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It’s Women’s History Month and we are spotlighting organizers in each of our partner states who are making history of their own every day. These are just a few of the many incredible women moving mountains on the ground in our partner states.
You’ve already met Kathleen and Rachelle. Today, we are so proud to introduce you to Velvet from Mississippi and Susanna from West Virginia. Velvet got her start organizing Black union members by providing financial literacy resources, before working with Groundwork partner Mississippi Votes. Susanna is a recipient of West Virginia Can’t Wait Apprenticeship Program (of which Groundwork Project is a proud supporter) and works at the intersection of farmers' rights, food justice, and an inclusive economy.
I’m so inspired by Velvet and Susanna, I’m sure you will be too.
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Joe Kennedy
Founder
[link removed] [[link removed]]What is your proudest organizing moment?
"The year 2020 has brought on new challenges for many of us in ways that we were never prepared to handle and had landed heavily on Black, indigenous, under-represented people of color that were community members, students, and colleagues. Covid-19 exposed disparities in healthcare accessibility in Black and Brown communities as folks were struggling to get what they needed from a broken system. In the midst of this, the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum across the world and even in Mississippi due to the unlawful murders of Black people. As protests erupted across the country, young people (organizers) followed suit. Young people looked to MS Votes as their political home to aid in their organizing efforts. It was very inspiring for me to be part of and watch the young people in Mississippi own their power. Watching them day in and day out make calls, send emails, collect donations, and do everything to make sure their message was clear and their voices were heard. That was my proudest organizing moment —just being in that space with them and watching the next generation lead because ultimately they determine what the future of our lives will look like."
Read Velvet’s full interview here. [[link removed]]
FULL INTERVIEW [[link removed]]
Velvet's Organizer Lightning Round
Your ultimate Women’s History hero:
My ultimate Women’s History heroes are right in my own backyard– my colleagues. Arekia Bennett-Scott is the Executive Director of MS Votes but has been organizing her whole life. Arekia founded a black feminist organization on Jackson State’s campus and is still breaking barriers to this day. Hannah Williams is the history teacher I wish I had. She is also a policy expert. Seeing black women doing this work everyday despite the double standards that comes with being a black woman in a leadership role is a breath of fresh air. I would encourage more people to follow them and the work they do at Mississippi Votes.
The self care practice you can’t do this work without:
I could not do this work without going to the gym. Almost every day I wake up to go to my crossfit class and on the specific days I don’t go, I run 3 miles. I find ways to take a step back from this work because I can not be there for others if I am not there for myself.
Your dream Presidential ticket:
Michelle Obama as President and Brittney Cooper as Vice President
Favorite podcast or book at the moment:
Hoodoo Plant Mamas Podcast created by Leah Nicole and Dani Bee— they discuss growing up in the Deep South, black spirituality, writing, pop culture, and of course, plants!
What you hope to manifest in 2022 (five words or less):
More celebration of small wins
Keep in touch with Velvet by following her on social!
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[link removed] [[link removed]]How and where did you get your start as an Organizer?
"I never considered myself an organizer. At a young age I viewed organizing in a very narrow way. I considered organizers as the folks on picket lines, with a megaphone, engaged in direct action.
Organizing started for me out of necessity. In my work with New Roots Community Farm I engaged in leading a project forward that required me to navigate various conflicting perspectives of the project stakeholders. I knew the project could be something incredibly transformational for the community given the right care and effort, but needed to build power and consensus around that vision. That led me to gathering folks and organizing them to help create two new organizations to realize that vision.
I only realized that what I had been doing was organizing work after I was nominated for the WV Can’t Wait apprenticeship* last year. They are providing me with the support, training, and vocabulary needed to better understand organizing work. I was also able to meet other folks that helped me to expand my view of what it means to be an organizer."
Read Susanna's full interview here [[link removed]] . [[link removed]]
FULL INTERVIEW [[link removed]]
*Friendly reminder that GWP is a sponsor of the WV Can’t Wait apprenticeship!
Donate now to ensure we have the resources to uplift other organizers like Susanna. [[link removed]]
Susanna's Organizer Lightning Round
Your ultimate Women's History Hero:
Shout out to my Mother and Mother Jones
The self-care practice you can’t do this work without:
Cooking is my form of self care. Thankfully through this work I am able to have access to nourishing produce.
Your dream Presidential ticket:
Nina Turner and Margaret Atwood even though she is Canadian
Favorite podcast or book at the moment:
I like the Collaborative Farming podcast from the No Till Growers crew
What you hope to manifest in 2022 (five words or less):
Wordle world champ
Keep in touch with Susanna by following her work on New Roots Community Farm's socials!
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> Founded by Joe Kennedy III, Groundwork Project invests in year-round, local community organizing in places Democrats have gotten used to writing off. With a focus on Appalachia, the Deep South, and the Plains, we support local advocates and activists working to build durable political infrastructure and secure power for those historically excluded.
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