WA Blog Series: Odalis Octaviano

Hello! My name is Odalis Octaviano (she/her/ella) and I am a canvas lead this year for the Washington Weekends of Action for the Yakima Valley/legislative district 14.

I was inspired to sign up for the canvas lead position through MJ from CP. I was able to accompany her and a group last year in Sunnyside,WA as we canvassed the local school board elections. It was my first experience of canvassing and I loved the connection and my time with not only the voters of the doors we knocked on but also the team engagement with the rest of the group!

It felt rewarding to be able to inform registered voters and empower their voices in their communities.

As a canvas lead for this season, I enjoy helping make sure each volunteer is equipped with the necessary tools they need to have fun and know what to do while canvassing this district! I love being able to support the work being done in this district because it is incredible to be seeing the change and progress of voters feeling inspired or motivated to vote for these candidates

Legislative District 14 is unique because it has undergone some redistricting changes to help make sure the voters and leaders are able to represent and accommodate for the large Latine population in this area. This district is also made up of agricultural workers and smaller towns that are often not as connected to their political leaders when it comes to decision making. We are all hoping this new election brings along a change to all of this! Maria Beltran, a candidate whose campaign we are working with, won the majority vote during the primary elections which we also helped support in weeks leading up to the primary elections, which was such a huge and important win and a step forward for the general election! This win also showed that this election can be a short race but nonetheless has motivated us to continue to campaign and volunteer for a genuine candidate who is wanting to uplift and support the communities in this district.

We have had an overall very positive response at the doors, with registered voters who have been welcoming, inviting and eager to speak about important issues that they care about!

This population often does not get asked personally what their issues are of importance for, so it’s amazing to see how much each person shares about their life stories and hometown communities.

We have also seen how diverse the district is in its underlying issues from public safety, sanitation, education and worker’s rights. I’ve had experiences with voters where they were willing to express previous frustrations with their community elections due to a lack of change, and nonetheless people are still excited about a candidate who is truly genuine and wants to bring change to the district by increasing inclusivity and bringing more people into these conversations!

As someone who has family across this district, it’s been incredible to be able to have this engagement and connection with these communities to increase voter engagement in this area.

If you are considering volunteering with this district please sign up, even just for a day, there’s so much work to do right here in this state to give a voice to these underrepresented communities for these progressive leaders such as Maria Beltran! We are working with an awesome campaign and it’s so nice to see candidates canvass with their teams and to hear directly from them about their goals and plans for this district!

WA Blog Series: Theresa Mannix

Hello, CPers! I joined Common Power in 2020 and have door knocked in several states. What a fantastic experience! But this year I decided to concentrate in my home state of Washington in a very consequential race. There are a few reasons I decided to focus on WA D3 in southwest Washington and become a canvas lead with Cynthia Putnam.

First, I am completely inspired by Marie herself!

As a rural mom who works in the trades, she fights for working class families, supports reproductive rights, wants to expand the childcare tax credit, secure the border, invest in technical and career education for her district, and make things easier for small businesses to succeed. She’s rated one of the most bipartisan members of Congress—a sure sign she wants to get things done that will help her district.

Second, the Democrats want to take back the House of Representatives; it’s imperative to hold onto incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s seat!

Trump won this district by 4.2% in 2020; we must convince some voters to split their ballot this election. Finally, I believe her opponent is a danger to society. He is a Trump-endorsed, MAGA far-right candidate whose extreme views don’t reflect the district.

Marie’s district is varied--from urban Vancouver to coastal Pacific county and rural Lewis, southern Thurston, and Skamania counties. Common Power volunteers have canvassed in the cities, the suburbs and the rural areas. We go where Marie’s campaign thinks we’ll be most effective. We’re flexible! Each venue requires different tactics and strategies. The city of Vancouver is Marie’s stronghold, and our efforts there are to encourage Marie’s supporters to vote early, and encourage friends, family and neighbors to GOTV! The residents at one house said they had a block party the night before and everyone planned to vote for Marie! We had great conversations and were able to get a number of residents to put up yard signs. Rural areas, like Rochester, were a completely different scene, and posed some challenges. The turf was spread out, some houses were difficult to find. And a good number were inaccessible—barking doors, locked gates, and some residents who didn’t even want us on the roads. Despite this, and although this might be considered Republican territory, we found so many gracious, supportive people--like the man who had a giant white cross on his barn. Oh no, we thought, not a likely Marie supporter. But we were so wrong. Strong supporter! Goes to show you, we can’t make assumptions. And the volunteers—some experienced, some newbies--were remarkable and completely up to the task. 

Door knocking for Marie is something that you can plan just a few days before we hit the pavement. You can decide to do a Saturday or a Sunday—or both! We often have carpools from the Seattle area.

If you want to spend the night, we’ll recommend a local hotel. Come join us in the last few weeks of this very important race! We would love to have you!

Check out all Marie did in Congress in 2023 and see what she plans to do in the future

WA Blog Series: Cynthia Putnam

What I learned from doorbelling for Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Hi all. I’m Cynthia Putnam, a volunteer with Common Power’s (CP) Washington Weekends of Action. I live in Seattle in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. When the opportunity arose to support CP’s work in Washington State and to work with the amazing CP staffer, Maria Jimenez, I jumped on it. Together with Theresa Mannix, I co-lead weekend teams of volunteers to doorbell in the 3rd Congressional District (Vancouver-Centralia area) for Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Marie won by a mere 2,600 votes in 2022. Her opponent, Joe Kent, is challenging her again, and the race is tight.

In CP fashion, we’re partnering with the local field office of the Marie for Congress campaign. Our role is to support their doorbelling strategy to get Marie re-elected. We’ve been at it since July, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. In this blog, I share some of the highlights and big takeaways.

• Doorbelling is targeted. We don’t go to a neighborhood and knock on every door. Who we target is determined by the local partner. In this campaign, we knocked on the doors of registered voters leaning democrat. Some were consistent voters while others were sporadic, voting in some elections and not others. This targeted approach improved the likelihood of meeting voters receptive to Marie’s work while minimizing angry or annoyed responses at the door.

• Is doorbelling effective? This was a common question from conversations with friends, usually followed by “I don’t answer the door unless I know who’s there.” I asked this of myself before signing up to volunteer. Through my own research, I learned that it is effective, particularly for persuading voters in primary elections or local elections where the candidates are less well-known and voters’ opinions are less formed. We saw a marked improvement in voter familiarity with Marie’s name and her work in Congress as the summer progressed between July and September.

• Asking questions of a voter is the best way to initiate a conversation. The answer they give to the simple question – “what issues are you concerned about?” -- can help us explain what Marie is doing to address their concern, be it education, jobs, crime and more.

• Voters know less about their congressional reps than they do presidential and gubernatorial candidates (and it gets worse further down the ballot). Yet down ballot candidates for city, county and school board positions, once elected, make decisions that touch our lives in daily ways from the quality of our schools, policing, fire protection and emergency services, water, garbage and more. We gave examples of what Marie has done to support local needs by bringing dollars from the other Washington (Washington, DC) to expand technical college programs for good jobs that don’t require a degree, and for the I-5 bridge repair – a $660 million investment. 

• Washington’s election system makes it super easy for everyone to vote. We don’t need to waste time at the door explaining polling locations and where to vote. Instead, we focus on when ballots are due to arrive in the mail, and how and when to return them. For those who aren’t registered in the household, we explain how to get registered and the ease of doing it online.

• Joe Biden won with 91 percent of Seattle voters. That tells me, as a Seattle resident, that I live the bluest of bubbles surrounded by people who reinforce my own values every day – in the grocery line, at the bus stop, in the locker room. While I may not agree with a voter’s opinion on a matter, it’s refreshing to hear different perspectives from the ones in my bubble. For example, the voter whose union leadership endorses Democrats while he and his co-workers vote Republican to “protect their industry”; the voters dependent on VA benefits who worked with Marie to stop the closure of local VA clinic; the voters whose biggest concern is protecting their freedom to bear arms. My voter stories have been the subject of some of the best, most meaningful conversations with friends and colleagues.

When I return to Seattle after a weekend knocking on doors, I like to take a couple of days of downtime to hike in the mountains and catch up with friends. Doorbelling isn’t for everyone, but if your interest is piqued in supporting Marie for Congress, I hope you’ll join us for an upcoming Washington Weekend of Action. And if doorbelling isn’t your thing, there are lots of other ways to engage. And Common Power is your one-stop shop!

WA Blog Series: Maria Jimenez

Hello, it’s Maria, also known as MJ in the CP community!

I am a Senior Fieldwork Program Manager and have been lucky enough to be part of a great team since 2019. Over the years with CP I have traveled to Florida, Arizona, Texas and Virginia. This year I  was given the unique opportunity to lead efforts in my home state, the beautiful Evergreen State of Washington.

In early spring this year, Fieldwork launched “WA Weekends of Action” ; different from regular Common Power State teams and travel, these are local efforts that are flexible, short-2 day opportunities and only a driving distance within Washington State. Some may ask, why focus on Washington? What’s important this year that can truly impact the 2024 election? 

In the last couple of years, Common Power has supported important races such as Congresswoman Kim Schrier in Washington’s 8th Congressional District. In the Fall of 2023, Washington’s Democratic Party Chair, Shasti Conrad, asked CP to support a slate of candidates running for City Council in Sunnyside. We are proud to say we were part of the efforts that placed Latinx representation in that City Council, a huge win for the community in that city. 

Our presence, work, and dedication to these efforts were seen and valued. As a result, Washington Democratic Party asked Common Power for help in supporting work in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District to ensure Marie Gluesenkamp Perez secures her re-election for U.S House. They also asked us to continue our work in Eastern Washington, this time supporting Maria Beltran for State Senate in Washington’s newest Legislative District (LD 14) in the Yakima Valley.

Our top priority this year is to re-elect Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez for the U.S House. Her race against Trump-appointed candidate, Joe Kent is a toss-up meaning the margins are small, every conversation with voters matter and can truly make a huge difference in this race. I appreciate everyone who has been a part of this work. Although not a top priority, Maria Beltran’s race for State Senate in Yakima’s new legislative district is an opportunity to bring deserved representation to the Latinx communities living there. Also an important toss-up race we’re proud to support! 

I invite you to consider joining our efforts to support Marie Gluesenkamp Perez or Maria Beltan. We have dates through the election! Visit our WA Weekends of Action One-Stop Shop for our sign-ups and more. 

Check out additional blog posts for more on Washington efforts from our amazing Canvas lead’s perspectives — both of our Canvas leads Cynthia Putnam and Theresa Mannix leading work in 3rd Congressional District for Marie Gluesenkamp Perez as well as Odalis Octaviano leading work in Yakima for Maria Beltran. 

In Community, 

MJ 

With Friends & Family: The Lanfair Family

By Jameela and Jordan Lanfair
Jordan is an Educator Ambassador and The Institute for CP and Team WI Lead

Helping People Learn About Voting With My Dad by Jameela Lanfair (Transcribed by her Dad Jordan Lanfair)

When we went to Virginia to help people learn about voting I was happy. I was excited about voting because voting is all about using your voice. When we were canvassing, we would go knock on people’s doors and tell them about the election and who they could vote for. We went together and it was fun. We got to play, meet people, have snacks, and see new places. People were nice and wanted to talk to us. I want to go canvassing again because it was fun the last time we went and voting is important. People should vote because if you don’t use your voice people may not understand you or know how you feel about things. I’m happy I got to help. 

Helping People Learn About Voting with My Daughter by Jordan Lanfair (Supervised by his daughter Jameela Lanfair)

Getting to go to Virginia with Common Power was one of the best experiences of my life. It wasn’t just that we got to be a part of a vibrant community, or that we got to see how New Virginia Majority and other partners think about political strategy, it was that I got to show my daughter how showing up for people and elections matter.

Everyday, we’d wake up, have breakfast, and then engage in conversations with volunteers from all over before setting out to knock on doors. The kids became pros at hanging literature and using different doorbells and over the course of traveling it became clearer that we do this because the best way to change things is to meet each other.

We were also honored to meet amazing women that she could learn from and ask questions like Celestria, Victoria, Larcy, and Dr. Geary, and Dr. Scott of CP, as well as Tram Nguyen of New Virginia Majority. It’s one thing to tell her that she can be and do anything she sets her heart to, it's another for her to walk alongside people who are actually doing it. 

We’ll be heading to Wisconsin in the coming weeks to do the same and I continue to hope that we will see more families and parents out together. The best way I know to show my daughter what matters to me is by bringing her along and engaging her in the act. Every election she goes to vote with me, but these trips have been about how we help others engage in the process of using their voice and showing everyone what is most important to them. There are a lot of political issues that she is still asking me about and trying to wrap her mind around, but at the most basic level, we love getting to canvas because action is the gift we can give to our community. It’s a gift I’m proud to give to places with my favorite person ever and i hope we get to see you all out there as well.

With Friends & Family: The Casey-Goldsteins

By Mary Casey-Goldstein and Steve Goldstein
Long-time CP Volunteers

We were feeling devastated by the results of the 2016 election, so when friends invited us to join them in a new volunteer group that was just being started by David Domke in the spring of 2018, we jumped on it. After a few Saturday workshops, we signed on to participate on the Wisconsin Team and made our first trip there that summer.  Now here we are 6 years, several trips to Wisconsin and other states, as well as many phone banks and postcards later, and we really feel like we have made a difference. Taking action feels good - and it’s been fun too!

We have now been to 4 states with CP - Wisconsin, Virginia, Florida and Georgia – and we’ve had lots of great experiences on all of our trips.  But when all is said and done, Wisconsin has become our home team. We’ve gotten to know the city of Milwaukee and some of the surrounding areas. We have our favorite restaurants and coffee spots, and free time activities. No trip is complete without a visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Third Ward, Collectevo coffee shops, the shores of Lake Michigan, and good old Beans and Barley. 

We have met new friends on each of our trips, many of whom have become part of our social network here in Seattle. Some we see regularly in town at social functions, the gym, and we even joined a book group with some of our Wisconsin folks. We feel lucky that we have so many opportunities to interact and work with people of different backgrounds and ages. That is one of the things that is so special about our involvement in CP.  We look forward to new events and trips so we can catch up with the folks that we don’t see regularly and to meeting new people as CP grows.

Charles (Douglas) has often said - “You come for the work, but you stay for the people.”  That has definitely been true for us. The work is important and it has been rewarding, but it’s the people that keep us coming back!

With Friends & Family: Luke Michener

By Luke Michener
Senior Education Specialist, The Institute for CP

My kids have this book we read together called “Vote For Our Future.” It’s this cute story about an elementary school in Anytown, USA that closes down on election day so that it can become a polling place. My young sons and I have read that book together a number of times. 

In the book the elementary students learn about what elections are and they talk to their friends and loved ones about the importance of voting. They share lessons they have learned about the history of voting, and about how some people used to not be allowed to vote. The students learn that some people today vote in every election, and to their bewilderment they learn that some people chose not to vote. 

The students also learn that they can take action. They help organize to get out the vote and they help unregistered voters to sign up. 

It’s a beautifully illustrated story about what America should be; a diverse and inclusive democracy that hears and respects the will of the people - all people. The children learn that the winners in these elections get to make the rules, and the candidates that lose accept the outcome.

It’s in the spirit of this story and of this vision for our country that my six-year-old son joined me and Common Power Team Wisconsin on a field work trip to Milwaukee. 

Our local partners in Milwaukee were the Wis-Dems and a Milwaukee based org called Power to the Polls. The Wis-Dems were canvassing in Milwaukee to increase voter turn-out in an upcoming primary and Power to the Polls was trying to engage more Black folks in the city in the democratic process. 

My son and I were on a small canvassing team which included Jordan, an educator from Chicago and dear friend of mine, along with Lilly and Davis, two incredible gen-z organizers. Together we knocked on hundreds of doors over four days. Team Wisconsin that weekend knocked on approximately 3,400 doors.  

My son became quite the expert at finding the doorbell or figuring out just the right force to knock with, and the best place to drop the literature if nobody answered. He also met a few new buddies, including a sweet little girl in North Milwaukee who offered him a pack of her fruit snacks. We also took some breaks at playgrounds in the neighborhoods, stopped for a rootbeer (and an IPA for dad) at a local brewery. The Green Bay Packers are now his second favorite NFL team. Go Seahawks! 

We knocked on doors and talked to voters in the same way that children did in “Vote For Our Future.” We asked people what mattered most to them, if they knew who they were voting for in the upcoming election, and if they needed any help finding their polling place. We connected with people, together.

It’s an experience that my son still talks about. It wasn’t all easy; travel with a young one presents challenges, canvassing is tiring, and there was the occasional grump at the door, but the experience made a big impression on both of us, and we made a difference. 

With Friends & Family: Carri Urbanski

By Carri Urbanski
Ohio Team Lead

I’ve been a team lead with Common Power since 2021, but it wasn’t until recently that I brought along loved ones on fieldwork travel. Voter activism adds purpose and fulfillment to my life, and I wanted them to share in that joy. So, when I traveled to Columbus, Ohio for the primaries this year, I brought along my husband, our 10 year-old son, and a friend.

In addition to being a volunteer, I’m a busy mom with a career and lots of responsibilities. Trying to make it all work while separating out all those identities (mom, wife, employee, volunteer, etc.) gets overwhelming. However, when I can blur the lines and combine some of those roles, as I did in Columbus, I’m able to fully live in the moment and focus on what matters most. And, since they are already structured towards multigenerational fieldwork, Common Power was able to offer me the flexibility and support I needed to balance out my personal commitments, even while serving as a team lead.

During the trip, my husband, Chris, was canvassing with a CP staffer when a woman stopped them to ask what they were doing. After they explained, she told them she was interested in getting involved and asked for contact information to help in the general election.

This is the kind of ripple effect we have on others. My work brought in Chris, who paid it forward by bringing in another volunteer, and so on.

One of my favorite memories of the trip was when my friend and I canvassed the home of a 78 year-old woman who recounted her first voting experience. She has cast her ballot in every election since then, despite voter suppression tactics in her way. She was so grateful for the work we’re doing that she gave us each a hug. We’ll win some elections, and we’ll lose some, but it was a reminder to stay in the fight for people like her. My friend just signed up for her second CP trip.

If you’re ready to bring loved ones into fieldwork, remember that they may need extra support at first. Common Power is intentional about cultivating an inclusive, respectful community based on core values and principles, and they do it through awareness and education. Even if they’ve canvassed before, volunteers who are new to Common Power can benefit from the (free!) training series to help them do fieldwork in the CP way.

As a parent, it’s my job to create a better future for my son through civic duty, while at the same time teaching him to proactively stand up for his own ideals. And when he sees both parents doing this work together, the importance is compounded. It made me proud to show them my leadership on this trip, and in turn I was proud of them for getting involved. There is no better way to learn than through action, and there is no better way to act than together.

Action Academy ‘24 Reflection From Program Manager

Hello Common Power Community!

My name is Blossom Pianwi, and I’m the current Program Manager for Action Academy, a 10-week program focused on civic engagement and voter history education within the CPFuture department at Common Power (CP). Fun fact: Action Academy is where my journey with CP began!

My CP Journey

Back in the Spring of 2021—right in the middle of the pandemic—I received an email at Hood College about a virtual 10-week program offering a $1,000 stipend. As a college student, it was a no-brainer, so I signed up! The following year, I was invited back as a Crew Lead for the 2022 cohort. After that, CPFuture offered a great opportunity to work on a Misinformation and Disinformation Campaign alongside Ahmed Baba, an Action Academy guest speaker and owner of Rantt Media. A few other Crew Leads and students joined the initiative, and let me tell you—it was SO fun! We learned how to spot fake news, distinguish misinformation from disinformation, and even how to handle internet trolls coming after us for our liberal views. This experience brought me closer to the CPFuture team.

In 2023, I started working as a contractor, helping Larcy, and I eventually became a Program Assistant for that year’s Action Academy cohort. I was SO nervous! But Larcy, Asha, Binh, and Charles saw something in me I hadn’t yet recognized—a natural ability to lead. Later that year, with Larcy’s belief in me and the freedom she gave me to take charge, I developed a 6-month internship program called Campus Leads. We recruited 14 students—8 from the East Coast and 6 from the West Coast—who had completed Action Academy and wanted to continue working with CPFuture. Elizabeth Hernandez, a CPFuture contractor, joined me in this effort. During the internship, students practiced networking, mobilizing, and educating by recruiting others for the 2024 Action Academy, phone banking and text banking with their peers, and conducting voter registration drives on their campuses. By 2023, I had gone from overseeing 7 Crew Leads and 100 students in Action Academy to creating my own 6-month program with 14 students spread across the country! The impact of this work became evident when Larcy and I noticed a huge increase in interest from the colleges involved in Campus Leads.

In early 2024, we opened the Action Academy application, and by March, we had 170 applicants. By April, we were up to over 200 applications, with 30+ people applying to be Crew Leads. With such a massive cohort, we needed more of everything—more staff, more structure, more planning! By May, I was offered a full-time position at CP, transitioning from a contractor to a CPFuture Associate. In this role, I now oversee programs, manage our teams, and build relationships with Gen Z. It's wild to think that I started with CP as a 21-year-old STEM student, and now, at 24, I'm preparing to be a graduate student. I’ve truly watched myself blossom into a leader!

Before Action Academy, I had minimal management experience. When I became Program Assistant in 2023, I was thrown into the deep end. My days were packed with meetings with Larcy to plan the week, coordinating with Crew Leads, emailing guest speakers, hosting sessions, arranging recordings, and managing student payments. The following year, managing 30+ people only amplified these responsibilities. We developed a system for dividing and managing our growing team, and let me tell you, it was intense! As you'll see in the breakdown of our team below for 2024:

Challenges in Managing

Managing such a large and diverse group comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the biggest was ensuring effective communication across different time zones, schedules, and interests. To tackle this, I made it a point to have one-on-one meetings with each potential Crew Lead to learn their schedules and plan accordingly. Another challenge was introducing remote work to students who were more familiar with in-person environments. To help with this, we held a Crew Lead Retreat where we discussed expectations, responsibilities, and the ins and outs of working remotely.

The Crew Lead Retreat in Seattle has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me. Many of you in the CP community had the chance to meet some of our Crew Leads this year during the retreat, and even canvassed with them. Hosting over 30 Gen Z leaders—many of whom had never traveled before—was incredible. The retreat is a crash course in leadership development, job training, and bonding. It's one of the few times we get all our new CPFuture leaders under one roof to learn, grow, and make mistakes together, truly embodying the motto "Further Together."

 Mentoring Gen Z

Working with Gen Z is one of the best parts of my job. I relate to them, love hearing their stories, and I’m always inspired by their visions for the future of America. My mentorship style mirrors the autonomy Larcy gave me—I want to empower these young leaders to create their own programs and express their ideas. Mentoring remotely involves FaceTime calls, texts, and emails to check in, offer support, and ensure they feel open to giving me feedback. By creating a space where they feel secure and heard, I build strong relationships with them. So when we meet in person, it's like reconnecting with old friends!

When we’re on the ground for trips, my role shifts slightly to help guide them through new environments. They learn quickly, but I often have to help them adjust their mindsets, especially when it comes to shifting focus from themselves to the mission at hand. Our pre-travel meetings and pep talks help prepare them for this adjustment.

 A Journey of Growth

Overall, managing and mentoring these bright young leaders has been a journey of personal growth for me. I’ve become better at listening, conflict resolution, and have developed more patience. I feel more grounded, mature, and eager to continue evolving as a young leader.

I love working with CPFuture because I see hope when I work with Gen Z. They embody everything I believe America should be—inclusive, caring, and resilient. CPFuture is a catalyst for change, and Gen Z is driving that change forward!

Looking Forward to Fall with Fieldwork

I preface this statement in admitting that I was never really a big fan of the heat; I’m more than ready to embrace the dry cold that is winter. That being said, this winter, I have a lot more to look forward to than the weather. Leading Michigan was a plan at the beginning of the Summer that came to fruition in the past couple months, and I could not be more thrilled to do it alongside anyone other than Ron, Mary, and Nathania. There really is no better way to end the Summer for me personally, than to have begun preparations for such an invigorating and exciting Winter.

I have been craving the type of weather that we’ll get in the Fall, because sweating at doors makes it a bit tougher to think through conversations with voters. This Fall I’m leading Michigan, and will be in Lansing (September), Flint (October), and Detroit (November) for election week, and cannot wait to ask around for hand warmers, complain about my fingers being too cold to type, and cozy up to the overly firm mattresses that the Mariott will offer us. Putting the weather that I can’t help but constantly bring up aside, this is the most important election of my lifetime FOR SURE.

It was a bit of an overdrawn conclusion in my mind before Kamala became the Democratic nominee for president, but I must admit that the events preceding Biden’s decision to step down, and the things that ensued after, have completely sold me on the dramatics. The "insane claims” have never felt more legitimate. The hard work somehow feels even easier. Our work is cut out for us, and I’m lucky to be here with you all to quite literally fight for all that matters to you and I. I close in admitting that being able to stand up for what matters is, in many ways, a privilege, and I’m grateful for it. 

I used to handle packages for Home Depot for a living; an overnight job that I juggled between school and my personal life. Now? I contribute to literally saving democracy and I get to call it my job. Coolest shit ever if you ask me.

- Matthew, Marketing & Fieldwork Intern / Michigan Team Lead