Changemaker Spotlight: April 2022
Mana Shooshtari
Grassroots Democrats HQ, est. 2019
In one sentence, what do you do?
As the Field Director, I develop and maintain our field and communications programs for our target House and Senate races to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.
What drew you to the work you are doing in Stockton?
As a high school junior, I was drawn into community organizing after President Trump’s 2017 Muslim Ban singlehandedly banned my extended family from Iran. I figured if one person has the power to separate millions of families, we can build people-powered coalitions to push back. I found the HQ the summer after my sophomore year of college– the year of the 2020 Presidential election. Inspired by the HQ’s commitment to electing leaders with progressive values by building coalitions, I knew had to get involved. That year, we made 6.1 million phone calls, sent 3.1 million texts, and wrote 700,000 to voters across the nation thanks to our 22,000 volunteers to elect a Democratic Trifecta.
What inspires you about Stockton?
Stockton is a city with lots of untapped potential. There is plenty of talent, culture, and community to go around. What I’m inspired most by is our resilience and grit. Stockton is a city that has experienced its lows, but when we unite and work together, we always get back up. Stockton has taught me that there’s no excuse to stay low after being knocked down. Always stand back up.
What advice do you have for those looking to make change in Stockton?
Stockton is a city with many tightly knit communities. If we are going to make change– from combatting the climate crisis to alleviating poverty– we have to work together. Reaching out to people outside of your go-to circles, listening, and working together towards a common goal is how we will make a change.
You're an innovator in your field. With the world rapidly changing around us, how are you adapting and what support can Third City Coalition members offer?
We need people to show up. The phone calls, texts, postcards, and door knocking cannot be done without our incredible volunteers. Good faith conversations lead by people working to make change is how we make the change.