The youth are our future. It’s a saying we’ve heard a thousand times, but it’s a beautiful thing to see in action. Alabama Values has been working with collegiate influencers from all across the state as a part of our Do The Vote Thing (DTVT) initiative, and we recently hosted these students for an Influencer Weekend retreat in Montgomery. To say it was motivational watching the next generation of activists learn new skills and interact with their community is an understatement. It was a powerful three days that unified campuses from Tuskegee to Tuscaloosa.
The weekend kicked off with dinner at one of Montgomery’s finest (and most fun) dining establishments—The Cajun Leprechaun. Many introductions were made on Friday evening, but it wouldn’t take long for new acquaintances to become friends. As DTVT influencer and Alabama State student Brooke Surles shared, “My favorite moments over the weekend were hanging out with people that I didn’t even know, but we bonded over the things we loved.”
Saturday morning started with a community empowerment and narrative training at MAP360, which left an impression on the students. “Some of the key takeaways were to know your audience, know how to connect with them, be open-minded, and focus on important true information and steer clear of misinformation,” shared Tuskegee University student Scotteria Scott. Alabama Values and the Do The Vote Thing influencers then headed to the Montgomery Interpretive Center, which is a part of the Selma To Montgomery National Historic Trail. The center is a visually impactful site that tells the story of how foot soldiers in the 1960s bravely faced violence to gain basic freedoms including the right to vote. It was the perfect location for a ‘Vote In My Honor’ event, which centered around honoring the people we love by using the hard-earned right to vote.
The panel featured some of Alabama’s most distinguished voting rights advocates. The discussion was moderated by Laurel Hattix with ACLU of Alabama and featured Katie Glenn with SPLC, Scotteria with Do The Vote Thing, JaiGregory Clarke with Faith in Action Alabama, and foot soldier and writer Dr. Bradford. DTVT’s own Brooke started the conversation off by welcoming attendees to her hometown of Montgomery and highlighting all that would be taking place throughout the panel.
It was a busy weekend in Montgomery. In addition to the Vote in my Honor event, Alabama State was hosting Mississippi Valley State in a football showdown right behind the Interpretive Center. In other words, it was the perfect time for DTVT influencers to get some on-the-ground coverage. Each influencer partnered with Alabama Values team members to ask tailgate and football attendees two questions: why do you think it’s important to vote in this election and what do you hope the winner of the presidential race is able to accomplish during their first 100 days in office? The answers were insightful and covered every topic from student loans to Social Security to providing a better future for young family members.
After a busy afternoon processing major issues in 2024, influencers joined AV staff at The Legacy Museum which helped connect the lines from our nation’s horrid history based on slavery and the continued attacks on voting rights today. It left an immediate impact on the entire team. “My biggest takeaway would be learning that the problem with Jim Crow laws was not that they segregated people, but that they created first-class and second-class citizens in the country,” reflected University of Alabama student Rishi Pokhrel, “It allowed for one race to always be in a superior position.”
The night ended with great Jamaican food and an open mic led by our friends at Shake The Field that included Montgomery community members such as TKO Society and the DTVT influencers unveiling a truly impressive take on the classic Queen song, “We Will Rock You.” Shake The Field returned on Sunday morning to guide influencers through the importance of blending art and activism. After a wonderful lesson, the Do The Vote Thing students shared reels they made from their interviews with Alabama State fans the day before. Each video was a blend of fun and informative—the perfect closing to an equally fun and informative weekend in Montgomery.