What excites/interests you in legislative and policy work?
The opportunity to mobilize and eventually impact the community is what excites me the most about legislative work. I believe that to make education equitable and ensure that every child, and every learner thrives, it is extremely important to center decisions around them and the people associated with them. Policy level changes help move the needle at a systemic level and the trickle-down effect of it empowers people. I am deeply thankful to be able to be a cog in the wheel that helps in informing policy, and it makes me feel even more committed to the causes I firmly stand for.
How did you get your start in legislative/policy work?
My journey in policy work started as a graduate student where I worked on policy memos for health and education, both in India and in the US. And it made me realize that if we are passionate about certain issues, we can play our role in bringing about the change we wish to see. Moreover, having been an educator and researcher, my work has led me to interact with students, teachers, and parents from diverse backgrounds, fortifying my understanding of the glaring inequities prevalent in our education system, and that further motivated me to pursue my passion for policy research.
What have you learned?
“it is imperative to learn about the issues directly from the people most impacted.”
I have learned that for solutions and interventions to actually empower impacted communities, it is immensely important to make their voices heard. It is also imperative to avoid having band-aid solutions that are so surface-level that the real reason for the existing problem(s) is not addressed, eventually exacerbating the problem. Moreover, persistence and remaining constantly motivated to address the challenges are key in our area of work. Policy work is not straightforward, it requires one to be prepared for rejections, delays, and disruptions. But amidst all the obstacles, it is important to not give up, especially when as an individual and organization we are convinced about the positive impact of our work and the change it can bring.
Is there a particular bill or set of bills/issues you are working on this session?
This session I am primarily working on HB 1795 addressing isolation and restraint in public schools of Washington. I am gathering and analyzing historical data on isolation and restraint in all Washington school districts to understand which demographic groups have been impacted by these practices, and which group(s) are likely to continue being disadvantaged if isolation is not phased out and restraint is not limited. I am also reviewing the current incident reporting practices and how they can be improved and streamlined to ensure that these practices are not misused. Moreover, such practices deeply traumatize children and leave many scarred for life, impacting their lives as adults. Through this bill, we want to ensure that we create a more nurturing learning environment for all our children such that school is not synonymous with fear.
What advice do you have for advocates/community members about how to make change in their communities?
My advice for advocates/community members is that to make a change in your communities, it is imperative to learn about the issues directly from the people most impacted. Including affected communities in the decision-making process and being an ally who genuinely wants to join hands with them to bring about change is key. Moreover, collaborating with other advocates who have a shared vision helps in mobilizing forces. It is also very important to not lose hope – persistence, resilience, and deep faith in your cause will help you in your path to gradually bring about the change you envision to see.