Many people hope to someday become involved in something important, to make a difference or to witness an historic event.
For local resident Makenzi Hoyt, her opportunity came this summer when she became Pennsylvania’s volunteer ambassador at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia when Hillary Clinton received her party’s nomination for president.
Hoyt said her father’s family is originally from Clearfield and she moved here when she was about five years old. She added she came from a split home and was home-schooled when she was growing up.
She has a daughter and son, and when she was pregnant with her son, she realized that she was in a difficult position. In the middle of a divorce, she did not have a driver’s license or a high school diploma, and decided it was time to take charge of her life and make changes.
In the past year-and-a-half, she has earned her GED, with honors, and also earned her driver’s license. Hoyt also started volunteering with the Pennsylvania Democratic Office and tries to be involved with the community as much as she possibly can.
She said she wanted to help make her community the best it can possibly be for her children as they grow up, and as a result, she started attending local democratic meetings.
Initially, as the presidential election season started, she supported Bernie Sanders. Hoyt noted what he said spoke to a lot of young people, he made sense and sparked passions. Additionally, Sanders helped people to realize if they want to see change in their world, they need to work for it.
However, when Sanders ultimately backed out of the race, she found herself deciding what she would do. “I was unsure about Hillary at first, but now, especially after the convention, I am happy to be working for her and giving her my vote,” Hoyt said.
The convention humanized Clinton for Hoyt and others, and made her easier to relate to. Hoyt said she found she has much in common with the candidate. Both are mothers who are passionate about children and families, both started getting involved in their community in their early 20’s, and she said that has always been Clinton’s main focus.
“I believe that people should really think about all of the amazing work that Hillary Clinton has done for children and families all over the world—it’s because of her that eight million kids have health care,” she said.
But how did a young woman from Clearfield ever get the opportunity to attend the Democratic National Convention? Hoyt said her organizer called her and asked if she was interested in going.
“I believe they chose me because of all the things Hillary and I have in common,” she said, adding she has been very grateful for the opportunity.
While there, she met “some amazing Democrats” and she experienced some of the culture surrounding the convention, which she loved.
Hoyt added that everyone was there because they love their country. She said the crowd was very energetic and positive and any protesting paled in comparison.
The election is still weeks away, but Hoyt said she will absolutely remain involved in politics, regardless of how the election turns out.
She said it is local politics that brought her into being active and involved, and that’s the reason she will stay involved. “It’s candidates like Jay (Notarianni), Fred (Weaver), Jerri (Buchanan) and Kerith (Strano Taylor) that I became so passionate,” she said. “All politics are local, the local politicians are the people that truly change our lives.”
Hoyt says there was so much that happened at the convention that it is hard to think of just a few things to share. She said she witnessed history being made by seeing the first woman nominated for president.
Also, she had the opportunity to see President Barack Obama speak about how Clinton has the right experience and requirements to fill the role of commander in chief.
One of the things that stuck out for Hoyt on Thursday of the convention was when Clinton first walked onto the stage and every mother turned to their daughters and said, “Do you see her?”
The excitement of the daughters witnessing the moment and understanding they can do anything they want in life was an amazing experience, and Hoyt said she will always remember it.
It put into perspective the long fight women have had to reach this point. Only 100 years ago, women were not allowed to vote, and now our next president could be a woman, she said.
“I’m so lucky because I will get to tell my daughter that I helped make history and shatter the world’s highest glass ceiling,” Hoyt remarked. “As Hillary stated that evening, ‘when there are no ceilings, the sky is the limit.’”