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E6: Diana Emerson of Emerge Maryland: We Lift as We Climb · Executive Alliance Podcast

• Rebecca Snyder: Hi everyone. I am delighted to have Diana Emerson in the studio today. Diana's the executive director of Emerge Maryland, which, if you don't know, is Maryland's candidate training organization for Democratic women who are interested in pursuing elected and appointed office. So Diana's come to this after a long time career in the nonprofit and nonprofit and civic space. where she spent over twenty five years advocating for communities, advancing smart economic development, supporting education and equity, and helping women and minority owned businesses to grow. So so much we can talk about, Diana. I'm really glad to have you. Diana Emerson: Thanks for having me. Rebecca Snyder: And of course I would r be remiss in saying in in noting that you're also a a member of Executive Alliance, which is how we know each other and serve on the advocacy committee. And I wanted to start there because we've just come off of a primary the primary in Maryland. and s there's been some real shifts and changes for women in that primary. So catch us up if people have been disassociating. from the political world. Tell us what's going on. Diana Emerson: Yeah, I mean this I'm first super excited that the primary is over and that we are headed into the general election. but for us, at least on the eMERGE side, we had a little over and I had to keep kinda checking our numbers, but we had a little over ninety-three women on the ballot and that was across the state. Rebecca Snyder: I can Yeah. Diana Emerson: I I mean yeah, it was it was huge and it was a first for a merge. We have a little over two hundred and fifty alums now. But to have that many women who stepped up, who raised their hand, who said, I can do this better, and not only can I do this better, I see room for improvement in our communities, our schools. The list goes on. And from that, from the the primary election, we picked up about seventy four wins from the primary election. So these Rebecca Snyder: Okay, that seems like an amazing take up rate. I mean, seventy three out of ninety eight, that is huge. Did you expect to have such a a ground swell? Diana Emerson: was hoping for it so I know I'm I'm probably a little bit biased because I I wanted you know all ninety plus women to win their races but they had tough races and I think we saw that across the state that you know the Maryland State Party focused on contest every seat so there was a Democrat this year in every seat across the state which we have not seen. So That just right there is monumental that we had no uncontested democratic, not just democratic, uncontested seats across the state. So we had more of a contested election, which You know, in my opinion, I think that's how it should be. We should have a little bit of a challenge. We should have a little bit of a a competition. Now we did have some just some sad losses, which also will affect our numbers in terms of how many women you see now in some of these seats. You know, collectively out of 47 senators, we have th well, we had thirteen women senators. Lost about four of those seats, so now we're in single digits. we'll probably gain one more seat, I think. but then you know we lost delegate Stephanie Smith, which is a a huge, huge loss, a sad loss. she had been in office since I believe 2018. so Rebecca Snyder: Right. Huge blow. Well, and she was gonna be the president of the women's legislators caucus. So, I mean totally unexpected to see her go. Diana Emerson: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. So I mean just seeing some of these losses was was definitely sad to see, but we picked up some amazing folks. I mean I'm excited for Adrienne Mathis in St. Mary's County, which is a space that we typically have not had women in St. Mary's County run for some of these seats. we picked up Valaria Stanley in Frederick for a delegate seat. Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: which could potentially, if she gets through the general, would be the first trans woman in the House of of Delegates for the state, which is huge. Like just just groundbreaking. So that's very, very exciting. We have Bassant Condri who is a newcomer, ran for central committee, but would also be some of the few Rebecca Snyder: That's huge. Diana Emerson: women, hijab wearing women in the the party, which is exciting to see a variety in such a diverse population. So you know this this election was really really important to make sure that we balance the state but really just getting more women in space in place. Rebecca Snyder: Well and I wanna talk about that because the the diversity of women that are there, I think it's is finally we're getting some reflection of Maryland's d Maryland's a hu a wildly diverse state when you think about it, by by all objective measures. But the legislature really doesn't the House is is a lot stronger in this, but the Senate, my goodness, and and I just wanna go back and loop in to really do some math here. If we're in single digits Diana Emerson: Right. Rebecca Snyder: if there's nine women out of forty seven seats, that is nineteen percent women. And when we look at those women, they are the majority white women. So the the diversity of Maryland is not at all reflected in the Senate. And so I want to talk a little bit about how why it's so important to you to have that Diana Emerson: Right. Correct. Rebecca Snyder: reflection in a in a political space and how you get w women to raise their hands for a and be considered for those those races when you're trying to contest every every race, you know, you have some people going out in really Republican districts who know they're gonna lose kind of thing, but still do it anyway. So tell me a little bit about A why it's important and how you convince women to kind of put themselves out there in an unforgiving space, even when they think they lose. Diana Emerson: Yeah. Yeah, I mean so one it's it's understanding the stats of women in office. Women in office pass more legislation. It's been historically proven that women pass more legislation. Not only do women pass more legislation, they're more willing to work across party aisles to get the job done. And kind of that that next piece behind that, they're also passing Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Diana Emerson: impactful legislation that doesn't just benefit them. They're passing legislation that benefits the entire family dynamic. So they're really thinking big picture and we don't necessarily see that from men elected officials. They kind of think a little bit more singular. Not knocking any of our male men officials because quite a few of them do an amazing job. But women Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: look at things I think very, very different. We look at things very holistic and Rebecca Snyder: It kind of looking at that systems thinking about okay, well and how do we center and it and not just like how do we only look at families or women's issues, but I feel like in the legislation that I've seen come through, I they notice the interconnectedness of of those issues. And there's you know, there's always a bottleneck in the Senate. The Senate can only senators are limited to I think twenty bills each session. And so Diana Emerson: Right. Rebecca Snyder: But you need to have cross files, bills in both House and Senates to pass legislation. And so just from a pipeline perspective, Maryland's missing out on a lot of different types of legislation simply because of the structure. Am I getting that right? Diana Emerson: Right. Abs yeah, absolutely. And I think that's why it's so important to have more women in the Senate. I mean, you just l ran the math, that's nineteen percent representation. That is nothing when you compare that to the full make up of the state. Now when it comes to getting women to raise their hand, it it's definitely tricky. It's it's not easy. It takes women To be asked seven times before they go, okay, I think I can do this. Let me raise my hand, let me write my name on the dotted line. Seven times. So within those seven times that they're asked, they're thinking about, Well, I'm I'm the mom. Will I have time? I'm the caregiver. Will I have time? Who's gonna take care of all the things that happen in kind of the traditional wife role or woman role in your family where wherever you may lay. And that's kind of part of the EMERGE training. We tell women to have that conversation with your family first. But also understanding that your family is the same one who may not be supportive of that decision and you have to be okay with that. You have to have a a follow-up conversation with your employer. You may work in a space where Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: you know, running for office is a conflict of interest. I knew years ago when I ran for central committee and I had my conversation with my then employer, I'd already made the decision. If they say no, this is what I want to do and I'm out the door. So I'd already had that conversation with my family, like is this okay financially? Because that's the other component that you have to think about. And it is it there's a huge fear factor. Men raise way more money in elections than women do. Way more money. Elections are not cheap. And I think over the last probably six or seven election cycles, we have seen races increase on such a kind of ridiculous level, if you think about it. Some races it makes sense that they need to raise XYZ amount of dollars. If you look at Governor Moore, he has to get across the state. He has to spend time in very rural areas. He has to spend time in western Maryland. That makes sense to raise that level of money. Does it make sense for school boards? Rebecca Snyder: Maybe not, maybe not. Well and but the thing that blows my mind with like the primary, I think the turnout was like maybe twenty seven percent. It was something really so sad. And when you when you're looking at some of the the dollars that get spent in campaigns, I think some of it is just like r breaking through people's disassociation or or ignorance to even let them know there's an election going on and they should care. Diana Emerson: Maybe not, right? Ugh turnout was so horrible. Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: mean I live in in District forty one and there were a lot of spicy things going on in that district. I mean, welcome to Baltimore City. But still, you know, like the turnout is so low. It's almost like you're begging people to to come out. So it's not just like I have to convince you of my platform. I have to also convince you that it that you need to vote straight out. Are you s seeing that? Diana Emerson: Mm. Yeah. a absolutely. I you know, one, that is really kind of the not the sole responsibility of central committees, but our central committees should really be focused on how do we get people not just registered to vote, but then to turn around and show up to actually vote. So, you know, that's a a two prong piece and I think that's an approach that central committees have to really knuckle down of all across the state because voter turnout this year was just abysmal. However, I did notice something. So, you know, I did some door knocking actually in your district in District 41. And it was it was so interesting when I would speak to people who said, Well, I'm not voting. And of course, like I I feel like every time someone tells me they're not going to vote, my little heart just stops. I'm like Rebecca Snyder: I know, but it's like, my god. Diana Emerson: Okay, I have to and then it becomes like my focus in convincing you to vote. But it was so interesting to have that conversation with people where they said, Well, what's it matter? And I was like, Okay, well let's talk about that. Do you feel that the current electeds are not passing quality of life legislation that's making an impact on you today? And most of them couldn't tell you any legislation that has impact impacted them today. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Diana Emerson: They said my my taxes are still the same, I'm still unemployed, or my groceries have doubled. I mean, you could see the the struggle that individuals or families were having where they said, What's it matter? They said the next person coming in isn't really gonna improve my current day-to-day life. And that really stuck with me. And I had a a conversation with Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: this this one gentleman and he said, well, he said, I'm a Democrat, and he said, there's there's only two Democrats running for the the seat, right? I said, yeah. And he said, so either way we win, right? And I said, that's an interesting way of looking at it, because I hadn't thought about it. So he said, So what does it matter? We have two people from the same party running. They're not up against a Republican or an independent. for the general, so what's it matter? Why should I go out of my way w when we went anyway? And I said, Huh. And I really didn't have a response for that. Rebecca Snyder: you say to people because honestly, there's outside of Maryland's so heavily democratic, at least in in in most areas, that the primary guides the the general for the most part. Like if you want any choices, it's the primary, for the most part. But what do you what did you tell people as you were door knocking who feel like it's always gonna be the same no matter Diana Emerson: Right. Right. Rebecca Snyder: Who's filling those seats? Because I you know, I have a different perspective, but I come at it from a really different lens. What did you tell Diana Emerson: Yeah, so I had to talk to him about, well, what are the things right now that make you angry? I was like, what is pissing you off right in this second? And he said, Well, my street's messy or like the speed bumps he said the other day, like I hit a speed bump so hard it like popped a hole in either his oil tank or something. And I said that part that part and I said, Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Some might say slow down, friend, but you know, whatever. That's me judging. Diana Emerson: I said, these are things that you're angry about. You can do something about it. I said, this is how we hold our elected officials accountable. And when they're not doing what we need them to do as their constituents, I said, then guess what? We don't have to vote them in again. You can pick someone else and you can tell that other person, Hey, this last elected, I complained. twenty times about the potholes on my street and nothing got done, what are you gonna do about it? That's how we hold people accountable. And it's also, which I I don't know if this is a Baltimore problem and I've kind of coded it in my head as a Baltimore problem, that people also are not aware of what elected officials do what. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. I think that's a big part of it. You know, for me, you know, when the world seems like it's literally a dumpster fire, like my circle just contracts, contracts, contracts to something that I can control. So like I know I could keep my desk clean. I know, you know, like my own house, it's it's my world and I have a lot of influence there. But my neighborhood, I can I can affect things there. My council district, like I know like these are all people that I can call and s and talk to about. Like, I don't like what you're doing here. My legislat like my state, I can have influence there because the numbers are not so big. Like I know in my congressional district or in the federal, like it's hard to really make a lot of change as one person the farther out you go out of your sphere. But the more local you are, the more influence you can have. Diana Emerson: Right. Rebecca Snyder: And the more those issues affect your day to day. You know, like and and I think there's a lot of legislation that goes through you know, you you and I are both in Baltimore City, but the city council, you know, they're the ones, they're controlling our property taxes, they're controlling, you know, whether we can get a plastic bag from the store, you know, like all these little issues out there, they control our roads and whatnot. Diana Emerson: Mm. Rebecca Snyder: that's all very local and people do have an effect there. But I also see the point where like you're looking on a ballot and and you're voting for, you know, for three delegates and there's only three delegates on the ballot. And you think, well, how am I doing that? So I kind of want to get back to building the bench, which is what Emerge does. And before we get too deep, can you tell us just briefly what Emerge does and then also some of the non nonpartisan things that you do? Diana Emerson: Mm-hmm. Sure. Yeah. So Emerge Marilyn is the signature training program for democratic women here in the state. So we are part of a national organization. So Emerge America, Rebecca Snyder: And then I want to talk about the bench. Diana Emerson: does these trainings all across the country. We are the local affiliate here in the state. And we train women who want to not just run for office, but to be leaders in their local community. So we do programs like The Taste of Emerge, which we actually have coming up this weekend, and then we'll do a couple more throughout the summer into the fall. But that's kind of a first taste, if you will, about what this could potentially look like if you're looking at running for office. It's also a nice way to say, ooh, that may be too much for me. What else can I do? And then that's when we start talking about boards and commissions and executive level opportunities and being able to connect to like organizations like the Executive Alliance and other spaces so that women can get a well-rounded experience. And then for those who say, yes, sign me up. Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: I I think I wanna run for office. I'm not sure yet for what, but I I I'm there. Those women we will put through a seventy hour training program. that'll usually start in January and they'll graduate in May and they will have a series of top notch trainers that are talking to them really about everything, about campaign financing, about fundraising. what your brand is, being able to break down your story and be able to own your story, which I think for women is a little bit of a fear, right? We think about what's in our closet, what have we done in the past, what we haven't done in the past, who's gonna do digging and how we own our story and kinda control our narrative. and then we really get into the nuts and bolts of building a campaign so that by Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: The time they graduate in mid-May, they are wheels turning, thinking about what is next for them and in that planning place. So it's a great program. it started in twenty thirteen. So my predecessor ran the organization for the last thirteen years, and now we're going into year fifteen, which is really exciting with over two hundred and fifty alums. And right now I'm recruiting for our Rebecca Snyder: Wow. Cute. Diana Emerson: twenty twenty seven cohort, which is exciting. Rebecca Snyder: That is. But then you also and and I bring it up because Executive Alliance is a nonprofit and we're nonpartisan b and but our our goals really align in many respects because when you were talking about what you do in Emerge, sort of finding your voice, deciding how you want to present yourself to the world, we do that a lot in our mentoring program. We want women to succeed at the highest levels of leadership. So we're very interested in Diana Emerson: Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: in many of the issues that you work in, we just always make sure that there's there's a nonpartisan lens to it because we want all women to succeed for sure. And so you're working in a in a subset, but you also have programs that are nonpartisan as well. Diana Emerson: Mm-hmm. Absolutely. Yeah. So the Emerge America has a C four which allows us to do kind of more nonpartisan work. So we have I've had the the opportunity over the last year and a half to present to D nine organizations, which are also nonpartisan. presenting at the Congressional Black Caucus this past year, which was really exciting. I've been able to come into different spaces, different groups, different organizations to really just talk about running for office, period. No D behind it, no R behind it, no I. Just this is what this looks like if you as an individual say, I want to run for office, period. So we've had opportunities to kind of talk about that. And I'll be doing another one later in August at University of Maryland to talk to some students about what that looks like, which is also exciting. Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Diana Emerson: But on the nonpartisan side, being able to go to different organizations, being able to have that conversation about, yes, anybody can run, but if you feel like it's not for you, let's talk about how we get you into different leadership positions. Let's talk about where else we can get you involved. Because change doesn't necessarily mean you need to be an elected official. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Yeah. Well, and so let's talk about the bench because I think that's a that's a big piece of it. And the you know, when when you're looking out in the world, the candidate always seems to be like, it's the candidate. But the candidate has a whole sort of infrastructure built in that that I want to talk about and and how everyone sort of has their spot and how do you how you build that bench. Diana Emerson: Yeah. Yeah, I mean I think it's figuring out what you are passionate about. For me, it's always been volunteerism. I grew up in a family where my mom was a school teacher, my dad was military, so service was like literally drilled into me at like birth where they were like, This is what you do. We give back, we give back often. And figuring out how I could do that in a in a way that would build impact. So for me that was joining the junior league. I joined the Junior League of Baltimore 16, 17 years ago. and I saw that there was an opportunity to build a bench, which was to bring a new chapter of the Junior League. So I founded the Prince George's County Junior League chapter where I said, hey, there's service opportunities right in Prince George's. There's need Right in Prince George's, they shouldn't have to want to be a junior league member and have to drive all the way to Baltimore to do service. You're literally driving through service to get to another city or another town. You shouldn't have to drive to Annapolis when you're literally driving through service. So I worked with the national headquarters to bring a new chapter. It was funny timing because it wind up we wind up kicking off the new chapter right as the pandemic started. And I was like, I don't know if I'm built for for this. But we were able to start the chapter and get it up and running. And they just celebrated their five year anniversary about a month ago, which was exciting. Thank you. And I'm someone who likes to build and then step away. Because to me that's how it's sustainable. You have Rebecca Snyder: my gosh. Congratulations. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: given them the tools to succeed, you don't have to run it. I believe I'm here for a good time and not a long time. Because I want the next person who is quicker, who has a bigger vision to be able to step in right behind me. Rebecca Snyder: Love that. Okay. Well, and I think that's part of building that bench, you know, because if it if it doesn't sustain, it's just a passion project. And there's a lot of wonderful things that happen from passion projects, don't get me wrong. But if you're building that bench, and we talk about this 'cause you know, our our little side project, executive alliance is working with other organizations to really help that pipeline of women into the Senate and thinking through how we do that and emerge as a piece of that as well as Diana Emerson: Absolutely. Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: as well as the Maryland Commission for Women and and Maryland agenda for legislative agenda for women, when we think about pipelining and the bench, that's not a next year thing. You you know, you have to think so far in advance. So in a leadership perspective, like how do you balance the excitement of right now with the hard work, sometimes a slog, of long term? Diana Emerson: Right. Right. I think you have to always look at what's happening now and in the moment, but then what needs to happen five years from now? Where do we also need to be five years from now? So if we're doing, you know, I I have my my benchmarks where when I came into Emerge I had already set goals for the year, but I said, But in five years, this is where these numbers should be. Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Diana Emerson: This is, you know, how many women we wanna see in the Senate. This is how many women we wanna see in council. This is, you know, we wanna see more women judges. We wanna see more women on the judicial side. So I think it's important to think big picture, but then to also lift while you climb. And I think as leaders, and I feel like a lot of times women are tasked with this more that we are Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. absolutely. Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: Really constantly thinking about who is behind us and how to lift and how to open the door when for men the door is kind of already just open. but I think it's important for us until we get to where we want to be, I think as a society, to be a good leader, you have to lift while you climb. You have to see that young person and say, Okay, how can I mentor you? Executive Alliance is an amazing, Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: mentor program where I've seen so many of those women who are on the mentee side really take that next leap into what is next for them and to think in a broader space. That's exactly how we lift while climbing. Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. I love that. And so can you tell me about maybe an experience that you've had either that you've been lifted while climbing? I mean you've you've done so many things, you've been the leader of so many things, but you know, I feel like we're all on that progression. We all have something to learn and something to teach. So where where who's lifting you up? Who's who's mentoring you? Diana Emerson: You know, that's a really good question and you know, funny you you asked that. It's it's been in my brain for the last like couple of months where I was like, you know, I don't know if I've ever had a mentor. I think I've looked at strong women and have said, my gosh, that's who I wanna be. That's that's what I wanna do. Like, let me like Google, let me find like all the things that they have done, let me see how they have Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Totally. Diana Emerson: gotten from point A to point B. so I I don't know if I've necessarily had a mentor. I have always looked, I think, to both of my parents. My my dad was he knew everything and all the things about Baltimore, but also about the state. he was he was military but he was former Baltimore City Police. in the sixties and he used to play this game with me where when we were here in the States he'd go, Okay, what neighborhood are you in? How do how do we get from this neighborhood to the other neighborhood? Okay, we're in that neighborhood. How do we get home? And I'd be like, my gosh, that I don't know. Like, I don't know And it's funny because my husband will tell you I do that to him all the time now and I'm like, what neighborhood are we in? How do we get to this neighborhood? How do we get home? And he's like, Why why are you quizzing me? Rebecca Snyder: But so useful you need to know. Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: but I got to learn the city really well and I got to learn the history of the city and the black butterfly and you know, I learned so many things about the city that only I feel like he could have taught me. And I think that has built how I function in community spaces. I think that has built in how I think when it comes to programming. And then my mom is a school teacher, I think that's the education piece. I was always wanting to learn everything that I could just get my hands on. If I don't know how to do it, someone teach me. I will sit in any class, in you know, any training constantly 'cause I love to learn. So I I think between my mom and my dad, they both have I think given me the guidance that I needed to kind of figure out what was right. in my career and where where I wanted to go and but the mentor piece I think is so important. Rebecca Snyder: Well, and honestly I'm I'm thinking and I think it's because you and I are of a similar age and when we were coming up, you know, mentoring wasn't such a thing. You know, you just you did your work, you you just did your work and a lot of it and then figured that would be its own reward. and you'd figure out what you needed to know. And so I th I think of, you know, the experience of seeing women out there and being like, I wanna be like them. I c I think of that as like capsule mentoring, like you you take different things from different people Diana Emerson: Mm-hmm. Right. Rebecca Snyder: and kind of knit it together. And I was thinking also a little bit, you know, like the the things you try and heal about your younger self are kind of showing up in your life now. And I feel like you have such a commitment to mentoring and sort of knitting people together. And some of that is some of that is really around the the community spaces that you that you were were in but I'm thinking maybe Diana Emerson: Mm-hmm. Yes. Rebecca Snyder: your emphasis on mentoring now is because you didn't see it when you were younger. Would that does that resonate at all? Diana Emerson: Yeah. I mean I absolutely and I think as I have gotten older and even when I was younger in my mind I was like, Well, I'm too old to find a mentor 'cause I I Right, it always feels that way. I mean, I remember being, you know, early thirties, and being like, man, I've missed that like I've missed that boat to like find a mentor and it it's funny now, in my sorority. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah, it always feels that way. Diana Emerson: I know so many of the older women who were like, yeah, like that's my mentor. Like she started mentoring me two years ago or three years ago. And I'm like, I didn't think you could still get a mentor. It it just was this mindset, but but you're right. Like I think we were taught you just do the work, you keep your head down, you'll be rewarded. And that's how you move through in life. You keep the same job. Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: twenty five years, thirty years, and you know, that's the success. And I think now in twenty twenty six, I think if women want a a mentor and you're forty five, you're fifty, you're sixty, find find one. And I I think it's it's that fear of well we'll we've hit a certain age and we can't do that. We now can't do this. Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. And I also feel it's it's just also building relationships. Like when there's someone who's doing something that I want to know more about, I'm not nervous anymore. I don't know if I was ever super nervous about it, but like I feel much more comfortable going up and being like, Tell me how you've done this. You know, share share your your passion and because you're really getting to know people. And I think the value of relationships is Diana Emerson: Right. Rebecca Snyder: I think just a lot stronger now than it maybe used to be. so just just thinking there. And so is there I wanted also to talk you talked about your dad and and how place centered he was. And there's so many amazing neighborhoods in Baltimore and I used to run an estate sale company, so I feel like I know so many different neighborhoods in Baltimore. And it's so much fun. Diana Emerson: Yeah. Whoa. I love a good estate sale. Rebecca Snyder: But the idea of being a community-centered leader, you did that with Waverly Main Street, which I think is such a nice fusion of your mom's education and your dad's community. But tell me about community-rooted leadership and how you think that's different from other types of leadership. Diana Emerson: Yeah, I mean I started well I started at a museum. and that was kinda its own community by itself and what was really funny is that when I was at the museum, they would send me to every community event, community festival, street fair, you name it, they were like, Send Diana And at some point I was like, Why do you all keep Sending me to this. I was like, this is like a little bit of an ordeal. I gotta like pack a trunk. I have to bring like it's hot. Like, why why why me? And they were like, 'cause you're so great with people. They're like, we get so many good feedback remarks about you in the community. And then finally, my supervisor, who was also a very community person, Rebecca Snyder: it's hot, sweaty work. Diana Emerson: Pulled me aside and said, I don't think this is the place where you're going to grow. And she said, I would love to keep you forever, but she said, I feel I would be selfish in keeping you from I think what your calling is. And I was like, What? And you know, I was maybe twenty-three. maybe, yeah, I think I was like twenty-three, and I was like, seriously? I was like, all right, well, I'll think about it. And Rebecca Snyder: Hmm. Diana Emerson: Next thing I know I had seen a community organizer position and I was like, Yeah, I'll try it and wind up loving it. And I was responsible for doing pretty much whatever community projects I could come up with. And I, you know, my the organization that I was with, my supervisor said, Do whatever you want as long as it makes sense. Figure it out, I have an open door policy and I was like, Okay, cool. And whatever wildest idea like I came up with, I would run in by him and he'd be like, Whatever. Whatever. This is your thing. And I'd be like, Great. And I'd run off and I'd come up with like the craziest things and I'd have to figure out how to execute it. I did some healthy neighborhood work where I the the neighbors were complaining about rats like destroying their trash cans and I said, Galvanize metal. Let's get galvanized metal cans for the entire block. I said, and so that you can get your can back, we will paint your address number on the can. I mean, I came up with this whole whole plan and I said, great. And of course, this is before Amazon, before all these things. And I was like, I'm gonna order like 50 metal galvanized trash cans that found a grant. They were so heavy. And I was like, great, I'll just pick them up. Rebecca Snyder: my gosh, those are so heavy. Diana Emerson: And I was like, in my little Hyundai, and I was like, I have to figure out a better plan. So I wind up renting like one of those like huge like box trucks from Home Depot. And at that point I had it does, right? I had never driven like this big type of vehicle before and I was like, all right, we're gonna learn today. And Rebecca Snyder: in my little car and we'll take fifty trips. Which does make you feel really kick ass. I love driving a big Diana Emerson: And of course it was like stick shift and I was like okay Which I drive stick but I had never driven like a truck stick and I said, Alright, hopefully everything makes it in one piece and they loaded like all fifty of these cans in and then I realized the city has no truck streets so I had to learn. My dad's training of how you get from one neighborhood to another really kicked in because I was like, I can't just hop on certain streets. and there's a clearance. Rebecca Snyder: my god. Diana Emerson: so I had to learn a lot of things very quickly. But that's how I got to really start connecting and really just running running around in the community where then, you know, if I got into a a bind, or like a problem, I'd say, Dad, I d I don't know what to do. Like I and especially on the public safety side, I'd go, I I don't know the law here. Like, what should I do? And my my dad would would guide me and he'd say, Okay, make friends with the with the commissioner, make friends with the the captain, with the major, so that they know like this is a partnership because what you're doing is gonna also help their job. So I did. And I used to partner with Baltimore City Police when I could. I was McGruff. I wore the McGruff suit for them a couple of times. Rebecca Snyder: well, you are dedicated. So what that's telling me about, you know, community-based leadership is that it really is like looking at the need in the community, figuring out a solution, and then taking a f there is failure is not an option attitude to making it happen while like supporting the whole project with partnerships and the relationships that you have. Diana Emerson: Absolutely. Yeah. And it's a big part of just sitting and listening. Like before I got to the fun part of like creating the project, I had to listen. I had to listen to a lot, a lot of community people who would say, Well, they gave us new cans and it didn't work. Well, why? Well, it was, you know, plastic or it was this or it was that or they tried to do this or they tried to do that. Or which I've always Rebecca Snyder: yeah. Diana Emerson: tried to educate and this is where we lift where we climb, educate like AmeriCorps, Vista workers and and newer folks getting into community organizing where I would say spend time in these communities before doing anything of just listening, understanding who's the person in the community that they all go to. There's always one to five, right? People in a community on a block on a neighbor in a neighborhood. where that person has lived there fifty, sixty years and they know everything. They know where the street was in nineteen fifty five. They know where the changes were in nineteen eighty three. They know, you know, the the highlight in ninety seven to where they are in twenty twenty six. So it's listening. Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Well I feel like well and that's so key because sometimes and and I think we all I know I get into this this loop of like, I have such a great idea and I wanna implement but really taking that step back and and making sure that it actually is fitting a solution that's that fits the problem that people are having and you don't know unless you're really deeply talking to people. These are complicated issues. When you think about rats in Baltimore, you know, you could theoretically, you know, put poison out. You could do galvanized trash cans. You could look at litter. Like there's so many intersecting problems there that and people have tried that for a long tried to eradicate that problem for a while on that block. So untangling those pieces is a really systemic way of of of Diana Emerson: Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: kind of looking at that. And it just strikes me that your leadership style really kind of you're not afraid to get into that nitty gritty and sort out those tangled knots. Diana Emerson: Yeah, I mean and and I also have to look at which I think is where we start looking at big picture, where is the sustainability? Because I never want to work with a community in building something that's they can't keep sustainable. It it's great if I can come up with a whole plan and it's exciting, it has all the bells and whistles because it's what I want, but how will they keep it sustainable two years from now? Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: five years from now. I mean, we've seen so many amazing greening projects, which, you know, I'm a gardener. I love to garden. But if there's no plan and someone doesn't have like the keys to the master plan, that amazing beautiful green space that you spent so much time and energy and money in building ends up being a three one one call for, you know, complaints because now it's just a trash site because there was no plan to keep it Sustainable. Rebecca Snyder: Well and and so I I wanna we're we're coming up a little bit on our time, but I I don't want to forget about leadership under scrutiny because when we talk about some of the big projects that you've you've worked on and building that sustainability, I think women leaders are under a lot public officials, yes, but women especially are under a lot of scrutiny. And so how do you and you've done very visible things, you know, you were executive director of Waverley Main Street, you were the face of of museum work in your work with Emerge, even as a a candidate and and part of the Central Committee for you're District forty, right? Forty three. So you're in the Central Committee for 43. How do you deal with the public scrutiny that comes with being a leader? And do you have tips or suggestions about how women especially can contend with this, and especially women of color? Diana Emerson: Forty three. Yeah. It it's it's a lot of judgment. I think one is having a really good support system around you. and I I say that especially for women of color because you're going to have tough days. You're going to have days where you know, I think you evaluate every Rebecca Snyder: It's a lot of judgment out there. Diana Emerson: conversation that you have to go, okay, did I have a tone in my conversation? Did I come across a certain way? And I think women think about that more. And I think women of color think about that double that. I think we are constantly thinking about how we are perceived because we are trying to stay away from the angry black woman stereotype. So I I think we end up being a little bit removed because we're internally protecting ourselves. but definitely having a strong support system. I have an amazing small circle that I can call and say, Hey, what are your thoughts about this? Did I handle this right? What what do you think? Or, you know, my husband who's an amazing cheerleader will will step in and he's, you know, and because I work from home, he'll overhear a conversation where he can tell I'm getting maybe a little agitated and I'll go, Did I handle that? What what did you you heard that, right? Like is that my perception? Did I like take that wrong? And he'd be like, No, like you you handled that well 'cause that was irritating me how you were kind of maneuvering that. So it's nice to sometimes I think almost have like a witness to some of the the the craziness that I think Rebecca Snyder: But that was real. Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: black women will will go through document everything. Like I keep documentation of everything, 'cause I think it's important. but I do think there's more scrutiny for black women leaders. I mean, I think we've seen it here in Baltimore just over, you know, the la if we're looking at elections, we're looking at Sheila Dixon, we're looking at Katherine Pugh, we're looking at Stephanie Rollins Blake, where men in those same seats in terms of decisions that they have made w would have never been criticized to the level that they were criticized. I mean, even looking at Katherine Pugh and Sheila Dixon in comparison to Dahlia Tar. So, I mean, there's a lot of scrutiny that specifically happens, I think, with black women. And I think self care is super important. Like I now have completely I have disconnect hours where my phone at some point is on do not disturb because I am in the moment in my house in the garden with my husband wherever my phone is on do not disturb until I get up the next morning. I make it a point to not reach for my phone anymore the first thing at like six AM to be like, my god, what has happened in the wor No. And I I think that's in important for women leaders is to take that beat especially for self-care delegate leslie lopez has this great keychain that says goodness don't don't read the emails or don't or don't read the responses I'll have to ask her because now I can't remember. Don't read the comments, thank you. She has a keychain that says don't read the comments so that you're not getting Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. maybe don't read the comments. Yes, like yes. Diana Emerson: locked into like just the negativity of crazy things that people say. that has been I think my saving grace is not reading comments and feeling free to delete, to block. You know, I've this past year I think I've been more focused on my peace and what brings me joy while kind of managing, you know, 90 plus women on the ballot. Rebecca Snyder: Well, which is a lot. And so I I mean, in in that when you're under that public scrutiny, it sounds like having that bench, you know, this is gosh, this like ties in our whole conversation 'cause what I'm getting out of it is that when you have the bench, when you have that support system, y it's not all on you. So, you know, you're in a in team and when you're creating your community, you know, your small circle Diana Emerson: We need something. Yeah. Right. Rebecca Snyder: That's gut checking you and giving you that dose of reality. It's not like you're isolating yourself with yes people. You're rooted in the community to say, okay, this is what's what's right. This is you're you're making decisions based on not only your close group, but what you've learned from listening. And then you're really secure in yourself to know like I don't need to be swayed by the comments. Like if I know what I'm doing is right, I'm good. And Diana Emerson: Right. Rebecca Snyder: you need to have your own space. I mean time in the garden is my happy place too. So like I get that and you need spaces just for yourself as well. Diana Emerson: Yeah, and I think it's also recognizing, which I think women have a hard time doing this, is recognizing that everyone is not in your corner. Everyone is not your biggest fan. Every and it's okay. Like they're not gonna be your your cheerleader. And sometimes people just want what you have and you have to I think separate the the difference, which I think we kind of function in this space where we're like Rebecca Snyder: Mm. It's okay. Diana Emerson: We wanna love everybody. We want everybody to like us. We want everybody to be our friends and recognizing that you have friends, you have colleagues, you have associates, and then you just have people that you're just gonna walk by and maybe just be polite and say, Good morning. And recognizing that none of those people have to be on this list of, my gosh, they have to like me. my goodness, they have to love what I'm doing or Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Diana Emerson: They have to be rooting for me from the rooftops, and I think we have a hard time as women accepting that not everybody likes us, and that's okay. Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Yeah. That can be really hard. I want to end with what's stirring for you in the future. I know you're always looking five years out, but what's you know, what's what's kind of bubbling out of your soul right now that you're feeling really called to work on? Diana Emerson: Yeah. You know, education has been really important to me and I've been kind of evaluating this more recently as to what's important to me. And being able to open doors and uplift women is incredibly important to me because I want to make sure and most of the newer alums who have come through the training have have heard me say this a ridiculous amount of times that I don't just want to have chairs at the table for people. I want to build the table. And I want to build the table so that you're not asking for a seat at someone else's table. So that's been really on my mind. I've been putting together this other training piece because the gardening piece really sticks with me. and I want to educate people on how to be sustainable. Rebecca Snyder: I think that's so important. I love that. Hmm. Diana Emerson: on their own terms. So I'm putting together this neighbors in bloom project to really educate people on how to be sustainable. What does that look like for you? Is it, you know, building a garden so that your family can eat? Is it looking at your career differently, right? So that your family can continue to eat? What does that look like? So I'm really excited about that project and then The other project I've been working on is my own podcast. Hence I got the mic and the headphones. I've been working on a project called The Plug because I want to have conversations about some of the things that are happening across the state and really give people a platform to talk about just some of the great things that people are doing that you don't necessarily hear from. Rebecca Snyder: yay. I love that. Well, you will have to keep in touch and tell me how each of those projects are going. and Diana, it is always such a delight to talk to you. Thank you for coming. And anytime we'll talk soon. Diana Emerson: Yes. Same. Thanks for having me. Yeah, thanks.