We plan to be in Bakersfield, CA during the weekend of Thursday Feb 13 through Monday Feb 16, working with Seed the Vote on what they call “Deep Canvassing.”

If you’ve done an Election Retreat with us before, you know that our projects combine mindfulness practice with the everyday nuts and bolts of walking precincts and talking to voters. 

Seed the Vote’s “deep canvassing” project calls for meeting face to face with residents and engaging with them about their issues, concerns and priorities — primarily through inquiry, listening, sharing personal stories, and exploration of shared values.  Our goal is to get a feel for the mind and mood of the electorate at large — and also to engage with individual voters one on one, and persuading them to support progressive candidates.  

Each day we’re in Bakersfield, our group begin with meditation, service, and dharma discussion, in an airbnb we’ve rented in downtown Bakersfield.  (Saturday we’ll start with a program at the Zen Fellowship of Bakersfield, who have graciously invited us to join their regular weekly program). Our first two days we’ll go to the nearby Dolores Huerta Center and meet with Seed the Vote for a lengthy training session, where we’ll be schooled in the rudiments of deep canvassing — which will include modeling and role-playing.  Then each afternoon we’ll fan out to local neighborhoods, knock on doors and meet with residents.  This is groundwork for a later effort connected with the June primary, as well as the general election this fall.  (This is in Congressional District CA-22, which will be contested this year).

For more information click HERE.