Community Policing With Chief Chaudoin August 27th, 2020

I hope that you will tune in to our live panel discussion with Greenwood Provisional Police Chief T. J. Chaudoin, Reverend Annette Edwards of the Old Field Bethel A.M.E. Church, and Jamar Crawford, Director of Next Level Life Styles as we discuss the need for effective community policing practices and ways to create a healthy community environment for our youth. On Thursday, August 27th at 6:30 PM, we will live stream this event on my Waldrep Works Campaign Facebook, no registration or Zoom link required!

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August 26th marked the Women's Vote Centennial! I stopped by  The Museum of Greenwood, one of our Greenwood gems, to see their exhibit celebrating the passage of the 19th Amendment. Remember how hard our grandmothers fought for this and VOTE November 3rd! You can register to vote today today at sc.votes.gov. You can begin the 3 step process for absentee voting at www.votebluesc.com today!

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Jill Koczwara is our featured Waldrep Worker doing a good deed by adding food to a blessings box in her neighborhood! Send me a picture of yourself helping others so we can share it and encourage others lend a helping hand! Order YOUR Waldrep Works t-shirt here!

You are an awesome team and I deeply appreciate your support! Together, we're making a difference! Together, we're painting a brighter future!

Thank you!
Denise

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On the Threshold August 17th, 2020

On a sunny November day in 2019, I stepped over the threshold into "The Hut" in Greenwood to hear Senator Kamala Harris speak. While listening to her inspiring words, I remember a sense of hope for what was to come. It was then and there I felt strongly the urge to run for office!

And now, on the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing and protecting women's constitutional right to vote, I'm thrilled that we have the opportunity to elect Senator Harris to be our Nation's first Black, female Vice President.

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I am also honored to be running to represent you in the SC General Assembly! We are standing in a threshold moment and have an incredible opportunity to choose between what has been and what can be!

Are you ready to vote for candidates who can help lead us over this threshold? Are you ready to send home elected officials who stand by and do nothing while leaders at the highest levels of our government use racist tactics to sow fear, discord and division among us? I am! And I am ready to go to work for you to replace division with vision of equal justice under the law. A vision where everyone has an opportunity to succeed and has access to basic healthcare and quality education. 

Thank you for standing with me. Your supportive words of encouragement and contributions to my campaign are making a difference.

 If you would like to wear a Waldrep Works t-shirt to help us spread our message, please make a $20.00 contribution to our campaign here. If you live in Greenwood, call me to arrange a time to get your shirt, 864-377-1465. If you're from out of town, please consider adding $4.00 to cover shipping costs.

Thank you for being the driving force behind our campaign shirts, Suzy Holloway!

Thank you for being the driving force behind our campaign shirts, Suzy Holloway!

And once you get your shirt, please send me a picture of you wearing your shirt while doing something to help a friend or neighbor! Let's spread some positivity in the community.

Thank you with all my heart!

Denise 

Jitwan Floyd, leader of our local Young Democrats group, registers his sister to vote!

Jitwan Floyd, leader of our local Young Democrats group, registers his sister to vote!

In memory of the Honorable John Lewis August 4th, 2020


Have you heard the phrase “Beloved Community” in the last few days as you watched and read tributes to the Honorable John Lewis? He used the term to describe a community, nation, world and society that is at peace with itself. To mark his passing, I’m sharing again my illustrated interpretation of the beginnings of a beloved community, 2020 style, in which friends, families, and classes connect through Zoom and other virtual platforms. What would your version look like?

Rep. Lewis left us with marching orders for reclaiming the soul of our nation. Following his example, we can replace division with a vision of a nation where all people have the resources to thrive and this is one reason why I chose to run for office. 

How can you and I help make this vision real? First, we stay grounded in faith, hope and love. Then, when I'm elected I will work to remove obstacles that are preventing people from voting. I will need your help registering new voters, working the polls, and helping democrats up and down the ballot Get Out The Vote this November. 

Governing is not a spectator sport and that is why I am running- I could no longer sit on the sidelines. I will work with you toward a future where all people have access to resources they need to thrive!

Thank you for sharing our campaign emails, website, and social media posts with your friends! You can also help us buy social media ads and campaign literature. This is more important than ever as we cannot campaign in person at this point. Your donation of $10, $25, $50 or $100 will make this possible.  

Can I count on you to back my campaign with a donation today?

Thank you for being on our team of Waldrep workers! Let’s keep marching to make that Beloved Community a reality!

Denise

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Fundraising Update July 17th, 2020

Fundraising Update July 17th, 2020

On Tuesday, Greenwood School District 50 rolled out a well thought out plan for reopening school. Then Wednesday, Gov McMaster held a press conference to pressure school districts state wide to offer only five-day, face-to-face instruction or all virtual instruction with no regard for rising rates of COVID spread in the community. This is reckless, dangerous and a total disregard for the expertise and planning of our trained educators.

The Governor was surrounded by Senators Hembree and Peeler, who have no experience in education. This is why we need to have more educators serving as lawmakers! We need leaders to keep politics out of decisions that affect the health of our children and teachers! When I am elected I will prioritize the safety and well being of our children and educational staff above party politics.

As I've said before, challenging times call for creative problem solvers, and I believe I am the woman for the job!

Thank you to all my amazing supporters and donors who helped me out raise my opponent by double last quarter! We also had significantly more individual, small-dollar contributions that show an increasing momentum in this campaign. I believe we all want what's best for our children and as a mom, artist, and educator with classroom experience I am ready to lead with your help.

Let's send a teacher to the Statehouse!

Thank you for giving of your time, treasure and talent.

Denise

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Response To George Floyd Protests/ June 4th, 2020

Recently, when discussing social justice issues with one of my young supporters, I was reminded that no one person is expected to have the answer on how to fix the longstanding racial divide, but that step one is recognizing the problem exists. Step two is being willing to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have been oppressed and unjustly targeted.

Like many of you, I was deeply saddened by the killing of George Floyd and the many other lives who have been lost due to systemic racism and over- aggressive policing of our black and brown citizens.

As we continue to process the turmoil across our country and witness a sustained expression of frustration and anger, it is clear: now is the time for action. And sometimes the most appropriate action is to be still and listen. As a candidate for SC House District 13, I am here to listen to you, my constituents, and to learn from those who are already on the front line leading legislative and social reform.

I commend SC Rep. Jerry Govan, chair of the SC Black Caucus, for outlining three top legislative priorities. As your next SC House Representative, I will also make these measures a priority: fully funding the body camera mandate that took effect in 2015 but has yet to receive adequate funds for agencies to carry out pass a long stalled hate crime law that would strengthen punishment for racially motivated crimes (SC is one of only 4 states without a hate crime law) review use-of-force guidelines for law enforcement officers in the state

In order to support this legislative agenda and help advance the work that is already begun, I need your support with a donation of any amount to my campaign. Together we can take action and create meaningful change. Together we can paint a brighter world.

Now Is the Time for Action!

How many nights have you waited up for your children, not able to sleep until you know that they’re safely home? We hope that they won’t be in an accident. We hope that they won’t do something foolish that results in harm. Not only do families of color worry about this, but they also experience the fear of their children experiencing overly-aggressive treatment from law enforcement while being stopped for driving while black, running while black, or walking home from school while black. Occupation and wealth are no deterrent. U. S. Senator Tim Scott (SC), was pulled over seven times in one year by police. Senator Scott has urged his colleagues “not to deny the existence of the pain and anguish of problematic police/community relations.” No one has all the answers about how to fix our long standing racial divide. But we can begin by acknowledging the problem and standing with those who have experienced, and are experiencing, systemic racism. Now is the time for action. And sometimes the most appropriate action is to take no action other than to be still and listen.

I invite my opponent, Rep. John McCravy, to join me in listening and taking a stand against institutional racism. Let’s stay focused. While we must make sure that all acts of violence occurring during the protests are prosecuted, let’s not allow senseless acts of looting by opportunists to distract us from the listening process that includes having peaceful demonstrations of legitimate frustration and anger. We can do both! Some voices declare that we must make a choice between public safety and civil rights. That is a false choice. We need both. Reform that prevents abusive policing practices restores the confidence, trust and respect required for the officers to do their important work and vindicates the vast majority of police who do well their job of protecting us all.

Listening to one another is not and will not be easy. We will misspeak, we will experience anger and denial. But we must be patient with one another and grow together as we find our way to the other side. After all, we’re all like cracked pottery and jars of clay containing treasure within.

As a mother, grandmother and candidate for SC House District 13, I am here to listen to you and to learn from those who are already on the front line leading legislative and social reform. I commend SC Rep. Jerry Govan, chair of the SC Black Caucus, for outlining three top legislative priorities. As your next SC House Representative, I will work hard to make these measures a priority:

  • Fully funding the body camera mandate that took effect in 2015 but has yet to receive adequate funding for agencies to carry out

  • Reviewing use-of-force guidelines for all South Carolina law enforcement officers

  • Because South Carolina is one of only four states in America without such a law, passing our long stalled hate-crime law to strengthen punishment for racially motivated crimes

Together we can take action and create meaningful change. Together we can paint a brighter world.

The Breath Knocked Out of Words Given Breath

Because our participating poets have been shaken by the unrest that has surfaced across our country in recent days, we have decided to reschedule our Poetry Slam focusing on education for a later date. However, I will be posting poetry by local poets regularly on my campaign Facebook and website. Tonight, Aza Tara Elizabeth Games is our featured poet. Here is her poem, “It's Not Personal. It's Just Politics”:

It’s not personal. It’s just politics. Since when did knowing before I knew, that if I ever wanted to marry a woman - I probably wouldn't be able to, because some people didn't think it was right to love-
It's not personal. It's just politics.
Since when did being unsure if I could keep a job, because I don't fall under some protections, and my job maybe doesn't have to provide health-
It's not personal. It's just politics.
Since when did being afraid to walk down the street at twilight in the city, because I don't know what's around the corner, and if there-
How is being looked at like I'm a danger, because I have scars, and all school shooters have mental illnesses and-
It's not personal. It's just politics
How is being told what I can and cannot do with the form I was born in because a bunch of-
It's not personal. It's just politics.
How is being told the only good one is a dead one -
It's not personal. It's just politics.
But, if you vote for then -
It's not personal! It's just politics!
Except it is personal-
It's not personal. It's just-
All these things, are things that chip away at my rights-
It's not personal. It's-
Tell me I am less than you, because I am different in a way that you do not like.
It's not personal.
It is personal! Because when you tell me, you support or will vote for someone who is calling for the dehumanizing of me-
It's not-
And everyone else who shares a label you use and deem scary, bad, sinful. Inferior. Undeserving of the same rights, and respects as you. You are saying that even if you won't participate, you will sit back and let It happen.
It's-
Personal. It's politics.

A Beloved Community in 2020 Illustrated

I draw cartoons for therapy. After participating in many Zoom meetings these last 10 weeks, I began to image a Zoom meeting of those who are on the frontlines of building and protecting a Beloved Community in 2020. Here is the result. I dedicate this to those represented in my drawing and to the great statesman Representative John Lewis of Georgia.

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A Beloved Community

The Best Possible Tomorrow

by Denise Waldrep
candidate for SC House Representative, District 13

This week we celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2020 and the promise of their tomorrows. We also honor the lives of the fallen heroes who gave up their tomorrows for our today. Let’s honor these heroes by working together to paint the best possible tomorrow for the Class of 2020. We must walk the walk, not just talk the talk, of working for the common good.

If we’re in quarantine during this unsettling time of dealing with a virus that we cannot see, we might be “walking the walk” in our PJ’s with bad home haircuts and a few extra corona quarantine pounds! Nevertheless, we will persist through Zoom and Webex meetings to work toward getting equal and affordable telehealth care access for all. We can see the early fruits of this endeavor at DHEC’s web site.

Thank you to S.C. Representative Jim Clyburn for facilitating partnerships between healthcare providers and internet service providers to help make this a reality. Representative Clyburn also pushed hard to get $200 million into the CARES Act for a pilot program to help healthcare providers receive broadband connectivity and devices for telehealth services.  This money also provides reimbursement to both community health centers and rural clinics for providing telehealth service during this time of emergency. This goes toward free testing for COVID-19.

Even though we may feel more like a burned out bulb than a glowing light at times, remember, in the words of the great statesman John Lewis:

“You are a light… And if you follow your truth down road to peace and the affirmation of love, if you shine like a beacon for all to see then the poetry of all the great dreamers and philosophers is yours to manifest in a nation, a world community, and a Beloved Community that is finally at peace with itself.”

― John Lewis, Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America