Nancy Pelosi is a hero for me, and for all of us during these perilous times, and has been an anchor over her storied career as one of America’s best (and the most powerful woman) politicians in America. As the first female House Speaker in 2007 she made history, and now is serving her third term. This image is when she got sworn in Jan 2019, after 60 years, the first to regain this position as second in line to the presidency.

I love Nancy. When she brought the children to the podium as she was being sworn in, and after saying “I Do,” oath of office, she said “I now call the House to Order on behalf of all America’s Children.” Beaming in the crowd of kids are her nine grandchildren and all the kids who were visiting their folks, congressmen who were also being sworn in that day, including Bella to her left who was so excited that she danced and headbanged in affirmation every positive vote for her beloved grandmother, whom they all call “Mimi”.

Pelosi always reminds her staff that they are working for the “One in Five ”, the one in five children that gets left behind, without food to eat. She is all about caring for now, for the future. One of the first politicians to stick their head out and up to support the lgbtq+ community and the fight against AIDS when hardly any others had the courage to do so, Nancy was out about her intentions to help find a cure and take care of our people, even championing the AIDS quilt to be unveiled in Washington DC. A strong defender of Women’s Rights, she has led the way for more women in dynamic and powerful roles both in the political arena and America at large.

While painting this work, I listened to her bio and her book “Know Your Power,” and even though it’s subtitled “a message to America’s daughters” as a gay man I got so much as an artist and in my role as Chair and Professor at USC Roski. One of the architects of the Affordable Care Act, Nancy is all about the people and when she brought the kids to the stage during this tumultuous time, I wept with joy and hope for our great country.