Organizing for Change, Running to Serve

I participated in my first organized protest against government policies in 2003. The United States had decided to go to war against Iraq, and I, along with some of my fellow community members and UMSL students, were deeply opposed. We marched in the streets, we chained ourselves to gates to protest the building of new bombs, we conducted die-ins to represent all of the innocent lives being taken, and we staged sit-ins in our Senator’s office. For me, that time was the beginning of a deeply held belief system that is rooted in my certainty that if something is happening that we believe is wrong, we must speak up.

I spent the subsequent two plus decades actively involved in the causes that mattered the most to me. I’ve written postcards and made phone calls for political candidates. I’ve served as a poll watcher on election day. I’ve attended rallies and blocked highways marching for Black Lives, for Indigenous rights to clean water, and for the right to reproductive healthcare. I’ve participated in many “get out the vote” events to work on actively engaging more people in what is often a confusing, overwhelming, and frustrating political process. I’ve been a ‘protest mom’, bringing new community members to their first protests, more times than I can count.

Beyond the protests, I’ve been a community builder for just as long. My Midwest upbringing taught me that we are stronger together. We should share our knowledge and skills, our zucchini, tomatoes, eggs, and freshly canned jams, with our neighbors. I believe that a barter economy is a good one and that the more people who know how to execute traditional skills, the better off we are as a society. I share from my garden, from my own abundance, and gratefully receive the gifts that others share with me. Our community Gifts and Wishes Group is vibrant and active, sharing so many things, experiences and gifts of service. Trading with other moms for many of my kiddo’s clothes and toys is good for the planet, good for the community, and really good for my bank account!

One thing I never imagined doing was running for a political office. My life has been full with the other ways I’ve chosen to effect change and build community. But over the last few years, I’ve become increasingly disillusioned with our politicians. I’ve found myself questioning, time and again, if they really have our best interests at heart, or if they are in it for the clout, for the favors, and for the big business money interests instead.