At Her Term, we're committed to creating lasting political change by supporting and empowering candidates. Today, I want to share some inspiring insights from our recent candidate support call, which took place in the wake of an energizing rally for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. The weekly candidate support calls are a cornerstone of our Her Term work, and they exemplify the power of community in the political process.
Our Unique Candidate Support System:
For over two years, we've been holding weekly candidate support calls, anchored by volunteer therapist Judy Cantwell and myself. While the participants vary based on who's running at the time – with former candidates occasionally joining – one constant remains: the incredible impact of this safe space for candidates.
This service is the number one offering that sets Her Term apart from other organizations, and it's the aspect candidates thank us for most frequently. The power of camaraderie makes a significant difference in the often lonely job of being a candidate. When faced with overwhelming pressures and opaque processes, our systems and connections allow candidates to find and work with each other, lifting up not just individuals but entire campaigns and the broader political infrastructure.
These weekly meetings are just one of the connection tools Her Term has created as part of our wellness programming. We're continuously analyzing and developing more solutions for durable success, recognizing that shared knowledge and collegial relationships are key to effective campaigning.
The Value of Our Candidate Community:
Our calls are always collaborative, focused on helping each other overcome obstacles, celebrate wins, and set intentions for the day and week ahead. This support system is crucial in sustaining the hard work of campaigning. It's why our candidates return week after week, and why volunteer therapists like Judy and Jeanie Robertson (who joined our weekly calls this year) have given countless hours of pro bono services, both in group settings and one-on-one.
While I don't share specific details to protect the privacy and safety of this space, the themes from our recent call were so inspirational that I wanted to share a glimpse with our Her Term community.
Voter Registration Strategy:
One of the key topics we brainstormed was ways to register voters. We explored the idea of attaching registration forms to candidate door hangers and leaving them for every unregistered person in the district. This simple yet effective tactic can have a significant impact, especially given that newly registered voters tend to vote Democrat at a rate of 5 to 1. This activity is particularly beneficial in districts with shifting demographics.
The Power of New Citizens:
John M. Ramirez, Acting District Director for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) administers the Oath of Allegiance to America's newest citizens. Source: Grand Canyon National Park Service
Our discussion about voter registration led me to share my upcoming opportunity to give remarks at a Naturalization ceremony for new citizens. This event, taking place next Friday with Judge Amy Totenberg, offers a unique platform to emphasize the power and responsibility that comes with citizenship.
We explored the various powers gained through citizenship, including:
The power to vote
The ability to work in certain roles in the federal government
The right to consular protection abroad
The opportunity to run for office
Read more about the impact of these powers in the post reprinted at the bottom, called “My Citizenship Anniversary” by Laura Murvartian, candidate for state house representative in district 48 (which serves parts of Peachtree Corners, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, and Roswell).
The Immigrant Perspective on Citizenship:
Our conversation highlighted how new citizens often understand and appreciate citizenship more deeply than many natural-born citizens. They've studied for their citizenship exam, learning about our government and history in ways that many of us haven't since high school civics class.
I was reminded of helping my grandmother study for her citizenship exam. Despite never having attended school in Vietnam and speaking little English, she studied diligently for an exam that even I, as an honors high school student, found challenging. Her determination to understand not just the words but the sounds of state names and capitals, by writing them phonetically in Vietnamese, was inspiring.
This experience underscores a crucial point: new citizens truly "understand the assignment." They comprehend the responsibilities of citizenship because they've had to study and work hard to gain these rights and powers that many natural-born citizens take for granted.
Call to Action:
The message of active citizenship isn't just for newly naturalized Americans—it's for all of us. We need to spread this message to everyone we know:
The overworked friend who feels they can't take time away from work
The apathetic teenager turning 18 before November 5
The harried parents overwhelmed by childcare duties
The jaded Xennials who grew up avoiding politics
Remember, the biggest influence in changing someone's habits is a friend. So, ask your friends to vote. Help them overcome their obstacles. Our vote is our superpower, and it's too important to waste, especially on November 5.
Conclusion:
At Her Term, we're committed to supporting candidates and empowering citizens to create lasting political change. Through our weekly support calls, voter registration efforts, and community engagement, we're working to build a stronger, more inclusive democracy. We invite you to join us in this crucial work—whether by running for office, supporting a candidate, or simply exercising your right to vote. Together, we can make a difference.
MY CITIZENSHIP ANNIVERSARY
By Laura Murvartian (reprinted with permission)
On June 25, 2021, precisely three years ago, I became an American citizen. Today, I celebrate this milestone that took over 45 years to achieve.
In February 1976, I arrived in the United States at the age of eight and was undocumented for the following 12 years. In August 1988, after appealing the initial denial of my residency application, I was able to become a temporary resident because of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. After waiting for the required period, I was then able to apply for and obtain permanent residency. Applying for citizenship became another challenge for me as being undocumented complicates the immigration process. It did not matter that I had been a permanent resident for decades or that I had married an American citizen. Eventually, with the proper legal representation, I was able to complete the process and attain my citizenship. So today, I celebrate!
Though I recently became a citizen, I have lived my entire adult life fulfilling the responsibilities of American citizenship. Responsibilities of being an American citizen as defined by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) include:
Support and defend the Constitution.
Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.
Participate in the democratic process.
Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.
Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.
Participate in your local community.
Pay income and other taxes honestly, and on time, to the federal, state, and local authorities.
Serve on a jury when called upon.
Defend the country if the need should arise.
To me, being an American citizen is so much more than my legal status - it’s about what I contribute to this country to ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive. It’s about giving back to the country that has given me so much since I was eight years old. I fulfilled the responsibilities of being an American citizen for decades, without knowing there was an official list of these responsibilities. I am proud of my level of engagement and proud of my contributions. I have always stayed informed on issues affecting my city, state, and country and participated in the democratic process by attending city council meetings and state legislative hearings. I have campaigned for numerous candidates who share my values and volunteered to register people to vote. I have contributed to my local community as a volunteer and board member for numerous organizations and founded two nonprofits.
Now, I am able to make the most of the new privileges I have as a citizen - and pursue the honor of running for office. It’s been quite a journey to go from being an undocumented immigrant child to being a candidate for the Georgia House of Representatives - a journey of opportunities and privilege for which I am grateful.
With your support I hope the next chapter in my citizenship journey is to serve under the Gold Dome as a State Representative.