Rysheema Dixon - Wilmington, DE City Council - Episode 4

Elected Officials of America: Underdog Stories

Rysheema Dixon was elected to Wilmington, DE City Council in 2016 at the age of 29. Hear about how a near-death experience impacted her life, and the hurdles she had to overcome as a woman of color entering politics.

2:00 - What was your first thought about running for office?

3:10 - How did you go about coalescing your plan to run?

5:15 - Who told you not to run?

6:20 - “I had to tell myself I’m ready no matter who tells me I”m not.”

6:40 - Did the people tell you that you weren’t ready have their own self-interest at play?

7:20 - Take me to the time you didn’t think you were going to win.

9:00 - What did you tell yourself to keep going?

10:00 - Rysheema speaks about her background.

14:25 - What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?

15:36 - Rysheema discusses how a roof literally collapsing over her impacted her.

18:15 - What would you say to a young person thinking about getting involved in politics?

20:35 - How would you tailor your insight or advice specifically for a woman interested in politics, and what hurdles did you face that a guy would not?

22:20 - What’s a personal habit you attribute to your success?

23:20 - What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since being in office?

26:10 - If you had a magic wand, what would you do to heal America?

20:30 - What do you say to a member of your Party that questions why you want to reach across the aisle?

31:50 - Do you think an added benefit to young people getting engaged is working across Party lines?

34:25 - What book had the biggest impact on you?

35:15 - What is a message you would like to get across to your constituents or your Country?