We’re continuing our theme of organizing in the South this week with an interview with an RWB Network group leader named Carrie.
Carrie lives in Georgia and her group includes many women who feel outnumbered, outvoted, and totally alone in their rural red communities. But the truth is, you’re never alone. You can always find at least one person who shares your values and feels the same way that you do. In the case of Carrie’s hugely successful group, you can find 240 of them!
But there’s no denying that being surrounded by MAGA supporters can be demoralizing. Carrie herself is married to a 3-time Trump voter, and she admits it can be difficult. But that doesn’t stop her from going out and doing good work in her community, like organizing protests and encouraging folks to be poll workers.
She says she wishes she could say she’s converted her husband, but in the meantime, she’s working hard to make sure they don’t just cancel each others’ votes out in a contest of 1 against 1. Instead, she’s found 240 friends who are each talking to their own friends about voting, multiplying that 1 vote by hundreds or even thousands.
The fellowship and emotional support she receives from her group members isn’t just icing on the cake. It’s the foundation of her political work. As RWB founder Katie Paris said during the interview,
“For there to be any kind of sustained community involvement, like we need so desperately right now, you’ve gotta create that sense of belonging.
You could have all the great tools and programs in the world, and those are necessary. People do need concrete things to be able to get involved with and to know they’re making an impact. But if they don’t have that sense of connection and belonging, it’s not gonna be sticky. It’s not gonna keep them coming back.”
Life is rarely simple, and all the more so for a political organizer in the South. But with the help of her friends, Carrie is doing more than canceling out her husband’s vote. She’s creating a movement.
It’s not too late to join a Red Wine & Blue Network group before the midterms. You can search for one in your area here!
