2020 Election Profile: Grace Diaz, RI House District 11
Sunday, September 06, 2020
Meet Grace Diaz who is running for reelection in House District 11 (Providence).
Read what she has to say about why she is running for office.
This is part of an ongoing series by GoLocal featuring each of the candidates for House and Senate.
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1. What do you think is the biggest political issue this campaign season in Rhode Island?
District 11 residents, along with people across RI, are facing a crisis in access to affordable housing, which is amplified by the current public health crisis. Due to skyrocketing unemployment rates, countless people are facing evictions right now. People are struggling to make ends meet, and can’t afford rent. The freeze on evictions recently expired, and there are many families struggling to figure out how to stay safe. Many homeless shelters are not even open to the public, and other resources such as churches and nonprofits are stretched thinner than they have been in recent history.
Sadly our most vulnerable, such as children and seniors are affected more than others by this housing crisis. Although we’re facing difficult budget decisions as a state, we must find ways to support our most vulnerable citizens, particularly during this difficult time. Ensuring that more people have access to safe, affordable housing would be a good place to start.
2. What do we need to do to improve Rhode Island's economy?
We can improve RI’s economy by creating more job opportunities for Rhode Islanders. Although it’s difficult to focus on job creation when everyone’s goal is supporting health and safety for all Rhode Islanders, we must continue to think about solutions which will set us up for success when this difficult time is behind us.
In addition to jobs providing economic security to individual families, they also support our tax revenue needs. We must incentivize companies to stay in RI, and come up with ways to attract new businesses as well. Business tax revenue can help pay for the huge deficit we’ll inevitably face due to COVID-19.
We’re all painfully aware of how our economy depends on parents being able to access safe, affordable child care and educational programs for their children. In order for parents to get back to work and keep the economy running, parents need a variety of affordable options to keep their children safe and nurtured. We cannot let RI’s child care businesses lose their ability to pay staff and keep their doors open during the pandemic. If we allocate resources now to keep child care programs operating, parents will have options as jobs continue to return.
3. What is the greatest challenge facing Rhode Island as a state?
The greatest challenge facing Rhode Island is the unknown of what our beautiful state will look like after we survive the current public health crisis. How will we bounce back economically as a state, and even individually, as everything has changed around us this year? How will families and businesses survive if the COVID-19 crisis continues into 2021, when we’re already facing a difficult budget deficit?
Our state has thrived due to our strong hospitality and tourism industries, which are being incredibly hard-bit by the pandemic. Countless individual businesses, and the hard-working people they employ, are impacted due to the current shutdowns and shift in spending habits. These social changes are not likely to go back to normal anytime soon. How can these industries survive? Resources should be invested in helping them survive in the current moment, and pivoting their business model until things return to what they were pre-pandemic.
4. Why are you running for office? What makes you uniquely qualified?
I come from a hard-working family who faced many struggles, and I know countless hard-working families throughout RI are currently facing similar challenges. I share the perspectives of many members of my community, making me uniquely qualified to raise my voice to advocate for the things we all need to build a better life for ourselves.
I know how to give a voice to the needs and dreams of many of my neighbors and families across RI. I care about social justice, and am particularly passionate about the marginalized members of our community. I stand up for the children and seniors who sometimes feel that their voices are not heard. I help those looking for employment in their search for a source of income. I am there for people when they return from serving their time and they want a fresh start in life. I’m there for those who need to know how to access resources throughout our state so they can get back on their feet. Regardless of socio-economic status, race, gender, faith, and where you came from, I believe we can all come together and support one another as neighbors and Rhode Islanders.
5. Who is your inspiration?
I am inspired every day by my family, and in particular, my incredibly strong mother, Mercedes. She came from humble beginnings in the Dominican Republic, and worked hard to start a restaurant business and provide a home for my sister and I. She encouraged my love of education, and instilled in me the core values that drive me today--a strong work ethic, integrity, tough mindedness, and determination.
I also have a strong connection to God, who gives me strength and direction. There are few answers I can’t find in the pages of my Bible, which I refer to every day. God is the reason for my purpose and my existence, and my faith gives me strength in facing every challenge I’ve encountered in my life.
Lastly, my community inspires me very day. I’m completely fulfilled by caring for those around me, and positively impacting the lives of my family, friends, and neighbors. When I came here to the US, I didn’t have a network of support. I’ve always wanted to become the advocate I wished had helped me when I first arrived here. I want to make sure everyone around me has access to “the American Dream.”
Biography:
I am a professional executive with over 14 years of proven leadership and management. I have experience in leading an office of community relations, connecting and development a great relationship between City and all community organizations and a strong ability to cultivate relationships with diverse groups of stakeholders, agencies and businesses including State departments Boards, businesses, educational institutions, chambers of commerce, and nonprofit agencies within the city of Providence.
As a State Representative I always advocate for children, and sponsor legislation to create a non-discriminatory clause in the Children’s Bill of Rights for all children. I Increased access to adult education by introducing legislation that requires the state Board of Education to consider several factors, including cost, in determining which high school equivalency tests will be recognized by the state.
Website: https://www.repgracediaz.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/grace.diaz.965
