SemDems Activist of the Month
October 2022—Maria
Our October 2022 Activist of the month, Maria, was born and raised in Barbados, West Indies with two brothers. Maria says she is a Bajan, the colloquial term for a Barbadian, which rhymes with Cajun. Maria moved to Altamonte Springs, Florida, in 1992, along with her parents and younger brother, when they received their permanent residency (green cards).
Maria first became involved in supporting Democratic activism during the former president’s first impeachment trial when she realized she had to DO something besides just voting. In early 2020, she searched the internet for some way to make a difference. Maria is not on social media so did not have a way to easily learn about local events–really, she just wanted to stand somewhere quietly with a sign. That’s when she came across the SemDems, went to a meeting the next night, then popped into the office the next day to see how she could help. Maria enjoys being a support person–doing things like writing postcards, assembling materials for canvassing, data input, and text-banking. She says, “I love knowing that, in my little way, I am helping get voters to the polls.”
Maria further shared, “For far too long I took American democracy for granted. As a foreigner, I grew up watching the US promote democracy around the world. In my study of US history, I learned about the ideals enshrined in the Constitution. I could have applied for citizenship after five years of residence, but kept putting it off for almost another 20 years (it’s not cheap.) It was the 2016 election year that made me realize that our democracy was much more fragile than it had seemed. I submitted my application the day before the general election and registered to vote the next summer, on the day that I became a citizen.”
This reminder from Maria about the fragility of our democracy is something we can all remember and use to inspire us as volunteers! The SemDems is so honored to have such a committed volunteer as Maria!