Tenaya Wallace Announces Run for Congress, Promises Radical Transparency

​LOS ANGELES, Calif. - With a simple Facebook announcement, engagement strategist, Tenaya Wallace joined a full field of candidates to seek the seat in Congressional District 34 being vacated by Rep. Xavier Becerra.
 
“The silver lining to November’s election is that people feel called to action,” said Tenaya Wallace, who grew up, in what was, the 34th Congressional District prior to redistricting. “It’s exciting to see activists, organizers and women running for Congressional District 34.”
 
With a Master’s in Public Policy from UCLA and a bachelor’s in Political Science from Tulane University, Wallace has spent her career engaging people. For 15 years she designed public education campaigns for the City of Santa Monica, the Irvine and Hewlett Foundations, OneLegacy, Donate Life and Starlight Children’s Foundation. After completing a contract at Raytheon in executive communication, she now consults for companies on employee engagement with a program she created called “Find the Why.” Wallace served nearly four years on the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council and was outreach chair for the Venice Neighborhood Council formation committee. 
 
“Trump uses propaganda to distort truth and erode civil liberties,” said Wallace. “Right now, we don’t need politicians to fight for us. We need representatives who can effectively mobilize and activate people.” 
 
Wallace vows to raise no more than $5,000 and is asking supporters to donate time and talent instead of money. “People say I have to raise serious money to be a serious candidate," said Wallace, "but constituents I have spoken with want ways to engage and make a difference, not write another check to another candidate.” 

If elected, Wallace promises “radical transparency” and will record all meetings with   lobbyists, uploading them so constituents can see exactly what she is being asked to support.  “I will also bring a film crew with me to Washington,” said Wallace, who oversaw a grant program for documentary producers to create short films about organ donation through Donate Life Hollywood. “If our president-elect has Trump TV and Breitbart, we’ll have Truth Television. In a post-truth era we need to write the next chapter in political organizing.”

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