Getting high school students to wake up at 7 AM on any Saturday is never realistic, but nearly impossible on the first Saturday of the year.
Nonetheless, nearly 40 students, parents, faculty and retirees sacrificed one of their precious weekend days to participate in a canvassing trip in Norristown, PA on September 21.
Jennifer Tammi, the trip’s organizer and Fieldston History teacher, began emailing the Fieldston community in June, gauging interest. She invited anyone – students and faculty alike – to join the September trip.
She emphasized the specific importance of the 2024 election, saying, “I believe this may be one of the most important elections ever – certainly the most important one in our lifetime. Don’t just sit by the sidelines. Make a difference.”
In her initial email, Tammi also explained for those who have never canvassed, “It involves going in groups door to door to people’s homes and reminding them of the election; telling them when and where they can vote; and encouraging them to do so. Sometimes, it involves talking a bit more about why you think it is important to do so.”
Tammi and the other organizers chose to canvas Pennsylvania because “it is a swing state, one of the states that could drastically change the outcome of the election.”
For reference, in 2016, Donald Trump won Pennsylvania, defeating Hillary Clinton, by 40,000 votes, roughly five votes per precinct. Fieldston’s canvassing groups canvassed one-third of a precinct, talking to, on average, 8-10 voters. “It could be the difference between winning and losing,” said a volunteer.
Fieldston’s canvassers met at Ethical Culture in Manhattan at 8 AM, 44 days before the election. An ambitious few did homework on the bus, some slept and others anxiously anticipated the day ahead. “I’m scared of getting a door slammed in my face,” said Macy Griffith (Form VI). “I’m scared people won’t care.”
Vera Koontz (Form VI) and her partner Lemariam Wondimu (Form VI) weren’t scared, but they were planning to scare, or “fear monger.” Koontz said, “We’ll inform people what will happen to them if they don’t vote.”
Many students noted that because they were too young to vote in the election, they decided to join the trip. “I’m not 18 yet,” said Uma Couchman (Form VI). “This is the closest I can get and the most I can help out.”
As the group approached Norristown, the canvassing destination, Harrison Howard, Tammi’s co-organizer and a retired Fieldston History teacher, roused the sleepy bus: “Wake up! Just like George Washington, you just crossed the Delaware!”
The trip has rekindled a tradition established by Howard, who taught at Fieldston for over thirty years, known for his registration drives, canvassing initiatives, morale-boosting rafting trips and apple orchard expeditions for needy kids.
Howard reminded the group: “We’re pushing three themes: preserving freedom, strengthening the economy and widening opportunities. We want to emphasize the positive, not the negative.”
Tammi and Howard paired each student with another student, an adult supervisor (either a parent or faculty member) and a driver. As the bus pulled in, the groups entered the local Democratic Committee’s headquarters, ready for training.
The Montgomery County Democratic Committee overflowed with blue. The ceilings, the walls and even the t-shirts of the volunteers were all varying shades of the distinctive cerulean. Every inch was covered in posters for Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Next to the door were giant stacks of yard signs, window signs, and pamphlets supporting the Democratic candidates for the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Everyone inside the Committee was warm and inviting. They wore t-shirts bearing inspiring and often humorous slogans such as: “Kamala: removes stubborn orange stains.”
After a brief introduction, Tammi and Howard instructed everyone to download the app MiniVAN, which the groups followed throughout the trip. The Committee workers handed the canvassers two clipboards, with the maps of their designated houses, and codes to enter into the app. Also, groups received a collection of literature to hand out at every house.
Although they faced a group of sleepy high school students with limited canvassing experience, the organizers happily answered any questions. Their most important advice: “Don’t mess with the mail.” They strongly emphasized that anyone who placed a pamphlet in a mailbox would be committing a federal crime.
The Committee workers explained the simple training and script. First, introduce yourself, “Hi my name is … and I’m here asking about the 2024 election.” Next, ask what issue matters most to the voter (ex. inflation, abortion, gun rights etc). Third, share the issue that matters most to you, and make sure it’s one you feel confident speaking about. Finally, ask who the voters plan on supporting, and if they know where to go vote.
Possible federal crimes notwithstanding, the training went smoothly. Each group set off with their driver, a Norristown local, and the canvassing began!
One group’s driver, Marty Miller, imparted some wisdom along the drive: “Don’t follow the script, make it conversational.” Trying to appeal to the students’ generation, he added, “Make it fit the vibes.” As a Commissioner of the West Norristown Township, Miller was familiar with the area. “They’re good people,” he said. “We just need to get them to vote.”
The drivers dropped off each group in a particular part of the town, where they knocked on almost 80 doors. However, most groups only reached a small fraction of the homeowners. “We only spoke to 8 people,” said Parker Nam (Form III).
Of the people who responded to the questions, beliefs and political opinions varied greatly. Most of the residents primarily shared concerns with the economy and inflation. “It’s been really hard since Covid, the prices went up,” said one woman. Others named immigration and gun policies as issues at the forefront of their minds.
After hours of canvassing, the groups returned to the Democratic Committee for a debrief and refreshments (15 pizzas!). Students, parents and faculty basked in the cool A.C. and shared their most memorable moments.
Adia Stokes (Form VI) recalled, “The guy who was most excited to see us, he opens the door and he’s just in his boxers.”
Stokes also noted the divide and sometimes animosity between neighbors. On one floor, said Stokes, a woman said, “Watch out for our neighbors, don’t bother talking to them.”
“It was a culture shock for me,” said Alexa Citron (Form VI), who noted that Norristown differed vastly from New York City. “This isn’t anything I was expecting: demographics, views, etc. I’m appreciative of seeing a new perspective.”
“I was struck by how different the beliefs were door-to-door,” said Saskia Sommer (Form V). “Elections impact everyone differently, and we’re living a million different lives side by side.”
Rachel Shames (Form VI) said that she and her partner, Griffith, felt they were actively contributing to people’s decisions. “One woman was so happy to see us,” said Shames. “She kept saying, ‘You’re the future.’”
Griffith added, “We made a difference!” and the canvassing duo high-fived.
(Source: Rose Posternak)
Everyone cleared their pizza plates, pushed their chairs in, finished signing last-minute posters and shook last-minute hands. Nadine Lee-Carter, the mother of Ava Carter (Form III), shared the final, and organizer Tammi’s favorite, story of the day. Lee-Carter’s canvassing group knocked on a door, and an ex-felon answered, sadly telling the group he could not vote. Lee-Carter informed the man that the laws had changed, and he could vote in the 2024 Election.
Carter beamed as she said, “You could tell he really wanted to vote, he started smiling and laughing.”
