Kerri Evelyn Harris

Even when money was its tightest, Kerri Evelyn Harris always made time to make a difference. It was amid the start of the Great Recession when Harris returned to civilian life after almost a decade in the U.S. Air Force, and she was struggling to make ends meet. Harris cut grass, worked on cars, even fried chicken at a gas station. But she also volunteered with the Red Cross and at homeless shelters, and coached her daughter’s soccer team. Today, she’s an advocate and community organizer in Delaware, where, in her many roles, she works with youth to close the educational achievement gap, teaches young people how to fight for social change, works to find solutions to the opioid crisis, and strives to increase engagement throughout the state. Now, she can add U.S. Senate candidate to her list of accomplishments. Harris is running as a Democrat in the state of Delaware “because there is a need for balance in our Congressional body,” she says. “We need representation that reflects America’s diversity… in order for legislation to begin to fully meet the needs of all [residents] of our state and nation. Otherwise, we risk continuing to leave individuals and entire communities in the margins.” She found her calling in organizing and advocacy “because oftentimes people are ready and hungry for change but don’t know the steps to take,” she says. “This work allows me to empower others to fight for themselves and their communities, to turn their words into action, and amplify their voices by uniting with others they may never have thought they would because they connected on an issue.” —SEJ