Episode 31: Amplifying the Power of Local Civic Engagement featuring Christine Edwards

Christine Edwards is a civic firebrand that has immersed herself in the art of helping urban communities reach their highest levels of growth, empowerment, and success. A speaker by profession, leader by vocation and entrepreneur by passion, Christine’s work involves using her voice to foster civically engaged communities through collaboration, partnership and digital communication. Embodying the essence of her core message she founded Amplify Community Consulting, that delivers community engagement outreach services, civic education workshops and resources for small businesses pursuing local government contracts. Amplify was founded in 2018 in Charlotte, NC. In her spare time, Christine volunteers, travels, enjoys good southern food and loves seeing urban policy theory play out in everyday life. Public service is her jam.

In this episode Christine shares the importance of staying civically connected and strategies for doing so while also protecting ourselves and the future of our communities. Tapping into her experience and expertise in local city government, she shares the genesis of Amplify. Studies have shown that women tend to ruminate over their qualifications for a role way more than men. Accounting for the racialized experience in the workplace, Christine shares what factors spurred her decision to leap into full-time entrepreneurship. With the election season well underway and the window of early voting becoming ever more narrow, we explore what people need to do to get schooled on their local engagements. As YelloPain, a Ohio rapper, highlights in his song, "My Vote Will Count" there is so much value in our local and state elections. Christine rallies us to stay informed, make micro-connections in our neighborhoods and ultimately see ourselves as local change agents.

We amplify our voices, representation and change for the betterment of our communities as we share Forward 4O’s platform with this phenomenal WOC in the nonprofit and social enterprise sector.

Stay connected to Christine on YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. You can also follow the work of Amplify on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter. Lastly, stay tuned for updates on the launch of her contract academy here!

Follow Forward 40(4tea) on IG and Twitter @forward4tea. Continue to support and nominate a guest to be on the show. You can also learn more about the host Coach Faith here.