As Southern Solidarity Summer comes to a close, we take a look back at the Solidarity Brigade in Centreville. These Solidarity pioneers took to the streets in July to organize voters all over the Centreville area to talk to voters about fairness for immigrants and environmental security/community health. 5 weeks and 22,000 voter contacts later, SSS came to a close last week, and the program was a smashing success in no small part because of this group’s amazing work.
Read below to hear about experiences straight from the mouths of these talented voter organizers that worked so hard to win a progressive future for Virginia.
Brenda Beal
I believe that no one should be punished because of the right or wrong documentation. This nation is made up of immigrants, and we all need to get along to make it a great nation, and move forward to make it a greater nation.
I visited a young lady by the name of Jessica. I will never forget her name, because she has the same name as my daughter. She was going to school, not knowing if she wants to be a nurse or a doctor. But there was one thing that she was sure of, and that is that she wants to help other people in this world to over come the fears they face on a daily basis. While I am telling her how some politicians have tried to pass anti-immigrant laws in Virginia and use immigrants as a scapegoat for all the economic problems that we are facing today, her face lit up like a christmas tree. It was like she’d been looking for someone to talk to her about this issue for a long time. We spoke about the threat of toxic waste from uranium mining in her community’s drinking water, just so that big corporations could profit. Jessica grew a big smile on her face. To my surprise, she asked how she could get involved and still go to school all at the same time! I had to give her a hug and smile. She made me feel like i just hit lotto.
You have to be in it to win it. This is the time to pull people out of their shell. In the Words of Teddy Pendergrass, “Wake up everybody, no more Sleeping in bed!”
Tenelle Pierce 
I’ve never been to Virginia before, and it’s not like New York City. The experience here in Centerville, VA has been new to me. It’s a different type of setting and I love that. But I learned through previous canvassing experience that it says a lot to people that you are willing to take the time to talk to them about the issues in their community, and that seems to be the same everywhere. I’m hoping to light that spark like those from the Mississippi Summer did for the nation and the Civil Rights Movement.
Walter Lipscomb
On one door, I met Carl. Carl was on board with the Immigration issue. He said we are all immigrants, therefore we all should have the right to work and live in Virginia without discrimination. He also said the only true Americans are Native Americans, and even they had to struggle against the government for their rights. But he said he was clueless about corporations lobbying to reopen uranium mines in Virginia.
I explained that uranium mining can contaminate the drinking water in his community and result in cancer, increased birth defects, and other health consequences. Opening the mines could create some jobs, but at what cost to the people and the environment? What good are the jobs that are created if you’re not around to enjoy you’re retirement. The best part of that conversation was when Carl pulled in his neighbor that was just returning from a hard days work and he asked me to tell his neighbor what I’d just told him. But soon Carl stepped in and took control of the 
conversation. We have to organize more organizers like Carl if we’re going to win!
Angel Luis
While Door Knocking, I met a very nice person named Jason who was unaware of the potential lifting of the ban on uranium mining. After, I talked To him about the issue, he got so excited about doing something about it, that he quickly ran inside to his house just to view the VNM website and figure out how to get involved.
Tyletha Samuels
It’s very hard when you are passionate about something and you meet people who don’t care. When somebody comes to the door and slams the door or tells me they aren’t interested, it only makes me want to work harder to find that next person that does care. We need and want 20,000 Immigrant and Afician-American voters to organize and win greater democratic control over the decisions that impact their lives.
Wanda Imasuen
If you have information, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.I know what happens when information is not
shared. In New York City gentrification, construction, and development have directly resulted in the rise in asthma rate in those areas. I personally suffer from all the construction and development in my community. We should not compromise our health or our environment for the benefit of wealthy corporation. This is why we should keep the band on Uranium Mining in Virginia.
