“More women will be encouraged to participate in politics, when they see more women participating in politics.”
An inspiring sound bite from Amara Enyia, former Mayoral candidate for the City of Chicago, United States of America. She takes us on her journey of being a policy maker, participating in politics, and why her bi-cultural background is so important. She’s the Leading Lady Africa for the week. Be inspired!
For those who may not know you, please introduce Amara Enyia
Amara Enyia: In short, Amara Enyia is a public policy-loving traveler, athlete, systems thinker, problem solver, writer, nature-loving polyglot. In other words: not your average government geek.
Wow! That’s pretty impressive. You seem to wear many hats: CEO, ACE Municipal Partners, Lead Writer at Municipal Maven, ED, Austin Chamber of Commerce, and most recently, Chicago Mayoral candidate. How do you combine everything?
AE: I’ve always been and done many things simultaneously. I’ve always had a broad array of interests; so my educational background and professional and life experience really illustrates the diversity of my interests. It has all worked exceptionally well together thus far. Public policy requires a deep understanding of the intersectionality of different policy areas and an understanding of how systems work. That coupled with my traveling experience gave me a global perspective that informs my work. I find that my experiences and background are perfectly suited for the work that I do on a daily basis. Besides, there’s a never a dull moment!
How did your interest in politics begin?
AE: My interest in politics as an elected official was a fairly recent phenomenon. Growing up, I never had an interest in becoming an elected official and only stumbled upon that path because of my work in public policy and seeing the value of driving change through elected office. To me, service is the main goal – how can I help people? Change systems for the better? How can I be of service? Politics right now just so happens to be the latest iteration of my desire to serve.
Were you born in Chicago? And what were some of the factors that contributed to you running for Mayor?
AE: I was actually born in Baltimore, MD but my parents moved to Chicago when I was about 2 years old. Running for Mayor for me was about recognizing that the city of Chicago is facing some substantial challenges – challenges that require a different kind of leadership equipped with a vision of what the city could become. I knew I was qualified and I’ve always been a woman of action. I don’t believe in spinning my wheels or waiting for someone else to do what must be done. So running for me was borne of a deep sense of responsibility and a passion to drive positive change at all levels.
Did you any point feel intimidated, running against Rahm Emmanuel, who many thought was a more experienced politician?
AE: There was never even one second that I felt intimidated by Rahm Emanuel – or anyone, for that matter. Yes, he had more political experience, but I knew going in that I had a wealth of experience personally, professionally, socially, academically, etc. that I brought to the table. More so, I knew that I brought energy, fresh perspective and a passion for communities and implementing better public policy. I had no illusions about what I was up against when I decided to run. I knew it would be an uphill battle. I knew the Mayor had millions of dollars, and I also knew that this city had a much larger problem – the apathy and sense of inevitability about leadership and the way things are. That to me, was much more significant than challenging the mayor himself. This was never about him. It was bigger than him, and me also. This was abut what it takes to change systems and having the gumption to move forward despite the odds.
Many have compared your background to Barack Obama’s, do you agree? And what would you say to that
AE: I do think that we have some similarities in experience and background. Both of us began as community organizers, both consensus builders, able to work across lines of difference. Then there were the other similarities in terms of having “funny” names and an atypical background. Pres. Obama was the daughter of a white woman and African man and had some international experience growing up. I’m the daughter of Nigerian immigrants who grew up straddling both worlds which I think helped me learn how to work across cultural lines very well. We also have similar first-time stories. Pres. Obama challenged 1st District Congressman Bobby Rush as a young man and lost. It was a hard lesson. I challenged Mayor Rahm Emanuel first time out and learned some hard lessons as well. I think what we both have is an idealism that drives us. We believe in the potential of what Chicago, Illinois, the United States can become and we work to actualize that ideal.
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Would you do it again? Run for Mayor, or any other political position? And why?
AE: Again, this is all about service. How can I maximally utilize my gifts, talents and skills to enhance people’s quality of life? How can I best be used to improve the lives of others? My work in public policy and now politically, is simply an expression of my purpose which is service in the public sector. The door to elected office has been blown wide open with my first run. From here, anything is possible.
You were born in the United States, to Nigerian parents. How are you able to merge both cultures in your life, and what are the challenges?
AE: I feel blessed to have grown up experiencing both cultures. I think my cultural upbringing has helped me develop skills that allow me to navigate different cultural contexts with ease. A lot of the core values that my parents passed on to me: discipline, hard work, integrity, commitment to excellence – those values equipped my siblings and me for success. Being first generation is a very powerful position. Our generation is the one that negotiates which aspects of our culture we do away with, and which ones we keep. There can be pressure at times, especially when it comes to things like marriage, educational pursuits, etc. but I appreciate the responsibility of cultural preservation but also cultural dynamism – recognizing that cultures are always evolving. I am unapologetically and proudly an Igbo woman whose roots extend to Southeast Nigeria, Abia State, Ikwuano Local Government Area, Umuobasi clan. That is my core. I’m also an American that resides on the West Side of Chicago in a neighborhood that is almost 99% Black. That is also a part of who I am and I own it. I see my bi-culturalism as a major asset that has served me well thus far.
In your opinion, how do you think more women can be encouraged to participate in politics?
AE: More women can be encouraged to participate in politics when they see more women participating in politics! Something I always say is “You can’t be what you can’t see”. Women, especially young girls, need to see the examples in front of them. That imagery is powerful. It’s why there is so much significance to “firsts” i.e. first woman on the Supreme Court. First Black President, etc. I always said that my campaign was not so much about me but about the girls who look up to women like me. My actively living my purpose, running for mayor, can be liberating for girls that never imagined they could run the third largest city in the country, or become President! It’s also important that organizations support women considering entering politics and de-mystify the process so that it becomes less daunting – especially for first-time candidates.
You’ve got a PhD, you ran for Mayor, you run your own business, what do you do for fun?
AE: For fun??? Hmmm. Well, I’m pretty laid back and I’m into athletic pursuits so anything active is fun for me. I bike. A lot. I swim a lot. I run daily. I love reading and one of the best things for me was finally getting to read some fiction novels after not being able to for over a year! I like dancing – Igbo traditional dance, salsa, merengue, bachata. I love learning languages – that’s fun to me.
Hillary Clinton has declared for Presidency of the United States in 2016, do you think she’s got a good chance of becoming America’s first female President?
AE: I do believe Hilary has a good chance of becoming the first woman President in 2016.
Nigeria has also recently witnessed a change of baton in government, what do you think about that?
AE: I was most pleased with the fact that Nigeria’s political transition was peaceful and voluntary. With Nigeria’s history of military rule and presidents’ desperate attempts to change the Constitution right before election time, I was glad to see a peaceful transition. Though I loathe the prospect of recycling a past Dictator, I do remain optimistic that Buhari will live up to the words he spoke during the campaign and usher in an era of transparency, accountability and integrity in government in Nigeria.
Name 3 people who mentor and inspire you?
AE: Three people who mentor and inspire me? Two of them are my parents hands down. The third (although I know this is 5 people instead of 1!) would have to be my siblings who constantly provide the feedback, guidance and support that’s so crucial to living out one’s purpose. They are each inspiring in their own way and I take direction from how they live their lives.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would that be?
AE: There’s actually nothing that I would change about myself. My hope is to continue to learn, grow and become a better human being. Life is a process and my hope is to continue to become better versions of myself.
What would you like to be remembered for?
AE: I would like to be remembered as a woman who served. A woman who was not afraid to take risks and a woman who made sacrifices for the causes of humanity.
What words of advice would you give young women who want to participate in politics?
AE: The best advice I can give to young women who want to participate in politics is to
- a) know yourself and
- b) discover your purpose.
What words of advice would you give young women who want to participate in politics?
AE: Having a strong sense of self and identity is crucial because in politics you are constantly surrounded by people who have an agenda they want to push, who have opinions on what you should do and say. Everyone wants to influence you and if you are not grounded, you can find yourself unmoored. So taking the time to really know who you are is critical. Also, for me, politics is not the end – it’s a means to an end. The end is always service. Politics is just a vehicle for me to actualize my ability to serve people with the gifts and skills that I have. At some point, perhaps, there will be another vehicle. I’m not tied to it, but I intend to maximize my time in this stage to do as much as I can. My hope is that other women will as do the same.
Follow Amara on twitter @amaraforchicago
The Leading Ladies Africa Series is a weekly interview series that focuses on women of African descent, showcases their experiences across all socio-economic sectors, highlights their personal and professional achievements and offers useful advice on how to make life more satisfying for women.
It is an off-shoot of Leading Ladies Africa; an initiative that seeks to effectively mentor and inspire women, with particular emphasis on the African continent.
Do you know any woman of African descent doing phenomenal things? Send an email to [email protected] and we just might feature her.
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