00:11Lawrence, Massachusetts is an immigrant city where thousands of immigrants from
00:17particularly the Dominican Republic have migrated to. They've come here with
00:22hopes and dreams of being able to find better opportunities for themselves and
00:26their family and it's interesting because that's my story. I know what it is to
00:32have a job that pays minimum wage. I know what it is to have parents who don't
00:37understand English who are trying to navigate the system. I saw my parents go
00:41through many challenges and I've seen many families go through those similar
00:43challenges and a lot of those experiences were really what inspired me to be
00:48involved in public service. You don't think I should ever say that our public
00:51school systems are not functioning at the level that they should be which is a
00:54reality. My name is Juana Matias and I'm running in the primary for the state
00:58representative seat in the 16th district which encompasses Lawrence in
01:02Massachusetts. I am 29 years old and I have never held elected office before.
01:10There has never been a Latina state representative in Massachusetts. I believe
01:18that we need someone who's going to be the voice of the people who don't have a
01:23voice at the state house. We need someone who's really could represent and
01:28advocate on behalf of the needs we have as a community.
01:40Radio is really important in Lawrence. A lot of people get their information about the
01:45community through local radio shows and I've had the opportunity to talk to
01:48people outside of the district who are like really radio? Yes, radio.
02:04The state representative position has been the position I've always been interested in and it's because I feel like it
02:09gives me an opportunity to really work on policy.
02:20I am running against a promoter who's been residing in Lawrence for many years and then I am running against
02:26an incumbent who's been running for elected office in Lawrence for over 30 years.
02:30One of the really unique things about my candidacy in my campaign is the fact that I'm young.
02:39I think there is some truth to the fact that millennials are a little bit disengaged when it comes to
02:45their activism and political campaigns.
02:54But I think that they get motivated when they find a candidate that really speaks to their values and it's
02:59so important in Lawrence where the median age is 31 years old that we really have a representative who's up
03:05-to-date on these social issues.
03:17Door knocking is the most important thing you can do on a campaign and I've learned that and I've seen
03:23it. It's direct voter contact.
03:28It's about me educating our public as I'm knocking on these doors. Really being able to inform people this is
03:34what a state legislator is supposed to be doing and it has a huge impact.
03:38And any candidate or any person you talk to in politics lets you know that it's the most effective way
03:43to communicate with voters.
03:45Awesome. OK, I just did 142. I'm moving on to 140.
03:47I think that it's very important to bring in new voters into the political process.
03:51We can then come back and do Stearns.
03:54OK, awesome.
03:55I think individuals in our society are detached. So if they see you on a three o'clock Saturday afternoon
04:03and you're sweating and you're knocking on doors and they're like, wow, if she's doing that, I can just imagine
04:10what that candidate will do once they get elected.
04:13Those are things that you can't get through social media. Nothing could replace that.
04:20Sometimes I get tired and it's just like, wow, what did I get myself into?
04:2615 hour days and just the challenges that you face on a daily basis.
04:32I hit the doors till 830. I come back to the office. I debrief with my campaign manager.
04:38I was able to tally the canvassing for the canvassing on the phones for today.
04:43My belief is that if you get your message out one-on-one with the voters of the city, they
04:50will come out and they will support.
04:52I think there's no more effective way than being involved at the local level.
04:57And I think that it makes the difference. Actually being able to walk through the streets of Lawrence, talking to
05:04the people that make up our community, it makes me stay connected.
05:09My story is always going to stay with me and I'm never going to forget why I'm there and who
05:14I need to advocate for.
05:45I think that it makes me stay connected.
