CULTIVATING COMPASSION
We are the Cavalry... ...continued from page 9
up for these rights. The Dobbs decision, along with the slew of trigger bans, continue to create chaos and fear within the medical ecosystem. (It’s worth noting the Dobbs decision was released in 2022.) Spikes in infant and maternal mortality coincide with these draconian bans. The increase in pregnancy-related complications is no coincidence. It’s a direct correlation. Thankfully, at least eight states at the time of publication have abortion access on the November ballot (North Carolina not included). The disparities in health care in our country, particularly with BI - POC and the economically disadvantaged, continue to be magnified. So why are we being forced into taking medical advice from those who didn’t go to medical school? Are we operating as a democracy when the majority of Americans support access to safe and legal abortion, and we have a tainted Supreme Court that overturned that right? No one is coming to save us. We are the Cavalry! With democracy on the line, it’s up to us to mobilize our communi - ties and tell everyone we know which party wants to give our kids free lunch, not force children to give birth; and which party is committed to expanding necessary programs like Head Start and Title 1, and not give BILLIONS in tax dollars to private schools like Republicans in NC would like to do. I don’t know about you, but I will be working for the party that values the second grader over the second amendment. Now that Vice President Kamala Harris, a tireless warrior for re- productive freedom, has won the official nomination and picked her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, (dubbed a “positive populist”), our country has this incredible opportunity to elect a ticket that will work on protecting the issues we care about most — bodily autonomy, fair and equitable education, voting rights, a caring econo- my, the health of our planet, peace, and our democracy. Additionally, we must work to elect candidates up and down the ticket who share those same values. This doesn’t mean we have to agree with absolutely everything in the Democratic Party; afterall, it’s always hard to gather consensus. I mean it can be difficult to decide what’s for dinner in our family on any given night. As Reverend Raphael Warnock said, “ A vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and for our children.” I know it can still seem overwhelming right now, so here are some suggestions on how to get through the next two months: ● In the wise words of President Barack Obama, “ Don’t ago- nize, organize! ” ● Honor what you can impact. While national politics are damn important, pay close attention to local and state level races, and vote accordingly! It’s policy at the state level that most affects our day to day. ● Commit to doing something. Plug into your local democratic party and do what is in your capacity, even if it seems small. It could be canvassing, phone banking, registering voters, or writing postcards. Or, you could host a fundraiser benefiting a local or state candidate who reflects your values. If you aren’t up for hosting, attend events that others are organizing. ● Drink lots of water and don’t binge watch the news. If you’ve heard the same story for the second time, turn it off. Hearing the same sound bite on loop isn’t healthy. ● Talk to everyone you know about what’s at stake this year. This is not a drill, y’all.
● Sign up to be a poll watcher or observer. You can read more about this at https://protectthevote.net/. ● Vote early! And commit to taking others to the polls. Be in - spired to make this country a more inclusive, equitable, com- passionate union for all. In a perfect world, elections wouldn’t come down to a primary is - sue. But the dumbing down of the news, the education system, and yes, the political sphere, has made it so. Because this election is a make or break for our democracy, re - productive rights must be at the forefront of our conversations. The intersectionality between reproductive rights, environmental rights, economic mobility, racial equity, LGBTQIIA+ rights is overwhelming. Let me leave you with one final thought: Safe and legal access to reproductive healthcare, and all it encompasses, is at the center of our democracy. Now that’s worth fighting for. Nikki Harris is a reproductive rights expert and democracy en - thusiast. She is currently the fundraising manager for Caleb Rudow’s Congressional Democratic campaign (NC-11). Nikki lives in Ashe - ville, NC with her amazing family. Nikki can be reached at nikki@ rudowforcongress.com. Cam MacQueen is the creator and manager of “Cultivating Com- passion.” She counts as one of her most memorable experiences hav - ing the late, great Sarah Weddington, who defended the Roe v Wade case before the Supreme Court of the US, as a professor while a stu - dent at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts. Cam has been active for reproductive freedom ever since. Contact her at ncm.advo - cacy@gmail.com. From left to right: Mena Kates, Ellen Helms, Rep. Caleb Rudow and Nikki Harris at a house party supporting Caleb’s run for US Congress (NC-11). RBG also made an appearance!
PATHWAYS—Fall 24—61
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