The Buzz
September 20, 2019
Meet a Matriot: Eva Raymond
1.You initially learned about The Matriots at a summer house party and before you walked out, you asked if you could invite some friends and hold one of your own. Can you share with our members why you think The Matriots’ vision for more women in elected office is the solution to today’s political rancor, and why that moved you to not only join – but invite friends to join? Since the last election, many difficult topics have been brought into the forefront of national discourse. I don’t know about you, but I was tired of sitting around with my friends and talking about all the current issues in today’s political rancor and doing nothing about it. After attending the house party in the summer, it was amazing how powerful the experience was being in a room with so many committed women and men. I knew I had to do something-especially with the upcoming election knocking on the door. Women need to have more of a voice in what is going on in the world and on every level of candidacy. These past few years have been maddening for many women, especially when it comes down to what we can and cannot do with our body. We need women representing us, not a group of men deciding for us. I knew immediately through conversations that I have had with friends, that they would be on board with The Matriots mission.
2. You are young professional working to raise money for Denison University. Why do you think that it is important for younger people to invest in the political process? As a fundraiser, I always ask my donors what is most important to them and try to understand better what their passions are. Now more than ever, our political climate is tremendously affecting not only our future, but the future of our children as well. What is more important than that? This is something that should be easy for younger people to become passionate about. Investing time to educate yourself on policies and supporting those that believe in the same mission is the first step in improving our future.
3. You spend a lot of time on the road for work. How do you stay connected to your community? And what initiatives are you excited about in the Columbus community? One of the great things about being on the road is getting the opportunity to meet a strong community of Denison University alumni that are passionate about many different initiatives within their own community throughout the US. It allows me to have those important conversations and see how other cities are working through their issues and bring them home to Columbus. Recently, I have been talking with another new Matriots member, Chelsey Craig, about the new poverty plan that Franklin County just unveiled. Changing the poverty, wage gaps, and racial inequalities are, in my opinion, what makes a city strong. This is not something that will happen overnight, but with initiatives like this, we are on our way. I am an Ohio native-Cincinnati for 18 years and Dayton for 3.5 years-but still pretty new to Columbus. I feel like there is still a lot of room to grow in this area. I would love become more involved and to meet more engaged members of Matriots; if anyone would like to connect me to an initiative they are passionate about and would like to talk more about it.
4. By year’s end, The Matriots will have endorsed more than 100 candidates! Can you tell our members about a candidate who inspires you and why?This was a very difficult question, because there are so many amazing women to choose from. Being from Cincinnati and going through the public school system there, Carolyn Jones immediately stuck out to me. Public schools have always struggled to get resources and levies passed to keep things like after-school extracurriculars in place. I do not know where I would be without those extracurriculars and advanced course offerings. It is wonderful to see her advocating for the Cincinnati public schools because education is key *hint: why I work in higher education.* In addition, it is wonderful that Jones has background in mental health. I think this is going to continue to become more prevalent in our youth and having someone with the capability to understand how to approach this is vital!
5. Now for something fun: Tell us about your favorite thing to do in the great state of Ohio. It could be a hobby, a favorite place to eat or something we might not know about our state! I am a die-hard Bobcat-OU oh YEA! I love making it back to Court Street with my fellow Bobcats and exploring Hocking Hills. Hocking Hills is a hidden gem within the hills of southern Ohio. If you have not been, I highly recommend.
