Dear Friends of Radiant Futures,

As many of you are aware, January 20, 2021 was a history-making moment as Kamala Harris was sworn in as the Vice President of the United States, breaking multiple barriers as the first woman to serve in this position, as well as the first woman of color, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian woman.

Her rise to this position was paved by Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for the U.S. presidency in 1872; Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman major-party candidate for vice president in 1984; and Hillary Clinton, the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major political party in 2016.

This, to me, is so important. When President Biden delivers his State of the Union address, Vice President Harris and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will be seated physically behind him and symbolically beside him. Imagine the impact such a visual will have on the younger generations watching and how this symbolic representation will be powerful enough to one day cause social and cultural shifts toward increased gender and racial equality.

With Appreciation,

Mark