Wala Blegay for Congress
by Afiya J. Watkins
Copa Style Magazine
Special Writer & Lifestyle Correspondent
Copa Style Magazine
Special Writer & Lifestyle Correspondent
Power With Purpose: From County Leadership to Congressional Vision
For nearly a decade, I have watched Wala Blegay show up — consistently, visibly, and with intention — across Prince George’s County. From community meetings in District 6 to policy initiatives that shaped countywide change, her leadership has always been anchored in proximity to the people she serves. She has never governed from a distance.
Now, as she announces her candidacy for Congress in Maryland’s 5th District, that same commitment expands into a broader arena. This is not a reinvention — it is a continuation.
In this exclusive interview with COPA Style, Wala reflects on the work that prepared her for this moment and the vision guiding what comes next. Serious about policy yet grounded in purpose, she steps forward not simply seeking higher office, but carrying forward a record built on action.
COPA: You’ve just announced your run for Congress. Why does this moment feel like the right time—for you and for Maryland’s 5th District?
Wala: This moment requires a fighter.
As a Council member in Prince George’s County, I am already on the ground assisting residents who are struggling with skyrocketing electricity bills, families trying to keep the lights on, and federal workers and contractors who have been laid off and are facing real uncertainty. I am not speaking about these issues from a distance. I am working through them with people every single day.
Maryland’s 5th District needs someone who understands the pressure families are under right now — rising utility costs, economic instability, threats to federal jobs, and the broader cost-of-living crisis. This is not a time for passive leadership. It is a time for someone willing to fight, to sacrifice, and to stand firmly on the side of working people.
I have been on the ground listening, convening task forces, advancing policy solutions, and advocating for relief. I understand the systems because I have worked inside them, and I understand the people because I have walked alongside them.
This moment calls for a true advocate — someone who is prepared, tested, and ready to fight for Maryland’s 5th District at the federal level.
COPA: You are a first-generation Liberian and Nigerian American who has built a life and career in Prince George’s County. How has that personal history shaped the way you lead and advocate?
Wala: My story is deeply personal to how I lead.
As the daughter of immigrants from Liberia and Nigeria, I grew up understanding both the promise and the responsibility of America. My family came here seeking opportunity, stability, and the ability to contribute. Like so many immigrant families over the past several decades, we did not come to take from this country. We came to build, to serve, and to give back.
So when I see ICE operations that traumatize families and destabilize entire communities, it is deeply painful. It feels as though we are moving away from what this country is meant to represent. Many of the people being targeted are workers, business owners, caregivers, and parents who contribute every single day. Instead of terrorizing communities, we should be strengthening them. We should be asking how we support the people who power our economy and enrich our neighborhoods.
As a first-generation American, I carry both gratitude and responsibility. I know what sacrifice looks like. I know what it means for a family to leave everything behind for opportunity. That understanding shapes how I advocate. My leadership is rooted in dignity, fairness, and humanity.
I also stand on a legacy of advocacy. My great-grandfather, Prince Momulu Massaquoi, was an educator, diplomat, and advocate who worked with leaders in America and abroad and was engaged in the Back-to-Africa movement in Liberia. He believed in education, institution-building, and self-determination for our people. His life reminds me that advocacy is not new to my family. It is our inheritance.
That legacy calls me to speak up. It calls me to defend communities rather than allow them to be intimidated. And it shapes the way I lead in Prince George’s County and the way I will advocate in Congress — with courage, conviction, and an unwavering belief that our communities deserve protection, not fear.
COPA: During your first term on the County Council, you moved an ambitious, people-centered agenda. Which accomplishment best reflects how you would govern at the federal level?
Wala: The accomplishment that best reflects how I would govern at the federal level is my work on healthcare access and affordability — particularly addressing emergency room wait times, advancing Food as Medicine initiatives, and strengthening primary care infrastructure.
When residents told me they were waiting hours in overcrowded emergency rooms, I did not treat it as a headline. I treated it as a systems failure that required coordination and accountability. I helped lead efforts to examine hospital capacity, workforce shortages, and gaps in preventative care. Because the reality is this: emergency room overcrowding is often a symptom of a broken primary care system. When people cannot access affordable preventative care, they end up in crisis.
That is why I have also championed Food as Medicine strategies and broader public health solutions. Chronic illness, nutrition access, and preventative services are deeply connected. If we invest upstream, we reduce strain downstream. That is the kind of policy thinking I bring — holistic, data-driven, and rooted in what residents are experiencing every day.
In addition, I have focused heavily on the rising cost of electricity and utility instability. Families in Prince George’s County have been burdened by skyrocketing electric bills. That is why I launched the State of the Power series — to inform residents, demand transparency, and begin developing legislative solutions that address grid reliability, rate structures, and energy accountability. We cannot talk about affordability without talking about utilities.
I have also been actively working to support federal workers and contractors who are facing layoffs and uncertainty. Our district depends on a strong federal workforce. At the federal level, I will advocate for job protections, fair labor standards, and policies that prevent political retaliation against career public servants. I will also work to ensure that small and minority-owned contractors are not pushed out of opportunity through harmful policy changes.
My approach is consistent: listen to the community, bring stakeholders to the table, develop systemic solutions, and push for accountability. That is how I have governed locally, and that is how I will govern in Congress.
COPA: You have often been described as “the working people’s voice.” What does that mean to you beyond the phrase—and how does it show up in your work?
Wala: Being called “the working people’s voice” is not a slogan to me. It is a responsibility I have carried my entire career.
For eight years, I worked in labor advocacy as counsel for nurses, fighting for fair contracts, safe working conditions, and dignity in the workplace. I sat across bargaining tables. I represented frontline healthcare workers who were overworked and undervalued. That experience shaped me. It taught me that when workers have a real voice, systems function better for everyone.
When I was elected to the County Council, I continued that fight. I addressed nurse-to-patient ratios because patient safety and worker safety are directly connected. I pushed to ensure that when we build schools and public facilities, local union workers are at the table and have access to those jobs. Our public investments should create pathways for our own residents to earn family-sustaining wages.
Being the working people’s voice means ensuring that workers are not an afterthought in policy discussions. It means understanding that labor is not just an economic issue; it is a dignity issue. It shows up in how I write legislation, how I ask questions in hearings, and how I center the lived experiences of the people who keep our communities running.
In Congress, I will continue that commitment. I will fight to restore and strengthen workers’ rights, protect collective bargaining, and ensure that working people have a permanent seat at the table. Because when workers thrive, communities thrive.
COPA: Health care has been a major focus of your leadership, from ER wait times to nurse-patient ratios. What changes are most urgent at the federal level, and why?
Wala: Access to quality healthcare is critical to the survival of a community. When people cannot see a doctor, afford prescriptions, or access preventative care, everything else begins to unravel — from economic stability to educational outcomes to overall public safety.
At the federal level, the most urgent priority is expanding access and strengthening both Medicare and Medicaid. Too many families fall into gaps — earning too much to qualify for certain programs but not enough to afford private coverage. At the same time, many providers are choosing not to accept Medicaid or Medicare patients because reimbursement rates are too low. That creates a two-tiered system that disproportionately harms low-income communities, seniors, and people with disabilities.
That is why I support implementing Medicare for All. A universal system would ensure that every person has access to quality healthcare regardless of income, employment status, or zip code. It would simplify the system, expand provider participation, and give the government greater ability to negotiate costs and ensure equitable reimbursement. We need a healthcare system that centers on patients, not profits.
My work on ER wait times and nurse-to-patient ratios has shown me that access, workforce support, and funding structures are interconnected. If we do not fix the system at the federal level, local communities will continue to feel the strain.
Healthcare is not optional. It is foundational. And we must build a system that guarantees access, fairness, and quality for everyone.
COPA: As Chair of the Council sitting as the Board of Health, you led during moments of real strain on the system. What did that role teach you about leadership under pressure?
Wala: Serving as Chair of the Council, sitting on the Board of Health was a true test of leadership.
When you are dealing with emergency room wait times, primary care shortages, and strained hospital systems, you quickly realize that no single office can solve the problem alone. These are complex, interconnected challenges that require collaboration across hospitals, healthcare workers, public health officials, insurers, and community advocates.
What I learned is that leadership under pressure is not about acting alone. It is about bringing the right people to the table and creating an environment where real solutions can emerge. On issues like ER wait times and primary care access, we had to convene stakeholders, listen to frontline workers, examine data, and align on actionable steps. That required patience, discipline, and a willingness to build consensus without losing urgency.
Leadership also means being transparent with the public about what is working and what is not. When systems are under strain, people deserve honesty and accountability.
Most importantly, I learned that sustainable solutions come from partnership. Effective leadership is not about ego. It is about collaboration, shared responsibility, and ensuring that every stakeholder understands their role in improving outcomes for the community. That is the model of leadership I will continue to bring forward.
COPA: You are both a lawyer and an educator. How do teaching and public service inform one another in the way you approach policy and governance?
Wala: Teaching requires breaking complex systems down so people understand their rights and their power. Law requires precision, discipline, and a deep understanding of how systems actually function. Public service requires both.
As an educator, I have always believed that knowledge is empowerment. When people understand how policy affects their daily lives — whether it is housing, healthcare, labor rights, or taxation — they are better equipped to advocate for themselves and their communities. Teaching forces you to communicate clearly and meet people where they are.
As a lawyer, I learned how the law truly works — not just in theory, but in practice. I saw how statutes, regulations, and contracts shape everyday life. I represented workers and understood how policy decisions translate into real consequences at the kitchen table. That legal training allows me to draft stronger legislation, anticipate unintended consequences, and navigate systems strategically. It makes me a more effective legislator because I understand both the language of the law and its human impact.
Together, teaching and law shape how I govern. I approach policy with clarity, strategy, and a commitment to public empowerment. I want people not only to benefit from good policy but to understand it and feel ownership over it.
COPA: Through your television show, Chat With a Lawyer, you’ve made legal knowledge more accessible. Why is empowering people with information so central to your mission?
Wala: Information is power. Too many people — especially in marginalized communities — are locked out of opportunity simply because they do not understand how the law works or how it can protect them.
Chat With a Lawyer was a tool to make sure our residents were educated and informed. It was about breaking down complex legal issues into practical knowledge people could use in real time — whether they were facing eviction, workplace disputes, contract concerns, or navigating small business challenges. For many families, understanding their rights can be the difference between stability and crisis. It can mean keeping their home, protecting their job, or preserving generational opportunity.
As a Council member, I have carried that same philosophy into my public service. I believe leadership is not just about passing laws. It is about ensuring people understand how those laws impact their lives and how they can access the protections available to them.
Many marginalized communities are disproportionately harmed because they do not always have access to legal guidance or institutional knowledge. When we educate people, we shift power. We prevent exploitation. We create life-changing opportunities.
That is how I will continue to lead — as a resource. Whether as a Councilmember or as a Congresswoman, I will remain committed to making government accessible, understandable, and accountable to the people it serves.
COPA: Style and presence often speak before policy. How intentional are you about how you show up visually in spaces of power—and why does that matter?
Wala: Representation matters. When I walk into rooms of power, I carry my culture, my community, and my story with me. I am intentional because visibility challenges stereotypes.
For young Black and immigrant girls watching, it matters to see someone who looks like them in leadership — confident, prepared, and unapologetically present. Style is not superficial. It’s about owning space that historically excluded us.
COPA: Public leadership can be demanding and deeply personal. What sustains you when the work feels heavy?
Wala: My faith, my family, and my community sustain me. I am constantly reminded why I do this work when I meet a nurse who feels heard, a small business owner who receives support, or a young person who sees possibility.
Service is not easy — but purpose makes it sustainable.
COPA: If elected to Congress, what would you want your first year in office to say about the kind of representative you intend to be?
Wala: I want my first year to say: she delivered. Delivered on protecting federal workers. Delivered on healthcare access. Delivered on lowering costs for families. Delivered on protecting democracy from outside influence.
I want people to feel that they have a representative who is present, accessible, and unafraid to challenge power when necessary.
COPA: When readers close this issue of COPA Style, what do you hope they understand about Wala Blegay—beyond the titles and accomplishments?
Wala: That I am deeply rooted in the community.
That my leadership is not about ambition — it is about responsibility.
And that everything I have built — from labor advocacy to county leadership to this congressional campaign — is grounded in one belief: government should work for working people.
For nearly a decade, I have watched Wala Blegay show up — consistently, visibly, and with intention — across Prince George’s County. From community meetings in District 6 to policy initiatives that shaped countywide change, her leadership has always been anchored in proximity to the people she serves. She has never governed from a distance.
Now, as she announces her candidacy for Congress in Maryland’s 5th District, that same commitment expands into a broader arena. This is not a reinvention — it is a continuation.
In this exclusive interview with COPA Style, Wala reflects on the work that prepared her for this moment and the vision guiding what comes next. Serious about policy yet grounded in purpose, she steps forward not simply seeking higher office, but carrying forward a record built on action.
COPA: You’ve just announced your run for Congress. Why does this moment feel like the right time—for you and for Maryland’s 5th District?
Wala: This moment requires a fighter.
As a Council member in Prince George’s County, I am already on the ground assisting residents who are struggling with skyrocketing electricity bills, families trying to keep the lights on, and federal workers and contractors who have been laid off and are facing real uncertainty. I am not speaking about these issues from a distance. I am working through them with people every single day.
Maryland’s 5th District needs someone who understands the pressure families are under right now — rising utility costs, economic instability, threats to federal jobs, and the broader cost-of-living crisis. This is not a time for passive leadership. It is a time for someone willing to fight, to sacrifice, and to stand firmly on the side of working people.
I have been on the ground listening, convening task forces, advancing policy solutions, and advocating for relief. I understand the systems because I have worked inside them, and I understand the people because I have walked alongside them.
This moment calls for a true advocate — someone who is prepared, tested, and ready to fight for Maryland’s 5th District at the federal level.
COPA: You are a first-generation Liberian and Nigerian American who has built a life and career in Prince George’s County. How has that personal history shaped the way you lead and advocate?
Wala: My story is deeply personal to how I lead.
As the daughter of immigrants from Liberia and Nigeria, I grew up understanding both the promise and the responsibility of America. My family came here seeking opportunity, stability, and the ability to contribute. Like so many immigrant families over the past several decades, we did not come to take from this country. We came to build, to serve, and to give back.
So when I see ICE operations that traumatize families and destabilize entire communities, it is deeply painful. It feels as though we are moving away from what this country is meant to represent. Many of the people being targeted are workers, business owners, caregivers, and parents who contribute every single day. Instead of terrorizing communities, we should be strengthening them. We should be asking how we support the people who power our economy and enrich our neighborhoods.
As a first-generation American, I carry both gratitude and responsibility. I know what sacrifice looks like. I know what it means for a family to leave everything behind for opportunity. That understanding shapes how I advocate. My leadership is rooted in dignity, fairness, and humanity.
I also stand on a legacy of advocacy. My great-grandfather, Prince Momulu Massaquoi, was an educator, diplomat, and advocate who worked with leaders in America and abroad and was engaged in the Back-to-Africa movement in Liberia. He believed in education, institution-building, and self-determination for our people. His life reminds me that advocacy is not new to my family. It is our inheritance.
That legacy calls me to speak up. It calls me to defend communities rather than allow them to be intimidated. And it shapes the way I lead in Prince George’s County and the way I will advocate in Congress — with courage, conviction, and an unwavering belief that our communities deserve protection, not fear.
COPA: During your first term on the County Council, you moved an ambitious, people-centered agenda. Which accomplishment best reflects how you would govern at the federal level?
Wala: The accomplishment that best reflects how I would govern at the federal level is my work on healthcare access and affordability — particularly addressing emergency room wait times, advancing Food as Medicine initiatives, and strengthening primary care infrastructure.
When residents told me they were waiting hours in overcrowded emergency rooms, I did not treat it as a headline. I treated it as a systems failure that required coordination and accountability. I helped lead efforts to examine hospital capacity, workforce shortages, and gaps in preventative care. Because the reality is this: emergency room overcrowding is often a symptom of a broken primary care system. When people cannot access affordable preventative care, they end up in crisis.
That is why I have also championed Food as Medicine strategies and broader public health solutions. Chronic illness, nutrition access, and preventative services are deeply connected. If we invest upstream, we reduce strain downstream. That is the kind of policy thinking I bring — holistic, data-driven, and rooted in what residents are experiencing every day.
In addition, I have focused heavily on the rising cost of electricity and utility instability. Families in Prince George’s County have been burdened by skyrocketing electric bills. That is why I launched the State of the Power series — to inform residents, demand transparency, and begin developing legislative solutions that address grid reliability, rate structures, and energy accountability. We cannot talk about affordability without talking about utilities.
I have also been actively working to support federal workers and contractors who are facing layoffs and uncertainty. Our district depends on a strong federal workforce. At the federal level, I will advocate for job protections, fair labor standards, and policies that prevent political retaliation against career public servants. I will also work to ensure that small and minority-owned contractors are not pushed out of opportunity through harmful policy changes.
My approach is consistent: listen to the community, bring stakeholders to the table, develop systemic solutions, and push for accountability. That is how I have governed locally, and that is how I will govern in Congress.
COPA: You have often been described as “the working people’s voice.” What does that mean to you beyond the phrase—and how does it show up in your work?
Wala: Being called “the working people’s voice” is not a slogan to me. It is a responsibility I have carried my entire career.
For eight years, I worked in labor advocacy as counsel for nurses, fighting for fair contracts, safe working conditions, and dignity in the workplace. I sat across bargaining tables. I represented frontline healthcare workers who were overworked and undervalued. That experience shaped me. It taught me that when workers have a real voice, systems function better for everyone.
When I was elected to the County Council, I continued that fight. I addressed nurse-to-patient ratios because patient safety and worker safety are directly connected. I pushed to ensure that when we build schools and public facilities, local union workers are at the table and have access to those jobs. Our public investments should create pathways for our own residents to earn family-sustaining wages.
Being the working people’s voice means ensuring that workers are not an afterthought in policy discussions. It means understanding that labor is not just an economic issue; it is a dignity issue. It shows up in how I write legislation, how I ask questions in hearings, and how I center the lived experiences of the people who keep our communities running.
In Congress, I will continue that commitment. I will fight to restore and strengthen workers’ rights, protect collective bargaining, and ensure that working people have a permanent seat at the table. Because when workers thrive, communities thrive.
COPA: Health care has been a major focus of your leadership, from ER wait times to nurse-patient ratios. What changes are most urgent at the federal level, and why?
Wala: Access to quality healthcare is critical to the survival of a community. When people cannot see a doctor, afford prescriptions, or access preventative care, everything else begins to unravel — from economic stability to educational outcomes to overall public safety.
At the federal level, the most urgent priority is expanding access and strengthening both Medicare and Medicaid. Too many families fall into gaps — earning too much to qualify for certain programs but not enough to afford private coverage. At the same time, many providers are choosing not to accept Medicaid or Medicare patients because reimbursement rates are too low. That creates a two-tiered system that disproportionately harms low-income communities, seniors, and people with disabilities.
That is why I support implementing Medicare for All. A universal system would ensure that every person has access to quality healthcare regardless of income, employment status, or zip code. It would simplify the system, expand provider participation, and give the government greater ability to negotiate costs and ensure equitable reimbursement. We need a healthcare system that centers on patients, not profits.
My work on ER wait times and nurse-to-patient ratios has shown me that access, workforce support, and funding structures are interconnected. If we do not fix the system at the federal level, local communities will continue to feel the strain.
Healthcare is not optional. It is foundational. And we must build a system that guarantees access, fairness, and quality for everyone.
COPA: As Chair of the Council sitting as the Board of Health, you led during moments of real strain on the system. What did that role teach you about leadership under pressure?
Wala: Serving as Chair of the Council, sitting on the Board of Health was a true test of leadership.
When you are dealing with emergency room wait times, primary care shortages, and strained hospital systems, you quickly realize that no single office can solve the problem alone. These are complex, interconnected challenges that require collaboration across hospitals, healthcare workers, public health officials, insurers, and community advocates.
What I learned is that leadership under pressure is not about acting alone. It is about bringing the right people to the table and creating an environment where real solutions can emerge. On issues like ER wait times and primary care access, we had to convene stakeholders, listen to frontline workers, examine data, and align on actionable steps. That required patience, discipline, and a willingness to build consensus without losing urgency.
Leadership also means being transparent with the public about what is working and what is not. When systems are under strain, people deserve honesty and accountability.
Most importantly, I learned that sustainable solutions come from partnership. Effective leadership is not about ego. It is about collaboration, shared responsibility, and ensuring that every stakeholder understands their role in improving outcomes for the community. That is the model of leadership I will continue to bring forward.
COPA: You are both a lawyer and an educator. How do teaching and public service inform one another in the way you approach policy and governance?
Wala: Teaching requires breaking complex systems down so people understand their rights and their power. Law requires precision, discipline, and a deep understanding of how systems actually function. Public service requires both.
As an educator, I have always believed that knowledge is empowerment. When people understand how policy affects their daily lives — whether it is housing, healthcare, labor rights, or taxation — they are better equipped to advocate for themselves and their communities. Teaching forces you to communicate clearly and meet people where they are.
As a lawyer, I learned how the law truly works — not just in theory, but in practice. I saw how statutes, regulations, and contracts shape everyday life. I represented workers and understood how policy decisions translate into real consequences at the kitchen table. That legal training allows me to draft stronger legislation, anticipate unintended consequences, and navigate systems strategically. It makes me a more effective legislator because I understand both the language of the law and its human impact.
Together, teaching and law shape how I govern. I approach policy with clarity, strategy, and a commitment to public empowerment. I want people not only to benefit from good policy but to understand it and feel ownership over it.
COPA: Through your television show, Chat With a Lawyer, you’ve made legal knowledge more accessible. Why is empowering people with information so central to your mission?
Wala: Information is power. Too many people — especially in marginalized communities — are locked out of opportunity simply because they do not understand how the law works or how it can protect them.
Chat With a Lawyer was a tool to make sure our residents were educated and informed. It was about breaking down complex legal issues into practical knowledge people could use in real time — whether they were facing eviction, workplace disputes, contract concerns, or navigating small business challenges. For many families, understanding their rights can be the difference between stability and crisis. It can mean keeping their home, protecting their job, or preserving generational opportunity.
As a Council member, I have carried that same philosophy into my public service. I believe leadership is not just about passing laws. It is about ensuring people understand how those laws impact their lives and how they can access the protections available to them.
Many marginalized communities are disproportionately harmed because they do not always have access to legal guidance or institutional knowledge. When we educate people, we shift power. We prevent exploitation. We create life-changing opportunities.
That is how I will continue to lead — as a resource. Whether as a Councilmember or as a Congresswoman, I will remain committed to making government accessible, understandable, and accountable to the people it serves.
COPA: Style and presence often speak before policy. How intentional are you about how you show up visually in spaces of power—and why does that matter?
Wala: Representation matters. When I walk into rooms of power, I carry my culture, my community, and my story with me. I am intentional because visibility challenges stereotypes.
For young Black and immigrant girls watching, it matters to see someone who looks like them in leadership — confident, prepared, and unapologetically present. Style is not superficial. It’s about owning space that historically excluded us.
COPA: Public leadership can be demanding and deeply personal. What sustains you when the work feels heavy?
Wala: My faith, my family, and my community sustain me. I am constantly reminded why I do this work when I meet a nurse who feels heard, a small business owner who receives support, or a young person who sees possibility.
Service is not easy — but purpose makes it sustainable.
COPA: If elected to Congress, what would you want your first year in office to say about the kind of representative you intend to be?
Wala: I want my first year to say: she delivered. Delivered on protecting federal workers. Delivered on healthcare access. Delivered on lowering costs for families. Delivered on protecting democracy from outside influence.
I want people to feel that they have a representative who is present, accessible, and unafraid to challenge power when necessary.
COPA: When readers close this issue of COPA Style, what do you hope they understand about Wala Blegay—beyond the titles and accomplishments?
Wala: That I am deeply rooted in the community.
That my leadership is not about ambition — it is about responsibility.
And that everything I have built — from labor advocacy to county leadership to this congressional campaign — is grounded in one belief: government should work for working people.
Afiya J. Watkins serves as a community liaison and commissioner in Prince George’s County, Maryland, and is a COPA Style contributor. A DC native, she brings a regional perspective to civic engagement and leadership conversations shaping the future of the DMV.
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