Rep. Cannon Speaks About Elections and Representation
Georgia General Assembly Member Park Cannon speaking at Marist on Feb. 2 in Fusco Recital Hall. Credit: Rebekah Hendricks '24
Marist College’s Student Programming Council (SPC) and the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging hosted a talk by Georgia General Assembly member Park Cannon on Feb. 2. Cannon spoke to students, faculty and members of the community in Fusco Recital Hall subjects from the value of participating in elections to representation within politics.
Rep. Cannon is one of two openly queer members of the Georgia General Assembly and is the youngest representative at 32 years old. Cannon spoke candidly about her experience as a young person in politics. Before the talk, Cannon spoke with the Marist Circle, where she said that as a Georgian who grew up in Brooklyn, New York, “I will tell you straight to your face, I am a young person who’s not afraid to share my ideas.”
A self-described “Brooklyn peach,” as a millennial, she feels an obligation to prove that “young people have more than a seat at the table; we have the entire manifesto written.”
Cannon shared with students how she cultivated her political career, from studying at UNC Chapel Hill to working at a reproductive health center in Georgia. She was mentored by her predecessor, Georgia Rep. Simone Bell, who asked Cannon personally to run for her seat when she stepped down in 2015.
Her foundation in politics is built on her life as a young Black, queer person. Cannon stressed the importance of running for office to create change in one's community. She noted in her speech that running for office is “a lifelong journey.”
Cannon has a published book to walk people through her campaign process, “The Universal Guide to Running for Office” which she shared with the audience. The text details Cannon’s experience running for office, and information on important details of a campaign that may be missed like purchasing website domains that Cannon herself experienced.
Members of the Student Programming Council (SPC) with Rep. Park Cannon in Fusco Recital Hall on Feb. 2. Credit: Erin-Leigh Hoffman '24
Much of her speech reflected on important moments in her life to her space in Georgian politics as a Black, queer woman when legislation and rhetoric in the state affect her community and constituents. In answering a question about her identity by an audience member, Cannon explained when she found her identity, “My queer identity came out in college, I was in Women’s Studied 101, and I thought ‘yes I can do this, it'll be fine.’ I don't know exactly what my life is going to look like. But I see my future now,”
She notes her concern about the attacks on justice, diversity, equity and inclusion (JEDI) initiatives she fears will impact those facing direct attack for their identities but has hope that “we get to grow and live in our country and in a world that respects us for who we're learning to be.”
Sophie Pirrera ‘25 is a member of SPC who assisted in inviting Cannon to Marist. “It’s an important election year, so having an elected official here to speak about politics and legislation hopefully will motivate people to vote,” said Pirrera.
In reflecting on Cannon’s talk, Keon Lee ‘24 explained that he felt it was “very insightful and inspiring. “I think we need more of these conversations here on campus because a lot of students are coming out and expressing their identities,” said Lee.