Activist & Politician is the bold Democratic Party spokeswoman who was named the most powerful, unelected person in California Democratic politics. She is a captivating orator and progressive movement leader who educates, motivates and inspires people to action. As the former Executive Director of Emerge California, the state’s most effective training program for Democratic women who run for office, Kimberly is a nationally recognized Progressive leader who has been credited with revolutionizing Democratic politics in California. After running for Chair of the California Democratic Party in the spring of 2019, well as in 2017 where she inspired thousands, Kimberly Ellis founded and launched Unbought – Unbossed (UnB2), an incubator for the next generation of political disruptors. Find her online @realkimberlye.
Passion Project: “My purpose at this moment is to be an instigator, an agitator and a motivator for bringing about radical, systemic change within institutions of power and systems of oppression; to inspire the next generation of truth tellers, freedom fighters and justice warriors. Put simply, my purpose is to build a Progressive army that will create a more fair, equitable and just world for everyone.”
Q: What does the power of being female mean to you? “The power of being female means I embrace the lineage and ancestry from which I come, understanding that women were Rulers, Warriors, Queens and Goddesses. More and more women are fully tapping into that power, which means we are accepting our role as the givers and protectors of life, birthing everything from ideas to civilizations, recognizing that the time has come once again for us to lead.”
Q: How do you describe your purpose? “My purpose at this moment is to be an instigator, an agitator and a motivator for bringing about radical, systemic change within institutions of power and systems of oppression; to inspire the next generation of truth tellers, freedom fighters and justice warriors. Put simply, my purpose is to build a Progressive army that will create a more fair, equitable and just world for everyone.”
Q: What do you recommend people do to get more educated and involved? “For starters, read up on American history and world history, and not the distorted, abbreviated, patriarchal versions that were fed to many of us and continue to be fed to our children today.
- Learn civics – which is the studying of our rights and responsibilities as citizens, understanding that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and understanding how to use it to protect ourselves against search, seizure and surveillance.
- Learn the difference between the local, state and federal branches of government so you can understand the process, where to start and who to go to – in order to change a law or regulation or policy or to get a stop sign put on your street corner.
- In this world of alternative realities and fake news, getting educated and involved means researching the facts for yourself.”
Q: What does it mean to be a woman in politics? “It means understanding that there are two avenues of approach. There is the do what you are told, wait your turn and don’t ruffle any feathers approach or the second. We can unapologetically demand our rightful place at the decision-making table, even if it makes people uncomfortable. There is an unequal bias, triple standard for women of color as candidates and public figures. As an individual, you have to make a conscious decision as to how you will show up and play the game. I made a conscious decision to be my authentic self and to play by my own rules… No matter how much I try… there will always be those who will consider me a disrupter and a stereotypical angry black woman. I acknowledge, accept, and persist, never-the-less. We cannot be what we cannot see. It is imperative that women of color see women who look like them serving in leadership and running for positions of power. I know that both of my campaigns for my Democratic Party Chair inspired thousands of other women of color to run, win and lead.”
