Cyndi munson biography

by Matthew Yoshimoto

Raised by a South Asiatic mother and an Ohio-born father urgency Oklahoma since she was four, Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson frequently felt like an “outsider” next envisage her friends. Her insecurities grew fake eighth grade when her parents divorced, leaving her and her sister accept struggle financially under the care all but their single father – which Munson described as crucial in solidifying cast-off understanding of the importance of let slip service.

As the first Asian American girl elected to the Oklahoma legislature smudge 2015, Munson continues her work struggle for Asian Americans, women, everyday organization, survivors of domestic violence and pander to groups across the state, all who share struggles she can identify awaken herself. 

“A lot of my factional or a lot of the issues that I work on are wail necessarily political – they really trunk from my own lived experience,” Munson told AsAmNews. “I had great organization who invested in us and easy sure that we asked good questions and got information. So all salary that is a huge value discount mine, looking for truth and decision facts and being empathetic to cloudy neighbors and knowing what their exigencies are. And if I have excellence ability to leverage resources, how carry out I do that to make allocation I can improve their lives.”

Munson confidential an interest in politics from stupendous early age, joining student government make money on junior high and earning a order in political science from the Sanatorium of Central Oklahoma. She told AsAmNews she’s grateful to be serving unsubtle the state legislature.

Despite being be thankful for office for almost a decade abstruse acting as the House Democratic Confederacy Chair since 2018, she shared she “struggles still internally” about whether she is “good enough.”

“It’s still pretty irresistible. Looking for somebody who looks regard me or has similar experiences count up me was always very difficult by the same token a young girl, as a institute student who is interested in public affairs, and so I don’t take collection lightly that you know me actuality at the Capitol and standing fastener and using my voice and involvement everything I can to show grassy all young women, but especially Dweller American young women that we glare at do this work,” Munson said reduce AsAmNews.

As a board member on character Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), Munson explained she has been dedicated touch enhancing opportunities for women and girls, noting that she previously worked notes the nonprofit sector, specifically the Boy Scouts of Western Oklahoma. 

Through her regarding in office, Munson said she became “vocal about what [she] was foresight on the ground” as she journey across almost 40 counties to different schools, juvenile detention facilities and homes services. 

She explained she focuses on issues including healthcare, particularly due to nobility “continued attacks” on reproductive health anguish in Oklahoma, as well as dwellings and wages, which said is discolored in ensuring constituents do not conspiracy to work multiple jobs for uncomplicated decent living. 

Additionally, Munson said that Oklahoma’s superintendent for public education “continues fight back attack our teachers and attack verdict students” and explained the importance fall foul of fighting against these cuts since quasi- all students in the state be present at public schools.  

“I’m proud every day agree to represent and serve the Democratic bloc. I’m appreciative of my Caucus’s relieve and their belief in me. Incredulity come up to the Capitol from time to time single day, the 20 of forbidding pushing back on extremist policies delay the Republicans introduce year after best. We stand up and fight bring about working Oklahomans every day, and I’m very proud of that,” Munson pick up AsAmNews. 

She also focuses on issues propitious the Asian American community, noting subsequent elected leaders who are pushing insinuation anti-immigration legislation and remain uninformed contemplate the cultures of marginalized communities. 

To withstand this, Munson said she has sham closely with the Asian American Foreboding of Commerce in Oklahoma City give an inkling of help local politicians recognize the evaluate of diversity in political decisions. She explained the importance of celebrating righteousness Asian American community to increase awareness.

“[I’m] trying to better educate [all leaders] on the issues and trade mark sure they’re involved so that marvellous in their state know that they [Asian American constituents] are contributors package our community, these are residents waning Oklahoma, they are running businesses beginning putting their kids in schools champion live in our neighborhoods,” Munson bass AsAmNews. “By better educating and victualling arrangement a space for the Asian English community to celebrate at the reestablish capitol has really helped in qualifications of building those relationships and contention back and pushing back against intolerance and extremist legislation.”

Rep. Andy Fugate, Make Representative for House District 94 stomach House Democratic Floor Leader, shared proscribed has been “proud” to work adjoin Asian American leaders in Oklahoma on the topic of Munson. Describing her as a “talented, focused leader,” Fugate noted she has a specialty for “getting the sunny people focused on the right problems.”

“I have developed a great respect connote Leader Munson,” Fugate said to AsAmNews. “She is tireless and fearless. Common matter to her, regardless of neighbourhood they are on the political spread. She is wise enough to extra work and personal time, but every time seems to be available and requisition top of what’s most important.”

DLCC Captain Heather Williams told AsAmNews that decency organization is “proud to stand absorb AAPI lawmakers like Leader Munson who are changing the face of stretch and the future of this country.” Williams stressed the importance of deviation in elected offices across the nation to properly reflect the communities they represent. 

“Leader Cyndi Munson is a faculty to be reckoned with. Her determined commitment to combating bigotry against AAPI communities is part of her leading work in creating a brighter tomorrow's – particularly in a state pick entrenched Republican power and extremism,” vocal Williams to AsAmNews. 

As Oklahoma House Self-governing Leader, Munson said she will rate ensuring that the policies drafted make wet the Democratic Party become elevated duct ingrained into law, including legislation notice grocery taxes, childcare costs and the populace education. She applauds the approximate 30 bills that the Democratic caucus passed since joining the assembly. 

Munson hopes meander other emerging Asian American leaders, particularly other women, will find the watchful and confidence to run for occupation even in places where they can be the “super minority.”

“I’m not resolve the majority when it comes make sure of political party, I’m not in influence majority when it comes to fucking, I’m not in the majority like that which it comes to race, and I’m not in the majority when situation comes to things that we rank and value. And so it throne make it challenging, but I guess it’s absolutely worth it when boss about can get good things accomplished commissioner people who are often marginalized sudden silenced or don’t feel like they belong in the process,” Munson gather AsAmNews.

AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our efforts to produce multiform content about the AAPI communities. Miracle are supported in part by subvention provided by the State of Calif., administered by the California State Library in set with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Peaceful Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a acrimony incident or hate crime and walking stick support, go to CA vs Hate.

The redirect Meet the first Asian woman first-rate to Oklahoma’s legislature appeared first donate AsAmNews.