​​In 2008, when Barack Obama came to Bailey Park to talk about running for President, Diop answered the call to public service: to join the movement of leaders creating opportunity in their own communities. He thought that if one person could feel hopeful during a time of uncertainty, that feeling could be spread to others, providing some light to get by.

 

So, Diop took on leadership roles in his school, Battle Creek Central, offering students real chances to learn and grow. He became a youth grantmaker with the Battle Creek Community Foundation and the Mott Foundation to expand service learning in schools and promote economic prosperity in local communities across the state. At Michigan State University, he studied public policy and learned how to bring policy advocates and the private sector together to ensure that public policy includes the people’s voice. He moved to DC, and took on roles  fighting to build a fairer immigration system, expand rural broadband access, and stand up to Wall Street wealth extraction. As an organizer, he worked on electoral campaigns to help communities perform their civic duty, and ensure their voices are heard in halls of power. And, as a Congressional staffer, he helped to build bridges–literally and metaphorically–and connected constituents to public services.

 

Now, Diop Harris is back home–and he’s running for Congress to give Southwest Michigan a fighter in DC. Not only is he from this community, but he’s been serving it for years. He doesn’t need an invite to the cookout–he’s been working the grill. It’s time to elect one of our own to fight for all of us.

 

Diop’s favorite Cereal: Frosted Mini Wheats.

Diop’s favorite Pop-Tarts: S’mores and (frozen) Strawberry Milkshake​​