Meet Raheem, a Field Representative, who is talking to voters in Richmond about what motivates them to vote!
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Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself and where you’re from.
I’m originally from Queens, New York and moved to Virginia a couple years before I started college. I went to Virginia State University and double majored in Mass Communications and Audio Engineering & Logistics. Outside of my work as a Field Representative, I have three businesses that I manage. I’m really passionate about music so I have a music company and my other business is a local event planning company. I’m in the midst of working on my third business, which is developing a new application.
Q: What specifically about PTP appealed to you?
I have always had this mindset of doing what I can to make a difference, it’s why I started my three businesses in the first place. After seeing the results of the 2016 presidential election, I was eager to do something to pitch in and help. Joining PTP was a unique opportunity to step into the political world and learn something. This is my first experience working in politics.
Q: What do you like most about working as Field Representative?
I love being able to go door-to-door and have really good conversations with people. You have the chance to meet so many people from different walks of life that without this job, you probably wouldn’t ever come across. And the coolest part is you’ll never know how much of a difference those conversations you have at the door will impact the voter’s life or vice versa how much of an impact they’ll have on your life.
One time while hitting the doors, I met this 20-year old and we got to talking about his life. He was telling me about how he was a point in his life where he didn’t really know what to do going forward and thought he might just join the military as a fall-back. I was able to relate to this as I was in his exact shoes and thought about joining the military as a fall-back as well. We got to talking and by the end of it I could see the lightbulbs going off in his head with all the potential opportunities out there for him. I think that everybody is meant to do something in this world-it’s just a matter of whether you settle or keep pushing till you find what you’re meant to do.
Q: Who inspires you in politics and why?
Michelle Obama because she has such a big heart and always strives to help others. There are a lot of people in positions of power who have the ability to use that to do good and help others but don’t take advantage of it. But Michelle has always used her title to help others, even after her term as first lady ended, she continues to do what she can to help others in anyway possible.
Q: Other than voting, what is one of the the issues that you’re interested in?
Sentencing disparities and laws related to that. I think there needs to be a change in our system in terms of what sort of punishment is given for different types crimes. Right now there is huge disparity in the types of punishments given for minor crimes versus severe crimes.
Q: If you could have dinner with one former President, who would it be and why?
Barack Obama because I’m interested in knowing how it felt being the first African-American President in office. I think it would be interesting to learn more about his experience and discuss whether he had a hard time getting through to people and getting people to listen to him as commander-in-chief.
Q: What’s something on your bucket list?
I would love to go skydiving! I have a fear of heights and skydiving would be the ultimate way to conquer that fear. Once I got up there, I know I would keep my eyes closed the entire time and someone would have to push me out the door of the plane! I would be so scared but it would be such a thrill.
