Melahat Rafiei

WOC in Politics

Melahat Rafiei serves as the Principal of Progressive Solutions Consulting, a full-service boutique campaign consulting firm where she works to elect women of color and LGBTQ candidates to office. She has led several groundbreaking campaigns, including Farrah Khan for Irvine Mayor (the first Muslim woman Mayor of a major city in California), Sepi Shyne to the West Hollywood City Council (the first woman of color in the history of West Hollywood), Mary Zendejas to the Long Beach City Council (the only Latina in a wheelchair elected in the United States), and countless others throughout Southern California.

9:30 - 10:45 AM PST

March 20th Day 1

WOC in Politics Panel

Despite diverse demographics, most politicians are still white men. Women of color make up 19% of the US population, yet they constitute only 4.5% of Congress. The absence of representation creates a lack of attention and advocacy for the issues important to underserved communities, which is why women of color need to be at the decision-making table. Their voices and experiences are necessary at every level of our political system because their participation is essential to creating a just, inclusive, and thriving society.