(In the next couple of weeks, I hope we’ll hear from Tim, the Rev. Marshall and LaGretta about their respective feelings about our recent H.E.L.P. trip to Washington, D.C.  For now, it’s my chance to reflect – Suzanne)

On March 9th, Tim Tate, LaGretta Neal, and myself accompanied Rev. Touré Marshall and other North Carolina organizers, including Pastor Jessica Patchett of Charlotte H.E.L.P.,  to Washington D.C. to meet with some of our elected representatives and/or members of their staff.  Our North Mecklenburg contingent was mostly there as a band of observers, as other organizations from North Carolina were taking the lead on actions on which they have been working together for some time, but the experience was exhilarating.

As a long time, but faraway, observer of national politics, I cannot begin to describe how impactful the visit was for me.  It was both empowering and humbling:  empowering in that, as we walked from building to building and meeting to meeting, we passed other Americans in the street doing the same work we were doing (and maybe with goals antithetical to our own), and doing it peacefully.  I couldn’t help but feel proud of the system of governance we enjoy in this nation.  I was humbled by the dedication of my peers, their personal struggles, and personal commitments to having a voice in the decision-making process that directly affects them and their communities.  I was honored to be part of such a group, and it reinforced my belief that all politics really is local.   From the perspective of “the represented,” I would have to say that some of our leaders in Washington seem to be more in tune with the broad concept of “public service” than others, but for the most part, I was encouraged by how the issues were met and discussed, and I left Washington thinking, “So this is how things get done.  Good.”  Because, things do get done when people participate.  On a personal note, I suppose my most-treasured takeaway from that trip will be the memories I made with the other North Carolinians I met and befriended, as well as the opportunity to get to know Tim, LaGretta, Touré and Jessica even better.

- Suzanne Baldwin Leitner, member of Community in Christ Lutheran Church, and North Mecklenburg H.E.L.P.

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