Uplift the Voices of Those Who are Most Impacted

Spread The Vote
Aug 31, 2018 · 3 min read

Wanting to help others or those who are “less fortunate” is noble. We couldn’t do all the things we do at Spread The Vote without the amazing volunteers who go above and beyond. However, I think it is important to always listen and be present for those communities that you are trying to help. Many times, those closest to a problem have the best solutions. They just might not have the resources or tools to put their solutions into practice. We shouldn’t be trying to swoop in and save people, rather we should ask how we can help and uplift them.

Spread The Vote had the pleasure of joining Black Voters Matter on their South is Rising Tour. We traveled through the rural south in Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida. We had the opportunity to talk to people in communities that get overlooked and share the work of Spread The Vote. It was an amazing, transformative experience. We talked to people whose concern is that they get stuck in the mud because they still have dirt roads. I realized how much I take for granted.

Randolph County Meeting and Rally

Another thing that struck me on the tour was the resilience of the people we met. Many have been fighting the “good” fight for a long time. I wonder if I would have been that resilient. I would like to think that I would be. But part of me thinks I may have run and never looked back. But who really knows. It really touched my heart to see an older black person cry tears of joy at the sight of the bus we were riding in — she read “Black Voters Matter” and was instantly emotional. I would like to think our presence and the tour as a whole helped to encourage and uplift people to continue fighting.

The final lessons I took from the tour were those of community and family. Community is not defined by a certain radius or geography, but by the people we interact with. And family doesn’t only mean those who are related to you by blood. There was such a sense of purpose and community while on the tour. We were able to join such amazing partners that do great work around the state and country. I’m so thankful for the invitation to join the tour from Cliff and LaTosha from Black Voters Matter.

LaTosha & Fallon

Please remember to uplift and support each other and take the time to listen.

Wishing you all love and light.

Fallon McClure, GA State Director

Spread The Vote

We get IDs for every day of the year + election day.

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade