Mona Das

Mona Das is a powerful force for environmental justice, racial equity, housing affordability, and economic fairness in Washington. Born to Indian parents who immigrated to the United States when she was 8 months old and only six dollars in their pockets, Das’s lived experience drives her to dismantle barriers for marginalized people in every aspect of her work and life. Driven by a strong public service ethic and desire to create an equitable and sustainable society, Das ran for State Senate in 2018, and against all odds, WON!  

Through her successful campaign and election for Washington State Senate, Mona Das experienced first-hand what it’s like to be a marginalized voice shouting to be heard in the echo-chamber of the traditional, political elite. Along her journey, she met a handful of other courageous BIPOC women who, like her, were challenging the status quo. Thus in 2022, she decided not to run for office as she felt called to create greater change from outside of the system. Bad Ass Women Doing Kick Ass Shit (BAWDKAS) was born as a coming together of these women to share their unique, but similar, narratives. The film has won numerous awards including two Telly Awards, an Impact Docs Award, and an award from the Accolade Global Film Competition.