Featuring Chi Ossé

which is in New York. We have a great discussion on what's happening in society right now, what it's like running a political campaign at twenty two, how to be taken seriously and not let your age define you, and how to get involved in politics and make a difference no matter your age. I hope you enjoyed this episode, and as always, I'll see you guys next week. I am so excited to have you on my podcast because I've been so inspired by what you're doing. How did

you get interested in politics? Yeah, I am the one of the first gen Zers to run for city council in the city. UM. Never thought I would jump into politics ever. UM. I've always been someone that's been politically aware, UM, in terms of what's happening on a presidential level. UM, but never thought that I would jump into a local race before. UM. You know just a little bit about myself. I mean, my name is chi O say um. I I love everything creative, whether it's movies, art, music. UM.

I come from a heavy music background family. UM. So politics was never in my line of sight. UM until this summer. So what got you interested in running for office? Then? After the murder of George Floyd, UM, I felt really inclined to to leave my quarantine and protest against the injustices that be in our country and in our city. UM. And through that activism UM and going out every single day,

I had this growing hunger for for change UM. And my feeling UM and strategy in order to achieve that change from me was to jump into this political race. I took that leap of faith. And it's been a crazy six the seven months since we jumped in, and I've learned a lot. Yeah, time isn't a thing anymore. Those June feels like two years ago. It truly does. It's this past year, and I guess this year already feels like a whole another year. The past twenty summer

days of this year also a blur. Yeah, absolutely and so chaotic, I know. And I also feel like the protesting over the summer. I protested, and it was the most surreal experience because you felt like you were making a difference by just being there. Um, what was your first experience when you went, because I know you like lead a lot of protests. Your first protest? Were you underprepared? Were you ready? Was it what you expected? You know?

I it was like the first time I was around a lot of people ever since, you know, being in quarantine, since what it was at the end of March, earliest year a year. I think that's absolutely nuts. Um, the first protest, I was extremely under prepared, um for what happened, you know. I I came in shorts and doc Martins and had a topebag of water and chapstick. And it was a non violent protest, and um, I expected it

to be that way. But the police lashed out, you know, at at many of the people that were there by myself was pepper sprayed. Um. Other people around me were injured by the barricades and by police batons, and many people were arrested as well. Um. So I was prepared for that first protest, but Um, I came prepared every

single day after that. So how do you face that fear after getting pepper sprayed, which I can only imagine is the most unpleasant, painful feeling, And then how do you get that courage to go again even though you're being targeted for peacefully protesting. I overcame that fear with my passion for change. M hmm. I wanted the police

to be held accountable for what they were doing. I wanted uh we as as non violent protesters and its black and brown folks in this country who achieved the change that our people have been fighting for for decades. And I think that's what helped me overcome the sphere of being purper sprayed again. I did wear my my safety goggles the next day. UM, but you know I smart, right, UM. But it was this yearning for change, in this passion for um, you know, justice, that that helped me overcome

that fear of being preper sprayed again. It did not happen again to me at least, but UM, you know I was very careful in those in those following weeks after that. Um. But yeah, I had this this this strive to to to make real change in our city and something that I've noticed. I really got into activism over the past few years, just after the election and how to really make a difference. But people don't realize how important look elections are. That they think it's just

the midterms and the presidential elections. But what really changes, you know, the country are these local elections. So for those who don't understand, why can you explain it? Absolutely? I mean, please do vote in every presidential election. Vote in every single election. Um. But you know, when you think about our our day to day and what we truly complain about. Especially as a New Yorker do you live in New York? Yes? Do you know? Okay, amazing

me too. Um So as a New Yorker and as someone that was protesting this summer, you and I both um, many people were chanting for change within the the NYPD. Trump is not responsible for that, Our new president Biden is not responsible for that. M Our Senate's not responsible for that. Are our House is not responsible for that.

Our local electives are responsible for that. So if we're spending our energy and time to protests in the streets, um demanding change and reimagining of the NYPD, then we need to be going to the polls and voting in individuals, UM, in our own neighborhoods, in our own districts, that will will respond to the values in the demands that we are asking for. UM. For an example, you know, a piece on my platform is I'm fighting for a green

new Deal for New York City. UM. We need to start making those movements and putting people in office on a local level that will be demanding that so that we can fight for that on the top and that happens in our local elections. You know, we can't wait UM for Biden. UM. We can't wait for for Congress. We can't wait for the Senate. UM to get things done. We need to to act locally, UM, in every single election.

I'm very passionate about the education system, and I've noticed that in a lot of low income neighborhoods, schools are often underfunded. Why is that and what can we do about it? Many of the people that it is affecting don't really have a voice, don't really have a platform to be able to speak up. And it's not coincidental why our schools, I mean, in predominantly black neighborhoods are underfunded it's not coincidental that because you're you're illiterate, I

your higher chance of going to prison. That's a poll, a part of the large system. UM. You know, many people I think black lives matter only pertains to law enforcement UM killing black and brown men and women. But that is not true, you know. And in many of the parts of this country, nonetheless, New York City, predominantly black neighborhoods are red lines and districts where are people you know, live in conditions with underfunded public housing, underfunded

public education, underfunded healthcare. So in a way, we are set up in these environments where we're supposed to fail, you know, we're set up to fail. We're set up to to go into the carcelrol U system. And and the reason that that is is because are are elected UM and those that are in power are accepting money from police unions, are accepting money from real estate developers.

So rather than fulfilling the promises of their constituency or the people, UH, they're fulfilling the promises of their donors and people with money UM that that are are putting their ideas forward. And that's why, you know, with cases like that, and with a lot of v the action. A lot of the individuals that I'm talking about now, UM are are able to to hide under the radar, and that's why it's not a public conversation. But people are talking about it, and the conversation is getting louder.

What's it like running for office? I mean, you said yourself you weren't as interested in politics a year ago. And what advice do you have for young people who also want to run for office? How do you get started with it? I had a voice, and I have a voice, and I have a vision, and I think that's all that it takes. Obviously there are multiple multiple

parts that that go into it, UM. But if you have a voice and you have UM something to say that is important and that will will will conjure change in your community, in your neighborhood, UM for the people around you, then use that voice. UM. I happen to use that voice to jump into this race, UM because it was important to me. And you know, there are

people that that rallied behind me. There are people that UM I have been able to grow with throughout these past couple of six months, half a year, UM, and it's been amazing. I will say it's one of the craziest things I have ever done. But it's, um, it's amazing, it's a it's a really entertaining experience. And you know, throughout all of it, I've I've been bringing me to the table. You know, I've never forgotten who I am. Um, even though I'm running to be a politician, I'm still cheap.

You know. If you look at the design behind my campaign, UM, it's it's authentically you know, it's it's it's you can see my my take on art, you can see my take on design, you can see where my references are from. Because I want this to be like no other campaign that anyone has ever seen before. I want this to be the loudest, the coolest, the most stylish so that I can engage every single person in local politics. And

we're doing the damn thing. We have to take a quick break, but when we come back, I want to find out about what's something unexpected that you've learned through this experience and what it's been like being twenty two on campaigning again, people who are ten, twent, thirty years older. We'll be right back and we're back. You're bringing the most gen z to this election. If that makes sense,

from the style to creativity to it. Local politics hasn't been cool before, and I feel like that's what you're doing. You're making it cool, which is so important. What's something that you didn't expect you to learn past six months running? Hmm, that's a that's a good question. Um, how good I am at this? I think that's something I did not expect that to be the case. I mean, I knew

that we were going to make noise. But you know, this past week in our race of eleven people, I found out that I outraised every single person in my race. I'm the youngest candidate in my race by twenty years. Um. Yeah. So like seeing the grassroots support that we're getting from people, um in the neighborhood, UM, you know, on on the internet, UM, everywhere is amazing, you know. And seeing how how well this is going, um is you're surprised that it's going.

No I mean, I thought it was going to go well, but I didn't know that, you know, it would turn into what it is now. And that's what's affirming, like my my day one beliefs. Um. I don't know, it's still shocking to be doing what I'm doing. Um, obviously have to be humble. Uh, but but it's it's it's still an amazing, surreal experience. I've been fortunate enough to do some really cool stuff at a young age, but there have been so many times when adults have told

me I can't do something because of my age. How has it been for you running for office in this political climate where the people you're running against are so much older has it been hard to be taken seriously? Or have you just not cared? Well? I knew that going into this that that would be, um, something that would be said to me. I mean, I'm asking senior to to vote for me and have maybe someone um, you know, people three times my age to vote for me and have me be someone that leads them. Um.

So I knew that going into it. UM and vice strategy and what my team and I have been working on is to just prove everyone wrong. I'm the only way to prove people wrong is the show that we are creating real change now. Uh. You know, I think politicians in general, anyone that's running for office, is always promising to get things done when they stepped into office. UM, and we wanted to change that dynamic. We are are are creating real change on a day to day basis. Um,

we are starting until you get elected. Exactly. We have presented two bills to the city Council, UM amendments for one bill that helps our our neighbors in terms of those that that own homes in the neighborhood. UM. I'm providing food on a weekly basis to one of our public housing developments in the neighborhood on a weekly basis because they haven't had gas since to lie. Um, We're providing food for a senior centers and we've been handing out pp on a day to day basis. UM. We're

we're doing the thing, you know. And I think when people see that, UM, they forget about my age, because, you know, they just see someone that is helping them, you know, and who cares. And I think that's what's more important than how long I've been on this earth. I completely agree with you, and I feel like people underestimate the power of our generation and I think we as gen Z. I'm just saying collectively, I feel like we want to prove them wrong. And I think you're

a perfect example of that. Not only can we prove them wrong, UM, but we have the tools to do so, you know, Uh, there's no better generation that has been set up, especially with technology and just everything that we know how to do. UM. I think we're we're fit to to break through those obstacles that have been placed in front of us. Something that I think is really interesting is what you your slogan omission statement is reimagined re us in renew UM. What do you mean by

that specifically? Like break that down? How do you did you come up with that? M? I think the systems and agencies in the way of life that we are experiencing it on a day to day basis isn't working for the many. I mean, we're in a time where uh, people are still dying and losing their jobs from this pandemic. We are in time when people are are being oppressed by the police UM like they have been for decades, but we're seeing a heightened UM or more eyes on

that right now. Because it's videotaped, people can't deny it when they're absolutely UM. So the three RS on my platform is a radical UM step to change the broken UM systems that we're experiencing. UM. We need to reimagine public safety. You know, it's not working for Americans, it's not working for black and brown people. And with that reimagining of it, we need to divest from the NYPD and reallocate funds into c b o s or community

based organizations. We need to invest into our children, our youth, our schools, our public education, our climate, and we need to renew trust not only between the people in law enforcement, but the people and are elected. You know, if you talk to many people, they young or or older. Uh, they don't trust politicians. And rightfully so, because politicians don't get anything done, um for the most part. You know.

And now we're seeing a radical change of individuals that are running for office, Individuals like myself that that are are brand new to this field of politics, that are dedicated to change and nothing else rather than a salary like many career politicians are looking to do when they are running for a seat. So you mentioned passing a bill. How do you go about doing that? It's it's a lot easier than you think too, to write up a bill. Um. So one of the bills that that we are working

on is a bill called the fair Shop Bill. Um. It's a bill that we're working on with the current current seated councilwoman um Alika and Frey Sammy els UM. And what the bill does in the language that we added UM what what it was a bill that would ease up diversity in the workplace, especially for city jobs. So someone were to apply for a job UM and they were black or or trans UM, sometimes they are

discriminated against solely based off of their name UM. So the language that we presented to that bill UM was to put an option forward that that let individuals not have to put their names UM to apply for a job. It would it would just have their resume UM, you know where they're from and in the skills that they

have UH. And this would be an option that would be enforced in many of our our our workplaces so that individuals that look like me UM or even trans people of color aren't discriminated because their name sounds to ghetto, which is UH something that that has been picked up in in statistics of of applying to jobs over the past decade. But you know, we approached the councilwoman, we we have this idea for for what we wanted to

change UM, and she was very receptive to that. So we added literature on our own wording, um, and then they picked that up and hopefully it does get past that's amazing. So because of your initiative, a councilwoman is adding some additional language in a bill for our local government. All it takes is your willpower, you know, and your voice. And I think that's the most the most successful ingredients

to to getting things done. Um. And that's what I have been doing over this past year and then seeing uh, my fruits come to labor. Yeah. And I also want to talk about Warriors in the Garden because I know you co founded this this movement. Can you talk about how you started Warriors in the Garden because I think it's really interesting what you guys are doing with this. Yes.

So you know, after that first day of protesting, that first week of protesting, UM, I started finding my own voice and was you know, chanting a lot and and speaking at a lot of these protests. And there were other individuals out there that you know, shared some of the same messaging that that I was, and we realized that you know, our our our power would be really stronger and our voices would be louder um if we worked together. UM. So we founded Warrior in the garden

wasn't that first week and a half. Uh. And since then we were organizing protests and marches and children's marches, um and putting out educational content about what it means to be a black person in this country. UM. I think yes. I mean we are all relatively uh young

group of individuals. Um. So the fact that we were able to use our phones and and and the internet and Instagram was a useful tool and changing our narrative um as as the people of the movement um, rather than being portrayed as writers and violent individuals, which we were not, because we were there on the ground doing the work and just peacefully protesting. I like to say non violently protesting, because we are still disturbing the piece. You know, we we aren't breaking or or hurting anyone,

so it is non violent, um. But a protest is is still disturbing the peace which we want to do. We want people to feel uncomfortable, um with the racism that that we experience on a day to day basis. And I think it's important that you know, I wish we had we were having this conversation sooner. And so it's frustrating that multiple people have to die for this just to be a public conversation. Absolutely, it's it's sad, um and so many people have died prior to both

of us being born. But you know, the work must continue, and we know we need to continue putting individuals like ourselves UM in office and in those rooms where we're part of the conversation, where we're writing the laws, where we're presenting legislation, because that's when the real change starts. I do believe that there's an in and out strategy. I do believe we need protesters and activists in the ground as well as like minded individuals in office so

that there's this synergy of commitment to change. Who are your political heroes? I love aoc Um, love Bernie Sanders, uh Corey Bush, who's a recent congresswoman, Jamal Bowman, who's a recent congressman. UM A lot of these new figures that are are coming through in politics today. Shirley Chisholm. I guess that's a throwback. She's the first black woman to run for president and the first woman to run for president. She's from Brooklyn, not too far away from me.

Um Or was from Brooklyn. UM. But a lot of the new faces and figures that we're seeing today. The squad as they call themselves, are extremely admirable and they're they're doing the work um, and their power is growing um and they're inspiring the many. So so they inspired me. And I think something that I hope comes is that we stop making everything so republican democrat, but more human rights, because I feel like this isn't even a political issue.

It's just a human rights issue at this point. Mm hmmm. And you know, completely agree with that, But the nuances of politics always confuses that. I mean, the rights so politics so political, absolutely, I mean politics is very political. The right has their own definition of what human rights are compared to the left. So um, that's why there's this clear cut line. Maybe sometimes it's not even clear, but a difference in thoughts for for many Americans and

many people in terms of what human rights are. Okay, we have to take one more quick break and when we come back, I want to dive deeper into your passion for art in design and how let's helped you in campaigning and how your past experience has helped you run for city council. We'll be right back and we're back. I find it so interesting that your family is very music and art oriented, and get here you are in politics. I know you're using art and creativity in your campaign.

How do you plan to do that when you win? Because I'm manifesting, are you to incorporate that within your duties? I want to and I'm doing this throughout my campaign to check out any of my accounts. But politics is so confusing to some people. You know, people don't understand certain laws that are getting passed. People don't understand the

roles that they're electeds do. Um. And in a way that we've been trying to connect those thoughts is through art, is through graphic design, is through animation, so that we can make this more inclusive, so that people can understand what the f is going on in their own neighborhoods, you know. Um. And and the way to do that is the these digestible Instagram posts or this quick one

minute or two minute animation. UM. I feel like with the the the older people that are in politics, UM, there's this disconnect and how to communicate UM, ideas and and and laws to to the regular person because they've been in politics for so long as someone that wasn't in politics for so long or even you know, under a year. Um, I understand how to communicate with individuals like yourself, um or even older than me in a quicker way because you get it. You know, it's not

all like you said. It's making things very digestible and interesting content because art is storytelling and you're telling your story, h not only connecting a story, but catching the eye, you know, making it interesting rather than something that you can easily like turn away from because it's a bunch of words, um that you don't understand, you know, Section

one whatever, intro law. UM. We're just trying to get straight to the point to educate people about their rights and what they can do to to to be active in their communities. It's so important. And the other thing that I think is really interesting, just the time that we're living in, how much social media has played a role in everything. Do you plan on continuing to social media when you're elected or just focus more are on policies. Social media is how I mainly connect to I guess everyone,

including you know, people in my district. We are living in a pandemic still, so conventional campaigning as in door knocking, um and speaking to people face to face is somewhat dangerous, so uh, connecting to people online and through social media has been a large use of our large implementation of

my campaigning UM during this past year. I mean, I also think it's super successful and in terms of getting thoughts and ideas the room to the people, and also being able to to hear back from from what people think about what I'm putting out there. Something that I loved that you guys were just getting people to register to vote, UM, which is so important. If you aren't registered to vote, please registered to vote. UM. Do you

ever wish because you are twenty two? UM? And I know I go through this sometimes, like what it's like to be a normal teenager or a normal twenty two a year old? How do you balance having a professional career but also having a life. You know, it's kind of hard to be a teenager or twenty something. Y're old right now because we are in a pandemic UM, so things are closed and I'm not able to do much. I think it would be a little different if it we're open UM. But you know, I'm still myself. I

still where what I want. I still listen to the same music that I like. I I still talk to the same people that I talked to prior. Um. I like your glasses, by the way, thank you, Thank you take them off sometimes, but this is when I'm on political whatever. You're very business e, but also like thank you. I appreciate that I'm still myself. I don't know, you just followed me on Instagram, I saw, but you'll see

that I'm still you know, the same same me. Um. Definitely a little more appropriate on on social media now. But UM, the balance has been interesting. Yeah, I mean it's it's really interesting just to figure it all out. UM. Do you think you would even be running if the pandemic hadn't happened. I don't think so. I think this pandemic was a reset for me to think about what I wanted to do next in my life. You know, after losing my job, it was working in nightlife and hospitality. UM.

And you know, obviously that's changed after the pandemic hit. UM. And you know a lot of gig workers and hospitality workers and a lot of my co workers were out of jobs. UM. And I I did not know what to do, you know, I was I was really rethinking my my my career or whatever. My career would be because we had no end sight or end dates of when this pandemic would end. Um. But I think one event led to another, um, George Floyd. Um, you know

going out every single day. Uh, you know, diving into two local politics, and it got me to this point. And I guess to answer your question, I don't think I would have been running if it weren't for the pandemic. It's crazy how life happens. That's what I realized this past year, like we can't control life and what happens to us. I ready went to college, but you haven't graduated yet. Do you think you'll ever go back and finish up or is that not the priority right now?

I think I'm going to go back to school after I finished my terms in the city council, so maybe I think that's eight years. So at the end of my eight years, I'll go back to school or maybe take some night school and during my time on the serving on the city council. You can do in part time. I know people that do that. Yeah, I might do that for sure. UM. I will say that, you know, if you are in school, stay in school. Um. But if you think you don't need school, to do what

you want to do. Then either take time off and try to do that or um, yeah, just test out all your options. I mean when gap years are great, UM, test out your options before you get you know, older, and even when you're older, you can test out your options. But uh yeah, experiment. So what what made you want to be like, Okay, I want to take some time off. Well, my dad passed away and my dird semester at Chapman. So I did move back home from that, UM and you know, I was working in New York and I

just really enjoyed being back home with my my family. UM. Insteaded not to go back because of that. UM and then obviously one thing let to another. I enjoyed working in the city, enjoyed being um back with with with my friends and my family. UM. And then that we're here, I'm so sorry about your dad. That's never it's terrible, It's it's definitely a part of life. It's definitely a part of my journey to to be doing what I'm doing. Now. Do you think that made you like adult faster? Absolutely,

that's a really great question. I actually haven't heard that one yet, but it's something that I do say a lot. Um. Absolutely. I think, you know, losing a parent at a young age UM really puts a lot more responsibility on your plate and really just reframes your vision what life is, especially losing a parent at a young age. UM. And

it definitely did mature me. I mean I think, uh, you know, even speaking to some of my peers after the passing of my father, UM, it just you know, sometimes they didn't feel like we were mentally in the same place because of the experience that I experienced rather than you know, the lack of experience that that they had. With that. I'm not saying I wished that on anyone else. Grow up a lot faster, absolutely, I mean I think it really re shapes what problems mean or are in

your life and what to be grateful for. Um. And you know that happened to me, and you know I never wish for something not to happen in my past. That that makes sense because I think it created the person that I am today. It just goes show to a testament to your work ethic that you wanted to be with your family but also keep working. I find it so fascinating because I know you worked at Deepop. You said you did some hospitality stuff. Do you think any of the skills you learned from that has been

helpful in running a campaign? Absolutely? So. Like during my time at Deep Pop, I was producing events at this club called Public Hotels. Um So I worked in nightlife. And working in nightlife and getting people to come out, um every single night that I went out is a part of organizing. You know that that that tool that I picked up there is going to be the same thing that I'm I'm picking up to get people to go to the polls and vote for me, you know.

Um So that's definitely you know, a tool of organizing that um an excitements that that I'm using behind this campaign. What is your goal as a politician if you you know, when you get elected, do you want to run again? Would you want to run um for Congress? What are your goals? Do you want to continue in this path or do you just don't know? Because that's totally fine because you're twenty two. Well, when I get elected, I want to help my neighbors and want to help my community.

I want to ensure that people aren't evicted from their homes during this pandemic. I want to ensure that the small businesses in my neighborhood receive the grants and the fiscal needs that they are able to receive so that they don't close during this pandemic. I want to fight for for those that have not been vaccinated yet. I

want to make vaccines more accessible within this district. I want to uh nurture or create a community um where individuals can feel like they start their own businesses so that we can reboot this economy. My entire mission right now and what I'm running on in my major priority and nothing further than that, is to help my neighbors and to help my community, and to help my district. And I guess we'll see what happens after that. I love what you're doing, and I think it's so important

to not let age define what you do. And for those listening, if anyone ever tries to tell you that they're wrong, and prove them wrong. And I'm just so honored that you came on my podcast. Yeah, thank you so much for having me. It's what a privilege, awesome, it was so great to meet you. Congratulations on everything you're doing. Thank you, I appreciate you. Congratulations for you too. I hope you guys enjoyed this episode. G thank you so much for coming on my podcast. I cannot wait

to see what you do. Go follow him if you haven't already, and follow me on Instagram at it Sammy J. That's I T S S A M M Y j A y E. I hope you're having a great day and I hope this episode made it a little bit better. I'll see you guys next week. Bye.