NMDT’s Vote For a Dream ABQ: The Team That Could

By Flaviano Graciano

Since the beginning of November, the Vote For a Dream ABQ canvassing team had been working hard to increase voter turnout in Albuquerque. Every afternoon at three, the team would meet at the New Mexico Dream Team office where Rosalinda Dorado, the Canvassing Manager, would strategically plan out the best possible route for each team member canvassing in the streets. Team members would pick up their tablets with their routes on them and head out.

“Sixteen canvassers worked tirelessly everyday for the runoff elections with the sole purpose to inform our voters that their fight was not over,” Dorado said. “I believe they made an impact in the community, I’m very proud.”

Out in the streets, team members would knock on every door on their list reminding people to vote if they had not yet done so. Not every knock was a success, many houses did not open their doors, others weren’t home at the time. Even so, every team member continued to work tirelessly to knock on every door on their list. On average, team members would knock at 250–300 houses all together.

“I think it’s great that we are pushing other people to go out and vote and use their right. For me, sometimes it feels as if this is the way to get my vote represented,” NMDT’s canvassing team member Daphne said –who can’t vote because she is underage.

Ironically, most of the team members on the team aren’t eligible to vote. However, this only encouraged team members to work more passionately. Many stated that canvassing the streets of Albuquerque was “a way for their voice to be heard”.

“I think it’s important because, since I can’t vote, by convincing someone else to vote, it feels as if I am the one voting, like I’m doing my part,” stated Jonathan, an NMDt canvassing team member, who knocked on 82 doors in one afternoon. In just five days, Jonathan had knocked at more than 300 doors.

For many of the team members this job allowed them to connect them to their own communities. A number of the team members expressed an interest in social justice work in the near future. They stated that this job allowed them to gain some experience in successfully communicating with the communities they one day hope to see change for the better. What better way to do this than by encouraging them to vote?

“In the last election, through canvassing, we brought up the voter turnout in Albuquerque. To me, that means that we played a big part in the political changes this city underwent,” said Amarisa, another NMDT canvasing team member, who is not yet old enough to vote.

All together the team reached 9,800 Albuquerque residents. Making more than 5,200 phone calls and knocking at more than 4,600 doors.

Flaviano Graciano is a Communications Fellow for the NM Dream Team.