Quite often when you ask people why they are Democrats, the answer goes along the lines of “I’m a Democrat because my family has always been Democrats.” That’s not the case with Lenda Sherrell, our 4th District delegate from Monteagle, TN who is a former Independent that came to support the Democratic Party because of Barack Obama’s campaign in 2008.
A volunteer with the Obama campaign in 2008, Sherrell worked to elect the President in North Carolina where, three days before the election, then candidate Obama came to a volunteer HQ in Charlotte where she was stationed. On the night of the election, when Barack Obama walked on stage as the President-elect, he gave a speech that included a call to action which inspired her to continue working to affect change in America:
This victory alone is not the change we seek – it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other.
Lenda came back to Monteagle motivated to give back to her community, volunteering with OFA’s community service projects. She also continued her political involvement by connecting with her local county party chair and coming to the TNDP’s first summit which was held in her local town of Monteagle. There, she met with members of the party who she connected with based on their shared values of wanting to move America forward for all people.
As an activist and Obama campaigner, she learned that the best way to organize is through building one-on-one relationships with like-minded individuals who share a desire for a better America and a better Tennessee.
Lenda’s story shows that just because someone isn’t a Democrat today, doesn’t mean they can’t be a Democrat tomorrow and join us in our effort to move Tennessee forward…they just need to be inspired to work hard for that future.
