I went to the proverbial well today.
Three times.
I started off at the Poor People’s Campaign rally in Springfield. Sharing a few pictures with you (above).
I didn’t go as a candidate. I went to ground myself in why I’m running for elected office.
Because I believe health care is a human right.
Because we need climate justice now.
Because I want to stand in solidarity with communities on the frontlines of racism and economic injustice.
Because I believe in people power to make change happen.
And because I love Reverend Barber, on whose prophetic shoulders this movement stands.
(I’ve gotten to work with Reverend Barber during my time at MoveOn and I wanted to be able to tell him personally that I showed up to help swell the numbers at a critical rally near my home town.)
I saw so many friends from up and down our valley. Heard courageous speakers calling us to take to effective and sustained action.
And I kept going.
Tonight I went to the Sanctuary in the Streets General Assembly.
I don’t have enough words to talk about he stellar and absolutely radical organizing and community building happening in our region thanks to the Pioneer Valley Workers’ Center, which anchors these meetings and so much else in our region.
And I kept going, ending in my driveway, in my car, about an hour ago with my friend and neighbor Dorrie Brooks—just back from a campaign meeting. (If you’ve signed up at bit.ly/volunteerforjo, Dorrie has been the good soul to send you a welcome email. She’s incredible.)
Dorrie and I talked about the campaign.
And about love. About love at the center of my campaign for State Senate. About love driving this campaign.
And about the transformation possible when love drives us forward.
