Community Action Meetings Feature Honest, Open Exchanges
Between Democratic Candidates And African-American Community
The Ohio Democratic Party has been holding Community Action
Meetings around Ohio featuring 2018 Democratic candidates
and providing an opportunity for honest, open exchanges with
members of the African-American community.
"I think it's important to have candidates engaging with the
community because people want to know who they're voting
for, and one of the best ways to accomplish that goal is to
put the candidate directly in front of the voter," said
Jewell Porter, a lead organizer with the Democratic Party
for these events.
So far, the Democratic Party's new Minority Engagement
Program has held Community Action Meetings in Columbus,
Dayton, Toledo, Cincinnati, Akron, and one in Cleveland with
another planned for this week.
At these meetings, excitement has been building, with
anywhere between 75 to 120 people attending evening meetings
during the middle of the work week.
These Community Action Meetings have featured Democratic
candidates discussing why they're running for office, what
the office does, and how it impacts folks' daily lives.
"I think informing people about what offices actually do is
critically important because so many people think that what
happens in our government is removed from their daily
lives," Porter said. "I think it's important to make sure
that voters know exactly why it does matter who the next
secretary of state or treasurer or attorney general actually
is."
Porter said that candidates who've attended these events
include Lt. Gov. candidate Betty Sutton, Secretary of State
nominee Kathleen Clyde, state Treasurer nominee Rob
Richardson, state Auditor nominee Zack Space, and the two
candidates for Ohio Supreme Court, Judges Melody Stewart and
Michael P. Donnelly, and dozens of statewide candidates.
"Making these connections is at the core of what we're
trying to do this year as Democrats," said Richardson. "My
campaign is all about holding the powerful accountable and
prioritizing opportunities for working people. Connecting
with folks where they are to share our message and gather
feedback is making us all stronger."
Too many Ohioans feel like the system is rigged against them
and that their voice doesn't matter and that's what this
election is about, Clyde said.
"Ohioans want a change, someone who will support
minority-owned businesses, bring fairness back to our
districts and fight against continued attacks on our
fundamental right to vote, because every eligible voter
deserves to have their voice heard and their vote counted,"
she said.
Space said he is grateful for the Ohio Democratic Party's
Minority Engagement Plan and its dynamic outreach.
"Candidates have been able to connect with minority
communities more than ever before to truly understand the
systemic injustices these communities face, and to build
relationships that will help us find solutions when in
office," he said.
Latyna Humphrey of the Central Ohio Young Black Democrats
said that she thought the Community Action Meeting she
attended in Columbus was very insightful.
"We talked a lot about what we could do to help communities
of color. A lot of the community got insight about what each
candidate does career wise and how it affects their everyday
lives and they also got a chance to hear about candidates
personal lives," Humphrey said. "I think we need more of
those meetings they're necessary. We need to push/ and
promote more. Although there were a substantial amount of
ppl in the room. There's always room for more."
After the meetings, people have been signing up to volunteer
with the Campaign for Ohio or getting more involved with the
community engagement consultant working in their area,
Porter said. The effort has intentionally targeted people
who don't typically attend events like this because they
want to engage an audience of voters that have felt
neglected in past years.
"One of my favorite things has been the feedback we've
gotten from the candidates," Porter said. "They told me that
they often recognize when the people in the room are the
same people who always come out to events, but these events
are different -- there are new people who they get to
connect with and earn their vote."
She said all of this has allowed them to strengthen the
connective tissue between black Democrats and the Democratic
Party, and increase buy-in between community stakeholders,
The effort is all about inclusion, and opportunity, and
community for everybody, she said.
"When people are heard and engaged, they are empowered,"
Porter said. "We want everyone to feel empowered this year,
because we truly do have the power to lift up each other and
make a historic difference together."
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