Field Organizing
Khaleb
Experience Information
Employer: Organizing for America
Job Title: Field Organizer
Major: Political Science
Received Credit: Yes
Paid: Yes
Abroad: No
Description of the Organization
Organizing for America is the grassroots support effort for US President Barack Obama. Organizing for America uses community organizing to mobilize supporters in favor of President Obama's legislative goals and for his re-election in 2012. It is through core organizing principles; respect, empowerment, and inclusion that they have been successful.
Description of the Tasks/Projects Completed
As a Field Organizer for Organizing for America in Ohio I was in charge of 31 precincts in the South Toledo/Maumee area. I recruited, managed, and trained volunteers to organize their communities into neighborhood teams. These teams held regular voter contact events where they used phone banking and canvassing successfully to persuade and motivate voters to re-elect President Obama and other Democrats in Ohio.
Skills/Knowledge Gained Through The Experience
During my time with Organizing for America I gained knowledge and skills that will be applicable to any of my future job endeavors. Some of the knowledge and skills I gained include speaking to the public, teaching/instructing/training individuals, setting work goals, planning agendas/meetings, developing a climate of enthusiasm/teamwork/cooperation, prioritizing work, enduring long work hours, managing an organization, knowledge of community/governmental affairs, reporting information, expressing ideas orally to individuals and groups, enforcing rules and regulations, managing people, persuading others, and delegating responsibilities. I also gained knowledge and skills that are a little more job specific. These include grass roots organizing, event management, field operations, community organizing, community outreach, political campaigning, and managing get out the vote (GOTV) efforts.
Favorite Part of the Experience
My favorite part of working with Organizing for America would have to be all of the wonderful people I have met. From the volunteers to the staff I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with them. I was able to play a role in helping communities come together and work for a common goal. Grassroots organizing is an amazing thing. It shows how kind and willing to give people are and how willing folks are to work hard and give up their time and resources for free. Whenever I felt tired during the campaign I would stop myself and think about them. What people were willing to do and give up to get President Obama re-elected will always be something that inspires me.
How the Experience Influenced Future Career Goals
Walking into this internship I was nervous. I was nervous because I knew the kind of hours and work that would go into working on a presidential campaign. I didn't know if I would be able to keep up with the work or stay enthusiastic under the pressures of goals. I have worked on campaigns before but just as a volunteer and I didn't know how different this experience would be. I proved to myself that not only can I work on a campaign but I can do it well. I have enough fire in me and ambition to fuel me through the long work hours. I have always had the feeling that I needed to have a job that involved working with the community. That is why I am majoring in both political science and secondary education. With long lasting decisions though, like what I am going to do for the rest of my life, comes some feeling of hesitation. I would ask myself if I was making the right decision in picking a career in one of those fields? I now feel confident in my decision. I loved working in the community and helping them come together to work for common goals. To be successful you needed to be strategical and I proved to myself that I could do that. This internship gave me confidence in myself and my future and I feel so blessed that I was able to have the opportunity to work on President Obama's campaign as a Field Organizer.