Let's Get Out There!
10/01/20 • 13 min
As a sixteen year old growing up outside Detroit, Vanessa Velazquez was shocked by her family’s outrageous water bill. After helping her mom pay the bill, she questioned the bigger political context of social justice issues in her city. In Let’s Get Out There, we learn how that experience motivated her to study political science at Michigan State, and end up as an organizer in the Detroit area fighting to do something about it.
Now, as the Field Director for Detroit Action, Vanessa is managing a team of organizers working nonstop to reach 150,000 potential voters in their critical swing state. Their goal goes far beyond getting the residents to vote--they’re building power and a voting culture that can transform the political context and guarantee people’s basic rights--rights like secure housing and government accountability. Of course, voting in November is a crucial first step!
Guest: Vanessa Velazquez--Field Director for Detroit Action
Find Us Online:
-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/
-Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct
-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast
As a sixteen year old growing up outside Detroit, Vanessa Velazquez was shocked by her family’s outrageous water bill. After helping her mom pay the bill, she questioned the bigger political context of social justice issues in her city. In Let’s Get Out There, we learn how that experience motivated her to study political science at Michigan State, and end up as an organizer in the Detroit area fighting to do something about it.
Now, as the Field Director for Detroit Action, Vanessa is managing a team of organizers working nonstop to reach 150,000 potential voters in their critical swing state. Their goal goes far beyond getting the residents to vote--they’re building power and a voting culture that can transform the political context and guarantee people’s basic rights--rights like secure housing and government accountability. Of course, voting in November is a crucial first step!
Guest: Vanessa Velazquez--Field Director for Detroit Action
Find Us Online:
-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/
-Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct
-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast
Previous Episode
It Mattered! Gerrymander Reform in Michigan
In this episode we move to Michigan, where a group of novice activists got fed up with gerrymandered districts with politicians who were unaccountable to the people, and decided to do something about it.
Nancy Wang is the Executive Director of Voters Not Politicians, the nonprofit organization that led the 2018 campaign to defeat gerrymandering in Michigan, but that was never her plan. Responding to a Facebook post from a stranger, Nancy became one of the thousands of volunteers throughout the state to get involved. As an attorney, she ended up leading the policy committee that drafted the new amendment. Eventually she left her job teaching law at the University of Michigan to head up the organization full-time.
Listen and feel hopeful. People-power is real!
Guests
- Nancy Wang is the Executive Director and a founding member of Voters Not Politicians. As a volunteer, Nancy led the policy committee that wrote the constitutional amendment language with input from the public, and served as Board President during the Proposal 2 campaign. @NancyWangVotes
- Katie Fahey is the Co-Founder and Executive Director at The People. She started the grassroots campaign that ultimately became Voters Not Politicians. @KTeaFahey
- Art Reyes III is the founding Executive Director of We The People Michigan. He was born and raised in Flint, MI and hails from three generations of proud UAW members. @ArtReyesIII
Find Us Online
-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/
-Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct
-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast
Next Episode
Persevere with Dignity and Grace
Laura Misumi, a fourth generation Japanese American, will give you hope! With her innovative strategy for organizing and mobilizing Asian Americans in Michigan, she is building community and fostering lasting political engagement. She will also open your eyes to the ways in which Japanese Americans have been fighting for justice for decades. Laura’s organization, Rising Voices for Asian American Families, is targeting 183,000 Asian American voters in carefully selected counties in this very important swing state. It’s an effort and a constituency that absolutely have the capacity to change the outcome of the State and Federal elections.
Guests:
- Laura Misumi (Managing Director, Detroit Action and Executive Director, Rising Voices of Asian American Families)
- Munni Rahman (Canvasser)
- Branden Snyder (Executive Director, Detroit Action)
Find Us Online:
-Website: https://www.thepledgepodcast.com/
-Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2FJVtjN
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PledgetoAct
-Twitter: https://twitter.com/PledgePodcast
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