When we’re kids, we all aspire to do something great when we grow up. We all think about how wonderful it would be to have careers in things we think about and covet. The truth is, very few of us can say we’re doing exactly what we intended when we were teenagers. Somehow, life’s decisions impact who we are and who we thought we would become. But for Shontel Brown, the newly elected congressperson for the 11th district, she is doing exactly what she envisioned twenty years ago.
“It’s funny because in high school I was actually voted class vice-president, so I’ve been doing politics for a while,” Brown commented.
The fresh-faced Brown brings new energy to the Northeast Ohio political landscape. When Brown walks into a room, she brightens the spirit of anyone standing in her presence. In a world of cynical people, Brown is the warmth we all need right now.
Cleveland has always enjoyed seasoned politicians to serve its interests, but now we get new blood, new energy, and innovative ideas from Brown about what our future can look like. For her first one hundred days in office, Brown has some ideas.
“For me, it’s bringing people together to make sure that we capitalize on the once-in-a-generation investment in the billions of dollars to reverse course on issues that have really plagued the Black community. The removal of lead pipes and creating high-speed Internet access for everyone — those are the things I’m excited about and hope to bring to the voters of Northeast Ohio,” Brown explained.
Brown understands that her position as a member of the National Black Caucus also helps her with the challenges Blacks face across America.
2022 is going to be an interesting year for Black people. The pandemic is a new way of life. Creating income has never been more challenging and working as one unit might never happen again. From the 1940s through the ‘60s, Black people fought for a common cause.
Back then, a Black man could still provide for his family with one job, and the Black family was still considered to be the center of the Black community. Today, that way of life is long gone and what we think we need from our politicians is difficult to describe. So, Brown has her hands full as she decides which problems to address. Luckily for her constituents, Brown makes decisions quickly.
“On my second day in office, I was able to cast a historic vote to move the bipartisan infrastructure bill forward and I am excited to continue to do things just like that,” Brown commented. “I also want to make sure we locally get our hands on those dollars as it will change our economic landscape.”
What is so special about Brown is that she sees the world through a youthful lens. She brings nothing but her pure-hearted fondness for “doing what’s right” to the job. As voters, we can only wonder how long that viewpoint can be maintained in modern-day politics.
Democrats are retiring or choosing not to run in record numbers in 2022. So far, over seventeen members of Congress said they plan to return to being private citizens or plan to run for other offices. This could impact the mid-term elections and find Democrats fighting for control in November.
Brown understands the challenges ahead and knows that all things Democrats are currently under attack. She is going to have to deal with the questionable redistricting in Ohio and the numerous legal fights in the courts over voting rights.
“It’s important that the federal government get involved because we have seen of the 40-plus states that there are over 400 bills on the table, across the country, which is very much attacking our voting rights,” Brown said. “It’s making access to voting harder instead of easier for those who need to vote the most.”
The House has already addressed the issue and now it sits before the Senate to impact all the proposed bills that might change how America votes in the upcoming election.
Brown enters national politics at a time where divisiveness is the norm, working across the aisle is gone, and the average American is tone-deaf when it comes to thinking Washington can have influence anymore.
With all of that on the table, how can anyone expect Brown to maintain such a hopeful outlook on life and her job? We have seen what politics does to those after serving. President Barak Obama went into the office with black hair, full of ideas about how he was going to make the world a better place.
And while his presidency will go down as one of the best in American history, when he ended his term eight years later, we saw a grey and battered president who became more realistic about what he could do rather than the dreamer who was the first Black President of the United States.
If Brown is going to protect herself from the hard-knocks dealings of politics, she will need a solid foundation to keep her centered.
“I have a wonderful family around me. They keep me grounded and happy that I am just a person, from Cleveland, who is lucky enough to serve. I have constant reminders from my nieces and friends that when I need to remember where I came from, there are people in my life who I can turn to for laughter, hugs, and prayers,” Brown said.
Along the ride with Brown is “Team Telli,” her childhood friends who maintain constant contact with her. Finally, Brown has a deep-rooted relationship with her church and God and gives Him all the glory for where she is today.
All we can hope for is a better 2022 than what we experienced over the last two years. For the people of Northeast Ohio, we can say we have someone looking out for us in Washington, and here at home as well. ●
