Jennifer Leavitt-Moy is an economist and economic consultant who works with multi-national consumer product companies. She co-founded The Good Life Organization and a co-authored of the Fulfill the Dream (FTD) curriculum, and was involved in the founding of the young professional group Magnet as its first executive director. She has a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Wisconsin.
Name your top 5 MCs.
- Mos Def
- Talib Kweli
- Jay Z
- Tupac
- Old Erykah Badu
Truth be told, I listen to a variety of genres, so I have a hard time with just naming MCs. I love Amy Winehouse, Billy Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sinatra, Lilly Allen, Jessica Hernandez & the deltas, any Motown, Garrison Keiler on Prairie Home Companion… public radio in general…
What motivates you more, doubters or supporters? This is a great question and a little bit difficult. It really depends on the situation, and I think defining what a doubter is and what a supporter is provides context for me. A doubter is someone who, ultimately, is not interested in achieving the same goals I have (personally, professionally, community-wide, spiritually). Alternatively, a supporter is someone who is hoping to achieve similar goals. With that definition in mind: I think on a personal level I need supporters, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t provide constructive criticism. True supporters are able to question, challenge, disagree and refine my efforts. Conversely, a doubter is someone who is going to question, challenge, and disagree but with no intention of achieving resolution. I don’t mind doubters in a professional sphere, but recognize that we do not have similar goals, so their doubts may or may not factor in to the efforts I am putting forth. I try to avoid doubters on a personal and spiritual level. So, to answer the actual question: I am motivated by both, but ultimately find that supporters are more motivating so long as they are able to provide constructive criticism.
What does it mean to be Asian in Madison?This is a funny question to me because it can vary so widely. It is almost like asking what it is like to be Brunette or something… My experience as a bi-racial woman, whose father is Chinese is probably most similar to other bi-racial people. I feel comfortable with a broad range of people but have a difficult time feeling like I really “fit in” completely. I am not completely in the fold of an Asian community because my mother is white. Likewise, I do not “fit in” with my all white friends and family because my physical appearance does not “read: white”. With regard to being Asian, this is difficult because the Asian experience itself is so varied: Laotian, Hmong, Japanese, Chinese – each group has its own very strong cultural experiences from a political, community, familial and relational level. I do think, as a person with roots in the Asian community, it is very important and valuable to recognize and honor those differences.
Being a person with Asian roots in the Madison area exposes me to a variety of stereotpyical experiences — being a “model minority” in my neighborhood growing up resulted in an expectation that I be good at math, science, etc — while I enjoy math and science I would not necessarily call them my strong suits. So, there was a distinct feeling that I was somehow letting people down by not excelling in those areas academically.
Also, I found it surprising that I often found myself to be one of the few people of color in professional settings — though to be honest, after some time, I just grew accustomed to it and noticed it less.
What three leaders in Madison under 50 have impressed you the most? Erica Nelson – She is dedicated to equity in a way that is humbling and inspiring. Despite tumult and politically charged affronts she keeps an even keel and just keeps doing the work.
Alex Gee – Is Alex under 50? Anyway, he was when I met him. He is a leader that understands the spirituality of our community and is working within that context. As a Christian who is guided by my faith I look to him as a spiritual leader that I admire and am grateful has a role in our cities leadership.
Henry Sanders Jr. – Henry gave me opportunities years ago to lead and explore my professional possibilities when we were at the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce– his tact and mentorship have been guideposts in my professional career.
What’s the biggest stumbling block in Madison to turning the corner on our racial disparities? A desire to declare that the war has been won, when we have merely won a battle.
Equity is not easy – we are hoping for transformational change, not transactional. Transformation takes time. (Angela Russell did a good job describing this in a quote shared in a video at the YWCA Summit last week).
I also think that there are a lot of ways to avoid responsibility, a lot of siloed efforts, a desire to claim responsibility for improvements while avoiding any culpability in admitting that we have all contributed to the problems of inequity.
There is also a desire to become overly focused on data or stories. On the one hand I am frustrated that the lived experiences of people of color in Madison can be dismissed if “the numbers” improve: there also needs to be qualitative improvement. On the other hand, if there are a few people who have experienced improvement, but that is not borne out in the numbers, we have to recognize that there is more work to do as well. Neither the quantitative nor the qualitative can stand alone.
What are your top three priorities at this point in your life? While I risk sounding prudish and trite I would say:
Being a good Partner
Being a good Mother and
Being a good friend.
I believe doing these things with excellence is revolutionary.
As a partner I support my husband: but not just him, the community of men and women around him. The leaders he admires, the work he is dedicated to, the efforts he makes as a father to our children. If we all supported our partners in the context of the community we would see more transformation.
Likewise, as a mother of two Latino boys I am trying to make our community the best community my children can be raised in. And, based on the LatinX data just released by United Way of Dane County, I have A LOT of work to do to be a good mother. Mothering is not a role relegated to the home alone, mothering is an experience that impacts all facets of our community. To be a good mother I have to be a good community member — I have to watch out for the children my sons interact with, the teachers they are learning from, the adults they look up to.
Being a good friend means loving the people I surround myself with – both those that I work with and those that I interact with socially. I want to make our community a better place to live for all of the people I hold dear.
You were the first executive director for the young professional organization Magnet. At that time Magnet was the first and only young professional group in Madison. When Magnet first started Madison was ranked among the worst places for young professionals. Now Madison is ranked among one the best places for young professionals. What role do you think young professional orgs can play to help deal with our race equity issues? Young Professionals have a tremendous amount of influence in their work places. If young professionals begin inquiring about inclusionary practices at their places of work, or making an effort to consider their work places with an equity lens, they can make improvements.
How has having children changed your priorities? Children force you to consider the future on a daily basis. Looking at my boys and knowing they will be growing up in whatever community I contribute to has changed the way I look at communities. I want to make the world a better place for them.
Also, sleep — sleep was never really a priority to me and now it is — I would list sleep (or the lack thereof) as one priority I never thought I had until I did not get enough of it.
You moved to Chicago for a while. Tell me two things Chicago has to offer that Madison doesn’t, and what two things does Madison have to offer that Chicago doesn’t? In Chicago I felt confident that my boys would have many, many professional men of color that could serve as mentors — Madison has many fewer and in a more limited set of professions it seems.
Chicago, especially our neighborhood of the West Loop, has a lot more to do in terms of night life, restaurants, and street festivals/shows, but Madison, given its small size, does have some.
Madison has green space that is accessible and beautiful. I missed that tremendously while we were living in the West Loop.
Madison has parking that is reasonable — and you can find street spots without going crazy. I love that.
Why is my high school, Madison East, better than yours, Madison West? West is by far the superior High School. I cannot answer this question.
What do you enjoy about being married? I love to have a sounding board, an advocate, a friend, a confidant, a date, a wonderful father and role model for my boys. My husband inspires me daily — he really is one of the most genuine and authentic people I know. I love laughing with him and joking, he helps me to keep life in perspective because I can be a bit of a pessimist while he is an eternal optimist. We balance each other out and he makes me a better person.
Beer or wine? My BA is in Economics and English — so as an economist, I have to say, it depends. Beer with burgers. Wine with just about everything else. Also, I’m from Wisconsin so I haven’t met an Old Fashioned I didn’t like (sweet and sour, please)… or a dirty martini (vodka), or a craft cocktail from merchant, or…. when you’ve said Wisconsin, you’ve said it all…
