As part of a continuing series, we followed Obama Organizing Fellows as they shared their stories and their experiences. They discussed the people they met, the hardships of organizing, what the campaign means to them, and how this summer has changed each one's perspective.
Andy was an Organizing Fellow in Ohio. His stories appeared each Wednesday.
The fellows program in Columbus, Ohio has come to a close with a bang. The six weeks of fun and hard work culminated in a giant open house to celebrate the end of the program and the transition to the next stage of the campaign. The energy built up in the room as more and more people poured into the office. Everyone was very excited to be there with smiles on their faces. We all mingled for a short period, discussing all that we had accomplished together and what we could do going forward. Then we shifted focus and began a group meeting. Everyone gathered into the main room and packed in because of limited space.The meeting was a chance for the Fellows that were leaving to say goodbye to all of the wonderful members of the community that they had met. It was also a chance for the Fellows who are staying through November as field organizers to reintroduce themselves and tell people what area of Columbus they will be working in. Elaina is one of the fellows who graduated to being a field organizer and will be working in Hilliard.Elaina grew up as a child of an immigrant, just like Barack. Her whole life she has been told that Americans can do anything if they work hard enough for it. However, she now sees opportunity shrinking in America. She told me that her parents are responsible, hard-working Americans, but they still live paycheck to paycheck and struggle to pay for healthcare and retirement. Growing up seeing this inspired Elaina to get involved in her community as a youth minister in the South Bronx. As a youth minister in the South Bronx, she did more than just teach children. She worked with her church on many fronts to combat the issues that were challenging her community. The public schools in her area were in dire straits, and she worked tirelessly to ensure that they had the resources they needed to succeed. Her community was also in flux and worked to promote a stable foundation for the families of the South Bronx to thrive in.Elaina came to this program because of her background in the South Bronx. Even though she learned a lot there, the fellowship has been highly instructive for Elaina. As much as she valued her community in the South Bronx, she has always had a slightly individualistic nature and would sometimes try to tackle problems on her own. When she came to this campaign, she found that it was essential to work together for success. That is why she is grateful to those in Columbus who have providing her with housing, food, and most importantly, inspiration.Being in Columbus reminds her that "people everywhere struggle with the same problems." Elaina is staying on with the campaign and postponing going to graduate school and seminary. She is foregoing scholarships and putting her entire life on hold. She is giving up all of these things because she believes that "communities across this country deserve better." I am pleased to say that I will be staying with the campaign through November as well. I know I can work as hard as possible until then because of people like Elaina and everyone else I have met in these six weeks. From people who give up an hour on Saturday to those who forego seminary, every person's contribution to this movement makes a huge difference.I want to take a final moment to thank everyone I have had the joy of working with so far as well as thank the people who are involved that I have not had the pleasure of meeting yet. I know that all of us are making change in our communities, and that together we can change this country.
As a youth minister in the South Bronx, she did more than just teach children. She worked with her church on many fronts to combat the issues that were challenging her community. The public schools in her area were in dire straits, and she worked tirelessly to ensure that they had the resources they needed to succeed. Her community was also in flux and worked to promote a stable foundation for the families of the South Bronx to thrive in.
Elaina came to this program because of her background in the South Bronx. Even though she learned a lot there, the fellowship has been highly instructive for Elaina. As much as she valued her community in the South Bronx, she has always had a slightly individualistic nature and would sometimes try to tackle problems on her own. When she came to this campaign, she found that it was essential to work together for success. That is why she is grateful to those in Columbus who have providing her with housing, food, and most importantly, inspiration.Being in Columbus reminds her that "people everywhere struggle with the same problems." Elaina is staying on with the campaign and postponing going to graduate school and seminary. She is foregoing scholarships and putting her entire life on hold. She is giving up all of these things because she believes that "communities across this country deserve better."
I am pleased to say that I will be staying with the campaign through November as well. I know I can work as hard as possible until then because of people like Elaina and everyone else I have met in these six weeks. From people who give up an hour on Saturday to those who forego seminary, every person's contribution to this movement makes a huge difference.I want to take a final moment to thank everyone I have had the joy of working with so far as well as thank the people who are involved that I have not had the pleasure of meeting yet. I know that all of us are making change in our communities, and that together we can change this country.
Visit out our Flickr page for more of Andy's photos.
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