers and the people who, who I go to to understand what's happening in a, in a building, in a neighborhood, in a community, um, are people who live in this community, you know, I think, um, like the infrastructure that exists, like within our own communities around how we like spread information, um, is something that most people in, in Minneapolis, um, learned about in this last year, right. Um, when it was hard to get from place to place last summer, uh, because of the national guard and all these people coming in, things felt so dangerous. Um, and the, then we started to see in, in neighborhoods, you know, uh, pop up like these networks of, of information sharing. And so I looked at people in my neighborhood. I looked at people in this community to, to inform how, um, I'm staying up to date on what's happening, what challenges are that people are working through.
Speaker 2 00:08:45 Thank you so much. Um, as you know, we have a house in crisis in, um, Minneapolis, um, the homeless population are increasing. So how do you plan to address housing crisis if you get elected?
Speaker 3 00:09:01 Yeah, so like our, um, I believe right, that housing is a, is a human right. And that every single person, regardless of their life experiences, the choices they have been, they have made, or the conditions that have forced them into whatever, uh, like position they're in deserves a home that is safe, that is, uh, dignified and that is affordable. And, um, you know what, like we live in a country and an economy, right. Where, um, housing is something that's a commodity it's bought and sold for profit. It's not something that we think about as a thing that like, because we are human and because we breathe, we should have. Right. And so like at the core, the reason we are, we have this problem is because we have the wrong approach to how we treat housing. Um, but th there are so many things though that we can do to alleviate that, to make it just a little bit easier for people.
Speaker 3 00:10:02 Um, and so, you know, I I'm ward 10 is an 80% renter community. I'm a renter, I'm someone who's experienced housing insecurity. My whole life. My family continues to struggle with this, um, with this issue. And, um, for me, uh, like addressing our housing crisis starts with, um, one of the ballot questions this year, right. Um, to allow the city council to, um, write policy, to cap how much a landlord can increase rent every year. Um, and so, you know, I believe in strong rent control that, uh, applies to, um, all of our renters in the city and makes it so people are able to stay in their homes. I do think that's only one step, right. Um, that doesn't address the root of the problem. And so, um, renter, uh, like rent control goes hand in hand with really strong renter protections, um, to make it hard for landlords to evict people from their homes, um, that makes it so landlords have to keep the upkeep, um, on buildings, um, so that people are living in dignified homes.
Speaker 3 00:11:06 Um, it makes it's about making the pathways to home ownership, easier for families. Um, it's about protecting public housing from the loopholes created by section 18 and rod that privatized public housing. Um, and so making sure that we are protecting the existing public housing, and also that we don't have enough public housing in the city to meet the needs of the people who live here, we have to build more. Um, and so, you know, uh, being an advocate for investment from all levels of government, so that we are able to build public housing in this city. Um, it's about, you know, um, making sure that we have, you know, we're continuing to develop more and, uh, that we are developing the options that our families actually need. Right? Like those three plus apartments. So that, uh, families that don't fit into, you know, the American nuclear family, you know, uh, type can actually have like, options for where they can live that fit within their means. Um, all of those things together, um, will help us get like a step closer to, um, meeting the housing needs of residents in the city.
Speaker 2 00:12:16 Yeah. It is really hard to find it, um, a house in it, even if it's rental for the last two, three months, I was trying to get a new place and I'm still trying to get it. Yeah. And, um,
Speaker 3 00:12:30 So many people will tell us that that's the struggle, right? It's like, yeah, there, you have to look for the, basically, it's like, by the time you sign your lease, you've got to already start looking for next year, you know?
Speaker 2 00:12:43 Um, thank you for that question. Um, this there's a lot of issues and not, not a lot of challenges in, in, um, Minneapolis, um, whether it's, you know, any, any word 10, six, or any, um, we just address the house in, what are you think about the racial inequality? Um, no, we don't
Speaker 3 00:13:07 Absolutely. You know, we know that Minneapolis has some of the worst racial disparities in our city, um, or in our, in our country. Right. And, um, and that, like, those disparities didn't just happen. You know, we didn't just suddenly wake up and have a world where, um, you know, uh, like w our families who are immigrants or black or brown can't access housing, or can't access, like can't send their kids to good schools. Um, this is a part of a system that was intentionally built for our families to fall behind for our community to fall behind. And so, um, addressing racial disparities is about understanding that. And then it's about, um, understanding that every decision we make as a city, it's not just like, oh, like, oh, like we got to figure out racism and that's a separate bucket. It's a part of the, every single thing we do.
Speaker 3 00:14:01 So, um, from, you know, designing, designing, transit routes to figuring out social services to our public safety systems, all of those things have to be rebuilt with equity at the center of them. Right. Um, to make sure that like, the people who have been disinvested in, um, that are in our communities are able to like lead healthy and safe lives. Um, for me, that looks like, you know, making sure, um, that we know that like, um, black and brown families and immigrant families in this city breathe, the worst air drink, the worst water, um, are the most likely to live in an apartment where their children are going to get exposed to lead. Um, and so, you know, like shutting down industrial looters in the city, making sure that we are investing that money, um, our, our public money into, you know, making those conditions easier, making the air better to breathe, um, and certainly not making it worse.
Speaker 3 00:15:01 Um, it's about, um, you know, making sure that our communities have access to the best public transit. It's about making sure that every single person in this city is able to access a free municipal ID. Um, if they want one it's about making sure that our city agencies, our, um, our city agencies are forbidden from collaborating with border patrol and ice. Um, it's about, you know, making sure that we are, you know, giving reparations to the communities that have been the most impacted by racial violence and racial disparities. Um, and then, you know, and like ending the targeting and surveillance of, uh, the Muslim community and specifically our Muslim youth through programs like CDE, um, and others that like, you know, were brought into our communities as like a good thing, right? Like, like they were brought into our communities as investment in youth programming. Next thing we know, you know, we're sending our youth to prison for 30 years. Um, and so making sure that we are moving away from, um, programs that, that target, uh, the Muslim community,
Speaker 4 00:16:11 You are listening to KFAN 90.3 FM and streaming live on the
[email protected]. This is Annie engineer for Somali link radio. I am not the person you came here to hear, but I just want to point out that it is pledge month here at camp AI. It is the pledge drive and the way that you can continue to get high quality news brought to you from the actual communities that live here in the city, like Somali link radio is by pledging to cafe. You can go to cafe.org and make a donation at an amount that's comfortable to you, whether that's just a few bucks, or if you're feeling really generous, a bunch, but anything counts. And it keeps local news produced by people who live in this community and who bring voices that traditional news doesn't always serve. Um, like the wonderful Amina who you're about to hear right now. All right, Annie out, I mean in,
Speaker 2 00:17:01 Thank you, Annie. And this is Aminah with Isha, um, running for war 10. Welcome back. I shall. Thank
Speaker 3 00:17:10 You.
Speaker 2 00:17:11 Um, we going out to see them, our questions. Um, so if you could change one thing in Karen issue, um, in ward 10, what would it be
Speaker 3 00:17:26 If I could change one thing? Um, I think that we live in a ward that where like decision-making in this community has prioritized, um, people who are, um, whose experiences are not reflective of the, that that people are facing. You know, so for me, it is it's about like, I know that our very best solutions come from the community. They come from, they're informed by the lived experiences of the people who are struggling. And I want to, I want to make sure that our decision-making is driven by them, that they are, um, you know, not just consulted at the end, but like the process starts with them. And, you know, it's a part of why I ran for office is to make sure, um, that our communities are, you know, not just, um, you know, I think about it as like, you know, not just like brought out at the end to say, oh, these people support this thing.
Speaker 3 00:18:29 They're like, there are consultant there from the beginning and are a part of the solution seeking, because we know that like when all of the government systems around us, when all of the systems that are built around us altogether fail, it's our community. That's stepping up and filling the gaps, you know? Um, it's our, it's our youth. Like, I think about my experiences as, uh, like the eldest daughter in a, in, um, in an immigrant family. Um, and it's like the reason I referenced this all the time, because for other eldest daughters, like when they hear that they know exactly what I'm talking about, right. It's like when you are five years old, you're on the phone with the energy company, right. Fighting to make sure that the lights don't go off. Right. Because your parents couldn't afford to pay the bill because the rent is so high, you know? And so it's like that, that, like when the systems around us fail, it is our community that has to still figure it out, you know? And so we should be at the table. We should be the ones that are creating the solutions because we're already doing it.
Speaker 2 00:19:29 Thank you so much. Um, I have another one and I will use an example. So, um, what, uh, what are those things you want to work on if you get elected? For example, like one thing I worry about as a, being a resident in Minneapolis, um, is my safety. Um, soon as judge Floyd, um, the safety issue has increased. And, um, especially in, if I use it on this example in Somali community, the seniors come walk outside, like they're having a problem, um, or someone is rubbing them on. So that's one thing I worry about. So what's one thing that you will work on if you get yeah.
Speaker 3 00:20:17 Um, I, I love the example that you started with, right? It's like our community feels more unsafe now than it ever has before. And, you know, it's like, when we're thinking about addressing a problem, we gotta start with like, how did this begin? Like, what is this problem? And what we know is, um, crime and safety issues are high, not just in our city, but in cities, across the country. And, um, like over the last two years, we have experienced the worst economic crisis and public health crisis in, you know, multiple generations as a country. And, um, and as a result of that, right, like it is working class people. It is, um, you know, immigrants and black and brown women, especially that has borne the brunt of, of that, that have experienced the worst of, um, this pandemic and this public health crisis. And at a time when, you know, people have to risk their lives to go to work.
Speaker 3 00:21:25 Um, and when something goes wrong, when they get sick, they can't access healthcare because it's so broken in our country. Um, when people like are worried about, you know, like, uh, getting evicted from their home because they can't make rent when there's like economic crisis, this burden on people is so high. Of course, people, of course like crime is going to go up because people aren't doing like people aren't doing this for fun, right? Like crime isn't bad because like, someone's like playing a trick on us. It's bad because like, the conditions under which we are living are the worst that people can remember, you know? And like, I like to remind people of that every time, you know, people will say like, oh, like after George Floyd was murdered, then things that things got bad, but it's the thing well, bad since the beginning of the pandemic, because the people who have at the worst in this country, in this city, um, like have been stretched beyond belief.
Speaker 3 00:22:22 And so when we think about like, that is the core of our problem, how are we going to address it? It's about investing in our communities. It's about investing in our frontline workers. It's about investing in our youth, um, who for the last three school years have not have had like the stability and permanence of like their day-to-day lives taken from them. And none of us can tell them when things are going to go back to normal, because we don't know, you know? And so like, when we are trying to figure out how are we going to address our safety problem, we've got to start with saying, we have to invest every dollar we can back into our community. We have to invest every dollar we can in to stable and permanent housing for people into rental assistance that, um, is accessible for people who, you know, don't speak fluent English.
Speaker 3 00:23:11 We have to be able to, um, you know, make sure people can get to, and from work, we have to make sure they're being treated with dignity in their workplace and that their wages aren't being stolen and that, you know, they aren't working in unsafe conditions. As we know, um, you know, most, um, black and brown workers and immigrant women specifically experienced, uh, worse than anyone else. Um, we have to make sure that we are, um, you know, investing in like, like youth programming and making sure our communities are invested in, and it's about making sure that we're building a public safety system that actually meets our needs, you know, um, right now I think about like the conversational around public safety and how politicized it's gotten and how, like, we can't seem to get one sentence out without like evoking, like a very emotional response from someone.
Speaker 3 00:23:58 And it's in large part because of the fear tactics that have been used to convince us that at a time when our police department in the city has more money than they have ever had before in the history of this city. Right. Um, and our safety is the worst that people can remember in a long time that we there's something wrong with us as a community for saying, oh, we should maybe try something different. You know, maybe we should try to, instead of, you know, um, targeting our, our immigrant communities, um, for, um, meeting our quotas on citations every month, you know, maybe instead we should say, like, let's get some streetlights in here. Let's make sure that, um, you know, people are able to like safely cross the street. Um, let's make sure that like the parks, that service, um, that are visited by our, our immigrant kids and our black and brown kids actually have working water fountains. You know, those are the types of things that actually make a community safe, um, and, and make people feel more comfortable being outside and being in community with one another.
Speaker 2 00:25:05 Thank you so much. And, um, I'm sure you got a lot of things to be proud of, but I'd really want to know one thing that you're really proud of.
Speaker 3 00:25:18 Um, I am really proud of, um, I'm really proud. So last year I live in the Whittier neighborhood I'm right off of, uh, two blocks off of Nicolette, one block off of 26th, right. Like two very busy intersections on either side of me at the highways right behind me. Um, and you know, last year, um, during, uh, you know, in the, in the weeks and months following the murder of George Floyd, um, lots of communities, you know, um, had like enormous pressures and, um, like went through a time that like, you know, our parents described happening in their home countries, right. Like, oh, that light, you know? And so like, it's like my family, um, I, you know, like we're Pakistani, but on my mom's side of the family, they are not like native to Pakistan. Their, their, their, their family is from India. And so during the partition in 47, they like traveled from India to Blackstone.
Speaker 3 00:26:17 And like the stories that, you know, my grandparents and my great grandparents told us, um, about like the, like this, like the unrest right. Of like living through a war essentially. Right. Um, um, that, that type of feeling and that those types of like silence and experiences, like we're experiencing them in our city, like in America really. Um, and I, so, you know, like during that time, um, something I'm really proud of is, you know, my neighbors and in our community, we came together and we created a mutual aid site. Right. Um, a place where people could bring, um, food, diapers, shampoo, like day-to-day do youth, right. Um, to pimento kitchen, which is, uh, like a Jamaican restaurant. It's black owned. Um, it's on Nicolette avenue. And, uh, we're in the part in our part of Whittier, it's all like apartment buildings around us. And it's either Latino families or it's Mali families that live there.
Speaker 3 00:27:13 And most folks like don't actually drive. And so people, because we're so close, like we're close to the Hallel meat store on 20th and neglect, we're close to the, um, uh, motorcyles grocery on, uh, 28th and neglect as well. And so most people just get their day-to-day groceries, um, and things that they need from the neighborhood. And so all of those stores were shut down during that time. And so we built this, you know, mutual aid site that existed for, I think almost three months where we serviced 1000 families, um, largely immigrant families, um, in having in getting their groceries free of cost, um, getting, um, you know, like diapers and other household needs. Um, and we sustained it by people in the community who, you know, had access to cars, maybe had a little bit more money, whatever, donating those items and saying, you know, I want to make sure that, uh, you know, people in my neighborhood who, who don't have the same privilege I do are able to access these things. Um, and like, that was a beautiful example of community coming together and finding solutions when our government was not just not there, you know, like nobody had any solutions. And so we said like, you know, like, God, there's nothing else we can do. So let's just figure it out. And then we did. Um, and like, you know, I think it's it's bit was what was one of the most fulfilling things I've ever been a part of, um, and have a lot of pride in my community for pulling that together.
Speaker 2 00:28:44 I am really proud of you saying that. Um, so Malia went through the same thing, like the civil war on everything, but, um, I don't remember anything about it. And, um, no one talks about it's been for a while, but that discussion came back to our household last year when George Floyd happened. Um, so when my mom said, um, this felt like the civil war, I mean, that's when I had my wake up call, I was like, this is real, you know? Um, so it's really sad to see someone who come all the way to here for safety and then, you know, had to, had to go back 10 years of memory. And, um, not only for her, but even, you know, for us, like, I didn't, I didn't know the experience. I didn't know what the experience in a, how it was, but now I do like, you know, I know how you found it.
Speaker 3 00:29:44 Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, it's like, it's like, when are, like, I remember my mom used to always say she was like, yeah. You know, like when I was coming to a marriage, like she, she got married and my mom was a, is a half is Alabama. She like grew up in a, in a dresser and was like bourbon, a very, very poor family. So like, they couldn't afford to keep her. So they sent her to him with Tressa and like, that's how she grew up. And, uh, when she was 16, my dad came from the opposite. He came from a very wealthy family, six kids, all of them went to like good schools. Um, he got to come to America to go to college. And, um, like she ended up in an arranged marriage to my dad. That's how, like, they, they met and she was telling me one time, she was like, yeah, like I was like coming to, I went to visit my grandmother.
Speaker 3 00:30:34 And my grandmother was like, in her twenties during the partition, I think. And, um, like her husband had recently died and so had to like take all of her kids, you know, including my grandmother, her brothers, um, and like go to a new country where they would be welcomed. Um, and wouldn't be persecuted as Muslims. Right. Um, and so like, she, um, she describes this experience. She was like, I went to visit my grandmother right before I came to America. Right. Like right before I left. And my grandmother said this thing to me, like, oh, you're going to the, like the promised land, you know, like you are going, um, what happened to me will never happen to you, you know? And I just, like, I remember my mom during like the uprising, she doesn't live in Minneapolis. She was in Mankato. So they called me and she was like, oh, I heard things are so bad in Minneapolis. And you know, like my, my Nani came to me and my dreams, my grandmother came to me, my dreams. And, uh, I just have been thinking about her saying like, you're going to the promise land, things like that will never happen to you there, you know? And it just like, like thinking about, I just yay for our parents, you know?
Speaker 2 00:31:44 And this is really sad. Like, like you don't want to see your parents, you know, to remember bad memories or to feel sad or, or any other pet buddy, but, um, seeing your loved ones, you know, going back to those horrific memories UN when the only thing they come here was that reason it's really disappointing. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:32:13 They're breaking, I'm sorry to hear about your
Speaker 2 00:32:14 Moms. Oh, it's all right. Um, and it, wasn't only her, but a lot of elderly people on, um, they went through the same thing. We're going to take a small break and then come back.
Speaker 4 00:32:26 Hi, Annie. Again, just reminding y'all again, that this is KFA 90.3 FM and live on the
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Speaker 2 00:33:09 Hello, everyone. Welcome back. Hi, Ayesha. Welcome back. Number state.
Speaker 3 00:33:17 We just say a stomach, but you know, yeah. Oh, I
Speaker 2 00:33:20 Still am a leak. I'm sorry. I'm trying to speak different language. Um, that, that's one of the things, um, my friend said like in America, there's only one language language. Yeah. So, um, one of my last question is, um, in this race, I'm sure this other, um, candidates, um, for the year of city council, why should fall risk speak you as a issue? Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:33:56 Um, voters should place their trust in me, um, because I, you know, have the, the, the lived experiences and the day-to-day experiences that people in our community have had. You know, I know what it's like to struggle, to find affordable housing, to be a child, helping your immigrant parents navigate the world, to have to choose between buying groceries and, you know, making rent or making a student loan payment. I, um, you know, I'm very, very proud to be the strongest candidate in this race. I have built the strongest campaign and have been the front runner consistently since I got in the race. Um, and you know, I have raised the most amount of money of anyone else. Um, I earned, you know, they were in a six way race at that time. It was a seven people race, um, and earn 50% in the DFL endorsement.
Speaker 3 00:34:55 Um, and you know, I, um, have, uh, a large and dedicated staff that's working on engaging residents and engaging people in this community and this election cycle, you know, we are of the belief that when more people participate, it's a good thing. And we are doing our part in making sure that that's the case. Um, we, you know, um, our, we built the largest coalition, 24 different organizations and elected officials have endorsed me in this race more than anyone else, more than everyone else aligned. Um, and I, you know, I say that because I know that this community wants a coalition in this race. I know that this community wants someone who is going to bridge divides, um, instead of pointing fingers instead of, um, you know, saying, oh, you know, that's not a city issue, go talk to your state representative. What is that?
Speaker 3 00:35:52 You know, like they're, they want someone who is going to show up, um, alongside the community and make decisions, uh, for the people who are left behind and have, um, you know, the, the lived experiences of, of folks in the community. Um, I will also, you know, I just will add like our, we have the most detailed policy of anyone else in this race, um, both in the city council races, but in any race altogether in Minneapolis. Um, and it is rooted in, um, you know, the, the things, the policies that can help uplift, um, the people who are struggling the most right now, right? Like making sure that we have, uh, tenant policies that protect, um, our poor and working class people that we are supporting our small businesses and our small business owners, especially people who are immigrants, um, who are black and brown, um, and making sure that they're not getting displaced, um, and that they are being supported in the rebuilding of, of our, um, our, of our busy corridors as we move through this pandemic. So, you know, I I'm, I'm a working class person. I have been one my entire life. I I'm the oldest of four children. Um, and I am a coalition builder, and I will continue to show up alongside my community. And I hope that I will earn people's first choice vote by November 2nd. I hope that I will earn their trust, um, in, in leading alongside them.
Speaker 2 00:37:26 Yeah. And I just want to add, um, being the oldest in our culture means that you have more responsibility than any variables. And, um, that will help, like the way along the way. I'm sure.
Speaker 3 00:37:42 I'm like, I'm the oldest of four kids. I started raising my siblings when I was five years old, you know, like who taught them how to drive. It was me and like, help them get their first job. It was mainly, you know, and it's like, it's like the thing about being like the oldest child versus being their parent, right. Is like, you, like, you get to grow up with them and you also get to be their parents, you know, and you get to like, experience the parts of them that are just like silly and, um, are innocent, you know, and like you, and you get to like, love them and adjust, do that unconditionally. Um, yeah.
Speaker 2 00:38:21 Yeah. I'm, I'm the opposite of you. I'm the youngest. So,
Speaker 3 00:38:26 And the God that youngest child envy, you know, like the parents aren't strict anymore. They don't really care. All of the older siblings are working. So like all their everybody's getting pocket money. You know, my, in our family, like the youngest one is like the, um, it's like our, our only brother and he's, uh, 13 years younger than I am. And this child just like any afterschool program, he wants to do any sport. He wants to play any clothes. He wants, whatever, you know, he just gets it. And like, I love that, you know, I wish I had those things. And so I fought really, really hard. I worked really, really hard to make sure he had every opportunity, um, that, that wasn't afforded to me.
Speaker 2 00:39:12 Yeah. But I'm sure like being the oldest, like the community will benefit from it, um, for being a responsible young age. Cause I didn't have that responsibility. I was just running around like in every age. So, um, if the photo is, want to get more information about you or campaign, where can they go?
Speaker 3 00:39:36 Yeah. They can visit our website. It's Ayesha a, I S H a four ward, 10 F O R w a R D <inaudible> dot com. Or they can check us out on Facebook, um, Instagram or Twitter. All of those are, um, um, I HSA for word time and, um, they can, you know, reach out to us, uh, on our website, on our social media. We would love to get in touch. We want as many folks, um, as want to be like involved in, in what we're doing and what we're building. Um, you know, if there are voters who have questions, um, or followups who want to know more, um, you know, we want to answer your questions. We want to do the hard work of earning your trust. Um, well
Speaker 2 00:40:24 Thank you so much that concludes our conversation. I really appreciate for your station and your time. And um, if you want to add anything you can add and we will love to have you back and wishing you the best fingers crossed. Um, I'm always with females, I'm ruling for females. So yeah.
Speaker 3 00:40:48 Um, please invite me back. I would love to come back. I'd love to, uh, I'm like a fan of your, your work and want to continue to support it. Um, I love, you know, like local radio, local news, independent journalism, all of that is really, really important. Um, the last thing I will leave folks with tonight is that, um, the election is coming up here two weeks from today on Tuesday, November 2nd are really voting is open now. Um, you know, regardless of who you're going to vote for, um, please make sure that you get out and cast your ballot, make your voice heard. Um, especially if you don't usually vote in local elections. Um, especially if you are a renter, if you are a young person, if you, um, are invested in the future of our community. Um, yeah.
Speaker 2 00:41:37 Well, thank you so much. I Shan, we wish you the best
