A few weeks ago, I posted an article about my summer job as a canvasser. Canvassing takes shape in many ways: door to door, phone calls and street work. For the past six weeks, I've traveled throughout Manhattan from top to bottom and within Brooklyn on a five-days-per-week basis. Sometimes I'm located in the exact same area, but this is New York City, so one can only imagine all of the people I meet day by day.
Each day is completely different. Some are filled with absolute positive energy even when the sun is completely absent, and others have a great sense of negativity with non-supporters a-plenty. Canvassers make their own positive energy, but it can be hard when you are surrounded by people slurring profanities at you or taking a swing in your direction.
One can only imagine the breadth of walks of life I've witnessed on the job. It's like sitting in a subway car running through Midtown if you talked to every single person in your car. This job is both very telling of people and also reminds us how we can't assume much of anything depending on any given demographic. This job is equal parts surprising and unsurprising, and while it's a relative game of mystery, it has a common rhythm to it.
Not only has this job made me more open and unassuming, but it has made me more perceptive and able to read people. That being said, it’d be easy to describe the “types” of people I meet, or even express frustration by listing things we’re sick of hearing or seeing. It’s a typical expectation. We know you’re people, but sometimes, based off the way people look at me when I remove my uniform for break, it seems like people forget that we’re people, too. So here, from me to you, are things that we canvassers want you to know.
1. We’re out here first and foremost to educate.
As much as we’d love for you to sign our petition or donate (and trust us, we really want you to get involved on that tangible level), we want you to simply know exactly why we’re out here for five+ hours a day fighting. Especially on the latter level, we know that not everyone is in a place where they feel comfortable or able to get involved, but listening and learning goes a long way in inspiring involvement.
2. We can read through your excuses.
You'd be able to do so too if you were outside doing this for 25+ hours a week.
3. We're not out here to harass you.
I’m really sorry if you’ve seen “our people” or “you guys” multiple times this week. There are so many organizations sending out canvassers on a day to day basis, and I doubt you saw me specifically before. And I’m sorry if you’ve had a long day, or are in a rush. We’re out here because 1. it’s a job we’ve committed to, and 2. we want to be, and want to get people involved who want to be too — and that means talking to everyone to find those people.
4. Seriously, we’re not going to lie to you. We’re saying facts.
We're out here representing prestigious nonprofit organizations. What we say reflects on our companies. We have no interest in giving you misinformation, that's what smear campaigns do. We want to, again, educate. I have all the data right here to show you. You came over to yell about how our organization "sucks" and I'm a liar, but you don't want to see or listen to the facts? Interesting. Have a lovely day!
5. Please don't lie and say you're coming back.
Don't give us false hope, or make us feel like there's a reason to delay our breaks in hopes of a fantasy.
6. We want to have real conversations.
Yeah, we probably have a script, or points to hit during our conversations, but these moments that break up the day in the blazing sun or pouring rain are what make our jobs so worth it. We want to talk to you! We want to know your names and to carry them and your stories with us.
7. When you approach us, it can truly make our day.
There are days where we're just cursed at, cat-called and threatened with physical abuse. Days filled with awkward excuses, visible lies ,and a mixture of eye-rolling, yelling and being ignored are part of our daily expectations. To have someone approach because they're interested or because they're already a supporter is an amazing feeling, and we'd love to share our knowledge with you and vocalize our gratitude to you!
8. We are grateful for those who stop.
There are more rejections than positive encounters on a general day-to-day basis. You are an amazing person for even giving a moment of your time, so thank you.
9. We are people, too.
When you do come with plans to treat us terribly, remember we're people, too. Like you, we're working our workday, and we too have short (perhaps even shorter) lunch breaks, and on top of that, we understand the struggles of customer service and the lack of respect in any and all industries.
10. We're not singling you out based off your appearance.
We talk to everyone, literally. There's no point in profiling someone, because everyone has an equal chance of being xenophobic, super-open minded or entirely indifferent.
11. Being a non-supporter doesn't make you a better person.
We're not out here to shame you for your beliefs, so please don't shame us for ours. Yelling at us, cursing at us, spitting at us and threatening with us with physical violence only reminds us why we have to be out here. You have a complete right to your opinions, but they're not the only ones out there, and you don't have the right to harass or threaten anyone in a dangerous or cruel way. Peace and love, my friends.
12. Sharing tweets alone doesn't mean you're a part of this fight.
It's amazing to be engaged with a problem in some shape or form, but slacktivism doesn't cut it in this day, and age where the Supreme Court is allowing bigots to further strip groups of their rights. Getting involved on a tangible level is so, so important, whether that be a small (or big!) donation or volunteer work at a local center of a cause you care about.
13. Engaging because of empathy is so, so important.
Of course tragic or startling events can be an eye-opener, whether they are personal or externalized. But, using those events as a singular reason to get involved on a financial level with any group will hopefully be more meaningful than that. You are part of an amazing movement with equally amazing people around you. Get to know them, and us, because you guys/we are united by something special.
14. We will remember you.
The people who care about these issues motivate us. I remember the names of most of my donors (to be fair, I've been doing this for a while), and many of the places I met them and the conversations we've had are still with me. You guys remind us why what we do is working, and why we can't let non-supporters scare us away from the fight for a better world.
