>> COMING UP ON BEHIND THE WOMAN.

>> MY NAME IS LANESSA OWENS-CHAPLIN.

I AM AN ATTORNEY AND CIVIC LEADER.

>> WHAT FUELED ME REALLY WAS LIKE THE FOLKS THAT DIDN'T BELIEVE IN ME.

>> WHEN I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL THOUGH, THERE WAS NO BLACK COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO TALK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NO ONE LISTENS TO AND HELP HELL VAIT THEIR VOICE.

IT WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY TO SEE A YOUNG FEMALE BLACK ATTORNEY, EVEN IF I WAS IN MY FULL SUIT, THEY COULDN'T SEE ME AS AN ATTORNEY.

IT WAS A VERY LONELY PLACE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I GOT A GOOD, GOOD FEELING, I'M UP ON A CLOUD AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN ♪ ♪ I GOT A GOOD, GOOD FEELING.

♪ UP ON A CLOUD AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> CALL A FRIEND, MAKE A POST AND LET EVERYONE KNOW "BEHIND THE WOMAN" IS ON.

I'M YOUR HOST Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

ON TONIGHT'S EPISODE, WE HAVE AN ACTIVIST, A COMMUNITY CHANGE AGENT, LANESSA OWENS-CHAPLIN, A COMMUNITY LAWYER, SHE IS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE EDUCATION POLICY CENTER AT NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION AND PROJECT 81 COUNSEL.

BEFORE WE SPEAK WITH LANESSA, LET'S LOOK AT HER LIFE AND SOME OF HER WORK.

>> MY NAME IS LANESSA OWENS-CHAPLIN.

I AM AN ATTORNEY AND CIVIC LEADER.

I GREW UP RIGHT HERE IN SYRACUSE, SOUTH SIDE OF SYRACUSE.

I THINK MY UPBRINGING WAS MORE CHALLENGING THAN MOST.

I WAS OUT OF THE HOME BY 14.

I ARGUED A LOT, I DEBATED A LOT.

I GOT IN TROUBLE A LOT IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF IT.

I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE AN ATTORNEY.

I WANTED TO BE A JUDGE.

I LEARNED TO BE A JUDGE YOU HAVE TO BE AN ATTORNEY FIRST.

I WANTED TO BE THE BOSS.

WHEN I WAS IN LAW SCHOOL THERE THERE WAS NO BLACK COMMUNITY.

I REACHED OUT TO THE BLACK BAR ASSOCIATION THAT HAD 20,000 MEMBERS ACROSS FLORIDA.

AND I JUST NEEDED TO FIND A PLACE WHERE I COULD BE COMFORTABLE AND TALK ABOUT MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.

THEN I MOVED TO SYRACUSE AND OF COURSE SYRACUSE NEW YORK HAS A BLACK BAR ASSOCIATION, IT IS HERE.

IT HAS TO BE.

I FOUND OUT THERE WASN'T ONE.

I STARTED FEELING LIKE I'M ALONE AGAIN ON THIS ISLAND WHERE THERE ARE NO ATTORNEYS THAT LOOK LIKE ME AND I WOULD GO TO CRIMINAL COURT AS AN ATTORNEY FULLY DRESSED IN AN ATTORNEY SUIT WITH BRIEFCASE AND THE BAILIFF WOULD YELL AND STOP ME, NO DEFENDANTS PAST THIS LINE BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY TO SEE A YOUNG FEMALE BLACK ATTORNEY THAT EVEN IF I WAS IN MY FULL SUIT, THEY COULDN'T SEE ME AS AN ATTORNEY.

IT WAS A VERY LONELY PLACE.

MY FIRST THOUGHT IS THERE HAS TO BE BLACK ATTORNEYS IN SYRACUSE, I JUST HAVEN'T FOUND THEM.

I SPENT EIGHT MONTHS LOOKING FOR BLACK ATTORNEYS, WORD OF MOUTH, ASKING PEOPLE, HANGING OUT IN THE COURTHOUSE.

I WAS LEAVING THE STATE OFFICE BUILDING AND I SAW A BLACK MAN IN A SUIT AND I SAID HE HAS TO BE AN ATTORNEY.

I LITERALLY JUMPED OUT OF MY CAR AND CROSSED THE TRAFFIC.

I SAID ARE YOU AN ATTORNEY?

HE SAID YEAH, ARE YOU CRAZY?

I SAID NO BUT I'M TRYING TO FIND A BLACK BAR ASSOCIATION AND LOOKING FOR BLACK ATTORNEYS.

I GOT HIS INFORMATION AND HE LED ME TO OTHER PEOPLE SO THAT'S HOW WE CREATED IT.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A REPRESENTATION THAT LOOKS LIKE YOU BECAUSE YOU BUILD A LEVEL OF TRUST AND SINCERITY.

THERE IS AN INVESTMENT INTO YOUR COMMUNITY THAT YOU WANT YOUR COMMUNITY TO THRIVE AND YOU WANT YOUR COMMUNITY TO FEEL EMPOWERED.

I ADVOCATE FOR SYRACUSE RESIDENTS.

I AM A SYRACUSE RESIDENT.

I AM-- MY NEPHEWS, COUSINS, MY FAMILY IS HERE.

IF THIS COMMUNITY FLOURISHES, WE ALL DO AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE.

>> Juhanna: THANK YOU LANESSA FOR JOINING US.

I HAVE BEEN SO EXCITED TO GET YOU HERE BECAUSE WHEN I MOVED TO SYRACUSE AND GOT INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND WE ENDED UP, YOU KNOW, BEING IN ROOMS TOGETHER, SITTING IN MEETINGS, TALKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY, THINKING OF POINTS AND STRATEGIES TO ADVOCATE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN IN AWE OF YOU.

>> YOU ARE FAR TOO KIND.

>> YOU ARE PASSIONATE, YOU ARE AUTHENTIC.

YOU ARE UNAPOLOGETIC ABOUT THE PASSION THAT YOU HAVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY AND AS SOMEONE WHO IS FROM HERE THAT GREW UP HERE, WAS EDUCATED HERE, IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL TO HONESTLY SEE.

>> I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

GREAT TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.

>> TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT, WHEN I SAY THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE AND UNAPOLOGETIC IN THE WAY THAT YOU ADVOCATE, INSTILLED THAT IN YOU?

LIKE WHAT, FROM CHILDHOOD OR WHEN DID IT HAPPEN THAT YOU JUST DECIDED LISTEN, I'M GOING TO SPEAK UP AND SPEAK OUT ON BEHALF OF MY COMMUNITY IN A WAY THAT JUST JUST IS FROM THE HEART?

>> THAT'S A COMPLICATED QUESTION, REALLY.

JUST I'M THE YOUNGEST OF FOUR GIRLS.

MY MOM WAS A SINGLE MOM.

WE LIVED IN, YOU KNOW, BELOW THE POVERTY LINE, YOU KNOW THE STORY.

SO WE GREW UP IN A COMMUNITY THAT I DIDN'T LEARN UNTIL LATER WAS A SEGREGATED COMMUNITY.

I JUST KIND OF ASSUMED THAT MOST OF SYRACUSE WAS BLACK BECAUSE THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE.

AND YOU KNOW, I JUST HAD A ROUGH CHILDHOOD.

I WAS ON MY OWN AT 13 AND I JUST ALWAYS HAD TO FIGHT AND ADVOCATE AND FIGURE OUT WHAT I NEEDED TO DO JUST TO LIVE AND SURVIVE, RIGHT?

AND SO I JUST REMEMBER BEING IN THE 11th GRADE HAVING A FULL TIME JOB IN HIGH SCHOOL, PAYING MY OWN RENT.

AND LIKE HAVING TO NAVIGATE LIKE HOW TO BE STREET SMART AND HOW TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE OF LIKE, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING AND FIGHTING FOR MYSELF FOR A LONG TIME TO HAVE A PLACE IN THIS WORLD.

AND SO I THINK IT REALLY JUST COMES FROM LIKE THE STRUGGLES IN CHILDHOOD OF HAVING TO FIGURE THINGS OUT SUPER EARLY AND FIGURING OUT HOW AM I GOING TO GET TO SCHOOL, HOW AM I GOING TO SIGN UP FOR SCHOOL?

JUST THOSE BASIC THINGS THAT LED ME TO LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM.

BUT THERN ALSO IDENTIFY AREAS THAT WERE HOLDING ME BACK.

>> Juhanna: WHEN YOU SAY THAT, I THINK BACK TO MOMENTS IN MEETINGS WE HAVE BEEN ON PANELS TOGETHER, ALL OF THAT.

WHEN I SAY THAT YOU SPEAK SO AUTHENTICALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH, RIGHT?

LIKE YOU LIVED THAT EXPERIENCE.

YOU DIDN'T READ ABOUT IT IN A BOOK.

LIKE YOU CAN SPEAK FROM THE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ON OR THE TOPIC, A LITTLE BIT TABOO HERE, BUT HAVING FOLKS THAT ARE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND OF THE COMMUNITY SIT IN POSITIONS TO THINK ABOUT AND MAKE DECISIONS AND ADVOCATE FOR IT, AND I THINK YOU ARE A CLEAR EXAMPLE OF WHY THAT IS SO IMPORTANT.

>> I MEAN YES, I AGREE.

I MEAN IT WAS MY LIVED EXPERIENCE.

AND SO A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I'M TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE, IT'S BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO LEARN INTELLECTUALIZE WHY I HAD THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE.

AND SO ONCE YOU CAN PUT YOUR THUMB ON IT.

ONCE YOU CAN PUT A WORD TO IT, THESE ARE UNDERSTANDING, THIS IS WHY I LIVED THIS EXPERIENCE, THEN YOU CAN UNDERSTAND LIKE HOW DO I ADVOCATE MY WAY OUT OF THIS.

IS IT SYSTEMATIC CHANGE OR IS LIKE GETTING OUT OF THE SYSTEM AND BUILDING YOUR OWN TABLE?

THAT'S ALWAYS A DISCUSSION.

BUT ABSOLUTELY THIS WAS MY LIVED EXPERIENCE.

I WENT TO DANESFORTH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

A SCHOOL IN A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL OF MY CLASS MATES LOOKED LIKE ME WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MOST OF THE TEACHERS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY I DIDN'T FEEL WELCOME THERE.

AND THEN I LIVED THROUGH SEEING HALF MY CLASS BE ARRESTED, RIGHT?

AND UNDER RICO LAW.

I THINK IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST CASES WHERE RICO WAS APPLIED TO STREET GANGS AND NOT TO MOB CONNECTIONS AND SO OVERNIGHT LIKE 30 OF MY CLASSMATES THAT I WENT TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT I'VE KNOWN SINCE PRE-K WERE GONE.

IT WASN'T BECAUSE I WAS NECESSARILY CLOSE TO THEM.

THEY WEREN'T MY CLOSE FRIENDS BUT I HAD BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO SEEING THEM IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I KNEW THEM.

I WOULD SAY HI.

SPEAK.

WE WOULD BE AT TEEN CLUBSES AND SAY OH NO, HERE COMES TROUBLE.

BUT THEY WERE GONE OVERNIGHT AND THEY WERE GONE FOR DECADES AND THAT WAS SO JARRING TO ME THAT THIS COULD BE HAPPENING IN MY COMMUNITY AND I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY.

LIKE WHAT IS THE WHY?

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING IN MY COMMUNITY?

WHY AM I PAYING, YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, WHICH IS GOING TO BE LIKE EMBARRASSING NOW, $550 A MONTH FOR A ONE BEDROOM IN AN ATTIC, YOU KNOW WHERE TEMPERATURES WERE LIKE 110.

IT WAS ALL I COULD AFFORD.

HAVING THE LIVED EXPERIENCE AND GETTING OLDER AND STARTING TO UNDERSTAND, I THINK... >> THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE AT PLAY, RIGHT, THAT PUT YOU IN A PARTICULAR SITUATION BECAUSE OF YOUR ZIP CODE OR THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN OR YOUR GENDER, RIGHT?

AND SO AS YOU NAVIGATED THAT, THE IMPACT OF RICO LAWS, THE ARRESTS OF CLASSMATES, THE FINANCIAL SITUATION THAT YOU FOUND YOURSELF IN, DID YOU HAVE MENTORS?

WHO CAME ALONG AND HELPED YOU NAVIGATE UNDERSTANDING THOSE THINGS AND THEN CHOOSING TO BECOME AN ATTORNEY?

>> SO THAT'S A COMPLICATED QUESTION BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE MENTORS.

BUT IN THAT SAME VEIN, I HAD TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY AND IT'S BECAUSE I DIDN'T GROW UP WITH LIKE A FATHER FIGURE OR EVEN REALLY AUTHORITATIVE FIGURE IN MY LIFE.

SO I DIDN'T HANDLE AUTHORITY REALLY WELL.

I REMEMBER IN THE NINTH GRADE, THERE WAS A TEACHER WHO PULLED ME TO THE SIDE AND SAID I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GOING THROUGH SOME THINGS AND I REALLY WANT TO TALK TO YOU AND MY RESPONSE WAS, YOU NEED TO MIND YOUR BUSINESS.

LIKE THAT WAS MY GENUINE RESPONSE.

AND SO I DIDN'T HAVE MENTORS IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE.

BUT WHAT FUELED ME REALLY WAS LIKE THE FOLKS THAT DIDN'T BELIEVE IN ME AND I HAD A POINT TO PROVE.

AND THAT GOES FOR EVERYONE WHO WERE LIKE, YOU NEED TO STOP ASKING SO MANY QUESTIONS.

YOU NEED TO SHUT UP AND SIT DOWN.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO MAKE IT IN LIFE.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

I WAS LIKE NO, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THAT I AM GOING TO BE SOMEBODY.

SO YOU KNOW, I WAS PICKING UP MENTORS IN CERTAIN PLACES.

JUST SOMEONE WOULD DROP A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE ON ME AND I WOULD TAKE IT IN AND I WOULD JUST REMEMBER MY SISTER HAVING A FRIEND WHEN I WAS ABOUT 15 AND HE SAID TO ME, LIFE ISN'T THIS WAY.

LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS.

THERE ARE PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS WEALTHY AND MIDDLE-CLASS BLACK PEOPLE AND I KNOW YOU DON'T SEE THAT IN SYRACUSE, BUT IT EXISTS.

AND LIKE YOU NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL.

AND I JUST SUCKED MY TEETH AND KEPT WALKING.

IT STUCK WITH ME.

I HEARD IT.

I WASN'T RECEPTIVE TO HIM BUT I HEARD THE MESSAGE.

>> Juhanna: AS YOU TALK ABOUT THIS LANESSA, WHAT I ENVISION, AND I HEAR ABOUT IN MY WORK IN THE PAST AS AN EDUCATOR-- I'M ALWAYS AN EDUCATOR BUT WHEN I WAS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS OR ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES, THERE ARE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE KIDS THAT WALK THE LINE.

THEY FOLLOW THE RULES, THEY GET THE TEACHERS ATTENTION, THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE.

AND THEN THERE ARE THE STUDENTS THAT ARE CALLED OUT BECAUSE THEY DO QUESTION.

THEY DON'T SEEM TO FALL IN LINE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO FALL INTO THE CARE OF THE PROFESSOR OR TEACHER OR WHOMEVER, AND THEY'RE THOUGHT OF AS PROBLEMATIC.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Juhanna: AND I THINK IN THE WORK THAT I'VE CON, IT'S ALSO BEEN ABOUT IF THOSE STUDENTS ARE ACTING, THERE IS SOMETHING HAPPENING, THERE IS SOME EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT ARE IMPACTING THEIR DAY-TO-DAY EXPERIENCE SO THEY'RE SHOWING UP DIFFERENTLY.

AND I THINK YOUR STORY, AND WHAT YOU ARE SHARING IS AN EXAMPLE OF, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PAYING YOUR RENT AT 13 OR 15 YEARS OLD, I'M LIKE OH MY GOSH.

OF COURSE YOU ARE NOT SHOWING UP IN SCHOOL IN THE SAME WAY AS SOMEONE WHOSE MOM AND DAD IS JUST DROPPING THEM OFF AND HAVE THAT SAFETY NET.

>> YEAH BUT HERE YOU ARE.

>> I MEAN YES, HERE I AM.

I AS ONE OF THOSE KIDS WHO, NO ONE ASKED WHY WAS I SO ANGRY?

AND THAT WAS THE THING.

WHY ARE YOU SO ANGRY?

NO ONE ASKED ME WHERE I LIVED.

I JUST FELT LIKE NO ONE CARED.

IT WAS LIKE YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN, SHUT UP, DO WHAT WE SAY AND FOLLOW THE RULES.

OR LIKE GETTING INTO TROUBLE FOR BEING LATE BUT NOT UNDERSTANDING I HAD TO CATCH THE BUS AND GET MYSELF PREPARED AND I HAD TO GET TO SCHOOL.

SO YEAH, I HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE.

AND I FAILED EIGHTH GRADE.

I GOT SENT TO BEARD WHICH IS A SCHOOL FOR BAD KIDS MUCH ARE.

I WAS PUT ON HOME BOUND.

I WENT THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF IN SCHOOL.

I GRADUATED IN TWILIGHT SCHOOL, WHICH IS AFTERNOON SCHOOL.

BUT THROUGHOUT MY CAREER OF SCHOOLING, I ALWAYS KEPT A HIGH GRADE.

WOULD I GO HOME AND DO MY HOME WORK AND DO MY WORK AND TURN IT IN BUT I THOUGHT SCHOOL WAS A WASTE OF TIME.

I WOULD GO THERE, UNDERSTAND THE ASSIGNMENT AND BE READY TO DO THE ASSIGNMENT AND GO HOME.

THAT WAS MY IDEA OF WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

GIVE ME AT SIGNMENT AND MOVE ON.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SIT AROUND AND TALK ABOUT THEORY BECAUSE I WAS LIVING IN THE REAL WORLD.

>> Juhanna: AND I'M QUITE SURE THE IMPACT OF THE DAY TO DAY AND WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO TO KEEP A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD, I'M LIKE I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TO SPEND ON THE FLUFF, RIGHT, LET'S JUST GET TO IT.

SO OFTEN WE ARE EXPECTING OUR STUDENTS OR THE FOLKS WHO ARE MENTORING, TO SHOW UP IN A PARTICULAR WAY IN ORDER TO RECEIVE.

AND WE ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY SHOW UP WITH.

SO YOU HAD THOSE EXPERIENCES.

AND NOW HERE YOU ARE AS AN ATTORNEY, A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.

YOU TOLD ME ABOUT THE TERM OF MOVEMENT LAWYER, RIGHT?

LIKE TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO NOW BE SITTING IN A SEAT TO THINK ABOUT FOLKS LIKE YOURSELF OR THE EXPERIENCES YOU HAD GROWING UP AND ADVOCATING FOR THEM AND NOT JUST HERE IN SYRACUSE BUT ACROSS THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

>> YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY LIKE I WANT TO TALK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT NO ONE ELSE LISTENS TO AND TRY TO HELP ELEVATE THEIR VOICE AND HELP ELEVATE THEIR CONCERNS.

I WANT TO GO INTO COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IGNORED, SIMILAR TO MINE AND SIMILAR TO MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE LIKE GROWING UP I WAS IGNORED AND WANTING TO SAY WHAT ARE YOUR CONSCIENCE CONCERNS?

HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

HOW WOULD YOU WANT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE?

BECAUSE ALL OF THE ANSWERS ARE GOING TO COME FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME FROM POLITICIANS OR EXPERTS OR FOLKS LIKE US WHO HAVE J.D.s AND Ph.D.s.

PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES KNOW WHAT THEIR COMMUNITIES NEED AND THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.

SCOA A LARGE PART OF MOVEMENT LAWYERING IS GOING INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SAYING WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT CONCERN YOU?

AND EVEN WHEN I WAS HIRED ON BY THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION TO WORK ON THE I-81 PROJECT, I DIDN'T GO INTO THE COMMUNITY TALK TO ABOUT THE I-81 PROJECT.

I WENT INTO THE COMMUNITY ASKING WHAT ARE YOUR NEEDS, WHAT ARE YOUR CONCERNS?

LET'S FIRST ADDRESS THOSE.

I JUST REMEMBER THERE WAS A LOT OF OUTRAGE BECAUSE THERE WAS A STOP SIGN THAT WAS DOWN FOR LIKE THREE MONTHS AND THAT WAS LIKE-- THAT'S WHAT THEY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRST COMMUNITY MEETING FOR TWO HOURS.

AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND THEN WE CAME UP WITH A STRATEGY LIKE HOW DO WE REPAIR THE STOP SIGN?

AND SO THAT'S WHAT MOVEMENT LAWYERING IS WHERE YOU GO INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TRY TO ELEVATE THEIR CONCERNS, BUILD POWER AND ALSO TRY TO HELP ORGANIZE.

>> Juhanna: RIGHT.

THAT IS POWERFUL.

AS SOMEONE THAT HASN'T HAD A LOT OF THE EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, YOU TALK ABOUT THE POWER IN GETTING INVOLVED LOCALLY IN MOVEMENTS, IN POLITICS, CHALLENGING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AS A WAY TO MAKE REAL CHANGE.

FOR FOLKS LIKE MYSELF THAT HAVEN'T BEEN LIKE MENTORED IN THAT WAY, I SEE NEW THESE COMMUNITY MEETINGS, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD TELL SOMEONE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING INVOLVED AND HOW CAN THEY DO THAT WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE, THROUGH THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE NOT BEING HEARD.

>> THE FIRST THING I WOULD TELL THEM IS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEIR INTELLIGENCE.

HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHO YOU ARE AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT YOU KNOW BECAUSE OFTEN TIMES COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES, ARE TREATED LIKE THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR THEM.

OR THEY'RE TREATED LIKE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE FULLY AND YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ENGINEERS AND EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW TO BE TRUE.

AND SO THE FIRST PART IS LIKE JUST BELIEVE IN YOUR GUT INSTINCT AND WHAT YOUR GUT IS TELLING YOU.

AND IF YOUR GUT IS TELLING YOU THAT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT OR IS NOT RIGHT, VOICE THAT.

JUST HAVE ENOUGH CONFIDENCE TO DO THAT.

EVEN WITH ME IN THIS COMMUNITY, I STILL SUFFER FROM IMPOSTER SYNDROME ALL THE TIME.

I STILL SUFFER FROM LIKE DO I BELONG HERE?

AM I SMART ENOUGH TO BE IN THIS ROOM?

DO I KNOW ANYTHING?

WHO AM I?

>> Juhanna: CAN I SAY THIS?

>> DO I HAVE PERMISSION?

AM I TWO FOR EXAMPLE TO SOUND STUDENT STUPID.

IF YOU DO, IT DOESN'T SHOW UP.

>> BECAUSE WE ALL DO.

IT'S LIKE HOW MUCH CAN WE FAKE IT UNTIL WE MAKE IT.

HOW MUCH CAN WE JUST SAY I DO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN WHAT I'M SAYING AND IF I SOUND DUMB, SO WHAT?

MAYBE I'M TOTALLY OFF THE MARK.

AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE SET THIS KIND OF HIERARCHY WHERE WE PUT EXPERTS AND PROFESSIONALS AS PEOPLE WHO KNOW MORE THAN US.

>> Juhanna: EVEN IF IT RIGHT.

>> EVEN IF IT IS ABOUT OUR OWN SITUATION.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND POWER IN COMMUNITIES TO SAY YOU KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER AND IT'S NOT POLITICIANS WHO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER.

IT'S NOT POLICY MAKERS WHO SIT HIGH IN THE SKY.

I WORK FOR GOVERNMENT FOR FIVE YEARS AND OFTEN TIMES EVEN WITH ANTIPOVERTY INITIATIVES, THERE IS NO ONE AT THE TABLE TO ACTUALLY LIVED OR EXISTED IN POVERTY.

>> Juhanna: AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS THAT LIVED THESE EXPERIENCES ARE AT THE TABLE.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES YOU DOING WHAT YOU DO, AND I SAY THIS YOU, SO POWERFUL AND SO NECESSARY AND SO IMPORTANT.

AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE HISTORY BOOKS WRITTEN ABOUT YOU, I SWEAR.

THERE WILL BE BECAUSE HOW MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED AND WALKED IN A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE, I WON'T SAY IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME, BUT ARE SEATED AT THE TABLE THAT YOU SIT AT?

>> I THINK THE FIRST STEP WAS LIKE GOING BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD OF NOT RESPECTING AUTHORITY.

SO WHEN I'M IN THOSE ROOMS, I FEEL LIKE I'M AN EQUAL PERSON.

I DON'T FEEL THERE IS A HIERARCHY.

I DON'T CARE IF SOMEBODY HAS BEEN IN THEIR JOB FOR 30 YEARS AND IT'S TYPICAL WHITE MALE.

BECAUSE I'M CONFIDENT IN MY UNDERSTANDING AND I'M CONFIDENT IN MY KNOWLEDGE.

I'VE READ, I'VE RESEARCHED.

I'M SUPER PREPARED.

I FIELD LIKE I KNOW EVERYTHING BEFORE I NEED TO TALK ABOUT A SUBJECT MATTER.

THAT'S WHO I AM AS A PERSON.

THAT'S WHY I WENT INTO LAW.

I'LL COMMIT IT TO MEMORY SO WHEN I AM IN THOSE SITUATIONS, I FEEL PREPARED AND EQUIPPED TO ABOUT TO WAR, RIGHT, ON THESE TOPICS AND WHAT I LEARNED TOO, AS I'M MOVING UP THE LADDER, I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WOULD MEET SOME NEXUS OF GENIUS, RIGHT?

LIKE ATTORNEYS, DOCTORS, FOLKS WHO HAVE Ph.D.s AND MASTERS DEGREE.

THEY'RE A LEVEL OF GENIUS.

I GREW UP THINKING THAT AND WHEN I GOT INTO THE LEGAL PROFESSION, I THOUGHT WAIT A MINUTE.

THERE ARE SOME VERY SUBPAR PROFESSIONALS OUT THERE AND MAYBE I DON'T NEED TO BE LIKE THIS NEXUS OF INTELLIGENCE THAT I THOUGHT AT SOME POINT I WOULD REACH.

>> Juhanna: WHO YOU ARE IS GOOD ENOUGH.

>> WHO I AM IS GOOD ENOUGH.

>> Juhanna: AND EVERY LIFE MOMENT THAT HAS BROUGHT YOU HERE HAS PREPARED YOU TO SAY AND SPEAK AND OFFER INSIGHT INTO THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE DOING.

AND I THINK THE POINT YOU EXPLAINED TO ME EARLIER, AS THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION POLICY CENTER FOR THE NEW YORK CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, WHAT YOU STARTED AROUND PROJECT 81 AND THE ADVOCACY WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY IS BECOMING A BLUEPRINT FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE THE BRONX, ROCHESTER, BUFFALO WHO ARE ALSO GOING TO BE REEVALUATING AND THINKING ABOUT THESE LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

>> YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND I MEAN REALLY ACROSS THE NATION.

AND I MEAN THE MASS TRANSIT MOVEMENT WAS RIDDLED WITH RACISM FROM THE INCEPTION AND THERE WAS TARGETED DESTRUCTION OF BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ACROSS OUR COUNTRY AND NEW YORK STATE IS NO DIFFERENT.

AND SO THE VIADUCTS AND THE HIGHWAYS AND THE SUPPRESSED HIGHWAYS, THEY WERE BUILT IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES AND THE INTENTION WAS MADE CLEAR: TO RID CITIES OF SLUMS.

DOING WHISTLE FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

SO AS ALL OF THESE HIGHWAYS HAVE REACHED THE END OF THEIR LIFE SPAN, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT AND HAVING WHAT WE ARE HAVING IN SYRACUSE, THE COMMUNITY GRID.

IT'S NOT A MAGIC PILL.

IT'S NOT A MAGIC BULLET.

IT IS NOT GOING TO AUTOMATICALLY REDUCE OR GET RID OFF OR AMELIORATE THE HARM DONE TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY HERE.

SO A LARGE PART OF IT FOR ME IS TRYING IN THIS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT TO REPARATIONS.

IT'S REALLY LIKE WE MEADE TO START INVESTING AND THINK TO THINK ABOUT REPARATION FRAMEWORK AROUND RACIAL JUSTICE.

>> Juhanna: FOR A YOUNG LADY OR YOUNG MAN LISTENING TO TONIGHT'S SHOW, WHO MAY BE IN A PLACE THAT YOU'VE COME OUT OF, AS WE WRAP UP, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE?

OR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT TO THEM?

>> DON'T LET THE WORLD STOP YOU.

YOU ARE NOT CRAZY.

YOU ARE BEING OPPRESS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES.

AND JUST-- EVERY DAY YOU WAKE UP IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD, EVEN IF YOU SCREW UP THE DAY BEFORE.

THE NEXT DAY IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

>> Juhanna: KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU LANESSA FOR SCWOINING US ON TONIGHT'S-- FOR JOINING US ON TONIGHT'S EPISODE.

WE ARE SO LUCKY TO HAVE HER IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AT THE TABLE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THE SHOW AGAIN, PLEASE VISIT US ONLINE AT WCNY..ORG/"BEHIND THE WOMAN."

MY NAME IS Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND ON BEHALF OF THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" TEAM, THANK YOU AND HAVE AN AMAZING NIGHT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> NEXT WEEK ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN..." >> MY NAME IS SONIA MARTINEZ, I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY LATINO ASSOCIATION.

THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE LATINO COMMUNITY, SOMEONE HAD TO TAKE THAT TASK ON.

IT WAS CREATED TO HELP.

WHEN YOU FEEL THAT YOU MADE IT TO WHERE YOU WANTED TO BE, ALWAYS REMEMBER TO GIVE BACK.

PEOPLE STILL HAVE A LOT OF NEED.

THEY HEAR ABOUT MDLA, THEY HEAR ABOUT SONIA MARTINEZ.

YOU CAN GO THERE AND YOU CAN HELP.

THAT'S WHY THEY COME HERE.