Courtney Waters, Candidate for Charleston County Consolidated School Board
Why did you choose Emerge?
I chose Emerge because women are powerful when we come together. We lift one another as we climb, and I love that about us. On my journey to transform my community, I needed to be connected to this lifeline of like-minded, powerful women.
What office are you running for and why?
I am running for a seat on the Charleston County School Board. I believe we can do better for our children. As a former educator and current education advocate, I have a unique set of experiences I can contribute to a group of committed, informed board members. This year, we have an opportunity to vote in a qualified majority of board members and I will be an effective contributor.
What is your vision for your community?
My vision is that we transform our education community to suit the needs of all students. A community that considers its most vulnerable when crafting policies is needed so that we may all achieve greater. We are only as strong as our most underserved students.
What/Who inspires you to run for office?
I have been inspired by so many people. Mostly, I am inspired by other young people who have successfully won races. I realize that we can all make a difference if we put in the work and remain committed.
Which Democratic woman inspires you and why?
I am most inspired by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She is not only fiercely paving the way for diverse perspectives, but remaining committed to social justice as she legislates.
What is the one thing you gained from Emerge and would like to share with others?
Through practical and immediately useful tools, I gained the confidence that I could run a successful campaign. I called the person I’d been too nervous to ask to run my campaign after the first day and got a yes. After that, I knew I was in business.
To learn more about Courtney visit: https://courtneywaters.com/