FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ ♫♫ >>> YOU´RE WATCHING PBS.

♫♫ >>> ON THE NEXT "ABLE TO RAISE," WE HAVE A LIVELY CONVERSATION WITH CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AND CRIMINAL LAW ATTORNEY GENERAL NOVA PEARSON.

SHE DISCUSSES RUNNING FOR OFFICE, HER WEEKLY PODCAST, "MONDAYS WITH NOVA," AND HER POLICY WORK AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY.

>> WE LOOK AT FAIRNESS AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE.

WHAT THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DOING IN THEIR AREA.

>> A REPORTER LIVES THE JOB.

>> WE´VE ALWAYS OPERATED AT THE BREAK EVEN POINT, $7.

>> THE NEWSPAPER NOT BEING AROUND TERRIFIES ME.

>> READERS DECIDE OUR FUTURE, NOT ANY BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.

SATURDAY APRIL 16th AT 8:00 P.M. ON WTJX TV, CHANNEL 12.

>> WE ARE LIVING HISTORY.

NOT MANY PEOPLE GET BACK UP AFTER THEY´VE BEEN KNOCKED DOWN.

>> THIS IS A POWERFUL VISION OF HISTORY.

>> WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT NIGHT IN TULSA COULD HAPPEN TODAY.

>> THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO BRING BLACK COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

>> HE´S GOT MY JOB.

>> THIS IS AMAZING.

>> MY HEART IS GOING PITTER PATTER.

>> THIS ISN´T MIND BLOWING ALREADY?

>> PEOPLE LIKE HARRIET TUBMAN WERE THE ORIGINAL ABOLITIONISTS.

>> WE TAKE FOR GRANTED THINGS PEOPLE IN OTHER TIMES WOULD FIND EXTRAORDINARY.

>> IT´S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR THESE STORIES.

>>> CANCER RESEARCH REQUIRES BOLD AND INNOVATIVE THINKING.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HELP SCIENCE UNCOVER THE NEXT BREAK THROUGH BY SHARING YOUR PATIENT DATA AND UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE WITH RESEARCHERS.

JOIN STAND UP TO CANCER.

>>> RISING TEMPERATURES ARE SETTING IN MOTION EARTH´S .

TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST THAT´S WHAT STARTED ME ON THE PATHWAY MY ROLE AS AN ATTORNEY COULD REALLY IMPACT POLICY AND PEOPLE THAT LOOK LIKE ME, MAKING SURE THAT YOU´RE ALL ABLE TO FIGHT AND GET THAT EQUITY THAT WE SO RICHLY DESERVE.

>> WELL, YOU´RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT, AND THAT´S EVIDENT IN THE FEW MOMENTS WE TALKED ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT´S THE CENTER FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

WHAT DOES THAT -- WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL?

>> YEAH, SO IT´S A CENTER THAT´S HOUSED AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IN MIAMI.

AND THE FOCUS IS ON WORKING ON JUSTICE SYSTEMS NOT ONLY IN THE UNITED STATES BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

SO, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE UNDER THE CENTER´S ROOF TO INCLUDE WORK IN SOUTH AMERICA AND MAKING SURE THAT DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT ENTITIES HAVE THAT ABILITY TO MAKE SURE THEY´RE COMMUNICATING WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR PRACTICES ARE EQUITABLE.

BUT OF COURSE WE CAN´T GO TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND DICTATE WHEN OUR BACKYARD IS NOT EXACTLY IN THE BEST ORDER POSSIBLE.

SO, MY MAIN FOCUS IS THE PROSECUTORIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS.

IF FOLKS ARE CURIOUS, THE WEBSITE IS THEPPI.ORG.

THEPPI.ORG.

AND BASICALLY IT IS A SYSTEM BY WHICH WE HAVE 55 DIFFERENT INDICATORS THAT ARE USED TO LOOK AT THE HEALTH OF PROSECUTORS´ OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO, WE DO THINGS LIKE CAPACITY AND EFFICIENCY.

SO, DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH STAFF TO ACTUALLY GET THE WORK DONE.

WE LOOK AT FAIRNESS AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE TREATED THE SAME WAY THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

SO, IF YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE WITH THE SAME BACKGROUND CHARGED WITH THE SAME OFFENSES BUT ONE IS WHITE AND ONE IS BLACK, ARE THEY GOING TO GET THE SAME OUTCOMES IN THE SYSTEM, OR ARE THERE GOING TO BE DIFFERENCES?

SO, WE LOOK AT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS, AND THEN WE GIVE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE OFFICES THAT WE´RE WORKING WITH TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH WHY SOME OF THE TRENDS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE.

HOW CAN YOU FIX THE ISSUES THAT WERE RAISED BY THE DATA?

AND THE WAY WE DO THIS WORK IS THAT WE GO INTO THE CASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS OF THE OFFICE.

WE LOOK AT THEIR CASES, THEIR FILES, THEIR DATA.

WE DON´T PULL NECESSARILY FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.

AND THEN IN THAT INSTANCE, WE´D REACH OUT TO THE LOCAL CLERK OF COURTS OR MAYBE THE JAIL TO GET THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WE NEED.

BUT IT´S ALL ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE COMMUNICATING TO THE PUBLIC WHAT THEIR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DOING IN THEIR AREA.

AND WE´RE EMPOWERING PROSECUTORS TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THAT EFFECTIVELY AND THEN WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY TO CREATE RELATIONSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THESE ISSUES AND CREATE A MECHANISM BY WHICH YOU CAN BOUNCE IDEAS OFF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE THEY´RE THE ONES IMPACTED IN THE END.

SO, YOU CAN SIT IN YOUR OFFICE AND COME UP WITH A POLICY AND NOT HAVE ANY IDEA AS TO THE REAL WORLD PRACTICALITIES THAT COME WITH IT.

>> SO, HOW WOULD AN ENTITY EVEN COME UPON YOUR OFFICE?

ARE YOU INVITED OR DO YOU -- HOW DOES THAT CONNECTION EVEN OCCUR?

SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, HERE, WOULD IT BE SOMETHING SOMEBODY IN A PROSECUTORIAL OFFICE WOULD ACTUALLY INVITE YOUR OFFICE.

HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

>> YEAH, SO, THE OFFICES INVITE US.

WE DON´T LIKE TO GO ANYWHERE WHERE WE´RE NOT WELCOME BECAUSE WE WANT THIS TO BE A COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.

AND WE WANT THIS TO BE HELPFUL FOR THEM, RIGHT?

IF THEY DON´T SEE THE VALUE OF DATA AND TRANSPARENCY, YOU CAN TAKE A HORSE TO WATER BUT YOU CAN´T MAKE THEM DRINK.

ALL THE OFFICES THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS WORK, THEY´VE REACHED OUT TO US.

WE´LL DO PRESENTATIONS TO DIFFERENT ENTITIES LIKE THE PERSON PAR ASSOCIATION OR THE NATIONAL ATTORNEY´S ASSOCIATION, ENTITIES LIKE THAT.

AND SO THEN THE OFFICES THAT SEE IT AND THINK, OH, THIS IS SOMETHING I´M INTERESTED IN, THEY REACH OUT TO US DIRECTLY, AND THEN WE, YOU KNOW, HAVE A WHOLE SERIES WHERE WE TALK BACK AND FORTH ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO ACCOMPLISH.

IF THEY ARE NOT DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TO PUBLISHING THE DATA AROUND RACE, NO MATTER HOW IT CUTS, RIGHT -- IF IT ENDS UP BEING YOU´RE THE MOST RACIST OFFICE EVER OR YOU´RE THE MOST BALANCED OFFICE EVER, WHATEVER HAPPENS, YOU HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO PUBLISHING THAT.

IF THEY´RE NOT WILLING TO DO IT, WE HAVE TO WORK WITH THEM.

IT´S TWO YEAR´S WORTH OF WORK USUALLY TO GET THE WORK DONE.

AND WE PUBLISH ALL OF THIS WORK DONE ON A PUBLIC FACING DASHBOARD, WHICH MEANS YOU CAN GO ON THE PROSECUTOR´S WEBSITE OR OUR WEBSITE AND CLICK A LINK AND TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT METRICS I TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

AND FROM THERE YOU CAN GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.

WE DON´T GET INVOLVED IN THAT, BUT WE WANT THE COMMUNITY TO BE EDUCATED TO MAKE SOUND DECISIONS.

>> SO, HAVE YOU HAD MUCH INQUIRIES TO DO THE KIND OF WORK THAT YOU´RE DOING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO, WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST DASHBOARD BECAUSE THE PROJECT STARTED AROUND 2017.

SO, WE RELEASED OUR FIRST DASHBOARD TOWARD THE END OF 2020.

SO, WE ALSO RELEASED A FEW MORE LAST YEAR, AND WE´RE GOING TO HAVE SEVERAL MORE COMING OUT THIS YEAR.

BUT WHEN WE HAD THAT BIG LAUNCH, ALL THAT PRESS AROUND IT CAUSED SO MUCH OFFICES TO REACH OUT.

WE GOT TO THE POINT WE HAD 50 OFFICES IN THE PIPELINE WANTING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WORK WITH US.

>> WOW.

>> SO, AT PRESENT WE HAVE -- I KNOW, IT´S CRAZY, RIGHT?

IT´S AMAZING.

AND IT SHOWS THE NEED, RIGHT, THAT OFFICES REALLY DO WANT THIS.

SO, WE STARTED OFF WITH FOUR PILOT SITES, WHICH WERE A TAMPA AND JACKSONVILLE IN FLORIDA, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, AND CHICAGO IN ILLINOIS.

THOSE WERE OUR FOUR PILOT OFFICES.

THEN WE RELEASED MORE WITH PHILADELPHIA, WITH CHARLESTON, JUST SEVERAL OTHER OFFICES THERE.

AND PRESENTLY WE´RE WORKING ON A STATE-WIDE PROJECT IN COLORADO WITH EIGHT OFFICES WORKING IN NEW ORLEANS DISTRICT ATTORNEY´S OFFICE, WORKING IN A MONTGOMERY COUNTY STATE´S ATTORNEY´S OFFICE IN MARYLAND AS WELL AS TWO OFFICES IN CALIFORNIA.

SO, OUR REACH IS CONTINUING.

BUT OF COURSE WE ARE A SMALL TEAM.

WE HAVE THREE DATA ANALYSTS, MYSELF AS A POLICY PERSON.

WE HAVE A POLICY FELLOW.

BUT WE COULD ONLY DO SO MUCH PER YEAR, SO WE´VE BEEN WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER ENTITIES, OTHER RESEARCHERS EITHER AT PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES OR IN LOCAL CONSORTIUMS OF RESEARCHERS TO BE ABLE TO HELP DO THIS WORK IN STATES AND LOCALITIES THAT WE DON´T HAVE THE BANDWIDTH TO BE ABLE TO BE THERE ON THE GROUND.

>> ARE THERE ANY JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE NOTEWORTHY IN THEIR, YOU KNOW, ABILITY TO KIND OF HAVE A GOOD BALANCE WITH REGARD TO, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY´RE SERVING THE COMMUNITY?

ANYONE THAT YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT, BECAUSE I´M ASSUMING THESE ARE PUBLISHED FINDINGS, CORRECT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN FIND THE LINKS TO THE DASHBOARDS NOT ONLY ON THE STATE´S ATTORNEYS WEBSITES, THOSE I MENTIONED, BUT YOU CAN ALSO FIND IT ON OUR WEBSITES.

I WOULD SAY JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, WHAT THE DATA IS TELLING US IS THAT WE SEE VERY LOW DISPARITIES IN THE WAY THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING TREATED ACROSS DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS -- SORRY, DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WITHIN THOSE JURISDICTIONS.

BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING THOUGH IS NUMBER ONE, THE CHALLENGE WITH REGARD TO STAFFING.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUR STAFF IS DIVERSE.

THERE´S A HUGE CHALLENGE IN BEING ABLE TO RETAIN PROSECUTORS OF COLOR, ESPECIALLY BLACK MEN.

PART OF IT IS THE WEALTH, RIGHT?

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU´RE NOT COMING FROM GENERATIONAL WEALTH, IT´S A LOT TO TAKE A HIT AND WORK IN AN OFFICE FOR 40, 50, EVEN $60,000 ON THE HIGH END A YEAR.

AND TO SUPPORT YOURSELF YOU´VE GOT TO PAY YOUR SCHOOL LOANS AND ALL THAT.

MINORITY FOLKS ARE LIKE, WE CAN´T MAKE IT.

SO, THAT´S ONE ISSUE THAT WE SEE COMING UP.

AND ALSO WE SEE ISSUES WITH REGARDS TO DIVERSION.

WE DO SEE SOME DISPARITY.

SO, DIVERSION IS -- THEY´RE A SERIES OF PROGRAMS, AND IT COULD BE FOR DIFFERENT ISSUES.

SO, YOU CAN HAVE DIVERSION AROUND ALCOHOL.

IF YOU GOT ARRESTED FOR A DUI, YOU CAN GO TO A DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT ADDRESSES ALCOHOL.

IF THERE IS MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MIX OF WHY YOU GOT ARRESTED, YOU CAN GO TO A PROGRAM THAT WOULD ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH.

AND THEN AT THE END OF COMPLETING THE PROGRAM SUCCESSFULLY, THE CHARGES AGAINST YOU END UP BEING DROPPED.

THAT´S A HUGE BENEFIT, OBVIOUSLY.

>> YEAH, SURE.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU´RE NOT STAYING IN THE SYSTEM.

YOU DON´T HAVE HAVE A CONVICTION ON YOUR RECORD, WHICH TAKES YOU OUT OF THE MIX FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF JOBS OR HOUSING, EVEN SCHOOL LOANS.

SO, THAT´S A REALLY IMPORTANT FEATURE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

BUT THE FLIP SIDE IS IT´S USUALLY A PROGRAM THAT´S CONTROLLED BY THE PROSECUTOR´S OFFICE.

AND IF IT´S NOT OFFERED TO YOU, YOU DON´T GET THAT OPPORTUNITY.

SO, IF YOU DO SEE SOME DISPARITIES WITH REGARD TO ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO FELONIES THAT LESS PEOPLE OF COLOR GET OFFERED DIVERSION PROGRAMS THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR THAT.

AND IT COULD BE SOME OF IT´S BEING OFFERED AND PEOPLE ARE REJECTING IT BECAUSE IF THERE´S AN ENTRANCE FEE -- LET´S SAY IT´S $500 TO TAKE THE PROGRAM, RIGHT?

WELL, WORK AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT, $500 IS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> IF YOU PUT KIDS AND OTHER EXPENSES IN THE MIX, IT BECOMES VERY PROBLEMATIC.

SO, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE STRUCTURAL BARRIERS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE INTERNAL POLICY BARRIERS THAT MAY CAUSE THOSE PEOPLE OF COLOR TO BE LESS ELIGIBLE FOR THE TYPE OF BENEFITS THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS.

>> SO, DIVERSION IS A POSSIBILITY IN A NUMBER OF JURISDICTIONS.

I MEAN, THIS IS THE FIRST I´M HEARING.

IS THAT A TYPICAL POTENTIAL REMEDY IF SOMEBODY IS BEING CHARGED FOR A CRIMINAL OFFENSE?

>> YES, IT IS.

IT CAN BE.

AND IT HAS A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ITERATIONS.

SO, FOR INSTANCE, IT COULD BE FOR FIRST-TIME OFFENDERS, RIGHT?

OR IT COULD BE SOMEBODY WHO´S HAD MAYBE TWO OR THREE OFFENSES, ESPECIALLY IF YOU´RE LOOKING AT ADDICTION AND KNOWING THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT ABLE TO KICK THEIR ADDICTION AFTER ONE GO-AROUND IN REHAB, RIGHT?

IT TAKES -- IT TAKES A FEW TIMES FOR IT TO TAKE, UNFORTUNATELY, RIGHT?

SO, THOSE ARE SOME WAYS THAT IT´S USED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE´S NO STANDARDIZATION ACROSS THE COUNTRY LIKE EVERY JURISDICTION HAS THESE THREE OR FOUR PROGRAMS.

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO IT DIFFERENTLY.

IN OTHER WORDS, THE POLICE OFFICER -- YOU ENCOUNTER THE POLICE OFFICER.

INSTEAD OF ARRESTING YOU, THEY SEND YOU TO THIS PROGRAM SO YOU NEVER END UP IN THE ARREST PROCESS TO BEGIN WITH.

THERE´S DAYS WHERE THEY COULD BE PRE-FILING, SO YOU GET ARRESTED.

BUT BEFORE THE PROSECUTION FILES CHARGES AGAINST YOU, THEY SEND YOU TO THAT PROGRAM.

YOU SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE IT, CHARGES DON´T END UP EVER GETTING FILED, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

AND WHAT´S MORE TYPICAL IS WHEN YOU ARE ARRESTED, YOU ARE CHARGED, YOU COME INTO COURT FOR YOUR FIRST APPEARANCE, YOU´RE OFFERED A DIVERSION PROGRAM, YOU THEN TAKE IT AND THEN THE CHARGES ARE DROPPED.

BUT IT STILL, AGAIN, STAYS ON YOUR RECORD AS IN YOU´VE INTERRUPTED AND THIS CHARGE WAS FILED AND DISMISSED AGAINST YOU.

SO, THEN YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SECONDARY PROCESS TO THEN ASK THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COURTS TO SEAL OR EXPUNGE YOUR HISTORY.

SO, THAT WAY IF YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK WITH POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT, CITIZENSHIP, WHATEVER, YOU CAN THEN BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN A DIFFERENT MANNER, IN AN EASIER MANNER.

>> OKAY.

WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COME UP WHEN OUR STAFF HAS DONE RESEARCH ON YOUR WORK IS THAT YOU WERE VERY ACTIVE IN FOUR VOTING RIGHTS AMENDMENTS.

SO, THAT PERSON WHO CAN BE ELIGIBLE, RE-ELIGIBLE TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY HAD A PREVIOUS FELONY CONVICTION.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT STRUGGLE.

I´M SURE IT WAS A STRUGGLE.

>> A STRUGGLE THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

>> OKAY.

>> YEAH.

UNFORTUNATELY POLITICS RIGHT.

SO, BACKING UP FOR A SECOND.

ARE CONVICTED OF A FELONY UNDER THE OLD SCHEME, YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO VOTE AGAIN EVER.

YOU HAVE TO THEN APPLY FOR THE CLEMENCY BOARD OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND SAY, LISTEN, YOU KNOW, I´M A GOOD PERSON.

I´VE STAYED OUT OF TROUBLE FOR X AMOUNT OF YEARS.

THIS IS WHAT I´VE BEEN DOING.

I´VE HELD A STABLE JOB, ET CETERA.

AND HOPE THAT THEY WOULD THEN REINSTATE YOUR RIGHTS TO VOTE.

AND MOST OF THE TIME, THEY DID IT BECAUSE OF THE FACT IT WAS SO ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS, MEANS THAT THERE´S NO STANDARD THAT, LISTEN, IF I DO THESE FIVE THINGS, I KNOW THAT I WILL GET MY RIGHTS RESTORED.

THERE WAS NONE OF THAT.

SO, BECAUSE OF THAT, ALL OF THESE GRASS ROOTS GROUPS STARTED MOBILIZING AND SAYING, LISTEN, WE´VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT ANOTHER WAY FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO GETTING THEIR VOTING RIGHTS BACK.

SO, THIS GROUND SWELL RESULTED IN A PETITION DRIVE TO GET SOMETHING ON THE BALLOT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA TO VOTE.

AS THEY LISTEN, WE WANT TO CHANGE THE LAW, AND WE WANT PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR SENTENCE TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR VOTING RIGHTS BACK.

SO, IT TOOK -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO GET MILLIONS -- OVER A MILLION PEOPLE TO SIGN THE PETITION.

>> WOW.

>> ONCE WE GOT THAT SIGNED, THEN WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, GO IN FRONT OF THE FLORIDA SUPREME COURT, TALK TO THEM SAY, LISTEN, THIS IS THE LANGUAGE OF WHAT WE WANT TO PUT ON THE BALLOT, DOES IT MAKE SENSE, IS IT ONE TOPIC, IS IT SOMETHING THAT WOULD NOT BE CONFUSING TO THE AVERAGE VOTER WHO MAY NOT BE SUPER SAVVY ON THESE ISSUES?

NOT IN A BAD WAY.

IT´S JUST WHAT YOU DO, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> SO, WE JUMPED ALL THOSE HURDLES.

THEN WE HAD TO DO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN TO GET PEOPLE TO VOTE YES BECAUSE WE NEEDED OVER 60% OF FLORIDIANS WHO TURNED OUT TO VOTE ON THAT DAY IN NOVEMBER 2018, 60% OF THEM TO VOTE YES.

SO, WE HAD TO ENGAGE WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS AND GROUPS THAT WE HAD, FAITH-BASED GROUPS.

WE HAD CONSERVATIVE GROUPS LIKE RIGHT ON CRIME.

WE HAD ACTIVISTS GROUPS.

I DID THIS AS PART OF MY WORK WITH IS ACLU OF FLORIDA.

WE WERE ONE OF THE PART OF THE MACHINE TRYING TO DRIVE THIS BOARD.

AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL.

WE GOT 64% OF FLORIDA VOTERS TO VOTE YES ON AMENDMENT FOUR, WHICH WOULD REINSTATE PEOPLE´S RIGHT TO VOTE ONCE THEY COMPLETED THEIR SENTENCE AS LONG AS THEY WERE NOT CONVICTED OF HOMICIDE OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.

NOW, THE DETAILS.

THE DEVIL IS ALL THIS IN THE DETAILS.

IN JANUARY 2019 AND AROUND THE SAME TIME IS WHEN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE DECIDED THAT, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION WAS NECESSARY.

IN OTHER WORDS, THEY SAID THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA DIDN´T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR, SO WE NEED TO TELL THEM WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

SO, WHAT THEY ENDED UP DOING WAS PASSING A BILL MUCH AGAINST ALL OF WHAT EVERYBODY HAD BEEN WORKING FOR THAT BASICALLY ADDED A FINANCIAL ELEMENT TO IT.

SO, EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED YOUR SENTENCE -- SO, YOU WENT TO JAIL, YOU WENT TO PRISON, OR YOU WERE ON PROBATION, YOU FINISHED EVERYTHING, BUT LET´S SAY YOU OWED A LOT OF MONEY.

THEY DECIDED THAT THEN, WELL, YOUR SENTENCE IS NOT COMPLETE AND YOU CAN NEVER VOTE.

AND SO YOU THINK ABOUT IT.

PEOPLE WHO -- LET´S SAY YOU GOT CAUGHT UP IN A FRAUD CASE, RIGHT?

AND NOT LIKE YOU WERE ABLE TO POCKET MILLIONS OF DOLLARS LIKE A -- YOU KNOW, LIKE A ROTH STEEN TYPE OF SCHEME, NOT LIKE THAT.

BUT LET´S SAY YOU GOT CAUGHT UP IN SOME KIND OF FRAUD AND NOW YOU HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A CRIMINAL CONVICTION, IT´S KIND OF HARD FOR YOU TO GET A HIGH-PAYING JOB THAT WILL MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TO PAY A MILLION DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION.

SO, THE REALITY MIGHT BE YOU´RE PAYING $1,000 A MONTH OR MAYBE $500 A MONTH.

OR YOU DO THE MATH ON HOW LONG THAT MIGHT TAKE YOU.

THAT MEANS YOU´RE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO VOTE AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THAT AMOUNT HANGING OVER YOUR HEAD.

THAT TURNS THINGS VERY SOUR.

AND YOU KNOW, WE´RE STILL FIGHTING.

WE´RE STILL IN THE COURTS AROUND THIS.

AND A NUMBER OF LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED.

AND THEY´RE WORKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE COURT.

SO, WE´LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

STAY TUNED.

>> WOW.

OKAY.

YOU WERE ALSO VERY SAVVY, VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE POLITICAL PROSECUTOR.

YOU WERE AT ONE POINT A CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

DO YOU WANT TO TELL US ABOUT THAT AND MAYBE SOME ADVICE FOR ANYONE WHO´S INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR POLITICAL OFFICE.

I MEAN, NOT EVERYONE´S GOING TO SAY I WANT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE SOMEBODY BECAUSE THAT WAS QUITE A DOING, QUITE AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT.

>> THANK YOU.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A LOT.

I´M NOT GOING TO LIE.

SO, WHAT EMILIO IS REFERRING TO IS IN 2020 I WAS THE PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE FOR MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY.

OF COURSE TO MAKE IT MORE SPICY, I WAS RUNNING AGAINST MY OLD BOSS BECAUSE I DID WORK IN THAT OFFICE FOR 16 YEARS.

SO, IT CAME ABOUT.

IT WAS NEVER -- RUNNING FOR OFFICE WAS NEVER REALLY SOMETHING THAT I REALLY WANTED TO DO.

IT WAS NEVER MY LIFE´S DREAM TO BECOME PART OF THE POLITICAL PROCESS IN THAT WAY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, DURING MY TIME AT THE ACLU OF FLORIDA, I WAS REALLY STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD BE DONE DIFFERENTLY IN THAT OFFICE AND BETTER AND MORE PROGRESSIVE POLICIES THAT HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY DESPITE WHAT MANY MAY SAY AND SEE IN THE MEDIA.

THERE´S A LOT OF GREAT POLICIES THAT END UPBRINGING MORE EQUITY TO OUR COMMUNITIES AS WELL AS ALSO REDUCING CRIME, WHICH IS THE GOAL OF ALL OF THIS, RIGHT?

REDUCING CRIME.

>> RIGHT.

OF COURSE.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT SO MANY DIFFERENT ENTITIES, YOU KNOW, VICTIMS, SURVIVORS, GROUPS, LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUPS, YOU KNOW, GROUPS OF COLOR, ORGANIZERS, WERE REACHING OUT TO ME SAYING, WE REALLY NEED YOUR VOICE.

YOU REALLY SHOULD CONSIDER RUNNING.

NOBODY ELSE IS GOING TO CHALLENGE HER.

SHE´S BEEN IN OFFICE 27 YEARS.

SHE´S PART OF THE INSTITUTION.

YOU HAVE THE VOICE AND THE PRESENCE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, AFTER A WHILE, YOU KNOW, I REALLY THOUGHT IT THROUGH, AND ONE THING THAT IS -- THAT THEY ALWAYS SAY, ESPECIALLY AT THE ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS WITH FEMALE CANDIDATES LOOKING TO -- PROGRESSIVE FEMALE CANDIDATES LOOKING TO RUN FOR OFFICE -- IS THAT A FEMALE CANDIDATE HAS TO BE ASKED, LIKE, ON AVERAGE SIX TIMES, RIGHT?

AND I CAN SAY SAFELY PEOPLE ASKED AT LEAST TEN TIMES.

AND I WAS LIKE, NO, NO, NO.

THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME.

I´M NOT THE RIGHT PERSON.

FINE, FINE, OKAY, I´LL DO IT.

AND IT WAS -- IT WAS A ROLLER COASTER BECAUSE OF COURSE, 2020, RONA DECIDED TO SHOW UP, WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE PLAN, RIGHT?

SO, I WAS REALLY PLANNING ON DOING A GRASS ROOTS EFFORT, WHICH MEANT KNOCKING ON DOORS, WHICH MEANT A LOT OF INTERPERSONAL CONTACT BECAUSE I KNEW THAT I DIDN´T COME FROM A FAMILY OF WEALTH.

I WASN´T AN INSTITUTIONAL NAME.

I COULDN´T CALL UP SOMEBODY AND THEY´LL JUST DROP A MILLION DOLLARS IN MY CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT.

THAT WAS NOT MY REALITY.

IT WAS CALLING FRIENDS, FAMILY, COWORKERS PAST AND PRESENT AND BE LIKE, HEY, CAN I COUNT YOU IN FOR $100, RIGHT?

FOR A RATE THAT´S GOING TO COST ME BECAUSE OF THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE RAISE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY OF MIAMI-DADE IS LIKE $4 MILLION.

THAT RAISE WAS GOING TO COST ME A MILLION DOLLAR.

SO, IT WAS A LOT.

SO, WE HAD TO PIVOT.

WE REALLY BROUGHT THE CAMPAIGN ONLINE.

AND THAT´S WHEN I STARTED DOING "MONDAY´S WITH MELBA" JUST TO HAVE AN AVENUE TO BE ABLE TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE AND TALK TO THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND MEET THEM WHERE THEY WERE, IN THEIR HOMES.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS -- IT WAS TOUGH.

WE FOUGHT IT OUT TO THE END.

UNFORTUNATELY I WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL.

BUT I DID RECEIVE 155,000 VOTES.

MANY FOLKS WHO DON´T NORMALLY ENGAGE -- I CAN´T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE SAID, LISTEN, I DON´T DO POLITICS, BUT WHAT YOU SAID MAKES SENSE.

OR, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK LIKE ME OR YOU RESEMBLE WHAT I BELIEVE IN, SO I´M GOING TO PUT MY TRUST IN YOU.

AND THAT WAS A BEAUTIFUL FEELING TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE ENGAGED.

AND FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO RUN FOR OFFICE, LISTEN, IT AIN´T EASY.

I´M NOT GOING TO LIE TO YOU AND SAY IT´S EASY.

IT´S NOT.

BUT YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.

JUST LEVERAGE YOUR CONTACTS.

START THINKING THROUGH WHAT OFFICE YOU WANT TO RUN FOR, WHAT UNIQUE STRENGTHS YOU CAN BRING TO THAT.

START PULLING IN YOUR VILLAGE, FRIENDS, FAMILY WHO CAN VOLUNTEER TO HELP SUPPORT YOU.

KNOCK ON DOORS.

MAKE PHONE CALLS.

USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT THERE.

THE STRUGGLE IS ALWAYS FUNDRAISING, SO THINK THAT THROUGH IN ADVANCE AS TO WHO CAN GIVE YOU MONEY.

PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

AS YOU GO THROUGH YOUR LIST OF FOLKS IN YOUR ROLODEX -- I´M DATING MYSELF -- IN YOUR EXCEL SPREADSHEET, YOUR GOOGLE SHEET, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, YOU GO THROUGH THE LIST AND YOU THINK, OKAY, YOU GO THROUGH EVERY NAME, YOU PUT A DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT YOU THINK THEY CAN GIVE.

BUT THEN LIFE KICKS IN.

AND FOLKS -- THINGS WILL HAPPEN, SOMEBODY WILL LOSE THEIR JOB, SOMEBODY GETS AN ILLNESS.

SO, IF YOU THINK YOU CAN RAISE $50,000 WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, CUT THAT IN HALF AND SAY $25,000.

THAT WAY YOU HAVE A REALISTIC NUMBER IN MIND YOU CAN STRIVE TOWARDS.

>> TELL US ABOUT "MONDAYS WITH MELBA."

DID IT GET STARTED AS A RESULT OF YOUR CAMPAIGNING.

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A FASCINATING PLATFORM ACTUALLY.

THE PANDEMIC AND NEEDING TO BE ABLE TO REACH THE PUBLIC AS A CANDIDATE.

SO, EVERY MONDAY AT 6:00 P.M.

I STARTED DOING A FACEBOOK LIVE CALLED "MONDAYS WITH MELBA" WHERE I TALK ABOUT A VARIETY OF TOPICS.

ANYTHING THAT´S CURRENT NEWS, BRINGING ON LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS, LOCAL CANDIDATES, PEOPLE, LIKE LEGISLATORS TO COME IN AND TALK ABOUT DIFFERENT BILLS PENDING DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, JUST A VARIETY OF THINGS OR ALSO RESPONDING TO WHAT THE AUDIENCE IS INTERESTED IN.

IF THEY´RE LIKE, LISTEN, WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DEATH PENALTY OR WE WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STAND YOUR GROUND, I´LL TRY TO BRING IN AN EXPERT OR TALK ABOUT IT FROM MY VANTAGE POINT IF I HAVE THE EXPERTISE.

IT´S EVERY MONDAY AT 6:00 P.M., USUALLY ABOUT A HALF HOUR ON FACEBOOK LIVE.

I´VE EXPANDED IT TO NOW BE ON YOUTUBE, AND IT´S ALSO ON TWITTER LIVE AND PERISCOPE.

AND THEN ALSO WE HAVE A PODCAST NOW.

SO, THERE´S A "MONDAYS WITH MELBA" PODCAST.

UK FIND IT ANYWHERE YOU GET PODCASTS.

APPLE, GOOGLE PLAY, SPOTIFY, ANCHOR.

AND YOU CATCH THAT AS WELL AS SOME SUBSCRIBER ONLY CONTENT.

SO, YEP, CHECK IT OUT.

>> WOW, OKAY.

WELL, USUALLY IN THE MORNINGS I´M CHUGGING AWAY AND LISTENING TO PODCASTS.

NOW I KNOW I CAN SEE YOU TOO.

EXCELLENT.

YOU DID AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION OR EXPLANATION OF THE COSBY VERDICT, FOR EXAMPLE.

AND I REALLY COMMEND YOUR ABILITY TO EXPLAIN IT TO PEOPLE WHO WERE REALLY QUITE TAKEN ABACK AT THE RESULT AND YOUR EXPLANATION FOR THE PROCESS.

WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT, BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE AUDIENCE -- YOU KNOW THERE´S NOW A NEW SHOW.

I´M TRYING TO PRONOUNCE HIS NAME.

>> HE IS A FIGURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD LOOKED TO WITH SUCH, YOU KNOW, AWE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO HEAR IT, YOU WILL CHECK "MONDAYS WITH MELBA" ON FACEBOOK.

>> FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, TWITTER, AS WELL AS ANYWHERE YOU HEAR YOUR PODCASTS.

UK CHECK ME OUT ON SOCIAL.

I´M ON TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, OBVIOUSLY, AND YOUTUBE.

LOOK FOR ME AS THE RESIDENT LEGAL DIVA.

I´M MELBA PEARSON.

AND I´M HAPPY TO CONNECT WITH FOLKS AND JUST BE A COMMUNITY WITH YOU.

>> IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE.

I HOPE WE GET TO TOUCH BASE WITH YOU AGAIN SOON.

THANK SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN TO "ABLE TO RAISE."

STAY SAFE AND BE WELL.

BYE BYE.

♫♫ >>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, IT´S BOARD, STAFF, OR UNDERWRITERS.

♫♫