Luke lives in Kansas City, Missouri, and serves as the communications associate for the American Jazz Museum. He and his brother have recruited several friends and relatives of all ages to phone bank with FLIP NC. Luke hasn’t always been politically active but has “been passionate about capturing social movements through photography and videography.”
Check out this Q&A with Luke – then sign up to join him on an upcoming phone bank!
How did you find out about FLIP NC?
From my brother, Cole Harbur. He listened to an episode of Pod Save America, encouraged me to adopt a state with their grassroots affiliation organization, Vote Save America, and together we decided to adopt North Carolina.
How many times have you volunteered with FLIP NC?
I have volunteered with FLIP NC twice! My brother and I are tag teaming to bring friends and family into this phone-banking journey together. He serves as the team captain, and I serve as the phone-bank captain. We thought of at least five people to task that we feel may be politically engaged and want to make a targeted difference for this election. My brother organized an introduction meeting via Zoom.
What has surprised you most about our voter outreach?
I am so impressed by how detailed your organization is, given the entire thing is volunteer-based! From the Zoom slideshows to the ThruTalk software, you have a thorough, enticing option for someone to fuel their passion to make a difference in politics.
If you've participated in other voter outreach efforts, how are FLIP NC's different?
I have not participated in other efforts, and FLIP NC seems to set a high bar!
What's your top tip for someone who is new to voter outreach?
Speak with a voter as if they are someone you care about. The beautiful thing about phone banking is each person SHOULD be someone you care about because each of their thoughts and opinions DO matter. And if they're doing an activity while talking to you (i.e. taking care of a kiddo, cooking, etc.), ask about that thing! It really humanizes you to the caller and can be an amazing way to find common ground between each other.
What is really motivating you to get involved? Obviously, you want to FLIP NC, but tell us a bit about the "why."
The most motivating thing about joining FLIP NC is looking solely at numbers from the 2016 election. Trump won by 173,315 votes, and if you pair that with how gerrymandering affected the election outcome, we have an opportunity to prove the power of fair voting in this election. I also attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and to see so many of my classmates unrepresented in the government is appalling. I won't sit back – I'm ready to fight back.
How are you feeling about the 2020 election?
I feel hopeful. The 2016 election results were undoubtedly the response to Barack Obama's presidency for eight years, and it's not to say that same fire isn't in Republican voters. Similar to why I'm motivated to be with FLIP NC, this election's not going to happen without a fight.
Other than politics, what’s a passion of yours?
I was 10 years old when I started beatboxing, and now I've been to more than 14 states in America teaching about and performing the art form. For me, beatboxing and performing have saved my life, and all people deserve to have a hobby or outlet that makes them feel happy and truly “alive.”
Who do you admire in politics?
Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders. I had the privilege to photograph them in 2018 when a bunch of mid-term elections were going on, and I must say I was impressed by Ocasio-Cortez's speech and Sanders' gusto. Together, they're lightning and thunder.
What would you say to someone who is feeling totally dejected by our current state of politics? And how do you stay in the fight?
Watch the full, unedited Axios interview with Jonathan Swan and Donald Trump. Then make anyone you know watch that. Then use that as an example for why we need change. That'll put those fists up.
Tell us about a political moment that inspired you, whether it was a personal conversation, a speech given by a president, or a recent "blue wave" moment.
In 2016, I covered the Black Lives Matter movement on my college campus. I remember vividly leaving my camera in the newsroom, walking over to one of the group's open meetings, and asking what I can do to genuinely support a social/political movement. One of the leaders said, "You are here, and you are listening." And that's how I feel about being in FLIP NC: I am here, and I am listening.