Ep. 12: Community involvement with Shamiah Kerney.

Welcome back to the Love Haze, Season 2! In this season, we'll be exploring the journey towards purpose and how our experiences shape our paths. 

Today, we're joined by Shamiah Kearney, the Deputy Director of Performance Management in the Executive Office of the Mayor for the District of Columbia. Shemaiah will share her insights on evaluating service delivery, assessing equity, and making budget decisions for the community. She's also an active volunteer and leader in various organizations, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Join us as we delve into the world of purpose. 

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR: 

Getting to know Shamiah and what she does [2:45]

• She grew up in Compton, California and moved to Atlanta to attend Clark Atlanta University.

• She was curious about the policies that led to communities of color having limited resources and wanted to understand the decision-making process.

• She pursued a degree in Community Economic Development and initially wanted to become a city planner to steer investment in communities of color.

• She later transitioned into public policy, working at the Government Accountability Office to shape public policy and make government more efficient and effective for everyone.

• She then moved to the District of Columbia to work in local government, where she is able to see the direct impacts of her public policy decisions.

How can we make the change that we want to see in our communities? [12:18]

• Educating ourselves

• Informative conversations with our friends

• Access information through the internet and other sources to learn about government dynamics

• Attend city council and school board meetings to stay informed about decisions affecting your community

• Challenge friends to be politically engaged and accountable for their own environments

• Discuss political questions with friends, including voting habits and policy impacts

• Recognize that policy decisions affect every individual and challenge friends to take action on complaints by engaging with government agencies and policies.

Following our curiosities [15:23] 

• Actively seek out information

• Let your curiosities lead you into something greater

The haze of being a public servant [17:25]

• Always trying to figure out their purpose and if they are on the right track to fulfilling it.

• Not fulfilling parts of their purpose due to waiting for others' approval.

• Shamiah is passionate about public policy and has considered running for public office, but is aware of the potential negative impact on their family.

How to know you’re on the right path? [41:22]

• Everyone has a purpose, but not everyone follows it

• Following your purpose means making life happen, rather than life happening to you

• Fulfillment is an innate feeling that comes with following your purpose

• Signs can come in dreams, particularly during moments of vulnerability

• Even discomfort can be a sign that you're where you're supposed to be.

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