Championing justice: Reflections on serving Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

By Talib I. Karim On July 19, 2024, we lost a giant in the fight for justice: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. Her relentless dedication led to the legislation that made Juneteenth a federal holiday, further cementing her legacy of advocating for justice and equality. Congresswoman Lee chaired the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection. She also chaired the multimillion-dollar Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.Congresswoman Jackson Lee was a tireless champion for her diverse constituency and a beacon of servant leadership.Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is an inspiration to all with a lifetime dedicated to service. (AP Photo)I arrived in Washington, D.C. in 1990, after leaving the U.S. Air Force Academy to complete my engineering and legal studies. I landed my first Capitol Hill job with the help of Congressman Harold Ford Sr., as an intern in the office of his CBC colleague and California’s first known African American Lt. Governor, Congressman Mervyn Dymally.Since then, my work on and off Capitol Hill has been significant. Yet, none of my experiences have been more memorable and impactful than my tenure as Chief Technology Counsel and Legislative Director for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson...