Member Spotlight May 2019

LaDonna Massad

​"I met Beto in August 2017 when I was undergoing Red Cross training to help care for Hurricane Harvey evacuees. He came to the Red Cross offices to thank volunteers and see how preparations were going.

Look how everyone ignored him a year out. I literally was the only one to ask for a picture. These people had no idea who he was."

Precinct Number: 339

When did you join Blue Action?
I was at the inaugural meeting but didn't join until the meeting at the new TCDP SW office. Not sure what took me so long!

What's your favorite volunteer activity?
I love hosting gatherings — postcard-writing parties or phone bank/canvassing events — whatever brings people together working for the cause. When the SW office was open, I enjoyed working shifts there, meeting people and encouraging their participation. 

What's the issue that got you involved?
Which time? Once I ended my journalism career, I was free to let my political freak flag fly. I've always been involved in education issues, sitting on a number of AISD committees over the years.

In 2007, I was so inspired by Obama that I canvassed for him for a week in New Mexico. In 2013, a friend asked me to go to a Saturday hearing about reproductive rights at the Legislature, and that snowballed into being there almost every day leading up to the Wendy Davis filibuster and cemented my desire to advocate for things important to me.

On October 1, 2017, my younger son survived the Route 91 massacre in Las Vegas, and that month I joined Moms Demand Action. Nothing like getting a phone call from your child in the midst of a mass shooting to spur you to action. Blue Action Democrats was a natural extension of the work I already was doing.

Where would you like to see the club in 5 years?
I'm a little selfish; I don't want the club to grow too much. I've seen that be the downfall of other efforts. However, I would like us to expand our reach by teaching others how to fish ... Show groups throughout the state and/or nationally how to replicate our success in their areas.
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Join Blue Action Dems today to support the work we do, from postcard parties to funding a Democratic office in Southwest Austin. 

The Austin American Statesman published a shot of LaDonna at an Obama rally in Austin.