October 5, 2021
If you have volunteered with VNP, then chances are you have crossed paths with Charlie Beall. Charlie is a proud flatlander from Central Illinois, but we will forgive him of that minor transgression because, after all, the Midwest is best.
Charlie’s official title at VNP is Data & Targeting Director, which involves administering the tech tools used by our staff and volunteers and figuring out the best ways to connect with Michiganders.
There are over 8 million voters in Michigan and we can’t speak to them all so I design models that inform which voters are most likely to be persuaded and mobilized when VNP volunteers call, text, or knock on their door.
However, Data & Targeting Director is not the only job that Charlie manages at VNP. Charlie also oversees VNP’s implementation of Proposal 2 to make sure that the organization is on track to protect and defend a fair redistricting process in 2021.
Charlie has been working to end gerrymandering in Michigan since he joined VNP in August of 2018. He is excited that our state is finally on the cusp of realizing the goal that we set out to achieve with the passage of Proposal 2.
Fair maps. It’s been such a long, arduous journey and I can’t believe we are only a few months away from final maps going into effect. It’s the result of thousands of volunteers and millions of voters that fought for years to achieve what many believed was impossible: returning political power to citizens.
Volunteers are a key part of our organization. As the Program Director of VNP’s Proposal 2 Implementation Program, Charlie works with a large group of volunteers to administer the Community Mapping Initiative, which connects Communities of Interests with training and resources to draw their boundaries and submit their maps. The volunteers are also Charlie’s favorite part about VNP.
The volunteers. After working with them for several years, I’ve never met a group of activists like VNP volunteers. They carry a resolve to make an impact on our democracy in a positive way while also continually committing to work towards nonpartisan solutions. Their honesty and dedication make up the character at the core of our organization’s work.
Charlie now calls Lansing’s East Side his home. You may bump into Charlie and his partner walking their three dogs, Cooper, Mia and Willy, on their long walks around the neighborhood and visits to the dog park.
