Meet District Director Cristy Villalobos
As the District Director of Progressive Turnout Project’s field office in Virginia’s 10th district, Cristy Villalobos manages a team of Field Representatives getting out the vote for Democratic candidates like Jennifer Wexton and Tim Kaine.
Among the many important tasks that PTP District Directors undertake, Villalobos helps coach her team to improve their practices in the field and tracks each of their progress as the election cycle carries on.
Villalobos was formerly a Field Representative with PTP in 2017 and has held numerous positions in advocacy and politics prior to working for our organization.
She said that the research she did during her final semester of college drove her to join PTP’s staff. Her senior thesis researched public opinion on voter ID laws in North Carolina and found that many in the state are unaware of the detrimental effects the laws pose on voters.
“Voting is an essential right in our democracy. I was happy to work with PTP knowing that I’d be using my community outreach skills to un-do the damage that had resulted from the 2016 presidential election,” Villalobos said.
Villalobos said that this research encouraged her to continue her work in politics and encourage people to exercise their right to vote.
“It is so important to encourage people to vote in state elections because they need to ensure that public officials are representing us optimally.” Villalobos said. “I’m glad this was achieved in Virginia last year. In the last midterm election cycle, I helped to get out the vote in Raleigh and I wanted to do that as well this year.”
In addition to working for PTP, Villalobos has held a number of positions in college fighting for cause she believes in.
“I was always drawn to community outreach and public service so in college, I interned at the North Carolina General Assembly for three legislative sessions,” Villalobos said. “At the state house, I assisted with policy research and managing constituents’ issues. Eventually, I realized that I wanted to do more advocacy work for women in Durham.”
During her senior year of college, she became a UN CSW Fellow for the nonprofit organization WomenNC. There, she was able to assist in the writing of legislation and helped fight for women’s rights.
“As a fellow, I assisted with lobbying, advocacy, and research on women’s issues. I presented my work at the UN during the 61st Commission on the Status of Women,” Villalobos said. “With gathered knowledge from other women’s rights’ activists, I assisted in drafting legislation in support of women’s rights in Durham. We passed the United Nation’s Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women at the county level last year.”
In the future, Villalobos hopes to continue to work towards a better future for women and girls in the world.
“I feel like it is my duty to help create a better future for the next generation of girls and women. Even though we vote more than men, it is as equally as important to make sure women are at the table writing laws that reflect education standards and family values,” Villalobos said.
