Editor’s Note: The John A. Hartford Foundation is collaborating with ASA to advance equity in aging by supporting ASA RISE, a 20-week social justice and leadership program for rising leaders of color in aging, and via the development and dissemination of equity-related, partnership-based thought leadership through ASA’s Generations platform. This blog post is part of that series.
At my grandmother’s knee, I learned the meaning of persistence, leadership and empathy. My grandmother’s legacy was not only being the greatest cook, but living a life filled with service to others. Born and raised in a low-income community without a formal education, and often a forgotten voice, she fought to correct the many injustices prevalent in her community.
My grandmother helped a disabled girl gain access to hospital care, assisted homeless families with housing, and rallied for new books and fair treatment in public schools for her community. This was all while raising 10 children. She never wavered in her fight for the rights of others. I vividly recall my grandmother’s advice, “Put God first. You will be the first in your generation to gain the education to fight the many injustices that will come your way.”
With that statement a seed was planted, and that wise and gifted woman became my first mentor. Most importantly, she instilled faith, hope, discernment, and a capacity to care for the rights of others.
As the first attorney in my family, an array of experiences and emotions shaped my career. My mother and father encouraged me to seek God’s purpose for the greater impact I may want to achieve. This led me to think hard about my motivations, and to consider the community that supports my career and encourages me to reach my life’s purpose.
My grandmother was a woman of the community in all her endeavors, and I hold that mindset still in everything I do. I lay awake at night fine-tuning the steps I will take to achieve mental, physical, spiritual and social health. But always realizing it takes a village for true progress.
The community is the heartbeat of what we do in the ASA RISE fellowship.
Love and appreciation for my ancestry, the arts, and an inner calling to support policy and legal rights for a better tomorrow color everything in my life. Finding ways to thread my unconventional passions throughout my journey is always a challenge. I am fortunate my path led me across states performing on different stages, to Equal Justice Works Fellow at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, Shriver Center Racial Justice Institute Fellow and Impact Mentorship mentee chosen by record producer and rapper Swizz Beatz. Via these diverse experiences I continue to hone what advocacy means to me.
I dare to be different and use my unconventional approach to inspire and motivate people across generations.
I often wondered where I would fit in, with my crinkly, curly, thick hair and my artsy nature. I am fortunate to work in a space that allows me to fully utilize all my complex characteristics. Justice in Aging is a national nonprofit legal advocacy organization that uses the power of law to fight older adult poverty and to advance equity for the aging community.
I am a senior attorney, where I pursue systemic change in law and policy to improve the lives of low-income older adults and others. The day-to-day work always varies, whether it is collaborating with national coalitions, speaking before state commissions, supporting legal services with technical assistance, or working across teams on new legal issues. Our core value remains the same, to support older adults. I work with colleagues that are true leaders in the field and use their expertise to make a difference in the communities we serve.
Watching and learning from my colleagues energized me to be involved with the broader aging community. I joined the Board of Directors for Aging While Black and take on state policy endeavors in the California Racial Equity Coalition. With each opportunity, I continue to shine a light on older adult issues.
To further expand my voice in the aging space, I explored the ASA RISE program, which identifies next generation leaders of color to build lasting community and tackle societal concerns. As a RISE Fellow I continue to learn from other aging professionals, such as healthcare practitioners, social workers, gerontologists, lawyers, aging advocates and more. The community is the heartbeat of what we do, as expressed by ASA RISE cohort leaders Patrice Dickerson, Cynthia Banks and Victoria Ruiz.
During my fellowship, RISE alum Ryann Hill gave a dynamic presentation highlighting the unique importance of exploring policy advocacy on federal matters, opportunities for state-based work, and incorporating the results into our day-to-day work and lives. Then, I was able to speak with former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aging Edwin L. Walker, a legal juggernaut, who has traversed the aging space with positivity, presenting hope for the future.
Julie Wells and Amanda Abrenillo-Oliveira from Give an Hour also gave a great presentation on managing one’s mental health and cultivating meaning in an uncertain landscape. ASA RISE offers us an opportunity to see the industry from different vantage points to help maximize positive change for older adults. Far too often industry professionals are siloed from one another.
We all are aging. As you read this blog, you are experiencing the process of aging. I find myself at this stage of the fellowship appreciating each moment, as I continue to gather tools to help others advocate and take hold of these moments to understand that this is kingdom building. As recent days and weeks have seen one unprecedented occurrence after another, I see hope in the fact that great change always starts with a ripple.
ASA RISE causes swells with each cohort as we seek to make change in the aging ecosystem. It is important to push the momentum of the wave as high as it will go and continue to fight so the older adult community can truly age with dignity. What I know is that the opportunity to be part of the current of change allows us all to participate in the surge that will change the direction of the conversation.
I will take with me the insights and conversations from each room and table that I have been blessed to populate. I know my grandmother is smiling from above to see her grandchild has spoken before the California Black Health Network, Luminate +, and the White House. My journey is only beginning. As everyone knows, I am one LinkedIn message away if you’d like to connect or ideate about the change we hope to see.
Archie Roundtree, JD, is a senior attorney at Justice in Aging in Los Angeles.
Photo caption: Archie Roundtree as a child with his parents.
Photo credit: Courtesy Archie Roundtree.
