Feel-good update: Some inspirational reading…
Read about two young women who are doing more with their lives than we could ever hope to be.
Life can seem pretty bleak these days. But we promise, the world isn’t all bad! Good things are happening because of your efforts. At the top of each week, we’ll post an update for our top volunteers and supporters — that’s you!! — with the only goal being “make you feel good.” Send feedback our way if you’ve got it: hello@runforsomething.net.
If you want to feel hopeful, read Nadya Okamoto in Teen Vogue — at 19, she ran for Cambridge City Council and is braver, more courageous, and more honest than any of us could ever hope to be. A brief excerpt…
There were two major things I underestimated when we jumped in: how much pushback we would get from residents and people all over the United States for even considering a run as a 19-year-old Asian-American student, and alternatively, how much national support we would get for those same reasons. …
We were a small part of a larger national movement for young women and people of color in politics. As an endorsed candidate of Run for Something, a national organization supporting young, progressive candidates, we received private messages and social media shout-outs of support on a daily basis from people all over the world. …
I did not win, but my work does not stop here. I am sharing my experience of running for office candidly, the good and bad, because I think that we need and want more young and progressive candidates running for office. I dream of a future where “too young” will not be a phrase associated with anyone who wants to get involved with trying to better their community. But to achieve that dream, we need young people to act and others to support them doing so.
2017 candidates becoming 2018 elected officials, round two:
The new members of the Virginia House of Delegates were sworn in last week — including our wonderful candidates (now Delegates!), Danica Roem, Chris Hurst, Kelly Fowler, Jennifer Carroll Foy, and Schuyler Van Valkenburg. As the Roanoke Times put it, there is now a “millennial infusion” in the VA state house.
Also major congrats to Jerred McKee, the new city commissioner of Manhattan, Kansas.
More fun reading…
Meet Bushra Amiwala, a 20-year old Muslim woman running a fierce grassroots campaign for a spot on the Cook County Board.
Dame Magazine called us one of the “most effective organizations” doing the work of turning rage into action, along with our pals over at EMILY’s List, Indivisible, Swing Left, and She Should Run.
We spoke with folks over at Vice about why defending net neutrality is a GREAT reason to run for office.
Finally: Later this week, we’ll be rolling out our 2018 strategic plan, another round of incredible endorsements, and a brand new website. We are so hyped to work together to make our 2018 plans a reality.