Hey Sis,

What does the word "advocate" mean to you?

For a long time, I thought advocacy only happened in fancy courtrooms or during major historical marches. But as I’ve grown in my career, I’ve realized that advocacy is actually an art form—one that you practice in the quiet, everyday moments of your life.

Advocacy is simply the act of standing up and saying, “This is not right, and we can do better.” It is about looking around your community, identifying where people are hurting, and using whatever platform you have to bring relief.

My journey as an advocate truly solidified during my eight years at Memphis Area Legal Services. My clients were real people facing real, terrifying crises. They were mothers facing eviction, families being taken advantage of by predatory lenders, and women trying to escape domestic violence. They didn't have money for expensive lawyers. They were often exhausted, scared, and ready to give up.

In those rooms, I learned that advocacy isn't about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about being the most prepared, the most compassionate, and the most relentless.

If you want to step into your greatness, you must cultivate the heart of an advocate. Here is how you can start mastering this art form in your own life:

• Listen to Understand, Not Just to Reply: You cannot advocate for someone if you don't truly understand their pain. True advocacy begins with quiet, active listening.

• Be a Bridge, Not a Barrier: Use your knowledge and access to help others. If you learn how to navigate a difficult system—whether it’s applying for college, securing housing, or understanding a contract—pass that knowledge down to someone else.

• Stand Firm on Integrity: True advocacy requires you to do what is right, even when it is highly unpopular. It means standing up to bullies, challenging unfair rules, and refusing to look the other way when someone is being mistreated.

When I transitioned from being an advocate at MALS to serving as a Magistrate on the bench, my role changed, but my heart for advocacy didn't. As a judicial officer, my job is to be an advocate for the integrity of the system itself. I advocate for fairness. I ensure that when ordinary Memphians walk into my courtroom, they are not treated like a number on a docket sheet, but as human beings who are heard, respected, and valued.

Our court system should not be a distant, confusing institution. It should be a trusted partner in our community's life. That is why I have dedicated so much of my time outside the courtroom to community education and outreach—demystifying the legal process so that our citizens feel empowered, not intimidated.

When you cast your vote for me for General Sessions Civil Court Judge, you are electing someone who has spent her entire professional life advocating for the everyday people of Shelby County. You are choosing a public servant who has proven her commitment to equity and justice both on and off the bench.

Let's use our collective voices to advocate for a better judicial system.

Mentor Tip: Look around your immediate circle this week. Is there a friend, a coworker, or a neighbor who is struggling to speak up for themselves? How can you stand beside them and help amplify their voice?

Let’s carry this heart of service all the way to the polls.

• Early Voting: July 17 – August 1

• Election Day: August 6

• Vote Proven with Purifoy!

• Learn more at voteshayla.com and follow along @Shayla Purifoy.