News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed on this page are those of the authors and Parikh Worldwide Media does not officially endorse, and is not responsible or liable for them. Working For A Political Campaign Prepares You For Life Y oung Americans are even more turned off from politics this year than in the past. While that’s un- derstandable in many ways, they are shutting the door on the most transformative and inspiring professional experience any young person can find. My career started in political cam- paigns, from local elections with embar- rassingly low voter awareness to a winning presidential campaign. Campaigns allowed me to directly advocate for is- sues I care about, build relationships and coalitions with individuals I would have otherwise never encountered, and find meaningful ways to help people. These lessons also unexpectedly pre- pared me for a successful career across industries, spanning theWhite House, the C-suite of one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies, BlackRock, and adjunct teaching at two Ivy League univer- sities. INSPIRING CAMPAIGNS Here are the ways how campaigns can similarly inspire and prepare today’s graduates for a fulfilling adult life. First, you learn how to engage with people who are nothing like you every day. As commentators often say, “politics is a game of addition.” To win, campaigns reach out to as broad a group as possible before focusing on “their” supporters. That’s why we see Donald Trump focused on Black urban voters and Kamala Harris targeting Florida. For me as a young organizer, this meant not only working alongside unhoused residents in Chicago, but also seeing names like Michael Jordan and billionaire (now Illinois Governor) J.B. Pritkzer on my suburban door-knocking lists. And regardless of talking to a celeb- rity, someone sleeping on the streets, or a person with a loaded gun or a cocktail sloshing out of its glass, you have to be polite and inquisitive — or risk losing your dignity and job. You will find that you likely have more in common with the person on the other side of the doorway than you could have imagined. Have dreams of traveling the world or just learning how to introduce yourself at a networking event? Start by meeting strangers on blocks you’ve never visited at home. That’s particularly important in our social media-driven world where we are more likely to just interact with those like us and shrinking our personal and profes- sional worlds. TALKING CAMPAIGNS Second, you speak directly about the topic everyone tells us to avoid — politics. You can’t dance around or ignore it. How do you do that? You find out what truly matters to the person you are engaging with and connect that to your campaign’s priorities. While I’ve been yelled at because of who I was working for, I’ve also been invited by people who don’t agree with my chosen candidate into their homes in rural Iowa, Center City Philadelphia, and suburban Rhode Island to have mind-opening conversations. I’ve had the privilege of helping register people to vote, introducing families to critical sup- port services, and developing new policy proposals based on the challenges people have raised. So not only do you learn sales — argu- ably the most valuable skill in any career — you also learn about people, their moti- vations, and how to authentically help. My campaign experience prepared me to later successfully persuade employers to create new training opportunities for under- served youth, raise money for nonprofits and companies, and be a credible job ap- plicant in new industries without check- ing any of the employer’s desired boxes. Third, under the ticking time clock of an Election Day with a binary win-lose outcome that you are invested in, there isn’t enough time to leave challenging your- self for another day. Not good at keeping track of details? Or complex project management? You just … do it. You may find yourself thriv- ing at the most unexpected of tasks a young staffer gets thrown at the last minute, such as creating buzz-worthy social media campaigns, manag- ing volunteers, or public speaking. What better way to learn what really wakes you up instead of what makes you hit snooze (again and again)? COMPROMISING CAMPAIGNS Finally, campaigns are the ultimate exercise in compromising, which might be the biggest challenge of transitioning into adulthood. As an adult, things are not always going to go your way. You may have to choose from bad to least bad choices, from where to live, what job to take, or how much you see your family. These choices extend to being a citizen. Is a secure border more important than abortion rights? Is Gaza the world’s most pressing issue? Or climate change or eco- nomic growth? Campaigns uniquely push individuals to define their personal greater good when they select their candidates. And while figuring out who you are and building up your skills, you will affect your community through your advocacy and might even get the opportunity to change the world. What more could you ask for? Madhuri Kommareddi is a startup executive and alumna of multiple political campaigns, including the 2008 Obama-Biden campaign. She is working on a novel about campaign staffers. -(This article first ap- peared in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Au- gust 17, 2024 .https://www.post- gazette. com/opinion). Usedwith permission. By Madhuri Kommareddi Photo :Laurie Rhodes Ask Sahaj: If Trolls Think Harris Is A ‘DEI Hire,’ What Do People Think Of Me? Q : With Vice President Kamala Harris running for the presiden- cy, all the trolls seem to be out attacking her in really vile ways because of her racial identity and gender. I am a South Asian woman and lawyer about her age, and I find myself wondering if everyone thinks of me the way they talk about Harris – DEI hire, just got where she was for diversity, etc. How can I stop distrusting people and assuming that’s what at least some of them think? It is really bothering me. –Wondering A: It’s possible that some people do think that you are a “DEI hire.” After all, you are hearing these things about some- one who looks like you and has a simi- lar career background. However, some people is not every person, and you can’t let “trolls” inform your new relationships, how you show up at work, or how you feel about yourself. When people use the term “DEI hire,” they mean it in a tokenizing, exclusion- ary way. But here’s the truth: When other people think this about you, it says more about the systems that you exist and work in than it does about your abilities. It says more about those people, who think “being diverse” is a bad thing, than it does about the fact that your diverse experi- ences and background being an asset, a strength, a superpower. What’s more important here is if you feel like a diversity hire at your workplace. For instance, do you feel like you’re able to advocate for yourself in your work environment, or do you feel like your every move is a potential risk? Do you feel like you fit in the workplace culture or are you being forced to fit? Are there other diverse voices, people or initiatives at your company? You are internalizing these comments about Harris and it’s chipping away at your self esteem. That’s what microag- gressions do, but I encourage you to try to focus on where – and with whom – you feel a sense of safety and support so you don’t lose yourself to this commentary. Regardless of what others may think about you, remember that you are quali- fied, otherwise you probably wouldn’t have gotten to where you are. It’s not your responsibility to manage other people’s biases or narratives about you. Q: As an older single woman, I down- sized to a smaller home in a less expen- sive state. Despite the isolating factors of the pandemic, I made efforts to become acquainted with nearby neighbors. Two married couples who were already close friends started inviting me to their patio parties. While I have appreciated the op- portunity to socialize with them, I find it hurtful and confusing that they provide very short (around two hours) notice when inviting me to events that have obvi- ously been planned well in advance. Other guests have apparently been given the courtesy of reasonable advance notice. Having accepted and attended despite feeling somewhat insulted and humili- ated, I’m ready to risk speaking up, prefer- ably in a way that helps to reveal the ratio- nale for their discourtesy while preserving the option for friendly, neighborly rela- tions. I’d greatly appreciate your advice on how to handle the communication. – Confused Confused: Before you take your neigh- bors’ behavior personally or reinforce this story, consider what other factors are at play. For example, I wonder if you have evidence that your neighbors’ parties have been planned “well in advance.” Or what other patterns are feeding this belief that your neighbors are being “discourte- ous.” I also am curious if – and how – your relationship is nurtured with one another beyond these parties. Do you have the type of relationship where you do other things together? One where you both make an effort to get to know each other or spend time together? After all, being acquainted with your neighbors and being friends with them are two different things. And you sound disappointed that your neighbors are not giving you the type of friendship you are seeking – or that they may have with each other. While it makes sense that that makes you sad or feel lonely, I’d encourage you to focus on relationships you can nurture or activities (like a local hobby club) you could join to expand your community. If you feel like there’s a real friendship there, you may consider saying something next time like, “Hey, I had fun at your party last weekend. I’ve noticed that I am always invited at the last minute and it makes me feel like an afterthought. I value your friendship and I’d love to talk about it.” You can’t change how other people act, but you can communicate how it makes you feel. You also get to decide for yourself what behavior you are willing to tolerate. If you feel “insulted” or “humiliated” – which are strong feelings – you should consider setting a boundary for yourself. This may sound like, “I’d love to come, but without advance notice it’s hard for me to make it work.” Explore what it is you really need to take care of yourself, and what pieces of the puzzle you are filling in without more informa- tion, and take it from there. Good luck! Sahaj Kaur Kohli is a mental health professional and the creator of Brown Girl Therapy. -Special to TheWashington Post By Sahaj Kaur Kohli Photo:Twitter @SahajKohli Commentary News India Times (August 31 - September 6, 2024) September 6, 2024 4