By Casby Bias Apr. 12, 2012 You push open a door. Behind this door there are seven people, sitting in wooden desks: the desks are arranged in a circle. On the left side of the room, an African-American woman turns toward you: her black suit jacket brushes against her desk. She peers over the rims of her glasses as a warm smile emerges across her face. “Well, hello!” she says. “Come in!” You walk in as she, still smiling, continues her conversation. You can tell this lady means business. You can tell this woman is the fit description of today’s “boss lady.” You can tell that she is Congresswoman Gwen Moore. People don't first think "woman" when it comes to politics. "White older male" is the usual stereotype and face of governmental systems. But Gwen Moore proves otherwise. She was one of the 40 students that participated in EOP when "all those white kids and those few African-American basketball players" came together and fasted for diversity in 1968. A political science major granted her access to opportunities that included fundraising, writing proposals and helped the city of Milwaukee, state and nonprofits. She even met Barack Obama and wrote a poem for his grandmother two days before the election. So you can’t say that all women have a specific stereotype. Moore sports a true image of a political role model. Moore also said she became successful by promoting awareness for social issues. "I won my positions by going door to door talking about my vision," she said. That's right: she talked to people and took what they had to say in perspective for improving communities. Moore also said social media such as Facebook and Twitter made an impact of awareness. "Before, (people) had no idea what was going on without awareness," she said. "A little bit can tell a lot." She also said shared interests with other people (e.g., block parties, food) bonded communities. "If you say you’re going to have free food, trust me, they (are going to) be coming," she said. But the room got quiet after someone asked about how Moore promoted awareness for the Trayvon Martin case. Gwen Moore sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. She was quiet for a little while. Moore then said she tried helping without adding more political drama to the situation. "I think I didn’t engage in a way that would threaten," she said. She said she had a hoodie with her for a soon-to-be-canceled rally at Capitol Hill. She also said she got the opportunity to listen to Trayvon Martin's parents and attorney in congress. She sat there. She listened. And sometimes that’s the best thing you could do without conflicting a situation. Moore told students do whatever they could for a cause: even if there might be limiting ways of voicing an opinion. "Just go do something wonderful,” she rose her hands in the air. “Just get something started."
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Meet Casby.Majoring in journalism with an entrepreneurship minor at Marquette University. WILL be known nationally as a powerful positive influence! Archives
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