Let Her Vote is an initiative between Let Her Speak and League of Women Voters of Knoxville-Knox County to inspire more women to be involved in local civics and make their voices heard at the polls. 

This 3-part series will guide women through understanding our local government, what it looks like to run for office, and how they can get involved. Each session will feature leaders, experts, and community members who will share their knowledge, experience, and insights to help more women not only use their right to vote but also make an impact in their communities.

About this Session:

September Session
When: Tuesday, September 10th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Aught Downtown
Topic: My Story in Politics
Panelists: Zoe Brookshire, Tunisia Holley, Sarah Keith, & Jennifer Owen
Facilitator: Margaret Massey-Cox

Registration is FREE, but we are asking for donations if you are able to support our work and mission.

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Meet the Panelists & Facilitator:

Zoe Brookshire is a passionate civil servant who has made it her life’s mission to promote political efficacy within her big orange hometown. As a student, she organized alongside her fellow students to advocate for bi-partisan gun safety legislation, conducted voter registration drives at her school, and worked to promote civic engagement among her peers. Since 2020 she has worked for the Knox County Election Commission answering voter questions, coordinating voting visits at assisted living facilities, and most recently, recruiting and staffing poll workers as the county’s Election Official Coordinator. Zoe is also a big fan of educational opportunities for non-traditional students such as herself and currently studies at Pellissippi State Community College. She hopes to one day attend law school and further her career in Election Administration.

Tunisia Holley is dedicated to serving her community both professionally and personally. Throughout her career, she has taken pride in being a change agent, bringing together community allies to achieve strategic visions that benefit both the workplace and the broader community. 

Tunisia’s commitment to driving positive change extends beyond her profession. She served on the Board of Directors for the League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County – Community Outreach, and continues to serve as a member on the Voter Services Committee. She is actively involved with the Knoxville Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serving in various capacities, including Social Action Chair. She also contributes to the Friends of Literacy Board of Directors and the Advisory Committee on Open Government under the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury.

In addition, Tunisia is a member of the Knoxville FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association and serves as the corresponding secretary for the Knoxville College Alumni Association. Since 2010, she has dedicated her time to the Knoxville Election Commission, initially serving as a poll worker and election official, and now as an inspector.

Tunisia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Knoxville College in 1996 and later obtained a Master's degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Human Resources from Claremont Lincoln University in 2019.

Tunisia brings a diverse set of skills to my community work, including the ability to ask challenging questions, prioritize effectively, build strong relationships, and communicate efficiently. Her passion for service is driven by a desire to create a lasting, positive impact within the communities she is privileged to serve.

Sarah Keith is an Assistant District Attorney General for the 7th Judicial District, Anderson County. She received her B.S. in Political Science from Tennessee Tech University in 2003 and her J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2006. She became a member of the Tennessee Bar in 2006, the Bar of United States District Court, Eastern District of Tennessee in 2022, and the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States in 2011. Prior to joining the 7th District, she worked in private practice, operating the Law Office of Sarah W. Keith, handling criminal and civil matters
while also running a judicial campaign for General Sessions Judge. Previously, she was employed in the 6th Judicial District in Knox County and the 10 th Judicial District, handling cases in Bradley and Polk Counties. She was named the 2012 MADD Prosecutor of the Year. She was named a “Top Attorney” in criminal prosecution by Cityview Magazine in 2012, 2017, 2018, and 2020. She has worked in general prosecution and at other times specialized in Child Abuse, Career/Gang, and DUI.

Sarah has served as an adjunct instructor of Legal Ethics at South College in Knoxville. She serves on the Tennessee Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure. She has been a member of the Tennessee Gang Investigators Association, South College Criminal Justice Advisory Board, the National District Attorneys Association, the Hamilton-Burnett Chapter of the American Inns of Court, the Tennessee Bar Association, the Child Protective Investigative Team, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce, the Knox County Schools Criminal Justice Program Advisory
Council, East Tennessee Lawyers Association for Women, the Anderson County Bar Association, and the Knoxville Bar Association. She serves on the Judicial Committee and is the Chair of the Criminal Justice Section of the KBA.

Owen worked as an educator for 23 years, 18 of which were served at Knox County Schools. Before she resigned in 2014, she worked as an elementary building level technology coach. When Owen left Knox County Schools, she published her resignation letter on her blog. She said, "I am leaving for my integrity.” She listed a number of reasons for leaving, including the lack of a “highly qualified and unbiased evaluator," and the lack of an employee's right “to request a representative in ANY meeting, where they feel it is needed, regardless of the meeting’s official intent.” She also said that after she interviewed for a different job in the district, "it was clear to me, that this job is no longer about children.”

Since she resigned from her position as an educator, Owen has worked to advocate for students and public education at the district and state level. Jennifer Owen is a member of the Knox County Board of Education in Tennessee, representing District 2. She assumed office in 2016. Her current term ends on September 1, 2024.

Margaret Massey-Cox has worn many hats in her life: Teacher, Educational Coordinator, Facilitator, Account Manager for an International Company, Candidate, Small Business Owner, Community and Political Activist, and Consultant/High Performance Coach. In all those hats, the most important have been Mother to two amazing daughters, Courtney and Jennifer, Grandmother to George and another grandson due in December and life mate to my amazing, Jerry.

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Future Session:

October Session
When: Tuesday, October 8th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Aught Downtown
Topic: Making an Impact Locally
**Register at this link**

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNER SPONSORS!