Connecting with our neighbors is at the heart of how our small towns work. That’s why Down Home puts conversation, connection, and learning at the heart of our work.
To do this, we use a technique called Deep Canvassing. Deep canvassing serves as a powerful tool to bridge political divides. Through meaningful and compassionate conversations, we seek out places where we agree and built a movement off our shared goals.
Watch this video with Bonnie Dobson, our Deep Canvass Manager, as she discusses how to have transformative conversations through deep canvassing. These conversations aim to change hearts and minds on the issues that often serve to divide us, and instead, encourage people to embrace more compassionate and equitable solutions.
At Down Home North Carolina, deep canvassing is more than just a strategy—it’s a commitment to our community. Deep canvassing is essential to building a base of support for poor and working-class issues and is a proven way to reach across divides and bring folks together across race, class, gender, and region. Our deep canvass volunteers cut through the culture war rhetoric and get to the heart of our home state.
Deep canvassing isn’t just about winning elections; it has the potential to create meaningful change for North Carolina’s working class and poor folks on important issues. Through deep canvassing initiatives, we have successfully halted an expensive jail expansion project, have connected with voters about rural jobs and the economy, and worked to understand how transphobia is being used as a wedge issue to divide and distract us.
Come experience the transformative impact of deep canvassing for yourself! By getting involved in our deep canvassing work, you will not only learn a valuable skill but also contribute to changing our communities and, likely, transform yourself in the process.
Contact our Deep Canvassing Team to get started and stay updated on the latest news about deep canvassing at Down Home.
Contact the Deep Canvassing TeamA: Deep canvassing moves beyond traditional campaign techniques by focusing on empathetic listening and personal storytelling to engage our neighbors and find shared values.
A: There are distinct differences between the two approaches. Deep canvassing goes beyond surface-level interactions by focusing on fostering empathy, engaging in personal storytelling, and creating meaningful connections. Regular canvassing tends to rely more on delivering predetermined messages and gathering information for the purpose of voter targeting.
A: Instead of heated debates, deep canvassers approach conversations with empathy and respect. By actively listening and creating a safe space for dialogue, we can build trust among individuals with different perspectives.
A: Deep canvassing has been shown to increase empathy, reduce prejudice, and even lead to changes in attitudes and behaviors. It opens doors for collaboration, compromise, and pursuing common goals.
The winning combination of local campaigns and electoral politics
We’ve got work to do.
We want working families to have more than a seat at the political table when decisions about our communities are made – we want to be making the decisions ourselves.
© 2024 Down Home North Carolina
