GirlMogul of the day Keiara Bell
Here’s our vote for the GirlMogul of the day – 12 year old Keiara Bell of Detroit. Keiara chastised a city council president for calling another politician “Shrek” (an apparent reference to the male politician’s baldness). Keiara’s point was that adults should treat each other better – that name calling is a second –grader activity. She’s right and her unscripted remarks have made her a local hero in Detroit where the local political climate has had its fair share of mudslinging. The article was in the Wall Street Journal – read it all here.
Keiara has since gotten invited back to City Council meetings an offer of a campaign manager – for when she’s ready to run for office. We hope she does – here’s our GirlMogul Future Leader of the Free World Shout out to Keiara Bell.
From the Wall Street Journal Article
DETROIT -- When Monica Conyers, president pro tem of Detroit's City Council, called the council president "Shrek" during an angry exchange at a hearing in April, one city resident found the remark immature.
"That's something a second-grader would do," says 13-year-old Keiara Bell.
During a panel discussion Ms. Conyers had with local schoolchildren two weeks after making the remark, Miss Bell admonished the 43-year-old Ms. Conyers for her behavior. The eighth-grader didn't back down when the councilwoman engaged her in debate.
Comments
From the mouths of children....
I'm originally from Detroit, and I know all too well the neighbhorhood where Keiara grew up.
I applaud her for her honesty and courage. It takes a 12-year old child to put a grown woman who is supposed to know better, in her place. How sad is that?
Mrs. Conyers should feel ashamed and embaraased for her schoolyard antics.
Keiara is a shining light. She is growing up in a tough environment. But I pray that this experience will continue to encourage her.
She is smart, astute, and isn't afraid to challenge others in a respectful manner. She's exactly what Detroit politics need. She should become Mayor or a City Council member for the day.
There are many other brilliant children in Detroit just like her...
Posted by: Tenisha Mercer | June 7, 2008 08:42 AM
From the mouths of children....
I'm originally from Detroit, and I know all too well the neighbhorhood where Keiara grew up.
I applaud her for her honesty and courage. It takes a 12-year old child to put a grown woman who is supposed to know better, in her place. How sad is that?
Mrs. Conyers should feel ashamed and embaraased for her schoolyard antics.
Keiara is a shining light. She is growing up in a tough environment. But I pray that this experience will continue to encourage her.
She is smart, astute, and isn't afraid to challenge others in a respectful manner. She's exactly what Detroit politics need. She should become Mayor or a City Council member for the day.
There are many other brilliant children in Detroit just like her...
Posted by: Tenisha Mercer | June 7, 2008 08:43 AM