Cris Garza - Arizona
After having driven 850 miles in one day from my family's home in Stockton, CA to Tucson, AZ, I parked my car in front of the campaign headquarters and walked inside to meet my new team. I figured I would introduce myself, get a quick introduction, and leave to go sleep for the night, but what started as a quick hello turned into a conference call and intense preparation for a primary election debate in forty-eight hours. When I felt my exhaustion turn immediately into inspiration, I knew I had made the right decision to move out to the Arizona desert to work as the research director for Gabrielle Giffords' Congressional Campaign.
As the weeks have passed, I have had the privilege of working on everything from fact checking television ads, to poring over voting records, to quizzing our candidate during debate prep. I have learned how to interpret and analyze environmental site assessments, real estate contracts, and financial disclosures. The opportunities to gain new skills and contribute to the operations of the campaign continue to challenge and motivate me, and I feel extremely blessed to have been selected by Yes We Can as a member of the June class.
As I reflect on my training with Yes We Can, it is crystal clear that the time I spent hearing presentations from experts in the Democratic Party on every aspect of a campaign structure, participating in their campaign simulation, and engaging in spirited dialogue about politics with my peers, absolutely prepared me to be effective on a campaign. Prior to my current position in Arizona, I had spent time in politics as a fellow on Capitol Hill, a precinct leader, and a campus organizer, but I had never worked for a candidate in electoral politics. I would be dishonest if I did not admit that I had some doubts about my ability to walk into a campaign and be successful, but Yes We Can provided me with the technical skills and expert advice I needed to accomplish my goals. As the research director, I have particularly benefited from the time at Yes We Can spent focusing on how to identify and organize the candidate's and opponents' strengths and weaknesses. I can now understand how easily it is in a campaign setting to fall into the trap of "groupthink", especially in regards to one's own candidate, but Yes We Can prepared me with the tools I need to, as one presenter put it, "know thyself and thy opponents." In research, this mantra guides my work on a daily basis.
I would encourage all people of color who are interested in a career in politics and campaigns to join Yes We Can. It will give you the skills and training you need to be an effective and integral member of a campaign team, a network of dedicated, minority campaign professionals that will be able to support each other throughout their careers, and, of course, the opportunity to help elect more Democrats. I am truly grateful for the opportunities afforded to me by my Yes We Can training, and I highly recommend this program to all who hope to make a difference through politics.
Despite leaving the office around midnight everyday, I feel inspired every morning that I walk in the front door because I know that my efforts will not only help Gabrielle Giffords become the next Congresswoman from Southern Arizona, but also because more Democrats getting elected to Congress translates into a better quality of life for all Americans. I sincerely thank the Yes We Can staff, Senator Barack Obama, and Emily's List for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime.
