The New Politics Podcast Episode 25: Shaquana Boykin

Meet Shaquana Boykin, the lifelong Brooklyn resident who recently ran and won an election to become District Leader for her community of Fort Green.

Shaquana has an incredible story. After entering the foster care system as a teenager, she went on to receive her associates degree and bachelors degree, and also completed an AmeriCorps year with the program Public Allies. When Shaquana decided to run for office to become a District Leader, she didn’t just win an election, she changed the game; she not only beat an established incumbent; she increased voter turnout by nearly 400%.

In this conversation, Shaquana talks about her experiences growing up and entering the foster care system in Brooklyn, what she learned from her service experiences, and why she chose to enter the political arena. She also shares her perspective on what this Black History Month 2022 means to her and what she hopes America is thinking about and reflecting on at this complicated moment for the nation.