Meet Camila Correa Bourdeau | Nonprofit Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Camila Correa Bourdeau and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Camila, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I have always loved to work and have been fortunate to enjoy my jobs as a teacher, instructional coach, and nonprofit director. It was very easy in my early professional years to dedicate 80% of waking hours to my work. There was never enough time to spend with students who needed help, teachers who wanted more resources, or voters who needed election information. I frequently joke that my real title is not ‘executive director’ but ‘perpetual door-knocker’ because I love interacting with voters as they prepare to participate in upcoming elections. At some point, the lessons my parents tried to teach me when I was younger finally began to seep into my thought process as I grew older. My mom would tell us – todo en moderacion. Everything in moderation, not too much work, not too much partying. Everything in balance. My dad would more bluntly say about work – No one is irreplaceable. If you won’t do a job, there are many others who could be available to step up. I began to reprioritize where I was spending my time and with whom. As much as I enjoy the work I do, these days I do not hesitate to take off my March to the Polls director hat to just be me, Camila. When I do that, I can enjoy being a mom, sister, daughter, friend, and partner.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

March to the Polls started as a powerful community volunteer effort and has become a formal and reputable nonprofit focused on increasing electoral participation, particularly in underrepresented communities. Our partnership with North Texas school districts and county elections offices allows us to work with thousands of students every year and to have the necessary resources to equip new voters with up to date election information. I am so proud of our work to empower high school students to be confident, first-time voters.

As a recently naturalized U.S. Citizen at the age of 28, I know what it is like to be a brand new voter and not feel educated or confident enough to cast my ballot in an election. March to the Polls gave me the opportunity to equip other new voters – especially North Texas high school students – with knowledge to confidently vote. None of the pressures of building out the business of the nonprofit intimidated me enough to stay away from the importance of this work and the mission of March to the Polls.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My family immigrated from Chile to the US and since all of our family is still living in Chile (except for our immediate family), we have a lot of experience hosting others who visit Dallas! With some of the new developments across the city, our trip for the week would go something like this:

We would start our week with a visit to Klyde Warren Park to enjoy the food trucks and a little walk while we catch up with conversation. We’d then head to the reunion tower for a drink and appetizer with a view.

For a different day of exploring we’d head to Bishop Arts for a stop by the Wild Detectives bookstore and later get a slice of pie from Emporium Pies. Maybe we’d be lucky to run into a copy of The Accommodation for some Dallas history reading and dicussion!

And finally, we’d spend a day around White Rock Lake, either going for a bike-ride around the perimeter of the lake or taking a walk along the trails by the water. As a refresher, we’d get Andy’s Frozen Custard right off the north side of the lake.

Dallas has a lot of rich history and cultures – some which is only recently being re-discovered – and I’d be proud to share it all with those who are coming for their first visit to the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout all the students and colleagues I had as a teacher in NYC. My colleagues were there to support me as I learned to be a teacher and my students were there to remind me of the potential we each have to life a full life.

Website: www.marchtothepolls.org

Instagram: @mttptexas

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mttptexas

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MttpTexas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mttptexas/

Other: Volunteer Platform: https://marchtothepolls.vomo.org/org/march-to-the-polls

Image Credits
Hari Chen