A Letter from CWM President Jan Anderson
The African proverb is right….
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
The Charlotte Women’s March (CWM) has been the beneficiary of a host of partner groups speaking and acting in unity to affect change. Collectively we have shared our strength and resilience … and sometimes our anger. In upcoming communications we want to highlight what we hope will be a full list of those groups and how we all have benefitted by uniting our voices.
As we review the results of the recent elections, we celebrate the wins of local women – many of whom credit the Women’s March with their decision to run. Mecklenburg’s Blue Wave was propelled in large measure by our own Pink Wave.
Women elected to the NC General Assembly helped break the supermajority. And women swept to capture all three district County Commission seats held by men. In fact, six of the nine Commissioners will be female. Two African-American women will serve with three African-American men, meaning that the body now has five minority members out of nine – a first.
Both locally and nationally, some races remain too close to call. However, the results for women in the US House and governorships show that more than 100 women were elected to office, signaling the power of women as candidates – and as voters. That’s a sea change in large measure because of women’s willingness to work in coalitions.
What did you do in this election?
CWM wants to hear from you so we have set up a place for you to share your thoughts and suggestions. Email us by clicking here to let us know what you thought worked and what needs improving in affecting change through the electoral process.
PLEASE TELL US:
- What did you do in this election?
- What did you do that was new for you?
- Work at polls or in a phone bank?
- Did you walk your first precinct for a candidate, donate money, or suggest personal endorsements to family and friends?
- Share your experiences by emailing us.
We have a 2019 to-do list for the upcoming election cycle including evaluating candidates for Charlotte City Council and Mecklenburg town elections as well as monitoring legislation during the reconvening of NC General Assembly and the new Congress.
There’s still a lot of work to do
Here’s our beginning list:
- Celebrate with CWM and the Black Women’s Caucus at our reception for Women Elected to Office on Dec 6. Register HERE
- Join us for the Women United march on Saturday January 26 co-sponsored by CWM and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women-Queen City Metropolitan Chapter. Volunteer to help HERE
- Help us renew our resolve for change through programming speakers
- Use our networks to link people to ways to affect change
- Explore new ways to serve; have any suggestions?
We wish we could take a victory lap but that is not yet possible. Regardless of the outcome in both local elections and across the US, we won’t march backwards. Please stay with us.
Jan Anderson
President
Charlotte Women’s March
#CharlotteWomensMarch #PowerToThePolls