OneAmerica Votes proudly endorses Tanisha Harris to Represent the 17th Legislative District in Clark County, Washington. Harris is one of an impressive slate of women of color running for the state legislature in 2018.
Harris was born and raised in Vancouver, Washington. After graduating from Evergreen High School, Tanisha attended Clark College and Washington State University-Vancouver, earning an Associate’s Degree and a Bachelor’s of Social Science with concentrations in Human Development, Psychology and Sociology. Tanisha spent 10 years working for the Evergreen School District in the field of multicultural and diversity education both at Heritage High School and at the District Office. Tanisha now works as a CASA Program Specialist for the YWCA Clark County, where she advocates for children in the Dependency/Foster Care system and supervises CASA volunteers. Today, Tanisha serves as a member of LICWAC (Local Indian Child Welfare Advisory Committee) and is Co-Chair of Evergreen Citizens for Schools for the 2018 Evergreen Public Schools Facilities Bond.
Tanisha’s Father’s family was one of first African American Families here in Vancouver in the early 1940s. Tanisha is proud to be “Aunt Nesha” to Natalie, Amara, Maya, Asa and Isla.
Harris is a strong advocate for children and families. If elected, we know she will make education a priority and work to close the opportunity gap facing students of color and English language learners in our school system. She also understands the challenges faced by families striving to create a better balance between making ends meet and spending quality time with their children, the need for affordable child care, and creating jobs in our communities.
On civil and human rights, Harris is an outspoken leader for racial justice and equity. In her own words: “We cannot have economic justice without racial justice in our nation. Even now, as anti-union forces try to break the strength of working people across Washington State and our country, the roots of so-called right-to-work legislation are steeped in a history of racism as a thinly-veiled attempts to drive a wedge between workers of color and their white brothers and sisters. I will continue to speak up, stand up and advocate for our communities of color, LGBTQ+ community and immigrant community. Simply put: Hate is not allowed in our 17th Legislative District.”
Don Steinke, OneAmerica Votes volunteer, had this to say about Harris: “Being a women, a person of color, and a thoughtful Democrat, Tanisha Harris offers a frame of mind that seeks to solve problems and improve economic outcomes for all, making sure no one is left out. Tanisha also understands the seriousness of climate change, the urgency of doing our part to transition to clean energy, and the economic benefit to all for doing so.”
In her own words, Harris states: “Climate Change is real and the science behind it is real. We must prevent and address the human and economic threats and invest in policies to grow the production of clean energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean manufacturing and infrastructure upgrades that create family wage jobs.”
Let’s send Tanisha Harris to Olympia to represent our communities this November!