By Lora Poepping, UUC Member

Like so many of you, I was completely distraught after the 2016 election. I remember driving home from a party in downtown Seattle, that was supposed to be a celebration, in utter shock. How could a candidate like Hillary Clinton, with a resume that surpassed almost any other former president, lose an election to…well…you know.

Soon after the election, I was invited to hear from the leaders of Common Power, Dr. David Domke and Charles Douglas, who were speaking to a small gathering at Katie and Scott Renschler’s home. All of us were eager to learn about an organization that provided an opportunity to “do something,” to act.



I was impressed, moved, and inspired.

Common Power (previously known as Common Purpose) offered volunteers an opportunity to engage, to create the change they know is possible, and to put our words into action by stepping up. For me, the time for words was over. I was willing to make a commitment to be the change.

Over these last few years as a volunteer with Common Power, I have witnessed the impact of my actions – and the actions of my CP colleagues - in ways that I never expected. I began volunteering to join others in Wisconsin and canvass on behalf of the Wisconsin Democrats and regional organizations that knew their communities well and needed extra sets of hands.

There are ten states where Common Power sends leaders and volunteers, including Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, Nevada, and Arizona. (I happened to select Wisconsin because my oldest daughter had gone to school there.) However, you do not need to leave Washington to make a difference. I have volunteered to sign up voters in Rainier Valley and made calls to Wisconsin voters from the comfort of my own kitchen.

The trips to Wisconsin have been led by CP staff and by other volunteers and we have become bonded by the experience. The mix of different ages – and the opportunity that CP offers younger staff to lead, has provided different perspectives that have enriched my life.

Best of all: we see change. Wisconsin’s Democratic governor, Tony Evers, won a challenging re-election campaign, and after countless hours, CP contributed to the election of Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Janet Protasiewicz, giving liberals their first majority in 15 years.

From writing postcards with other CP volunteers where we feel like a tribe speaking the same language, to my repeated trips to canvass in Wisconsin, to seeing the results of our determined work, Common Power has been an outlet for my passion for preserving democracy. It just feels great to be part of Common Power, an organization that educates, impacts communities, and serves as a resource for good.

To learn more and find ways to act, don't miss the 2024 Fleagle Lecture! David Domke will be preaching and delivering an afternoon lecture on March 10.