Meena Harris: 5 Things To Know About Kamala’s Niece Who Introduced Her At 2020 DNC

Seconds after Kamala Harris was formally nominated for VP at the DNC, she was introduced as the party's nominee by her niece, Meena Harris. Here's what you should know about the lawyer, activist, and author.

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August 19, 2020 11:11PM EDT
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United States Senator Kamala Harris (Democrat of California) speaks during a television interview at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. Credit: Stefani Reynolds / CNP. 24 Jun 2020 Pictured: United States Senator Kamala Harris (Democrat of California) speaks during a television interview at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. Credit: Stefani Reynolds / CNP. Photo credit: Stefani Reynolds - CNP / MEGA TheMegaAgency.com +1 888 505 6342 (Mega Agency TagID: MEGA683531_004.jpg) [Photo via Mega Agency]
July 28, 2022 New York, NY, USA - American Vice President Kamala Harris deplanes at New York's LaGuardia Airport.The Vice President is greeted by NYS Lt. Governor, Antonio Delgado. She is in New York City to announce new private and public sector efforts to align tens of billions in investments in underserved communities. This will include the formation of a new Economic Opportunity Coalition (EOC) to address economic disparities and accelerate economic opportunity in communities of color and other underserved communities. VP Harris Visits New York City, New York, New York, USA - 28 Jul 2022
US Vice President Kamala Harris (C) during her meeting with Polish and US soldiers at the 1st Airlift Base in Warsaw, Poland, 11 March 2022. The visit of the US vice president is a demonstration of the United States' support for NATO's eastern flank allies in the face of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. US Vice Psocieresident Kamala Harris visits Poland, Warsaw - 11 Mar 2022

Meena Harris, 35, appeared alongside her mom, Maya Harris, and step-cousin Ella Emhoff, in a joyous video to introduce Aunt Kamala Harris as the Democratic vice presidential nominee at the Democratic National Convention. She’s much more than Kamala’s niece, though. Here’s what else you need to know about the activist and children’s book author:

1. She introduced her aunt at the 2020 DNC. “We’re so proud of you, Auntie,” Meena said in the August 19 video, joined by Maya and Ella. “You mean the world to us, Kamala. And we could not be more excited to share you with the world as the next Vice President of the United States.”

https://twitter.com/meenaharris/status/1296283139535446017

 

2. She’s the founder of the Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign. Named after Maya Angelou‘s poem “Phenomenal Woman,” the organization, founded in 2017, aims to “bring awareness to social causes.” They support non-profits like the Essie Justice Group, Black Futures Lab, Families Belong Together, and Justice For Migrant Women. They’ve launched social media campaigns with celebrity ambassadors to further their cause, as well.

3. She’s a children’s book author. Meena released a children’s book in June 2020 called Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, based on a story from her mother and aunt’s childhood. Female politicians, like Elizabeth Warren and Stacey Abrams called the picture book “a must-read” for little girls and an “inspiring tale.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEAi5Bmp5eH/

4. She worked on her aunt’s senatorial campaign. When Kamala ran for senate in 2016, Meena served as her senior advisor on policy and communications during the campaign. And she campaigned hard for Kamala when she ran for president — and now, vice president. Phenomenal Woman even sells sweatshirts with her aunt’s name on the back.

5. She’s a lawyer. She also previously served as Head of Strategy & Leadership at Uber, and worked at Slack Technologies and Facebook. From 2016 to 2017, she served as a commissioner on the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women.

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