Writing Sample

(10/9/13 Post for Future Boston Alliances Our P.O.V. Blog)

Via: http://www.futureboston.com/about/our-pov/activate-reflection-vlog-postsforums-mayors-oh-my#.VMfpu4ugSgF

#ACTIVATE REFLECTION: VLOG POSTS

& FORUMS & MAYORS, OH MY!

What a whirlwind the Mayoral race has been so far! And it seems FBs #ACTIVATE
campaign has been a little whirlwind as well. Heres a recap of my last few weeks
1. Creating a STREET Vlog
Back on September 18, my incredible street team & I set out to create a vlog,
composed of real interviews with everyday citizens around the city, regarding their
opinion on the upcoming elections. Our first encounter was with a loud &
opinionated fellow at Copley. Although professing to be afraid of the camera, he gave
us one of the most ARTICULATE & beautifully-spoken interviews of the day,
regarding his desire to see a mayor that will make the city safer for his children. He
spoke of his first-hand experience with drugs, and the danger they are to the next
generation of youth. With passion and precision, he spoke of longing to see the city
transformed, by the new mayor, into a place where his children will not only receive
a better public school education, but a better life education.

What this experience did was open my eyes to the intelligence, heart, and passion of
the everyday Boston citizen. It also helped me recognize that, although many
individuals may remain silent by refusing to vote, many citizens remain actively
opinionated about the progress of the city.
2. A City Council Forum at Roxbury Community College
Put on by MassVote, this forum was a chance for all the City Council at-large
candidates to answer questions proposed by Boston residents. Although, I initially
was concerned this event would become tedious & boring, I quickly became
fascinated & mesmerized by watching the interplay between the Candidates. All of
them seemed to be coming from completely different walks of life (small business
owners, teachers, post-grad students, etc.), yet all equally had a stake in
transforming the city.
What I took away from this, was that every niche in the Boston community (if they
look hard enough) can find a political voice out there that speaks for them. The
Council Candidates all seemed more than willing to invest and listen to its citizens
now, us citizens need to do our part by taking part in researching our favorite
candidates & beginning a CONVERSATION with them.
3. Knocking Across Boston
On September 21, in collaboration with the NAACP of the Boston area, I took part in
a Knock Across Boston going door-to-door to ask citizens whether or not they
were registered to vote. Working with an amazing student from NAACP summer
leadership program, we met all kinds of individuals individuals who yelled in our
face, an older woman who cried out of joy at speaking to us about the next
generation, and several passionate individuals urge me to vote for this-or-that
mayor.
The value from this experience was tremendous.. It was such a gift to meet
individuals of Boston with truly deep roots: individuals who have owned their home
for years & years, elderly who have seen Boston transformed over a century, and
young adults rooted in their cultural community, growing up on the very block in
which they still reside. It was a privilege to help get their voice heard, by encouraging
their voting.
As State Rep. Walsh and Councilor Connolly slide their way to the Nov. 5 election, I
ask you whether you will begin to take part in the POLITICAL race. If youre unhappy
with the 2 mayoral candidate choices, did you vote? If not, I surely hope that will
change on Nov. 5.
Will you vote & finally allow your voice to be heard?
- Andrew Frank