The doers who inspire us daily
Tales from the more than 9000 folks who are running for office across this country
Every day, we go on Twitter (as one does) to read the takes and pass the time. Today, while skimming through the news, it hit us: No one was doing anything.
Don’t get us wrong, we love the Internet. But the Internet isn’t where things really happen. What we see on the Internet might *inspire* us to act, but it’s the people who make moves in the real world that really change things.
So let’s use this little corner of the Internet to celebrate the folks who are doing things — the over 9000 people who are running for office across the country. They are seeing problems in their communities, big and small, and figuring out ways to solve them. Here are some of the doers who inspire us daily, and why they’re choosing to run for office.
A high school civics teacher from Arizona who wants to practice what he preaches:
I am currently teaching high school Civics and Government classes. Part of my instruction has been to encourage my students to take an active role in government, as they are all future voters, and I believe I need to practice what I preach to them. I have America’s youth in my class, made up of different genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, etc. and I want to continue to be an advocate for all of them.
A lifelong activist from San Francisco who thinks it’s time to take the plunge:
I’ve been involved in my communities my whole life, from growing up in an activist, LGBT-friendly church to volunteering for a sexual assault prevention hotline and serving as an RA in college, to working as a counselor at a non-profit practice following grad school. Several years ago, I decided to transition away from direct counseling and into media/marketing, since I realized my skills/personality are better served in public, spreading a message and getting others involved. I currently serve on several nonprofit boards but have been wanting to find a way to get involved in my community in a deeper way and make a stronger impact. Even though I live in an incredibly progressive city, we still have a lot of work to do here, which can also feed into the national discourse and movement.
A nomad from Chicago who is passionate about educational opportunities:
I have a uniquely informed and intersectional perspective on life in the United States and the world. I grew up in Appalachia near Pittsburgh; studied in Indiana, Vermont, and Tanzania; and I settled in Chicago. My passion is for giving every citizen equitable access to the tools like education and training that can empower them to live up to their self-determined potential.
An environmental scientist from Maryland who’s tired of how politicians shun the truth:
I have been an environmental scientist for 7 years now, and lately I have seen attitudes towards science go from skeptical to hateful. Scientists are being ignored, bullied, shunned, and I’m sick and fucking tired of it. I want to get into politics because I feel that we need far more people in politics who have scientific backgrounds, and I don’t know where to start.
A Gen-X Utahn who wants to change the party balance in his state:
I have been a registered Republican in Utah for my entire life. That changed this last election, when Republicans put Trump in office. I believe I could show Utah something other — and better — than entrenched Republican interests. I am, to my dismay as much as anyone else’s, just over 35, but I would still like to make a difference.
A Pennsylvanian who wants to protect civil liberties in his community:
I want to run for office to counteract the attack on our liberties and freedoms currently being perpetrated by the GOP. I want to fight for the rights of every American and serve historically underserved areas. As a black man today, I want to institute a new era of trust and understanding between black populations and the police officers that protect them. I will fight for the proper funding of our inner city schools so that every student is given the tools they need to succeed, and are not just getting pushed through a broken system.
A Californian who thinks it’s time to get off Twitter (amen!):
Instead of posting my opinions on Twitter and the occasional side conversation, I’d like to actually affect change in this country. I think it is imperative to get more millennials involved and take action — instead of complaining about the unfairness of everything or being apathetic to causes that do not affect them.
And a Floridian who think it’s time to get up off the bench and start fighting:
I’m tired of being a bystander.
Ever feel like a bystander? Even if you’re not ready to run, you can still make a huge difference. Sign up to volunteer with us here and help these folks change their communities for the better.