Rep. Lateefah Simon — civil rights advocate, community organizer, and longtime Bay Area leader — joins Dr. Victor Pineda for the debut episode of The Independent, a disability justice podcast from the Center for Independent Living. In this candid, inspiring conversation, Lateefah shares her early experiences growing up in the Bay Area, what sparked her lifelong commitment to service, hard-won lessons in leadership and integrity, and the people and moments that shaped her path. This episode reflects the heart of The Independent: uplifting voices with lived expertise, honoring resilience, and bringing forward stories that push us toward a more accessible, equitable world.