Page retired in 2017 from a career as a legal educator at Meredith College and, more recently, at North Carolina Central School of Law. Never having been active politically in her life before, she realized in 2017 that she had been shirking her responsibility as a citizen. When not canvassing, she can most often be found exercising at the YMCA or working to transform her yard into a bird-friendly landscape. She lives in Durham with her egomaniac tuxedo cat, Carlito.

Check out this Q&A with Page, and then sign up to join her at an upcoming canvass!

How many times have you volunteered with FLIP NC? And in what capacity?

I began canvassing with FLIP in 2017. I had never been politically active before doing some GOTV volunteering for the Hillary Clinton campaign in 2016 and had never canvassed, but [FLIP NC volunteers] Andrea and Anjali kindly took me with them my first time and showed me the ropes. I was surprised at how easy it was to talk to people at their doors and how much I enjoyed it! I volunteered for as many canvasses as I could in the run up to the 2018 and 2020 elections, and after COVID stopped face-to-face conversations with voters, put out FLIP’s yard signs reminding voters to vote blue up and down the ballot.

*Page and Andrea after canvassing on the courts*

Have a funny story or touching moment to share? A conversation with a voter that stands out?

A high school teacher I spoke with in 2018 was so disheartened – she felt her legislators didn’t care about public education, that no one was listening, and nothing was ever going to change. When I told her how small the Republican margin of victory had been in the past election, and how just a few hundred votes would mean a Democratic win this time, she brightened visibly and said she would tell her teacher friends. It felt great to be able to share a message that left a voter feeling encouraged and empowered!

What's your top canvassing tip?
Always smile and thank the voter for coming to the door! Even if they aren’t receptive, thank them for taking the time to talk. Also, talk to the Ring doorbell! You can leave a message for voters on their Ring if they don’t come to the door, and I have also had voters come to the door once they hear me speaking. Don’t forget, though, that Ring and Skybell cameras can be recording you before you’re actually at the door – so be sure to say only complimentary things about people’s yards as you approach the house.

*Nina and Page knocking doors to talk with voters about the importance of our state courts*

What's your advice for someone who is new to voter outreach?
Find your volunteering sweet spot! I’m an extrovert who loves talking to people face to face, but I really don’t enjoy calling people on the phone. So I focus on canvassing and encouraging others to canvass, and writing postcards when I have downtime. There are so many ways to be involved, and all are valuable!

What is really motivating you to get involved? Obviously, you want to FLIP NC, but tell us a bit about the "why."

In the current campaign, to FLIP the NC Court, I am motivated by my disappointment and dismay at Chief Justice Cheri Beasley’s 2020 loss of her seat on the N.C. Supreme Court – by a mere 401 votes (!!) – to Republican Paul Newby. Equally motivating, or more so, are the now 5 to 2 Republican-dominated N.C. Supreme Court’s actions since the election of two additional Republicans in 2022. I am especially offended by the Republican majority’s cavalier disregard of precedent when, immediately after the new Republican justices were seated in January 2023, they voted to rehear two voting rights cases decided in favor of the plaintiffs in just the previous court term! I am equally offended by this naked politicization of the judicial process and by the curtailing of our right to vote, and the decision that partisan gerrymanders are not a violation of the N.C. Constitution. Partisan gerrymanders mean that politicians can pick their voters, instead of voters picking their representatives, which flies in the face of equal voting rights under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It is crucial in this election cycle to elect Justice Allison Riggs, a superb lawyer and a former voting rights advocate who has litigated numerous cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, to her current seat on the N.C. Supreme Court.

How are you feeling about the 2024 election?

I have so many feelings about the 2024 election! Hopeful, because so many voters, including myself, have now woken up and are paying attention. Energized, because of the incredible, wonderful, talented new young leaders of the N.C. Democratic Party, who are spreading their energy and enthusiasm to Democrats all over the state! Worried, because the extremism of the MAGA Republicans is alarming and suggests we might see violence both around the elections and after. Encouraged, because there are so many grassroots groups whose volunteers are already working hard – canvassing, phone banking, postcarding – to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Optimistic, because of how I’ve seen Democrats over the past two years reach out to help Democrats in other states, both through fundraising and as volunteers. I’ve postcarded for Democrats in Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and New York, and now Democrats elsewhere are reaching out to help North Carolina! Somewhat anxious, because anything can happen between now and November 5. Determined to keep doing whatever I can to help preserve small-D democracy.

Finally, I’m confident, because the reality is that the majority of voters, including many unaffiliated voters and traditional Republicans, support Democratic positions – on women’s reproductive freedom, on common sense gun control legislation, on other issues. And I believe we can win in 2024. In the words of Robert Hubbell, we have every reason to be hopeful, but no reason to be complacent!

Who do you admire in politics? Why?

Right now, the people I most admire are our Democratic state legislators who continue to hang in there and fight the good fight. I was at the General Assembly for the debate and vote last year on Senate Bill 11, the abortion ban bill. One after another, Senators Lisa Grafstein, Sydney Batch, and Natasha Marcus stood up and spoke about the horrendous damage the bill would do to women. Every single one of the Senators used their entire 10 minutes of allotted time, knowing it wouldn’t change the outcome, but believing it important that they voice their objection for the record. Last year, the Republicans redrew Sen. Grafstein’s district so as to draw her into a primary with Sen. Democratic Leader Jay Chaudhuri – but instead of resigning, Sen. Grafstein put her house on the market and in two weeks, had moved to a new rental house so as to be able to continue to represent her district! That’s dedication.

A House member I particularly admire is Rep. Terence Everitt, who after three terms had planned to retire from politics and was looking forward to being just a lawyer again and having more time with his wife and two daughters. But when Sen. Mary Wills Bode decided not to run for a second term in 2024, and Governor Cooper called and asked him to run for Sen. Bode’s seat since her district includes his current House district, Rep. Everitt put his personal life on the back burner and filed to run. Rep. Everitt said he believed it was the most important thing he could do for his two children, but I see it as a generous and truly selfless decision. I’m also volunteering with Neighbors on Call to help these wonderful legislators win.

Other than politics, what’s a passion of yours?

Climate change, the continuing destruction of the natural world, and with it the loss of habitat that birds and other wild animals need to survive are big concerns of mine. In addition to advocating for legislation to support the transition to clean energy and limit greenhouse gas emissions, I am working to transform my home landscape into a Homegrown National Park, following the recommendations of the National Wildlife Federation and N.C. Audubon on native plants that support pollinators, birds and other wild creatures. I love learning about the relationships between plants and wildlife and watching and learning about the birds in my area.

I am also an avid hiker and backpacker and love to go camping in the North Carolina mountains.

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?

First, remember that we are the majority, and when we are able to turn out the vote, we can win! We proved that in 2020. Second, many elections, especially this year, will be won by very small margins, so your vote really does matter. Third, Democrats all over the country are reaching out to help Democrats in other states – I donated and wrote postcards for Democratic candidates in the Virginia legislative elections in 2023, and this year Democrats all over the country are reaching out to help North Carolina!