Today we’d like to introduce you to Farrah Renfroe.
Hi Farrah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started Shelby County High School Democrats back in 2022. I was Chief of Staff of Tennessee and thought that having a chapter in Shelby County was a must. I saw the need for high school students to get involved in politics.
In Memphis and Shelby County, we see the same people getting re-elected and things stay the same. I felt like starting this chapter could inspire students to run in the future or simply gain knowledge in the world of politics. This led me to run for Chair of Tennessee High School Democrats in the Summer of 2023.
I wanted students across the state to become involved. I successfully ran and won my race. In my time so far, I have launched 2 chapters, working on restarting 2 chapters that have died out and building a new chapter in a rural area. Using the experience and connections I am building as Chair, I can funnel into Shelby County.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been easy trying to build Shelby County High School Democrats. There are not a lot of students who are interested in electoral politics. Many students feel that the government won’t help the communities they come from.
With the constant divisiveness at different levels of government, a lot of young people question the effectiveness of the people in power. Students have been in the streets fighting for many issues and change still hasn’t come. The level of burnout many young organizers have left them feeling apathetic towards politics in general.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have been an organizer since the 2020 racial uprisings. I specialize in the areas of racial justice and electoral politics. I am most known for my work to get many progressive candidates elected and for being an unapologetic progressive within the Democratic Party.
I am proud of the work I’ve done so far to get more students involved in not only politics but grassroots organizing and activism. I believe that those two go hand in hand. Even though I may not get you directly involved with a political organization, I can get you registered to vote and plugged in with different people who hold positions or have expertise in organizing.
I feel like that sets me apart from most. I am not afraid to connect with people of different backgrounds because I believe that we have to be intersectional in this work. To gain freedom for everyone, we must work together and learn from each other because our struggles are intertwined. I feel like a lot of people could improve in that area. But, it will take time.
What are your plans for the future?
I am hoping to go to college out of state. Although I love the community I have within Tennessee, I would love to see what other states have to offer. I’m manifesting attending school in DC, so I can gain exposure to others who are interested in politics and law. I know a number of people who are already attending DC schools, so I’m ready to join them.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: instagram.com/farrahinthe901
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farrah.renfroe
- Twitter:twitter.com/farrah_renfroe
- Tiktok: tiktok.com/@tnprogressive
