“Divisive” is the most common word to describe modern American politics, according to research by the Pew Research Center.
But it might not be that might not be that simple.
The U.S. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion believes that civic engagement connects people to their communities — and ultimately builds social networks that strengthen communities.
This year, people across Northeast Georgia have done exactly that: found community through a seemingly unlikely source — politics.
Northeast Georgia Democrats Center Community in Pitch to Voters
John King moved to rural Madison County in 1999 to escape the hustle and bustle of Atlanta life.
“One of the things about Madison County that surprised me is there are a lot of middle-of-the-road people, just common sense people, it doesn’t matter left or right,” said King, an ecology professor at the University of Georgia. “So I really admire that about the county.”
Madison County Democrats — along with support from Democrats in Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Hall, Jackson and Oglethorpe counties — organized an event on Sept. 21 to celebrate democracy and to bring the joy back to politics in an increasingly polarizing political environment.
“This event is about igniting hope,” said Jeanne Peck, an event organizer. “Igniting the hope in our community, where we live and where we want everyone to have a chance to succeed and be happy.”
The event was filled with live music from local artists, barbecue and excited chatter among the nearly 200 attendees. Speakers emphasized the importance of community participation in democracy.
“That power to connect with people and show them, tell them, that they are not islands, but a member of a big community,” said Lexy Doherty, who was the Democratic candidate for Georgia’s 10th congressional district. “Because elections aren’t just something that happens to all of us, this is something that we are doing together.”
Young Voters Talk Politics
UGA second-year Kira Fleischer was one of hundreds of students listening to conservative activist Charlie Kirk speak at Tate Student Center a few weeks later on Oct. 22. Though she was less than enthused by his rhetoric, she said she appreciated the level of enthusiasm in the crowd.
“I think that is very impactful, when you see so many students supporting one cause,” said Fleischer. “Whether I agree with it or not.”
Fleischer is a member of UGA’s Young Democrats and a volunteer for Public Citizen, an organization that focuses on youth voter outreach.
“We think that the best way to engage voters, especially youth voters, is making sure that they have a plan to vote,” said UGA Young Democrats president Jake Hays.
And Fleischer has been doing just that. She spends her free time speaking to classes about voter registration, tabling at Tate, and making sure her friends have a plan to vote.
“Being a resource for someone, if you feel comfortable, has so much more of an impact than you think,” said Fleischer.
Jackson County Neighbors Unite Against Quarry
Andrea DeMarcus has met more of her neighbors in the past few months than in the past 10 years she’s lived in Jackson County.
DeMarcus lives half a mile from Vulcan’s proposed 900-acre quarry in south Jackson County.
DeMarcus, along with Stop the South Jackson Quarry — a citizen’s group opposing the quarry — has been talking with her neighbors about what the proposed quarry would mean for their community.
“I have met a lot of my neighbors and been able to talk to them about issues we both care deeply about — I know people care deeply about the character of this land, the trees, farming, going back to nature,” DeMarcus said.
Stop The South Jackson Quarry has mobilized the community against the quarry over concerns about the quarry’s potential effects on drinking water, air quality and the character of the community. The group’s petition opposing the quarry had over 1,400 signatures.
“It’s hard for a small citizen group to fight, but we’re doing it,” said Sarah Sutherland, a Jackson County resident involved with Stop the South Jackson Quarry. “And we’re going to keep doing it.”
Students Debate Ahead of Presidential Election
Caleb Lux, a junior studying political science, makes his closing statement on behalf of the Young Democrats of UGA at The Chapel on Sept. 25. "They started talking about how we need to have love for one another. What about trans people? Are they excluded? What about immigrants? Are they excluded? We need leaders that want to represent everyone," Lux said. (Photo/ Sarah Coyne)
Abigail Ray, a senior studying English, holds the microphone getting ready for her rebuttal against the UGA Young Democrats at The Chapel on Sept. 25. "How can your party be the party that claims that you want to give money to people, but all you've been doing is giving it to support war and death overseas," Ray said. (Photo/ Sarah Coyne)
Piper Garrett warned members in the crowd several times after booing and laughing was heard from the stage during the Great Debate, an annual debate organized by Georgia Political Review.
In a politically divided time, the Young Democrats of UGA and College Republicans at UGA met at The Chapel to debate key topics like abortion, climate change and inflation ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Organizers decided to hold the debate earlier than usual due to Georgia’s voter registration deadline.
“I think this year in particular, it was really important, more important than it has been in years past,” Garrett, moderator of the debate said.
“It’s also a different type of experience to hear it from your peers in your own community talk about issues,” Garrett said.
New Resident Uses Politics to Find Community
Talley Breedlove is very much her mother’s daughter.
“My mom was really involved with the local party where we lived, and really treated it like a social community and a just fun place to be,” said Breedlove.
Breedlove first got involved in western North Carolina where she started a Young Democrats Chapter. After the killing of George Floyd in 2020, she organized through her local Democratic Party to feel less alone.
“I really loved my community, and I still love going back, but finding people that I felt safe to share my ideas with, and everything was really hard,” Breedlove said.
Breedlove moved to Athens in 2023.
“Unlike my mom, I am very much not one to debate with other people,” Breedlove said. “But the more people I meet and the more strong voices I hear, the more comfortable I get with the idea of having a conversation with someone that might have different views for me — it is that community I have around me that is building up that confidence in me.”
Sarah Coyne, Anna Girzone, Bridget Goodman and Zach Leggio are students majoring in journalism at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.
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