State Rep. Garcia Wilburn selected as one of the nation’s rising leaders

Submitted

On Thursday, July 16, State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) was one of 22 leaders to join NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a selective national network of Democratic state and local elected officials with more than 240 members across the country.

Members of the center-left network have been chosen from more than 2,200 nominations over NewDEAL’s 15 years, and are united by their work to enact pro-growth and pragmatic solutions across their diverse array of communities. As part of NewDEAL, they receive support in developing smart policy, governing effectively, and advancing in their public service careers, while being recognized for their forward-thinking approach and commitment to making government work better.

Alumni include U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who joined as a mayor; Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who joined as a County Commissioner; and Congresswoman Sarah McBride, who joined as a state senator. Current members include fellow Indiana leaders, such as Gary Mayor Eddie Melton and Representative Blake Johnson.

Garcia Wilburn, an associate professor of occupational therapy at Indiana University-Indianapolis, joins the group at a critical moment in our nation’s history as hardworking Americans face rising costs for everything from housing to childcare to energy and when innovative policy solutions are more important than ever to bring real relief to families and small businesses. Leaders like Garcia Wilburn are focused on addressing kitchen table issues like making their communities safer, bringing down the cost of living, and investing in small businesses. They join other NewDEALers who are focused on keeping America true to the ideals of freedom, liberty, and opportunity.

Through in-person and virtual convenings, Garcia Wilburn will work with colleagues across the country to bring forth a better, more prosperous future for all Americans. To accomplish these goals, NewDEAL Leaders aid in the implementation of recommendations made by its sister organization, the NewDEAL Forum, through the Caring For Families Task Force, Housing Task Force, Democracy Working Group, AI Task Force, Education Policy Group, and Climate Solutions Working Group.

Dozens of NewDEAL Leaders will gather at the NewDEAL Annual Conference, taking place Nov. 18 to 20 in Washington, D.C. The event will provide a forum to reflect on lessons from the election as well as to share policy ideas on: addressing the cost of living crisis; expanding economic opportunity and making government work better; and implementing leadership strategies for governing successfully in challenging political environments.

Dr. Garcia Wilburn was selected to join NewDEAL in part because of her dedication to advancing public safety and healthcare. One of Wilburn’s key initiatives is legislation giving Hoosiers greater flexibility with primary care provider selections and requiring the state Insurance Commissioner to consider affordability prior to adjusting insurance premiums. Wilburn also serves as a Ranking Minority Member of the House Judiciary Committee, and has received multiple nationally recognized awards for mental health and disability policy.

NewDEAL Leaders have found broad support for their work across red, blue, and purple states and cities, with 56 NewDEALers having risen to higher office in the past six years. Throughout the organization’s history, more than one in four NewDEAL Leaders has moved to higher office. NewDEAL is proud to have the support of Honorary Co-Chairs U.S. Senator Chris Coons and Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland.

“Hardworking families need leaders who are committed to tackling the cost of living crisis,” said Dr. Garcia Wilburn. “I look forward to learning from other leaders on how they are addressing the issues facing their communities, and sharing my own experiences and lessons for more effective governance. I’m eager for the opportunity to engage on topics like healthcare and affordability, and the ability to be a part of NewDEAL’s efforts toward bringing effective governance to cities and states across the country.”

Learn more about Dr. Garcia Wilburn and NewDEAL at newdealleaders.org/leaders.