How does it do it? By putting his community first. Terrence Walker, running for VA HD 81 is going to be out there helping his community no matter what, we’ve seen that. Imagine how much he could help as a legislator?
Unlike the local politicians where I live who just voted to use 1.26 billion taxpayer dollars to build our football team a new stadium, Terrence wants to work putting programs and systems in place to help the community.
Terrence has chosen not to spend his campaign money on expensive things like billboards. I looked into billboards a year ago for another campaign and couldn’t find any billboards that were owned by companies in the state I was working in. The money wasn’t directly benefiting the community.
Terrence did use money for a local sports league that needed more equipment. It’s a group that supports kids through providing sports activities.
He pays high school kids $20 an hour to canvass for him, handing out flyer's door to door. Started out with one kid and then grew.
Terrence says he has fun putting money back into the community. He loves meeting and working with the parents and kids that are supporting his campaign. It’s his vocation after all. Among other things, Terrence has a master's degree from the Howard University School of Divinity.
I think the way Terrence lives his life is the very definition of vocation. Frederick Buechner defines vocation as “the place where your deep gladness meets the worlds deep need”.
That army of high school students that he has hired is earning community service hours and learning about the political process. These are kids that are too young to vote. They are engaged now, and something tells me when they are old enough, they will be voting.
The community loves seeing them out and about too! Terrence got a message from someone:
Great to see the troops out in force canvassing my neighborhood today! I gave a shout out "Let's Go Terrence, thank you!" and I got an affirmative "you're welcome" back from someone too young to vote!
Terrence got college kids to help on his campaign by asking professors to announce he was looking. He has them helping with social media, canvassing, polling and they even helped him get signatures to get on the ballot. They get a $500 stipend and a great line for their resume. Not to mention the chance to help Terrence get elected!!!
One of the VCU college students, an honor student, has an interest in becoming a judge someday. They met when the student interviewed Terrence about his degrees and all the work that entailed (probably wondering if it was worth it).
Terrence has made sure that student has had a chance to meet some of the senators, school board members, and local well connected political players. What a great opportunity!
He’s giving them all a great opportunity. He’s writing his high school team letters of recommendation. He’s a good role model for anyone and it’s easy to see by the way he campaigns what a great addition to the Virginia Assembly he will be. He’s just what is needed.