new column:

"The Definition of GOTV: Talking the Talk and Walking the Precinct"

My fellow Graduates:

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives! I am honored to be here today, with you, to speak on the opportunities that await us after our years of schooling, study, and backbreaking legwork.

As we move into the future (And the future is ours for the making!). Yes, as we move into the future, there will be risks; there will be successes; there will be heartbreaks. But we will persevere! For we have persevered through these years already. And they have been at times quite difficult. Losses, triumphs, more losses, hopes, and dreams. But we have survived and we will continue to do so.

One of the most important pieces of knowledge that we have gained from our years of education is the wisdom of GOTV. Getting Out The Vote. Yes, GOTV is one of our core principles we know to utilize when it's crunch time.

Webster's Dictionary defines GOTV as… well, actually, Webster's Dictionary doesn't have it listed. But we know, yes, we activists, schooled in the years of training that we have done, know what GOTV means. GOTV means everything to us and our principles. GOTV means the difference between a future of hope and possibilities, or a future of difficult roads ahead. Either way, we know GOTV is the principle that will shape our work.

So as part of that core principle of GOTV, we 'Talk the Talk.' We talk that talk by speaking to our friends, and our neighbors, and our fellow graduates, and our friends of friends. We make sure that they are registered to vote. We make sure that they know where the candidates stand. We make sure they know who will be supportive of us and who will be in opposition to our lives. We make sure we get them to talk that talk as well. We show up at table opportunities and talk the talk in our community. We phone bank throughout every evening. We stand on street-corners and shout it to the rooftops. We do so much talking that we lose our voice.

And furthermore, we also 'Walk the Walk.' We continue our GOTV by taking our talk to the streets. We carry our talk from door to door, from grocery store to coffee shop, from diner to community event. We cover every precinct in town and then we cover them again. We talk and we walk and we get the vote out.

Yes, we have learned a great deal over the years. And we have gained so much. This time is ours and the future is what we make of it! Will you Get Out The Vote with me? Join me as we not only Talk the Talk, but also Walk the Precinct. Join me in doing what we know what best to do. Join me for our future. Thank you.

Now get out there and GOTV!