Women in Government with Representative Michele Rayner

In this episode, we break the cycle of societal pressures with Representative Michele Rayner. They get political about their journey into government, family legacies, and their call to action to be better than the previous generations. This is a powerful talk with a powerful voice. So get ready to cast your vote for Michelle. Listen to Today's Episode to Learn About: -Michele’s journey to being in government -family legacies and wanting to do better than the previous generation -being a woman in a man’s world -the biggest hurdle for women seeking leadership positions in our government -being gaslit in government -the two sides of the support coin -policy and politics is personal -expecting people to be the way you want -attributes for a successful leader -in what ways do our state and country need to change -honesty is the best policy -questions from listeners SYNC UP WITH MICHELE: INSTAGRAM- @micheleforfl + @repmkr WHO IS MICHELE? Civil rights and social justice attorney Michele Rayner made history in 2020 when she was elected as the first openly queer Black member of the Florida legislature and immediately established herself as one of the strongest advocates for underserved communities.Michele was raised by a family of change-makers in Pinellas County. Her parents both integrated the University of South Florida in the early 1960s, with her mother going on to become one of the first Black social workers in St. Petersburg and her father successfully putting himself through engineering school while working in a warehouse. Her parents established themselves as community leaders and set an example for Michele with their dedication to service. After law school, Michele joined the Hillsborough County Public Defender’s office, a position she was drawn to because she felt it was where she could do the best for the most vulnerable in her community. While serving as a public defender, she learned the importance of truly listening to and steadfastly advocating for clients who have limited agency. Michele was called to ensure justice again when she became an attorney for Markeis McGlockton’s family, working alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump. Markeis was shot and killed in an altercation in a Clearwater parking lot, reigniting the debate over Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law 6 years after the death of Trayvon Martin. During the 2019 trial, the killer was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years in prison. The experience made it clear to Michele that running for the legislature could help her do more to fight unjust laws like Stand Your Ground and prevent future tragedies from occurring. Growing up, Michele’s father always told her: “Help others, do the right thing and most of all, always keep your head up high.” To this day, Michele keeps her head up and will continue to do so as a leader for her constituents, ensuring an equitable recovery from COVID, protecting voting rights, and demanding real justice for underserved communities. Michele currently lives in St. Petersburg with her dog and cat.