Interview with Meredith Jachowicz
Seasoned White House Staffer and Political Operative, Meredith Jachowicz, Joins NDTC as COO
TL;DR:
Lessons from the White House
Yes, there is hope in upcoming elections
Why every political junkie needs to watch The Good Place
We’re excited to share something a bit different from our norm with you this week: A warm welcome to Meredith Jachowicz, NDTC’s new Chief Operating Officer!
Meredith is a seasoned White House staffer from the Biden-Harris Administration who comes to us with nearly 15 years of progressive leadership experience (more on that here). We’re thrilled to have her expertise as we scale up to welcome thousands of learners ready to run for local office and win.
To help you get to know Meredith – and her vision for NDTC – we asked her to sit down for a brief Q&A. Read on to hear about her experience at the Biden White House, her hope for Democrats in the future, and her cure for the Sunday scaries.
NDTC: What initially drew you to NDTC?
Meredith: I am passionate about breaking down the barriers that keep people from getting involved in politics. Whether it's volunteering in your community, working on a campaign, or running for office, we need to meet people where they are and ensure they have the resources they need to feel confident in taking that first step. I'm thrilled to join an organization that is doing the work to build a stronger, more inclusive Democratic party.
NDTC: What lessons did you learn during your time in the White House that you're bringing to NDTC?
Meredith: I worked in the Presidential Personnel Office (PPO) at the White House, where the motto was “People are Policy” – meaning that if you have people with different backgrounds and lived experiences working together, you'll be able to create better, more informed policy outcomes for the American people. We were always trying to find new ways to reach people and make sure they were represented in the Administration. I know that experience thinking outside the box and being intentional in the work will serve me well at NDTC.
PPO was also an incredibly fun place to work. We had weekly trivia competitions, long debates over books, and contests over everything from basketball to the Oscars. I have been fortunate to work in many places where the work is taken seriously but people don't take themselves seriously, and I will carry that reminder throughout my career.
NDTC: How do you approach building strong teams?
Meredith: Working in politics, you have a strong baseline because it's so mission-driven and you know that the people who seek it out are going to be committed to your shared goal. From there, my strategy has always been to give my team the tools they need to succeed, and then empower and trust them to do so. My two most important policies are that my door is always open, and I'll never ask my team to do something that I'm not willing to pitch in and help with.
NDTC: What motivates you to keep working toward Democrats' success?
Meredith: Growing up, my grandfather was a public school teacher, and my sister has followed in his footsteps, so I've seen the generational changes in what is expected of teachers. I know multiple teachers now, including my sister, who are providing supplies for their classrooms or food for their students out of their own (underpaid) pockets. I've witnessed my sister's struggle to process the idea that she has to run active shooter drills for seven-year-olds, and how quickly that has become a normal part of their routine. And while we haven't done enough yet, she inspires me to stay in this fight and work to elect Democrats who will fight for gun safety laws, who champion the importance of providing for our teachers and students, and who are striving to better serve them.
NDTC: What gives you hope for Democrats in upcoming elections?
Meredith: On the day of the No Kings protests, I took a long bike ride around Washington, DC. Everybody heard about the huge protest downtown, but the impromptu gatherings of people out in their neighborhoods, holding up signs, chanting, and cheering brought tears to my eyes. From teenagers to the residents of a senior citizens' home, the people came out to say that we're still here and we're organizing – and we will fight back.
NDTC: What’s your go-to political podcast/book/show when you need inspiration?
Meredith: Hear me out: it's The Good Place, a sitcom about the afterlife. While you might not think of it as political, the whole show is about people trying to be the best versions of themselves in the face of obstacles, whether that's (nine-year-old spoiler alert) literal demons torturing them or confronting their own indecisive natures and the complicated reality of being alive in the 21st century. And isn't helping give people the tools so they can be their best selves what we're trying to do here? I'd also recommend the episode-by-episode show podcast that dives deep into just how intentional every choice was by the creators, cast, and crew. Both the show and the podcast are hopeful, optimistic, and most importantly, funny.
But yes, I've also seen The West Wing several times. I went to college in DC, it's practically a requirement.
NDTC: Best way to fight off the Sunday scaries?
Meredith: Getting lost in another world – I love a good fantasy novel. Ideally, I’d be reading it on the beach, but my couch works too (and has the added bonus of being where my cat is, and she makes an excellent reading buddy/weighted blanket).
NDTC is often looking for driven professionals to join our team and to work with! Keep up with our LinkedIn to see new opportunities, and subscribe to our TL;DR newsletter to be the first to hear updates from us.
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