From Volunteer to Changemaker: Althea Cole’s Grassroots Story
Iowa resident Althea Cole developed severe rheumatoid arthritis at eight years old. When she reached adulthood, her health drastically narrowed her future career options. Because a traditional 9-5 job wasn’t in the cards, Althea embraced the gig economy and became an independent contractor.
Always interested in creating change in her community, Althea connected with her state chapter of Americans for Prosperity (AFP). She had already been volunteering with AFP for five years when the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act — legislation that would institute strict criteria to remain self-employed and harm the ability of independent contractors like her to freelance — was introduced.
Althea credits her advocacy prowess to the AFP Foundation’s Grassroots Leadership Academy (GLA) training where she cultivated the skills to recruit and train volunteers to be changemakers in their communities. Little did she know, her journey was just beginning.
The Grassroots Leadership Academy’s Transformative Impact
Althea’s path into activism began somewhat unintentionally. She was looking to connect with her community and found that volunteering and activism with AFP allowed her to connect with other passionate citizens and unite behind a common cause.
In 2015, Althea enrolled in GLA where she learned key skills such as writing compelling stories to drive action and education around issues, tools for recruiting and mobilizing volunteers, and how to speak to legislators.
For Althea’s final course, she traveled across state lines to collaborate with activists to develop grassroots campaigns that address issues impacting their community, such as education and taxes. She trained volunteers on phone banking tactics and writing letters to the editor, became a trusted local source for campaigns crafting voter engagement strategies, and even ran her own GLA training.
One young campaign staffer, Rob Peters, was so inspired by his work with Althea that he pursued a full-time job with AFP and is now the Director of Grassroots Operations for AFP-Iowa.
“Every Engagement Director needs an Althea Cole. No one can do it alone, and AFP needs volunteer leaders like her to be more impactful in our community outreach,” emphasizes Rob.
GLA gave Althea’s an understanding of the legislative process and how to engage with elected officials to advocate for change, as well as a foundation for understanding important policy issues. Her desire to learn earned her the respect of a senior AFP-Iowa staff member, so when one of Iowa’s largest newspapers sought applicants for a one-year editorial fellowship, they encouraged her to apply and she was ultimately accepted. In her first column, she wrote of her experience as an independent contractor and warned about what she and 57 million others would lose if the PRO Act became law.
AFP Empowers Althea to Greater Her Impact
Due to their partnership with AFP, Althea and many other gig workers were given a platform to amplify their voices and convey to decision-makers the importance of allowing independent contractors to keep their independent status so they can pursue flexible work.
Thanks to AFP and devoted activists like Althea, the PRO Act was defeated and the rights of independent contractors across the country hold strong. Althea is further proof that when a challenge presents itself, those who seize the opportunity to get involved can do something about it.
