Author: Jocelyn Yow

Jocelyn Yow serves on the city council in Eastvale, California. She is the legislative advocacy director of IGNITE, a national nonpartisan organization devoted to young women’s political empowerment.

Why We Need to Let Parents Use Campaign Funds for Childcare

During my recent reelection campaign, I utilized my political campaign funds to pay for childcare for my toddler, Kayden. California—alongside Colorado, New Hampshire, New York and Utah—passed bills in 2019 to allow campaign funds to be used for campaign-related childcare expenses. As a beneficiary of this legislation, I know firsthand the positive impact these laws have on working moms running for office.

Now, more states are trying to ensure that their political candidates are able to use campaign funds for childcare.

Now Is the Time for Asian American Women Like Me to Break the Taboo on Intimate Partner Violence

I’m an Asian American woman who serves on the city council in Eastvale, Calif. I’ve served as mayor there. I’m also a survivor of intimate partner violence, and it’s time for me to talk about it.

Up to 55 percent of Asian women report experiencing intimate partner violence. In 236 cases involving homicides of AAPI (Asian and Pacific Islander) women, 58 percent with known causes were related to intimate partner violence, with 81 percent of perpetrators being the victim’s current intimate partner, and 10 percent a former intimate partner. There is power in sharing stories like mine to come to terms with our past, and to help other women dealing with situations like this in the present or in the future.