Together We Elect celebrates the outstanding work of our volunteers and allies who have gone above and beyond in the work to elect Democrats to Congress.
“I like that people have an opportunity to speak to a volunteer coach if they don’t understand something. Together helps people see how they can be an activist in some fashion or other.”
“I’m a retired person,” says Together volunteer Karen Sevell Greenbaum. “I have a very nice life with my husband and my lovely Labrador retriever.” But if you think retirement means slowing down, that’s not what Karen has in mind. She’s a highly active activist, committed not only to Together We Elect but to CCoHOPE INDIVISIBLE and other organizations.
Retirement also means not cutting down on her work as a mixed-media artist. “I’ve been an artist since I was a child. I was born to do it.” A longtime resident of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, she’s a stalwart of the Westchester County arts scene, creating her own art pieces and teaching others.
Karen is gregarious, so Volunteer-to-Volunteer (V2V) calling comes naturally to her. “Most of the time you’re leaving a voicemail and that’s okay. When you get a person on the phone, you’re talking to good people, past volunteers. They’re willing to hear you out.”
Her approach is to make the former volunteers comfortable right away. “Really, what I offer is just to speak from the heart.” She thanks them for their past work and lets them know there’s a wide range of actions they can re-up for beyond traditional phoning or texting. Like becoming an action coach or helping other volunteers on live chats.
“I like that people have an opportunity to speak to a volunteer coach if they don’t understand something. Together helps people see how they can be an activist in some fashion or other.”
We’re speeding toward the midterms and, according to Karen, all of us have a choice: whine about the seemingly dire state of things or do something about it.
“Yeah, that’s how I see this. You have no right to complain if you don’t do the work. Get active, and then you have every right to grouse. As long as you’re doing the work.”
Inspired by Karen’s story? ACT NOW and help win in November! Talk to an Action Coach who can help guide you to best fit actions or check out Together’s calendar.
