I'm driving around in Baltimore, MD and I'm trying to meet up with Keanuu Smith-Brown, founder of Maryland Students for Bernie Sanders, at University of Baltimore. This meeting is only happening because I actively shared and liked certain content coming from Keanuu's page during some of the democratic debates. He simply reached out and now I'm sitting next to him on the fourth floor of the Student Center. Of course, I expect college students to be at our meeting, but to my surprise, 3rd District City Council Candidate, Marques Dent, and a student from the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, Harry Huntley, greet me as I arrive. Incidentally, social media is how everyone in this room was able to connect in the first place; I find myself thinking that this is the new age of politics. If you have similar interests and want to get involved, you will find like minded and excited individuals who are ready to give what it takes to create a change. Given the range of experience in this room, I am certainly curious about some of the ideas these individuals have in regards to the current election, Maryland, and Baltimore.
Harry Huntley, Candidate Marques Dent, and Keanuu Smith-Brown (left to right)
Which is why it is refreshing to hear that Keanuu not only, "(advocates) for the presidency of Senator Bernie Sanders", but wants to "focus on local elections" as well. Candidate Marques Dent's presence made more sense to me now, and completely changed my perception behind Maryland Students for Bernie Sanders. It's not only a vehicle for the promotion of Bernie Sanders as a candidate; it's a way to shift politics locally in Maryland through the voices of students regardless of who you are. For Harry he sees voter registration and political candidate awareness with importance because it "helps get the kind of candidates they want to get elected" to commit to progressive change systematically.
Candidate Marques Dent and Keanuu Smith-Brown (left to right).
Earning his Doctorate Degree at Morgan State University, Candidate Marques Dent fits right in with the progressive mentality Keanuu talks about in regards to local politics. Having met Senator Bernie Sanders during his visit to Baltimore in December, Candidate Marques Dent sees Sanders presence as a positive sign. "One thing that struck me about (Sanders) is his committment to people, and his committment to go against the status quo...(he's) not about Wall Street, more so about Main Street, and that's one of the things that resonates with me." In addition to the regulation of Wall Street and upper crest of wealth in America, Candidate Marques Dent sees "public safety as an issue" in Baltimore, MD and noticed how "Senator Sanders took an interest in that topic...(and) is a voice for the voiceless". Considering the 344 murders in 2015 , approximately 67% of them being black males under 40, Marques believes Senator Sanders takes this issue seriously; these issues also include homelessness, income inequality, and unemployment.
Harry Huntley.
What's intriguing about Maryland Students for Bernie Sanders is not just the people organizing it, but the attention it is receiving from outside correspondents and representatives from other groups nationally. Maryland for Bernie Sanders, Virginia for Bernie Sanders, Delaware for Bernie Sanders, and even South Carolina for Bernie Sanders are communicating with this seamingly small group to pull together resources and people to get on the ground and support Senator Bernie Sanders while focussing on local politics and progressive reform. In an age where social media is a dominant form of communication, it is not a surprise this amount of collaboration is present within Maryland for Bernie Sanders. As Candidate Marques Dent, "It takes collaboration, it takes partnership to create systematic change."
