It has now been three weeks in and I can honestly say I am beginning to understand the true nature of organizing and the dedication that it takes to garner victories. It has been reaffirmed to me that it is a process to gain ground and build upon success in the causes that you fight for. This process can be long and difficult at times but it is all worth the hard work once you know that you have truly made a crucial impact. And after all, nothing in life that is worth it and meaningful comes easy, and if it does you’re in the wrong fight. In addition, it has been interesting to witness firsthand, beyond basic understanding, the political process behind the scenes that the general public is not exposed to.
Robert, Zaina, and I have met with several elected officials to discuss the movement to have a constitutional amendment stating “corporations are not people and money is not free speech.” Moreover we met with a high ranking point person involved with the Democratic National Convention, which will take place in Charlotte in September, to have this same language incorporated into the event, on the grand stage. This, coupled with our push to hold our Film Screening and Voter Empowerment open forum on June 28th, organizing churches for “Souls to the Polls,” having our “Shades of Democracy” poetry and mobilization night on July 4th, the push to hold a press conference on re-franchising ex-felons, and the radio show and community celebration and planning event that we did in Asheville shows how busy we have been. It also highlights the drive that each one of us has to connect the communities we serve with the work we do. We all understand that we need to meet people where they are, and all of our events and activities are planned and coordinated with this in mind. Joy only begins to describe what I feel with the progress we have made and what is on the horizon, what we hope to accomplish in the coming weeks.
This team assembled in Charlotte bleeds production, no-nonsense conversation and action. I believe we will continue to do great things for the Charlotte community that I personally love so very deeply. No obstacle we encounter can stump our growth. The team understands that the battles we fight now are positioning the causes we champion for triumph in the end. It is this mindset that will spawn the political climate that we hope to see, not only for the Queen City of Charlotte, but for North Carolina as a whole.
Stefan
Charlotte Team
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