For the first time in a long time, Miami's traditional Dominican community of Allapattah will get a chance November 5th to elect a new city commisioner. 

With early voting starting this weekend, Venus & El B sit down at Tipico Dominicano Restaurant with The New Florida Majority's Electoral Field Director Melanie McRae and Gender Justice Organizer Ysabella Osses to discuss what's at stake in this election and the issues that local residents are talking about.  

It's a part of a series of special episodes that we will regularly feature discussing the cities and neighborhoods that our people call home. 

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For more information on early voting in Miami, visit https://www8.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1511962555914873&Mduid_organization=

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MORE ABOUT OUR GUESTS

The New Florida Majority's Electoral Field Director Melanie McRae is a proud Canadian transplant of Caribbean heritage who has spent most of the last decade as an advocate for candidates and issues that she believes in strongly. A U.S. Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom, Melanie has worked on everything from local municipal races and ballot initiatives to issue advocacy and statewide political campaigns. The learned common thread through all her experiences is that while great campaigns are people powered, successful campaigns connect the power of the people with insightful strategy that can only be gleaned from excellent data.

NewFM Gender Justice Organizer Ysabella Osses  was born and raised in Santiago, Chile. She lived through the aftermath of the Pinochet dictatorship, which inspired her passion for politics, organizing, education and perreo. Ysa is a graduate of Florida International University and holds degrees in sociology, political science, and women's studies. Her purpose in life is to fight for the liberation of all women and femmes and does so as an Organizer with the New Florida Majority.