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State Rep. Darisha K. Parker Is In A Fight For The People

The No-nonsense Leader Tackles Menstrual Equity, Quality of Life, Housing, Gun Violence, and Literacy.

State Rep. Darisha K. Parker’s journey into public office was earned through years of ground-level community work.

Before stepping into Pennsylvania’s 198th Legislative District seat, Hon. Parker served as legislative assistant to former longtime State Rep. Rosita Youngblood. However, her involvement started long before her staff role as a committed community organizer in the trenches attending Town Watch meetings, organizing events, and connecting neighbors with public resources.

“Instead of complaining about it, I wanted to always do something about it,” she explains.

That instinct to act, rather than observe, became the hallmark of her leadership. Hon. Parker’s communications background gave her an advantage once in office. She manages public narratives and ensures that her messaging stays authentic. “Despite what the title may be, I’m still Darisha,” she says, reflecting how her constituents see her as a leader and a neighbor.

One of Hon. Parker’s most prominent legislative efforts centers on an overlooked but important basic need, menstrual equity. She championed House Bills 1001 and 1002, securing $3 million in Pennsylvania’s budget to supply menstrual products in schools. Partnering with advocates like Lynette Medley, founder of The SPOT, Hon. Parker is building a national model for menstrual- health advocacy. “A conversation over something that happens with women every month is pretty much a movement,” she says.

Her advocacy stretches across critical issues affecting Philadelphia residents. Hon. Parker emphasizes gun-safety education, along with community healing for families impacted by violence. “It doesn’t matter what bill we put out there, it’s still going to be about the proliferation of guns,” she says plainly. “We need to be more responsible as a community.”

She also works extensively with elderly residents, focusing on estate planning, scam prevention, and improving accessibility to printed information. “We’re doing a disservice when seniors can’t even read the print we’re giving them,” she notes.

Navigating Harrisburg politics as a Black woman presents its complexities. In this current climate where Black history, rights, and way of life are under attack, we need to aggravate, agitate, and continue to advocate for the injustices in our neighborhood. Hon. Parker rejects efforts to box her into narrow expectations based on race or gender. “I don’t want to be judged by the color of my skin, it’s about my character and care for people,” she states firmly. For her, every piece of legislation must advance quality of life for all constituents.

When asked what success would look like for her legislative term, Hon. Parker offers a practical vision rooted in literacy, safety, housing stability, and economic justice. She says “children reaching grade-level reading benchmarks, seniors safe on their porches, and neighbors sharing coffee outside without fear.” It is a vision of everyday peace. Of dignity.

She offers candid advice to those considering public service: “Shadow someone. Volunteer. Understand that our process takes time. It’s not a microwave. These are long-term decisions.”

And for the hands-on Hon. Parker, it seems to always come down to one thing: The passion and power of civic engagement.

“When you don’t participate, you are giving everything away and letting someone else make decisions for you,” she reasons.

 

This article is made possible with the support from the following organizations:

Dr. Eric John Nzeribe is the Publisher of FunTimes Magazine and has a demonstrated history of working in the publishing industry since 1992. His interests include using data to understand and solve social issues, narrative stories, digital marketing, community engagement, and online/print journalism features. Dr. Nzeribe is a social media and communication professional with certificates in Digital Media for Social Impact from the University of Pennsylvania, Digital Strategies for Business: Leading the Next-Generation Enterprise from Columbia University, and a Master of Science (MS) in Publication Management from Drexel University and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Temple University.

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