The Scoop with Tanya Flanagan

Unknown Speaker 0:00
You're listening to locally produced programming created in KU NBC Studios on public radio K, u and v 91.5.

Unknown Speaker 0:16
Good morning. And thank you for joining me for the scoop with Tanya Flynn. And again, I'm so happy you decided to wake up and start your day with me. Here on the scoop where we talk about life, joy, funny moments, trending topics, and so much more. We promise to keep you in the know and find out what you know. So let's get started.

Unknown Speaker 0:43
Good morning, and welcome to the first Sunday of the new year. It is 2024. I appreciate hearing you being here with me once again. On a Sunday at seven o'clock in the morning. Thank you for tuning in to the scope on 91.5k u and v. Public Radio. I am starting off the year with a somewhat political conversation but mostly one that was centered around political engagement is centered around community engagement and activism and just being involved in the process, whereby major decisions are made that affect our lives on an everyday basis. So today, I am talking with my guests, and I'm going to introduce her in just a moment about emerge Nevada. And eMERGE is a program that targets women of all different types of backgrounds in the Democratic Party, and helps them to reach a goal centered around whether it's running for office or something to do with political engagement. But we're gonna dig deeper. But before we do, please join me in welcoming Daniel Lavelle to the show. Dan is the executive director of eMERGE and a friend. At this point. I've had the pleasure of getting to know her very well since 2019. Danna Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

Unknown Speaker 2:01
Thanks. So nice to be here. Happy New Year,

Unknown Speaker 2:04
Happy New Year to you as well. How was your new year? Did you have a good time, Vegas is always one of those great cities to be in. When the clock strikes 12?

Unknown Speaker 2:16
Yes, it was a great new year. And, you know, resolutions and words to live by and all the things we spend time doing and just really ready to get going in 2024.

Unknown Speaker 2:27
Before we dig into the heavy, I have to ask because I'm just I'm curious what what I'm one of the last shows I did going out of 2023 was on resolutions, what was a resolution of yours? And what are we seven, seven days. And so how's it going?

Unknown Speaker 2:46
It's great. My word this year is transformation. And that's not just for me, but it's for the women that I work with as well and my family. And so it's really guiding all of the goals that I have for the year. And already putting it into motion with you know, better eating and cleaning out the closets and taking the time during the holidays to make the new start. So I feel very excited about it and very committed to it

Unknown Speaker 3:10
early. I love that word transformation. It speaks volumes to so many different things in so many different levels. And you can apply it across like you said every area of your life and see the impact. Speaking of impact, you are a woman who does just that on a daily basis for other women in our city, across the board. So as I mentioned gearing up the show and welcoming people to join us this morning. You're the executive director of eMERGE Nevada, I am proud class of 2019 emerge alumni. Yes, I am. Yes I am. But tell the listening audience who is completely may be familiar. And for some who are completely unfamiliar, what is emerge?

Unknown Speaker 3:55
Well, yes, thank you. And emergence is different things to different people. But in general, eMERGE is a national candidate training program. And so our organization works to build a representative democracy by recruiting, identifying, recruiting and training Democratic women to run for office. And we've been doing that since 2002, believe it or not, and in Nevada since 2006. So you know that entering the entering the political realm can be like learning a new language. People, you know, don't really know that much about it unless they've been involved with it. And learning to run for office can seem just completely daunting at the outset. So eMERGE has taken the political campaign process and broken it down into strategic modules, which we then train potential candidates in a program with over 70 plus hours of material during during a four to six month time. time period is we take participants through like hands on scenarios. And we introduce them to political strategist operatives and elected so that in the end, they are ready to launch their own campaigns with confidence from local offices to state legislatures, and statewide races.

Unknown Speaker 5:20
I love that. And I mentioned, I'm an alum. So first, I want to say thank you, for what you do, and the time that you give to it. And all of the women that you help when the program helps, and the people who helped to make the program a reality and option for the women across the state to participate in and then even at the National Platform. So thank you in that sense, as well, I know it made a huge difference in my life. And I want to say, one of the most eye opening moments in now that I'm an emerge alum. Looking back on it, there's an application that each woman or anyone interested in going through the program will complete. And it was sitting down at because I initially part of it in my doing was I wanted to do something for myself, that would empower, enrich and build me. And I thought emerge was a space for that. But it also was, I guess, not a moment of reckoning, but maybe a little bit of a moment of reckoning or truth. Because in the application, you list you're asked a question about, you know, what office should do you see? Or what do you see yourself doing this basic capacity? And I think that was the moment of truth for me that made me have to really hear myself answer the question about the level of political engagement that interested me that I think before I had maybe shied away from admitting to myself, Oh, there is a journey here, there's a path, there's a there may be a dream or, you know, a transformation that's yet to come to take me into this direction. But that application, that process made me answer some really, really truthful questions about myself. And I think that's the other part that's really dynamic about emerge.

Unknown Speaker 7:17
Yes, I mean, absolutely. And, you know, I will say that women are super hard on themselves. And they think that they have to have six letters after their name, or 20 letters after their names in order to do anything, you know, they have to already have HD. And so much of what we do is talk about how doable it is, just by following a process, and strategizing. And the main thing that we do is we reach out to our network for the support. When women have the support, they that they know they have someone in their court, they can almost accomplish anything. But yeah, we do help. We do help them more or less review what, what they want to accomplish, and how they can accomplish it with political goals and which offices, they can do that in.

Unknown Speaker 8:10
Women become the focus. I mean, someone could say, this is a program that could be beneficial to anyone. Why is it focused on women? And was it probably also selfishly, people? What else? Was it democratic? Was it what why the democratic focus? Oh, yeah.

Unknown Speaker 8:29
I mean, we know that our country is changing, and Nevada is definitely a reflection of the nation, of the democratic nation that we have. And so from our democratic demographics, to the way we live our lives, and our government must reflect this new reality and the progressive vision of the future. And we focus on women and non binary folks of the new American Majority, because we know that they Well, they not only fueled democratic victories as organizers and voters, but also continue to be some of the most exciting candidates on the ballot, and they get people excited, and they get and people when they see someone that looks like them, and who has had experiences like them, they can see themselves in that candidate, and they support those those races. They know that the voices of their communities will be lifted up. I

Unknown Speaker 9:23
mean, one of my curiosities going into this conversation with you this morning was, you know, who represents or who looks like the ideal candidate, but I think the more we're talking as I listened to you, is there such a thing as an ideal candidate, an ideal person for emerge? I don't, maybe there isn't. Very

Unknown Speaker 9:45
well, what we want is authenticity. And we want you to bring your full self to the program, and we want you to delve into what the choices are and what the possibilities are and see if it's for you. You know, some Some come out on the other side and say they just want to support the sisters out of their organ out of their cohort. You know, they just they don't see it being for them to be running. But they know that they can be strategic and helpful in the campaign's themselves. And so they become the wind beneath the wings of their sisters. Others find that they didn't think they were but they wanted to look into it. And they found their path and they know exactly what they want to do. So it really is about being true to yourself, figuring out what matters to you. And many times what we what we know is women think that they have to have literally like a PhD in order to do almost anything, because they don't want to make any mistakes. They want to make sure they do it exactly right. They you know, and what we say is, don't wait till you're ready, let's get some skills behind you and get some support behind you. And let's move in the direction of you being the voice of your community.

Unknown Speaker 10:55
I think that it's so powerful, and it's really, it rings. So very true. Because with politics and getting into that space, you can eyes something you can have your eye on the prize. And just because you go forward, we want to see people when people want to see themselves when when they go out to try to achieve a goal. But maybe you know, your first race isn't a race that you win. But it's a race that you learn, no matter what the experience is in life, you're going to learn something. And I think what I love about emerges the relationships that are built about how many people are usually in a cohort Danna,

Unknown Speaker 11:32
our hook, our cohorts are between 20 and 25. Ideally, sometimes they're a little less, sometimes a little bit more, but right around there. So it's, it's intimate enough to really get to know each other. And over six months, we say that, you know, it's just like your regular life, there's babies born people die, there's marriages, you know, everything imaginable. And so you live a life with the the women in your cohort, and you learn about them, and you're there for them every step of the way. And then other alums that have come through in previous years, just are mentors and helpers, and supporters for the new ones, who are just learning and wanting to get involved. And so it becomes like this. Our network is by far the magic of our program, for sure.

Unknown Speaker 12:18
And I guess my what I want to talk about stick a pin in that network and come back to it the time commitment, because the six months and 20 to 25 people what they experienced or how often they come together, because I know it's not just you know, can we talk a little bit about the time commitment for the listening, people who are out there listening, trying to kind of wrap their head around that person, it's tugging on saying, Oh, well, I've heard about that, or I'm curious about this, or I've seen a program similar to it has come through my email, but it wasn't this one. But now we're talking. So you know, what does that look like for a person? In terms of time?

Unknown Speaker 13:04
Right? Well, you know, there you there are candidate trainings of all kinds, everywhere you look. And one of the things that helps us stand out is we're on the ground in the state, one of the only organizations that have staff here, and a network built here to support the program. And so you fill out the application, you go through an interview process, you help us decide whether this is for you, and whether you're for us. And then when you start the program, it's a six month for us. It starts in January, it ends in June. And we come together at least one weekend, a month during that time. So it's two days per month. And we spend two full days on the modules that we're going through. But we're also learning to do public speaking, we're meeting local electeds. We're understanding strategies and talking to national operatives that know how to train on certain subjects, even including, like what we call red districts or districts that would be difficult to flip. But we want to put a candidate in those in those districts. We are going to learn all of that over a six month period. And it's important that that timeframe goes by because we do simulate what it would be like to commit to six months of campaigning. And that's the main reason that we spread it out over that length of time is so that you can understand all the things that happen and realize the commitment it would take to actually be a candidate. And we don't take that lightly. Because one of the things that we believe is that there's only one first time to run. You can run many times, but there's only one first time. And if you put your foot out there and you run a great race, whether you win or lose, you're still a winner in the political world because if you've ran a great race, you've done the very best you could you used your donors money as well as you could have when you were fundraising, and they know that you did your best, then you can run again, if you don't win. And if you win you, you are a flagship of how to do it correctly. So that's what we teach. over a six month period, we show you what it takes to do it, the fact that running for office is a huge commitment, it takes a lot of involvement from family, you have to have, you know, coverage, for kids and for everything that happens in your life. And so, yeah, six months is what we feel like it takes for that realization and that level of skill building to come through.

Unknown Speaker 15:38
I think that's a really awesome association of the time and why the time is structured the way it is. The six month, the the commitment, the time away from family, the getting to know other people, all of the different components that you're evaluating the commitment, the impact it has on being away from your family, or engaging your family to be involved with you, whatever that may require, whether it's attending an event, or volunteering to go out and knock on a door or participate in a community activity or make phone calls, there's a lot of different things that go into it that create this space where there's self development, and increased self awareness. And a greater understanding of the democracy as a whole that our country is, is fueled by and governed. Under. And so it's a really great program for personal growth. And for, for me, for example, I was deeply rooted in community service, I've always been very deeply rooted in community service ever since I was a teenager. So I don't I guess I just came out the womb wired to go work on all kinds of projects and do stuff. And so people would say to me, a long time ago, someone said to me, when I first moved here, oh, I see you running for office. And I said, I do not see that. I don't know why you do. But I do see me continuing to do what I've always said, I thought it was the most absurd idea, I'm never gonna do that. I'm just gonna do what I do, which is work on volunteer and community programs. And then, you know, fast forward ever, so what is he saying, Never say never. But you know, you're right, you do only have one first run. And eMERGE is doing an exceptional job of giving people I think, a leg up. But I also sometimes talk to women who I see engaging in their communities to help other people. And I say this program would really be helpful to you. And maybe it's because I see something in them, because one of them that I said, Hey, you should look into this program, it's currently running for an office. So you know, she came out of it. And she's laser focused on what she's trying to do, it impacts education. And I wish her the very best in what she's going out to do. But she's also a product of emerge. And I know others who have gone through it not so much to put their name on the ballot as much to find another way to be impactful, and helpful to make a difference in the community, that they are so passionate about serving and helping. And that's what I think makes emerge. so valuable. It's local. So you really know who's here, what matters to people who are here, and how things that are changing on the landscape affect the people, the citizens and business owners and residents and people who come here every day. And I think that's huge. That's

Unknown Speaker 18:49
well, it really isn't the end. To be elected is to be a public servant. Under what that means is the first step by far. And a lot of times, as I mentioned earlier, if someone doesn't feel like it's their time to run for office, definitely coming through our program will help elevate them, introduce them and have them involved where they can find their place until it is time for them to run, if ever it is. And it definitely involves them in the community in a way where they can see what their public service area is best.

Unknown Speaker 19:30
Emerge is great in terms of the Reach it has, and we talked about the network, and how wonderful it is and the different components. So it's Sunday, but a few days ago, one of those great moments occurred and the press the Vice President of the United States, the Kamala Harris was here. And as executive director of eMERGE, you were there. And I remember another cool moment and we'll talk about that too when I was going Once we emerge, so can you talk about what happened? She was here just a few days going you were a part of that because, in part because of the work you do with the merge?

Unknown Speaker 20:12
Well, yes, because the, you know, emerge was born because of an incident in the beginning of when Kamala Harris was working to become the district attorney and women who were working to help her become elected in San Francisco couldn't didn't have any tools or, or any way of helping her, there was no program to help women run for office. And so they got her elected, and they did. They did what it took to help her, you know, fundraise and, and rent her race and become elected. But they realized that there was a huge gap there for all women. And that was the impetus for starting emerge at the time. And so, of course, we know that she went on to become the Attorney General of the State of California, and from there, a senator and to Vice President of the United States. And she has never forgotten the roots that brought her where she is. And she always reaches out everywhere she is to emerge affiliates across the nation and make sure that she shares really her gifts and her knowledge with us when she comes in. That's when in 2019, when you were in class with us, she came to the class and actually spoke to all of you, as you recall, and had our we had our own moment with her. She at the time was running for president. But she took her time with us separately and shared how important it was that you were, you know, preparing to run and she was with us for over an hour I think in that room together and then she went out and best the whole crowd. I

Unknown Speaker 21:51
have to say it is one of the most memorable moments of my life and to be having done the work that I've done over the years in the community on different projects, whether it was Urban League young professionals with something through the a the sorority that Kamala and I share Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, having done work there things in the church brings through my job. When I worked in the community as a liaison with commission districts. It was one of the most unforgettable moments even being asked at one point I was asked to as a community engager to be a supporter, and endorser of camo who was she was running for president. And that was huge. But the moment to have two moments, I had two really special moments where she was here, the one with emerge, being able to to hear her and what she said to us is, is women in the program considering what our place was, and how we would move forward and what emerged was giving to us that we would be able to then give back to the community. She gave such powerful advice. And it was so truthful. It was honest. It was one of the things she said it was really simple. You know, we said What's the hardest thing about running for office and she was honest, she said fundraising, she's raising money. But it's so important because it's the validity of a campaign. And there's truth to that. You know, people who believe in you will help you. And I have raised money for all kinds of causes. Breast Cancer Education, children. And I can't believe how quickly this time is running out this morning, because we're running down to the wire Danna, but it was the hardest thing to do was to raise money for a campaign. And it took me coming full circle to realize you raise money for causes all the time. A campaign is also a cause for the community. Because what you're saying is, let's work together on the issues that matter. I'm asking you to help me continue to work with you. So we work together, but I need help here. So if you can do this, this contribution, whatever it is, whether it's time or actual physical dollars, if you can do this, we can do this together, we can we can win together, and it takes repping. And emerge helps you to understand all of the components that play into this. Yeah. As our time went, when you do speak, as our time went down, please share how people can reach you how they can learn more about emerge, because I don't want to run out of time. I want to make sure they clearly hear how to be engaged, how to get more information, how to reach you or the emerg team.

Unknown Speaker 24:46
Yes, definitely. Well, the website is emerge and b.org and you can reach me down a level it's 702-204-4802. On the website, you can sign up for our new newsletters you can sign up to get more information about our program, you can actually review what it takes to get into the program. And if you want to tell me directly, I'm happy to give you more information about it.

Unknown Speaker 25:11
And if people are looking for stuff on social media, they just want to follow and start to look into and read about it social to the social media handles out there that emerge Nevada.

Unknown Speaker 25:24
Yes, they're both emerged in Nevada for a while all three Twitter, Insta, and Facebook emerged Nevada.

Unknown Speaker 25:32
So I occurred having gone through this program, having had it your word for the year is transformation. And I believe emerged was truly transformative, not just where it brought me as a person getting more in tune to who I am, what matters what issues matter. But the people that I met, and some of the relationships that I still have, just the other day I saw Elizabeth, I was in physical therapy. And I saw Elizabeth Becker. And yeah, yeah. And it's just nice, the way you have relationships with people. And you can get together, whether it's a pool party, or it's brunch or dinner or is watching a movie. These are people that you're able to hold on to and stay connected to.

Unknown Speaker 26:16
Yes.

Unknown Speaker 26:19
Not that we all think exactly the same, because we don't we have an individual unique mind, but we are sort of, I guess, like minded, and at the very least committed to community and to helping people and it keeps us connected to one another and to the whole, and I have to say to you, thank you for being the glue. And such a great example. It's such a great person.

Unknown Speaker 26:48
Thank you so much, Tanya.

Unknown Speaker 26:49
Thank you, Danna. Well, it's another Sunday morning. Thank you for tuning in. I hope you've enjoyed this conversation that I've had with Danna and I look forward to having you join me again next Sunday. Have a great week.

Unknown Speaker 27:08
I want to thank you for tuning into the scoop with me telling you Flanagan and I want to invite you to get social with me I'm on Facebook and Twitter. My name is my handle TA in YAFL a na ga n. You can also find me on Instagram at Tanya almond eyes Flanagan and if you have a thought and opinion or a suggestion, don't hesitate to shoot me an email to tonya.flanagan@unlv.edu Thanks again for joining in. Stay safe and have a great week.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai