Meet Ava, our Virginia State Co-Director, who is leading a team of Field Representatives ahead of the November election!
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Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself and where you’re from.
I’m from rural North Carolina, a little south of Raleigh. I went to Meredith College down there and majored in Political Science. And then after graduation, I basically got into politics by working on the Hillary campaign last November as a Field Organizer in Virginia.
Q: What specifically about PTP appealed to you?
After working on the Clinton campaign, I still wanted to work toward electing progressives to office but do something different from traditional campaigns. PTP has what I like to call the “marriage between the 2 most important things in progressive politics” – knocking doors and research. That really appealed to me.
After learning more about PTP, I basically fell in love with the organization after learning that we’re knocking on doors but trying to learn how to do it better.
Q: What advice do you have for someone working as a Field Rep?
The best advice I would give to someone working in field or grassroots organizing, is that you really have to draw passion from different places. I think it’s really important to keep centered and motivated about what it is that you are doing and remember that you are changing people’s lives everyday through your work.
I think that the only way this country moves forward is by people who are who are willing to get out there and talk to voters, register voters, and knock on doors. So just remember what your purpose is and to really internalize the conversations that you have with voters everyday… keep their thoughts and reasons of what they want to see out of politics in mind. Use that to try and do your job better each and every single day.
Q: Who inspires you in politics and why? Who do you see a potential future leader of the Democrats?
Hillary Clinton is my person. She is one of the most inspiring figures I have come across and have admired her ever since I was young. I was born a few days after Bill Clinton was elected in 1992, so my mom was a huge fan of Clinton. So I basically grew up idolizing Hillary Clinton as first lady and then continued to follow her as I grew up and she progressed in her political career. Actually, the reason I decided to go to Meredith College, an all women’s school, was because I read that Hillary Clinton went to Wellesley College [also an all women’s college]. I really wanted to follow in her steps especially being a girl who was interested in politics and law. She is definitely a huge inspiration to me.
Recently one of my favorite political figures, especially with the Comey hearing and all that stuff going on, would be Kamala Harris. I hope she is the future face of the Democratic Party. I really want to see more young women of color getting involved, honestly that group has been the backbone of our party for so long. Looking ahead, I would love to see more women of color, in the spotlight, leading us forward.
Q: If you could have dinner with one former President, who would it be and why?
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, because I would just love to pick his brain on all that he accomplished and went through during his presidency. From how hard it was to get the country out of the Great Depression, to all of his economic policies, and to top it off he was the first example of a modern Democratic.
Q: What do you like to do in your freetime?
I like to read (pretty big book nerd) and love to go out to eat! My favorite books would be Pride and Prejudice and the Harry Potter series. And my favorite restaurant is actually where I worked in college while in North Carolina, called The Player’s Retreat. They have the best burgers in the state!
