How do you identify purpose, what drives it, and how do you sustain it? | Rep. Rena Moran

About the Episode: From being homeless to getting elected as a politician, MN State Representative Rena Moran knew she wanted to use her passion and energy to drive change for good. Rep. Moran became a legislator because she wanted to change the unjust laws and systems that negatively impacted her communities. She believes the power belongs to the people, and if people get involved in the political process then they too can decide who best to represent them. To Rep. Moran, finding purpose is about serving others, empowering others to see their own power, and working with them to truly create real change for better. About the Guest: Representative Rena Moran is the Chair of the Health and Human Services Policy Committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives and was recently selected as the Co-Chair of the House Select Committee on Racial Justice. In 2010, Rep. Moran became the first African American to represent District 65A. She represents the St. Paul communities of Rondo, Frogtown, Summit-University, Thomas-Dale, Midway, a portion of the North End and Cathedral Hill. As a legislator, she has focused on protecting children in the child welfare system, strengthening schools, reducing educational disparities, and fighting for affordable housing, economic opportunity for all, and women’s rights. Rep. Moran formerly served as House Deputy Minority Leader and is the current Chair of the People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus and the United Black Legislative Caucus. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Southern Illinois University and was recently the Director of Prevention Initiatives and Parent Leadership at Prevent Child Abuse MN doing business as Minnesota Communities Caring for Children. Rep. Moran is a graduate of the Bush Foundation Fellowship, Humphrey Policy Fellowship, and Henry Toll Fellowship. On a national level, Moran serves as Executive Secretary of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), Midwest Region Coordinator for the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL), and as the Minnesota State Director for both the Women Legislators’ Lobby (WILL) and the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL). She is a proud mother of seven and grandmother of eight.