When ISABEL FROST joined MoveOn.org’s Grassroots Campaigns, Inc. political consulting firm, she didn’t know that her experience might guide the course of her life. Isabel received training in Boston, then spent three months as a paid worker in Denver as a Democratic canvasser for the recent election. In this position, she was part of what she called ‘a giant phone tree,’ calling MoveOn members to get them to volunteer to help call others. The goal was to reach 5 million voters, but they reached 7.2 million. On the day of the election, Isabel said, the office was hyped up and excited. At least 20 MoveOn members and 100 volunteers were calling different areas to urge voters to support Democratic candidates. Isabel was encouraging people to vote for Jon Tester, now the Democratic Senator-Elect from Montana. When they election was over, the MoveOn members had a party across the street from the offices. ‘Every time a Democrat came [on the television] everyone cheered,’ recalled Isabel, who voted by mail. Her experience with MoveOn benefited her in several ways, exposing her to new people as well as revealing her passion. ‘I got to know everyone really well,’ she said. ‘They became kind of like family. I met a lot of really empowering people.’ Isabel, who attended Palisades High and finished high school through homeschooling last December, is now sure that she is interested in political science. Once she has finished working at MoveOn as assistant director for three months after the election, she will attend Santa Monica College. She hopes to attend law school in the future. ‘I think everyone should take a gap year [between high school and college],’ she said. ‘You only have that chance once, and I had a fantastic experience.’
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