Basic Info
| First Name | Olivia |
| Last Name | Quinci |
| Username | oliviaquinci |
Additional Contact Information
| Pronouns | She/her/hers/herself |
Progressive Profile
| Current Employer | The Campaign to Elect Cristian Luna |
| Current Occupation | Field and Finance Assistant |
| Tagline | Passionate Engagement Specialist and Community Advocate |
| Bio | In the vast array of work that I’ve done, I would best describe myself as an engagement specialist who focuses on community advocacy. I currently work part-time on a state-representative campaign and hope to stay in the political realm, but I find my experience in education, environmentalism and academia extremely valuable in how it informs my work today. Like for many in the U.S., the 2016 presidential election impacted my political outlook greatly. Not only did I realize how many Americans were voting based on prejudice and fear, I learned that I wanted to make an impact that was different from other left-leaning people at the time. I wanted to look deeply into what actually drove voters to choose a candidate, whether Democrat, Republican, or other, and give voters more agency to choosing leaders that would represent them well. Additionally, I wanted to make substantive change in the communities around me, by putting leaders in power who actually wanted to serve their constituents, rather than push an ideology. I got my first campaign job while working for Madinah Wilson-Anton (DE26) because of her actionable platform and was able to help her to victory in 2020 and 2022. This year, I have worked with Cristian Luna, who ran for state representative in my home in Pennsylvania’s 13th district. It has been an honor to not only give a voice to empathetic leaders, but to also be able to work in my ideologically diverse home that has helped provide me a nuanced perspective on American politics. |
| Impact | While I have not stayed exclusively in politics during my career, I find that my experience in other fields has led me to using a unique approach to persuading voters and recruiting volunteers. This is especially true of my time teaching. The more time I speak to voters, the more I realize that the skills I need to sway them to choose a certain candidate are very similar to the ones I acquired engaging university students in degree-required Spanish classes, or convincing Baltimore city sixth-graders that vultures are cool. Many think that persuading is mostly assertive work by the persuader; that they have to push the right message with supernatural eloquence to sway someone. I have found in my experience that the bulk of persuading is, instead, active listening and learning about how the voter or student in front of you can engage in what you’re offering. Today, people are disillusioned with suave coercion by politicians. They respond far more positively instead to campaigners who show genuine investment in their concerns, and I believe that is where my edge lies. My methods have proven effective thus far, with defeating a 22-year incumbent in 2020, during a global public health crisis and while being restricted to only virtual outreach. Now, I’m applying these same skills to organizing in Pennsylvania. |
| Mission | After this election, I want to focus on managing campaigns and opening myself to learning more about fields in philanthropy and fundraising. |
Work History
| Employer | The Campaign to Elect Cristian Luna |
| Occupation | Field and Finance Assistant |
| Start Date | September 3, 2024 |
| Employer | The Campaign to Elect Madinah Wilson-Anton |
| Occupation | Volunteer Coordinator |
| Employer | NorthBay Adventure |
| Occupation | Environmental and SEL Educator |
Volunteer History
| Organization | The Campaign to Elect Cristian Luna PA-13 |
| Role | Field Organizer, Volunteer Manager |
| Organization | The Committee to Elect Madinah Wilson-Anton DE-26 |
| Role | Volunteer Coordinator |
| Organization | Caesura Creative Writing Journal – University of Delaware |
| Role | Contributing Editor |
| Organization | Appellate Board – University of Delaware Office of Student Conduct |
| Role | Student Member – Appeal Reviewer |
Education
| School | University of Delaware |
| Degree | B.A. English and Spanish Studies |
| Honors and Achievements |
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| Graduation Date | June 1, 2020 |
| School | University of Delaware |
| Degree | M.A. Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture |
| Graduation Date | June 1, 2022 |