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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240813T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240813T130000
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UID:51945-1723550400-1723554000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Tent Talk: What is Rural America Thinking with Sarah Jaynes and Jess Piper
DESCRIPTION:BigTent USA was thrilled to welcome Sarah Jaynes\, Executive Director of Rural Democracy Initiative  and Jess Piper\, Executive Director of Blue Missouri. Our conversation focused on rural America and what voters are feeling about the Harris/Walz ticket\, the November elections and their future. \nThe Rural Democracy Initiative is driving a growing array of organizing efforts in  states like Michigan\, Pennsylvania\, North Carolina\, Montana\, and Arizona\, where new work is underway to engage rural voters\, speak to their concerns\, and otherwise show up in places that many Democrats have written off. RDI is building power and shared prosperity across diverse communities in rural areas and small cities. Their investments target civic infrastructure in small towns and cities to influence public sentiment\, electoral outcomes\, and redistricting procedures. Their main goal is to provide support for rural working people\, therefore transforming the landscape of rural America for future generations. \nOUR SPEAKER \nSarah Jaynes\, Executive Director Rural Democracy Initiative \nSarah grew up in a small town on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state and began her career organizing on climate issues in rural communities. Since then\, she’s been a trailblazer in the progressive movement. Sarah led the development of one of the first state progressive donor networks—Washington’s Progress Alliance—and has coached emerging donor alliances from Alaska to New Hampshire to Alabama as a senior advisor to Committee on States. Sarah is recognized for her expertise leading innovative campaigns integrating field experiments\, digital platforms\, and transformative narrative\, and manages to stay relentlessly optimistic and obsessed with winning. \nJess Piper is a mother to five and grandmother to three and lives on a small farm on the Missouri/Iowa border. She was born and raised in rural America. She was an American Literature teacher for 16 years. After the 2016 election of Trump\, Jess became politically active. Jess ran for office in 2022 for State Representative in HD1 in Northwest Missouri. Jess wrires a well known newsletter: The View from Rural Missouri
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/rural-democracy/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Rural-Democracy-169.zip-2.webp
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240827T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240827T130000
DTSTAMP:20250809T180754Z
CREATED:20240826T220054Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250809T180754Z
UID:53416-1724760000-1724763600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:BigTent Letter-Writing Party!
DESCRIPTION:???? 71 DAYS TO GO! Time to DO SOMETHING!\nJoin us for a letter writing session with Vote Forward on Tuesday\, August 27 at 12pm ET! \nIt’s so important for us to reach out to voters\, help them understand what’s at stake\, and encourage them to vote for the kind of world they want to live in! Learn about the impact of letter-writing\, volunteer training\, and Q&A with a Vote Rider expert. \n???? Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn\, engage\, and make a difference! \nRequest Letters Here
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/bigtent-letter-writing-party/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Events,Letter-Writing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/VOTEFWD-LETTER-WRITING-PARTY-INVITE-Presentation.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240910T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240910T130000
DTSTAMP:20240914T004604Z
CREATED:20240713T171725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240914T004604Z
UID:52129-1725969600-1725973200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Turn up the Vote with HeadCount’s Executive Director Lucille Wenegieme
DESCRIPTION:BigTent was thrilled to host Lucille Wenegieme Executive Director of HeadCount. Lucille discussed HeadCount’s impactful work in fostering voter engagement and civic involvement with young voters\, through music and culture. She dove into their strategies and innovative approaches to promote voter registration and democratic participation. \nHeadCount gets people registered to vote and interested in democracy. They are at concerts\, festivals\, community events – anywhere they can translate the power of music and culture into real action. Their mission is to use the power of music and popular culture to register voters and promote participation in democracy. They reach young people where they already are to inform and empower. \nHeadCount stages nonpartisan voter registration drives at more than 1\,000 live events each year and collaborate with cultural leaders to promote civic engagement on a national scale. Since 2004\, they’ve signed up over 1\,000\,000 voters through their work with touring musicians like Ariana Grande\, Dead & Company\, and Beyoncé and events like Lollapalooza\, Bonnaroo\, Pride Festivals and RuPaul’s DragCon. Meanwhile\, their digital campaigns have won Clio and SHORTY awards\, and their public service announcements have starred the likes of Jay-Z\, Dave Matthews and members of the Grateful Dead. \nABOUT OUR SPEAKER \nLucille Wenegieme is an executive in the civic engagement and democracy spaces with an eclectic background in political advocacy\, communications\, fashion\, and biomedical science. Her central change philosophy is that democracy has to meet people where they are\, and she focuses on culture as the vehicle to get there. \nPrior to joining HeadCounT\, Lucille served on the executive team at the Denver Clerk & Recorder’s Office where her team leveraged a $13 million budget to administer elections and provide other essential services. During her tenure\, the Office launched a citizen-led campaign finance initiative to match local small-dollar donations with public funding and implemented a first-of-its-kind marijuana-themed get-out-the-vote campaign. \nHer career has also included a stint as vice president of communications at the National Vote at Home Institute\, which helped states and municipalities rapidly scale up their capacity to handle mail-in votes during the 2020 election. She also led her own communications firm\, Kleos Creative\, and was an executive at the Washington\, D.C.-based public affairs firm Fireside Campaigns. Prior to entering the democracy space\, she worked in communications at the global luxury retail giant Tapestry (formerly Coach\, Inc.).
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/head-count/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Events,Protecting our Children,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-Recap-GA-Tent-Talk-1-1.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240917T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240917T130000
DTSTAMP:20240923T011323Z
CREATED:20240713T225658Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240923T011323Z
UID:52148-1726574400-1726578000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Tent Talk: Recruiting Future State Leaders with New Politics Founder Emily Cherniack
DESCRIPTION:BigTent was thrilled to welcome New Politics Founder and Executive Director Emily Cherniak and AZ State House District 5 Candidate Aaron Márquez under the tent. Emily is on a mission to train and recruit “servant leaders” that will adopt the “we mindset.” See her recent article here. \nNew Politics revitalizes American democracy by recruiting\, developing\, and electing servant leaders who put community and country over self. They support outstanding military veterans and national service leaders\, alumni of programs like AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps\, to step up and serve our country again\, this time through politics. They understand that to achieve their mission to revitalize democracy they must break down barriers to entry\, support servant leaders who reflect the diversity of our nation\, and center the voices of those most impacted by OUR politics. \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nEmily Cherniack is founder and executive director of New Politics\, which she founded in 2013 to recruit and support military and national service programs alumni to run for political office\, and New Politics Leadership Academy. Previously\, she served on the campaign staff of Alan Khazei\, a US Senate candidate from Massachusetts who was her boss at City Year Boston. Cherniack also spent four years at Be the Change\, as chief of staff and\, before that\, organizing director. At City Year Boston\, she was service director and a program manager. In 2018\, Emily was named to the Politico 50 as one of the 50 “thinkers\, doers\, and dreamers driving politics.” \nEmily graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology and a Masters Degree in Education Policy. \nAaron Márquez is a veteran of multiple political campaigns and the United States Army – grew up in Arizona\, served his country through two deployments to Afghanistan\, and has fought for progressive change in Arizona across the country. Most recently\, Aaron cofounded VetsForward.us\, a group of progressive military veterans in Arizona that work to defend democratic values at home by winning the hearts and minds of American voters. \nRaised in Arizona\, Aaron proudly attended public elementary\, middle\, and high schools in Mesa\, Chandler\, Tempe\, and Gilbert. In 2020\, Aaron was elected to the at-large seat of the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board\, where he has been fighting for progressive change to improve local public schools for our students and their families. As a school board member\, he has advocated for more robust public health policies\, bringing in national service programs to provide increased wraparound services\, and restorative justice practices. \nAaron lives in Phoenix with his wife – an elementary school principal – seven-year-old daughter Sarah\, and seventeen-year-old stepson James. He is running as a state candidate for Arizona State House District 5. \n 
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/new-politics/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/New-Politics-169-1.webp
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241017T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241017T130000
DTSTAMP:20241022T034202Z
CREATED:20241012T183757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241022T034202Z
UID:53910-1729166400-1729170000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Tent Talk: Voting Access with CT’s Secretary of State and National Vote at Home Institute
DESCRIPTION:BigTent welcomed Connecticut’s Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas and Barbara Smith Warner\, Executive Director of Vote at Home (VAH). Voting turnout often reflects how accessible voting is for eligible voters. Currently\, only 8 states and Washington\, DC\, automatically sends ballots to all active voters\, allowing them to return the ballots by mail\, or in-person\, and track their vote with the option to correct any errors. \nConnecticut voters are now considering a constitutional amendment to permit no-excuse absentee voting\, which would broaden access and make voting simpler for everyone. Our speakers discussed why accessible voting is crucial\, and explored ways to support this important reform in Connecticut and beyond. \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nStephanie Thomas was sworn in as Connecticut’s Secretary of the State on January 4\, 2023. With a distinguished 30-year career advising and problem-solving for nonprofit organizations\, running her own business\, and serving as a State Representative of the 143rd District (Norwalk\, Wilton\, Westport)\, Secretary Thomas brings a unique blend of business expertise and a passion for civics to public service.\n \nSince taking office\, Secretary Thomas has led the implementation of significant election reforms in the state\, including the roll-out of early voting and a new centralized voter registration system. In September 2023\, she secured a historic investment of $25 million to replace the state’s aging tabulators\, marking Connecticut’s first voting machine upgrade since 2006. During her term\, Secretary Thomas will also institute the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of Connecticut and automatic voter registration at several Connecticut agencies.\n \nA former small business owner\, Secretary Thomas has worked to pass business-friendly legislation\, and she has created a monthly e-newsletter that aggregates funding and training resources in one place to save business owners’ time. \nBarbara Smith Warner serves as the Executive Director of the National Vote at Home Institute\, a national non-profit that works to promote and expand the use of mailed-out ballots that allow all voters to safely and securely vote at home (the Oregon way!). Voting at home is foundational democracy that centers every voter in their right to vote and dramatically increases both turnout and participation. Barbara served 9 years (2014-2022) as an Oregon state representative\, including almost 3 years as the Majority Leader of the Oregon House. She is a lifetime democracy defender who has worked as a legislative educator and political organizer\, and is deeply committed to an open\, accessible government that is of\, for and by the people.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/voting-access/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Vote-at-home-169-2.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251015T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251015T130000
DTSTAMP:20251026T201506Z
CREATED:20251007T224814Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251026T201506Z
UID:60817-1760529600-1760533200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Mobilize Virginia: Students Rising for Democracy
DESCRIPTION:BigTent hosted a TentTalk on Wednesday\, October 15 at 12:00pm ET featuring Sandy Radoff and Claire Ullman\, co-founders of Students for Voting Justice\, and Andrea Miller\, founding board member of Center for Common Ground. The discussion offered an in-depth briefing on the state of the 2025 Virginia elections and highlighted effective Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) strategies. Speakers shared how young leaders across the Commonwealth are mobilizing voters through grassroots tactics\, youth-focused outreach\, and strong partnerships with community and campus networks to drive turnout and civic engagement. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nSandy Radoff is a researcher and statistician who had her own business as a marketing and opinion research consultant for over 20 years. She has a Masters Degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics and went back to graduate school to indulge her passion by completing all the coursework towards a Masters Degree in political science. For the past several years\, she has spent considerable time as an activist focusing on the environment and social justice. Being Co-Director of Students for Voting Justice has brought the most meaningful pieces of her life together in one place. Sandra lives in New York City with her husband and has two grown children\, a son and a daughter\, both Millennials. \nClaire Ullman taught political science and public policy at Barnard College and the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs until co-founding Students for Voting Justice in 2020. She has a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University and a BA from Harvard University. Before she went to graduate school\, Claire helped found an emergency shelter for homeless women and children in Seattle as a VISTA volunteer and then stayed on as its development officer and then its Assistant Director. She served on the board of the Grand Street Settlement in New York City from 1995 to 2008. Finally\, and perhaps most relevant to her current job as Co-Director of Students for Justice\, Claire is the parent of three recent college graduates. \nAndrea Miller is the Founding Board Member of the Center for Common Ground\, Executive Director of People Demanding Action\, Founding President of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Virginia\, and a member of the Democracy and Governance working group of the Virginia Green New Deal. Andrea is an IT and Political Director and a digital and elections strategist. She designs and administers digital phone banks and texting programs. From 2013 to 2015\, she led the Progressive Round Table on Capitol Hill\, bringing together members of Congress\, activists\, and non-profit leaders. Her expertise is in voting rights\, climate\, and the Equal Rights Amendment. She has successfully advocated for legislation on both the Federal and State level. In 2008 she was the Democratic nominee for the Virginia 4th Congressional district.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/mobilize-virginia/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/169Recap_Students-for-Voting-Justice-1.webp
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260319T130000
DTSTAMP:20260326T192003Z
CREATED:20260309T200933Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260326T192003Z
UID:62452-1773921600-1773925200@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Cornhuskers Countdown: Nebraska and the 2026 Midterms
DESCRIPTION:On Thursday\, March 19\, BigTentUSA convened a TentTalk discussion highlighting the political stakes in Nebraska ahead of the 2026 midterms. \nWith Aaron Parnas as moderator\, independent candidate for U.S. Senate Dan Osborn pointed to rising living costs and a worsening economic outlook for farmers—driven by flawed economic policies and tariffs—as the defining pressures shaping voter sentiment. He made clear that these challenges are fueling a growing demand for change—and that voters have the power to demand better. \nOsborn called for meaningful campaign finance reform\, arguing that local races should not require massive sums of money and that elected officials must remain accountable to constituents\, not special interests. As a longtime registered Independent\, he also urged participants to think beyond party lines and actively support candidates based on their ideas\, integrity\, and experience. The conversation positioned Nebraska as a critical proving ground for a broader movement toward accountability and reform. \nOsborn closed with a powerful call to action\, encouraging immediate support for Nebraskans affected by the largest wildfire in the state’s history—and reminding everyone that showing up for one another is where real change begins. \nSupport Nebraskans affected by the wildfires: \n\nNebraska Cattlemen Disaster Relief Fund\nNebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief Fund\nUnited Way of Western Nebraska\nAmerican Red Cross Nebraska Region\nThe Salvation Army\nNebraska Wildfire Recovery Fund\n\n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nDan Osborn is a steamfitter and former union leader who gained national attention leading the 77-day Kellogg’s strike in Omaha in 2021. As president of the Bakery\, Confectionery\, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 50G\, he successfully negotiated wage increases and prevented implementation of a two-tier wage system for over 1\,400 workers. A U.S. Navy veteran and father of three\, Osborn has spent the last 20 years punching a clock as a steamfitter and industrial engineer\, work that he continues to do while campaigning for Senate. He is running as an independent candidate focused on economic issues affecting working families. \nAaron Parnas is one of the leading Gen Z voices shaping how news is consumed today. An independent journalist\, political commentator\, strategist\, and attorney\, Aaron has quickly become a key figure in the national political conversation\, offering sharp insights at the intersection of law\, media\, and policy. \nHe first gained widespread attention through viral\, educational content that breaks down complex political issues in a fast\, accessible way—particularly resonating with younger\, highly engaged audiences. His rapid-response analysis of major court decisions\, legislative battles\, and election narratives has made him a trusted voice for millions across platforms.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/cornhuskers-countdown/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Recap_Dan-Osborn_Aaron-Parnas.webp
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260409T130000
DTSTAMP:20260415T203557Z
CREATED:20260325T234809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260415T203557Z
UID:62943-1775736000-1775739600@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Courageous Citizenship: Bridging the Divide
DESCRIPTION:On April 9\, BigTentUSA convened a timely conversation featuring Randy Freeman and Michael Asbury of Braver Angels\, the nation’s largest cross-partisan volunteer movement working to bridge America’s political divide. Moderated by Jess Piper\, Executive Director of Blue Missouri\, the trio explored how Americans can better navigate political differences. Drawing on lived experiences\, Jess noted a shift in her rural Missouri community\, where some previously loyal MAGA voters are beginning to question the Trump Administration as policies more directly affect their daily lives. \nSpeakers shared practical techniques for engaging across divides\, grounded in real-world examples of communities working through deep disagreement. A central theme was focusing on what individuals can control: their own mindset\, how they listen\, and how they communicate. Participants were encouraged to approach conversations with curiosity\, while also recognizing when it’s more productive to disengage from those unwilling to listen. The discussion emphasized that this work unfolds over time\, positioning the Braver Angels approach as a long-term investment in rebuilding trust and strengthening civic dialogue. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nJess Piper is a mother to five and grandmother to three and lives on a small farm on the Missouri/Iowa border. She was born and raised in rural America. She was an American Literature teacher for 16 years. After the 2016 election of Trump\, Jess became politically active. Jess ran for office in 2022 for State Representative in HD1 in Northwest Missouri. Jess writes a well known newsletter: The View from Rural Missouri \nRandy Freeman is a retired psychotherapist and couples therapist who joined Braver Angels in 2017 because she was upset about the political divisiveness. She is presently the New York State Coordinator\, an Ambassador and a moderator for the organization.  Randy sees this as a continuation of her work as a couples therapist and sees her role as a therapist for the country. \nMichael Asbury is the Co-Chair of the Capital Region of NY State Alliance of Braver Angels since 2020\, one of over 125 such local Alliances across the USA. Serving with a Co-Chair of the opposite political persuasion\, he guides the local mission of Braver Angels to bring Americans together by bridging the partisan divide to strengthen our democratic republic\, and by seeking common ground where none was formerly known.  Braver Angels works with all those answering the call for civic renewal.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/courageous-citizenship/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,BigTent Action Opportunities,BigTent Events,Preserving Democracy
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Recap_Braver-Angels-Jess-Piper.webp
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260609T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260609T130000
DTSTAMP:20260618T204435Z
CREATED:20260603T144526Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260618T204435Z
UID:63896-1781006400-1781010000@bigtentusa.org
SUMMARY:Ready\, Set\, Vote: Removing Barriers to the Ballot
DESCRIPTION:Democracy works best when everyone can participate—and that starts with making sure every eligible voter can cast a ballot. \nAt this BigTentUSA TentTalk held on June 9\, VoteRiders’ Sylvester Johnson III joined activist and organizer Jessica Craven for a practical conversation about one of the biggest barriers to voting: voter ID requirements. Johnson explained that more than 34 million voting-age Americans lack a current government-issued ID\, while 38 states require identification to vote. He outlined how VoteRiders helps voters navigate often confusing state rules\, obtain supporting documents such as birth certificates\, secure transportation to ID offices\, and successfully complete the process from start to finish. \nThe discussion also explored broader threats to voter participation\, strategies for increasing turnout\, and the importance of grassroots engagement. Attendees learned how simple actions—letter writing\, texting\, sharing information\, and helping neighbors prepare to vote—can make a measurable difference. \nThe takeaway was clear: Whether you live in a battleground state or not\, there are concrete ways to help ensure every eligible voter can make their voice heard. \n  \nABOUT THE SPEAKERS: \nSylvester Johnson III serves as the Voter Outreach & Data Manager for VoteRiders. A Georgia native\, Sylvester’s commitment to civic engagement began in high school through his work with organizations such as the Special Olympics of Georgia. After graduating from Howard University\, he returned to his home state and served as Political Director for Carolyn Bourdeaux’s 2018 congressional campaign in Georgia’s 7th Congressional District. Since joining VoteRiders\, Sylvester has spent more than six years helping ensure that all eligible citizens have the information and support they need to exercise their fundamental right to vote. \nJessica Craven is a full time activist\, community organizer\, political TikTok creator\, and elected member of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party’s Central Committee. She’s also the author of “Chop Wood\, Carry Water\,” a daily actions e-mail.
URL:https://bigtentusa.org/event/removing-barriers-to-the-ballot/
LOCATION:BigTent Zoom Room
CATEGORIES:Tent Talks,Preserving Democracy,Letter-Writing
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://bigtentusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Recap_VoteRiders_Jessica-Craven.webp
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