For many students, summer is a break from the classroom. At the college level, this break could mean doing nothing, traveling, or getting a summer job. For others, however, summer is an opportunity to better themselves and their community.
This was the case for one student I had the pleasure of working with this summer, Wulwyn Porte. Wulwyn, a Mass Media major at the illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, joined us as an intern, eager to learn how various parts of our organization serve educators and public school workers across the state.
At NCAE, our mission is to support our members as they prepare the next generation for the world beyond the school hallways. For a few months, I had the chance to get a glimpse of what it was like to teach.
Wulwyn attended our annual Summer Leaders Conference, he went out canvassing with Summer Member Organizers, he had the opportunity to speak with educators of all types, and spoke with community members about the importance of public schools. In the end, Wulwyn created a short documentary of his experience with NCAE – take a look!
“Canvassing takes a certain amount of bravery. You never know what’s behind the door, and you have to be prepared for anything. Not only that, but you must show confidence in your message and deliver it with genuine sincerity and intentionality,” said Carson Pfingston, Deputy Director of Community and Political Organizing at NCAE. “Wulwyn not only captured all the emotions of those interactions but also captured people’s stories of hope for our public schools.”
When asked about Wulwyn’s efforts while canvassing in Winston-Salem, Lori Farrington, Vice President of the Forsyth County Association of Educators, said, “He asked open-ended questions gently and was able to elicit candid responses that reflected individuals’ interest in public education and how it would affect their choices at the polls.”
It was during this time that I believe Wulwyn truly began to understand the work we do at NCAE and why public schools are so important to our communities. He took everything he saw and learned during his time here and it is evident in his documentary.
As Carson aptly put it, “Wulwyn’s project perfectly encapsulates the hard work of our members, not only during canvassing but also as they prepare for the fall and the school year ahead.”
