The shoes I have worn canvassing, circa 2014, for my third election cycle now. They're still alive and kickin' after countless miles, sweating on brutally hot days, even with back issues that some days make me feel like I'm 86 instead of 36. So, why do I put on these shoes? Because I believe in change in Kansas. I don't just talk the talk, I walk the walk, quite literally.
But this isn't about me. I walk because of the people I encounter. The people who make me want to fight for a better system. They are the reason I walk.
-For those who aren't able to walk. A friend who is running for office, and also a current elected official, have shared their experiences that many of the doors they try to knock are inaccessible for a wheelchair. Most people don't even realize or think about the full extent of challenges this presents until it affects them. The spirit and persistence of these individuals is nothing short of inspiring.
-For those who aren't able to speak. There is a candidate currently running for office in our state who is making a huge impact in changing the level of accessibility to the government for deaf people. Although I am really rusty on ASL, I grew up signing with a sort-of sister (and her friends). I feel including deaf people in the conversation is something that is needed. The same could be said for people who do not speak English. Everyone deserves a seat at the table and to have their voices heard.
-For those whose voice was stolen. By that I mean, I still vividly remember the story (and even her name) of a woman in her late 70s that I met four years ago. She has lived in Kansas all her life, and voted in every single election because she remembers a time when women weren't allowed to vote. I could feel her anger when she told me that her name was not listed as registered when she went to vote during the primary election in 2014, so they didn't let her vote. She found out later that her name had been removed and put on a list requiring proof of citizenship under Kobach's rules. This happened without any notification, after she had voted all these years, simply because she moved to a different county in the same state. Never again will you be silenced, never again will you not have your vote counted.
-For those who are blind. I see you, and think of a friend from high school who didn't let anything get in her way.
-For those with other physical or mental disabilities. I see you also, especially when I knock on Starkey houses. I think of my kids from Heartspring I used to work with, helping to teach them independence and life skills. You are each a gift to our society.
-For those who suffer from depression, anxiety, eating disorders, etc. I walk WITH you. I also can't help but think of loved ones lost to suicide. I miss you.
-For veterans, who many times come back from overseas a different person and need help that they aren't getting, I want better for you.
-For the majority who are underpaid and overworked, I know your struggle.
-For farmers and other laborers who work hard day in and day out, I see your blood, sweat, and tears. Your sacrifices do not go unnoticed.
-For teachers, bless you and thank you. You shape our future. I think of a letter I had the honor of reading from a friend to an elected official. While working long hours after grading papers, she still took the time to write with such passion late at night to express her concerns about education funding. Your worries are my worries.
-For students who strive towards a bright future, keep working hard. I believe in you.
-For doctors and nurses, you are amazing. You selflessly take care of our ails. I appreciate you.
-For people who rely on the services of a hospital, of which one locally has now become privatized in order to avoid shutting its doors, we can't let this happen in other towns.
-For the lady I met on a doorstep that I still remember from four years ago who, in tears, shared with me her story about falling in a gap that she couldn't afford the healthcare she needs, but somehow made too much to qualify for Medicaid. I still think of you, and hope that you are okay.
-For a dear friend of mine who lost his battle to cancer not long ago. He was the kind of person who would do anything for anybody. He worked hard all of his life, and when he retired, he no longer had health insurance to help with cancer treatment. I carry your memory with me. I know he walks with me to be a voice for others.
-For social workers, my heart and soul carry your tireless hours with me. Keep helping those who need it and advocating for a better world. You are not alone.
-For children who have been the victims of a system that isn't working under DCF, you deserve better. My seven month old relative, Jesslinn, was recently a victim of child abuse and did not survive. I will tell her story with every step I take and every ounce of my being.
-For LGBTQ parents, that our state has legally allowed DCF and other agencies to discriminate against and deny from providing children a safe and loving home, I walk with fire and rage.
-For the friend of mine who has been that parent to countless children and is worried about what this law will mean for their family, I walk with fire and rage.
-For the parent I met on a doorstep who is in the process of adopting their grandchild and is worried if their adoption will go through now, I walk with fire and rage.
-For LGBTQ kids in the foster care system, who are at greater risk of a harmful placement, I will not ever stop fighting for you. I walk with fire and rage.
-For LGBTQ kids who are harassed, bullied, and physically attacked for being who they are, I will do everything I can to make the world safer for you.
-For trans kids, I'll go with you. I think of stories shared with me of students being attacked for going to the bathroom. Because they had to pee. You don't deserve that.
-For these kids that I've had the honor of hearing their stories, I only hope that I can be as brave as you.
-For those who have bullied or attacked me. Thank you. You have made me stronger.
-For me too women. We have a lot of work to do. I demand better for our daughters.
-For victims of abuse or domestic violence. I hope someday you can look back in pride at your own strength, because I know how strong you are.
-For immigrants, you are my neighbor and I love you. I think of someone I knew who came here to escape dangerous drug cartels that terrorize families and murder them in the middle of the night. I would walk through fire if that is what it took to get my children to safety, too. I am just glad you are safe.
-For DREAMERS, you are welcome here. Your parents only wanted a better life for you, and so do I.
-For indigenous people, may we be as resilient as you. I think of my friend, who has shared her story with me of unthinkable horrors committed by white men against her family in the past. Never again. I stand with you.
-For black people. Your life matters. Your kids' lives matter. I will use my white privilege to protect them, and you, to the best of my ability. I vow to stand up and speak out against racism. I think of several people who have shared similar stories of their biracial children being harassed for the color of their skin, with at least one by an adult. A grown adult said nasty, racist comments to a CHILD. I think of a friend, who woke up to a hanging noose on a tree outside of a house she rented while on vacation with her child. I think of my friend with biracial children who lives a block from where Nazis were marching in Charlottesville. I think of my friend with biracial children in Wellington, KS that just this summer, were exposed to a truck carrying a confederate flag in a parade. I think of my friend, who took on hate directly as a leader in her community, to get a street name changed that was originally named after a KKK member. I think of my friend, who was arrested for the crime of being black, and who fought back from this experience to become a leader advocating for change. I think of my friend who had the police called on him because he was walking in a neighborhood canvassing. Walking in the same shoes I walk in, with the only difference that I'm white and he is black. No more of this hate. Hate doesn't walk with me. Only love walks with me.
All of these stories matter. I carry them with me each time I put my shoes on. Every single one of these people walk with me, shaping who I am, inspiring me, and leading me to the next step in fighting for change.
