Why I Vote

Hey my name is Jessica, I am 24 years old and have been apart of the Friendship family for the last couple years. I first attended FBC in January of 2018. A few months later I became a member and joined Mass Choir. I am so grateful for the people of Friendship who are so kind and welcomed me with open arms. FBC is my first church home. It’s where I cultivated my relationship with God; in turn leading to my salvation. For this, Friendship holds a very special place in my heart.

So why do I vote?

My personal fundamentals in the commitment to civic engagement are human rights and prosperity. I feel a moral obligation to use any power I have to further this agenda. I worked for a political campaign and one of the things I learned is when it comes to government and policies, the power we have right now as individuals is to vote and encourage others to vote. I want to see a more reflective and diverse government that takes a stand on issues that are detrimental to those fundamentals. I vote because at one point in history I didn’t have the right to vote. I vote for the children who don’t get the quality education they deserve because of their family income. I vote for the people who die because they can’t afford life saving medications and treatments. I vote for my black and brown communities that live in a country that is systematically racist and oppressive, and keeps many of us locked in a cycle of poverty. I vote for people who don’t want to spend the rest of their lives paying off student loans. I vote for all my millennials who work two jobs and still struggle to pay rent in Southern California.

Ultimately, I vote to make my voice heard. I can’t change the world, but I gotta start somewhere!