Michal is a retired cancer epidemiologist who came to us through a DC/Maryland/Virginia grassroots political group called 31st Street Swing Left. She has been married 33 years to a bioethicist/lawyer. They have two adult children – both are politically active through their work and outside of it.
Michal says she has been “intermittently politically engaged.” For several years – before she went back to school to become an epidemiologist – she helped run the issues office of Common Cause. More recently, she’s been active with the Sierra Club on climate change. And, of course, she’s made herself indispensable as a FLIP NC phone banker!
Check out this Q&A with Michal, and then sign up to join her for an upcoming virtual phone bank or text bank!
How did you find out about FLIP NC?
I’m a member of a DC/Maryland/Virginia grassroots political group called 31st Street Swing Left, which was formed in 2017. Early in 2020, 31st Street decided on a strategy of “powering up,” to support state races in a few states. The idea is that by helping mobilize voters for state Democratic candidates, we can help build a blue wave across all races on the ballot. We made North Carolina central to our efforts, and our focus on state races led us to FLIP NC.
How many times have you volunteered with FLIP NC? And in what capacity?
More than a dozen times as a caller. I also volunteered – actually, volunteered myself without being asked – to suggest some changes to the script and was astonished by how receptive the leadership of FLIP NC was. They welcomed my input, which I think demonstrates how much they value mission over ego. This is admirable and rare.
What has surprised you most about our voter outreach?
I’m often surprised about how open and trusting people are with me, a stranger.
If you've participated in other voter outreach efforts, how are FLIP NC's different?
For elections in recent years, I did door-to-door canvassing, which I enjoyed independently of its political impact, just because of the opportunity to see a little into other peoples’ lives. In recent months, however, like most Democrats, I’ve been limited to phone canvassing. I’ve only participated in one other voter outreach effort, which was nonpartisan. For me, it’s much easier to establish rapport in partisan calls when the voters have been preselected to be left-leaning. People are deeply invested in their political identities, and if you see yourself in similar ways, it’s easier to feel a connection.
Have a funny story or touching moment to share?
There have been many touching moments. I feel exuberant when, after I prompt them, people start to think out loud about how they might help to mobilize voters within their own social circle. There was one voter who said he was going to get off the phone and go over to the Walmart and talk to every cashier about voting, and another who promised to talk to a new potential voter every day. There was the woman who wanted to learn how she could help her neighbor vote because the neighbor was on dialysis and had limited mobility.
What's your top tip for someone who is new to voter outreach?
I think the most important preparation is to define ahead of time the key messages you want to get across. If you keep those goals in mind, you can improvise as the calls go off script, as will happen when the calls are truly conversational and not overly formulaic. Having relaxed conversations is important to building rapport. If the voter is into the conversation, then she is more likely to follow through on her plans.
What is really motivating you to get involved? Obviously, you want to FLIP NC, but tell us a bit about the "why."
Like so many pundits say, the elections in North Carolina are important on multiple fronts. A blue wave that flips both NC Houses would help so many North Carolinians. It could also be the deciding factor for national political leadership.
How are you feeling about the 2020 election?
For one thing, scared. It’s terrifying to think what’s at stake. Yet, I also feel good about what I’m doing in this effort. It’s a turning point moment for North Carolina and the country, and every decent person needs to pitch in. With enough of us working together, the outcome will be good.
Other than politics, what’s a passion of yours?
Reading, although in the last few months it’s rare for me to read things that don’t relate to the present political moment. The same for podcasts. It feels hard to escape.
Who do you admire in politics? Why?
I admire Timothy Snyder, who is not a politician. He’s a historian of 20th-century central and eastern Europe, who in the last few years has been drawing lessons from the past to avert a dark future. His short book, “On Tyranny,” published early in 2017, offers 20 lessons. He wrote, “We are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience. Now is a good time to do so.”
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?
I’d say feeling totally dejected is not an option. At this time, staying in the fight can mean as little as talking and texting strangers to mobilize their vote. That’s not daunting compared to say, John Lewis crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
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.
I’m taken with the recent statement of a friend and fellow FLIP NC caller. The other day she said that she was not an athlete, but she has been volunteering to help African runners who are seeking political asylum in the U.S. She said when they ran, they ran with every fiber in their being. And from now until November 3, she was going to work to win with every fiber in her being.