Meet Lizette Gonzalez | Leadership Team Member, DemocraShe

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lizette Gonzalez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lizette, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“When you see me fly, remember you painted my wings”
This quote represents the importance of self-growth and the value of the community around you. I initially came across this in Spanish and it resonated with me both as a first-generation Latina pursuing higher education, but also what my journey of allowing myself to be proud of myself means to me.

This quote is a beautiful reminder of the fact that we all have tiny bits of our family, friends and mentors in us everywhere we go.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
DemocraShe is a non-partisan program that trains and empowers diverse female-identifying high school students, building the earliest pipeline of future female elected officials. We actively recruit future candidates from traditionally underrepresented populations by partnering with community organizations to flood our future with intersectional female leaders. The status quo is failing us, so we are here to change it. Instead of training young women to fit into an existing political system and ideology, it’s critical to empower them to build a deeper, greater Democracy that truly serves – and inspires – its people. What makes DemocraShe special is we build our foundation on intersectionality and resiliency skills.

Intersectional feminism is a movement recognizing that barriers to gender equality vary according to other aspects of a woman’s identity, including age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status, class and religion, and works to address a diverse spectrum of women’s issues. DemocraShe’s curriculum is developed in consultation with experts in political strategy, civic education, sociology, psychology, and the arts, as well as with members of our own youth Leadership Team.

In our workshops, we integrate resiliency skills in our curriculum. Not only do we train our Future Candidates to run for office, but we also teach them skills that will help them combat imposter syndrome, practice grounding, mindfulness, and self-care, conflict navigation and my ultimate favorite – bring out our inner best friend.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Our first stop will be at El Mercado La Paloma. This place is one of my favorite spots ever since the minute I discovered it. This Mexican-style market is a food utopia. You can find any type of Latin American food that comes to mind. You can sit inside our outside, outside is my ultimate favorite as there are benches and flowers all around – perfect for a fun environment with friends and families. Next stop in our day will be the Museum of Social Justice, right next to Placita Olvera. Although small, there are powerful exhibitions every week featuring different social justice issues, It’s a perfect opportunity to learn about current events, enjoy art and immerse yourself in Mexican culture right outside in Placita Olvera. Lastly, you can not leave Los Angeles without attending a Dodgers game. Even if you’re not a die hard baseball fanatic, the environment at Dodgers Stadium is amazing. Walking around the stadium and enjoying Dodger history in every wall, looking at the mountain views from the top deck or enjoying the thrill of the game and the 7th inning sing-along – you’ll leave a Dodgers fan.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to shout out DemocraShe!

DemocraShe has truly changed my life. As a first-generation Latina and daughter of immigrants, the political and advocacy world felt out of reach for me. I grew up not seeing many people who looked like me in elected office. Being part of the Leadership Team has helped me gain insight on what it takes to form a political non-profit at a young age, but most importantly, I am much more confident in my own identity. DemocraShe made me realize that my background and my culture is my superpower. What I love the most about our team is the sisterhood that we have created. I have met my best friends through DemocraShe and the empowerment I feel when joining our board meetings and leading our program is indescribable. For me, it has meant the world that I was given the opportunity of creating and teaching our program since I was 16. DemocraShe has shown me the power of youth, the power of our voices and the power of passion. DemocraShe never fails to bring me hope that my generation will put forth the change we want to see in our world.

Website: www.democrashe.org

Instagram: @democrasheorg

Facebook: DemocraShe