In Episode 01 of The Edwards Empowerment Talks podcast, Amanda Edwards has an honest conversation about resilience and public service with Svante Myrick, Mayor of Ithaca, New York. From a homeless child to Ithaca’s youngest Mayor (at age 24) and its first Mayor of color, Svante Myrick’s journey is the epitome of defying the odds in the face of adversity. Through this Episode, listeners will be inspired to reflect on what may holding them back from dreaming boldly and pursuing those dreams, despite the obstacles they have to overcome.
During his early life in New York and Florida, Svante weaved between being homeless and being housing insecure - causing him to know intimately what poverty felt like. In this Episode, he describes how his early life experiences impacted his view of the possibilities available to someone like him. The world seemingly opened up to Svante when he was admitted to Cornell University. With leaders like President Barack Obama and others as inspiration, Svante began to push for a career in public service, the pursuit of which required him to address and reconcile his past, which had once brought him great shame. He learned that public service required him to be his authentic self and also required substantial sacrifice in order to place service above just politics.
As Mayor of Ithaca during a time where nationwide unrest has resulted from police brutality, Svante provides his insight on how we should move forward as a nation. From touching on subjects like the role of ego in politics to interfacing with the public he serves, Svante shares great insight on how public service impacts his life, his community and what people should know when considering public service.
In this interview, Svante moves beyond just having a discussion of his accomplishments and has a conversation that is honest, raw, funny and one in which he is truly vulnerable. Those who listen will take a true peak into the leader that Svante is and what is required of leaders in public service. This Episode is one you do not want to miss.