The first time Sloan Duvall walked into a UNC Young Democrats meeting her freshman year, she already knew exactly where she was headed. Not just in that moment, but in life.
Growing up in Connecticut, political discussions were common. Her mother and grandmother, two fiercely compassionate and driven women, had shown her that privilege wasn't just a status, but a responsibility. They weren't just talking about change; they were living it. And now, at 21, Sloan is determined to do the same. For Sloan, North Carolina's dramatic shift to blue in 2008 wasn't just a political moment—it was a student revolution. College campuses, particularly in the Research Triangle, had been the critical battleground where young voters transformed the electoral landscape. Barack Obama's victory in North Carolina was a testament to the power of student organizing, with universities
like UNC, Duke, and NC State mobilizing unprecedented youth turnout. She knew that college students have the power to change everything, just as they had done in 2008. Each meeting, each social media post, each voter registration drive in the pit was a direct result of Sloan's belief in young voters.
The University of North Carolina's Young Democrats has always been a respectable campus organization. However, under Sloan's leadership, it has transformed into a club that students of all majors, not just political science kids, want to be a part of. The club membership is greater now than it has ever been. Social media engagement has exploded. What was once a small college political club has become a small movement on campus.
But leading a movement doesn't come without resistance. After Sloan's Young Dem TikToks began to go semi-viral, the comments started trickling in. Not only has she had to face hate online for her political activism, she has also been ridiculed by classmates, frat boys, and sorority sisters who believe her activism and leadership is "embarrassing."
Her grandmother's passing in 2024 marked a turning point. Just before Kamala Harris launched her campaign, Sloan lost the woman who had been her personal and political inspiration. But instead of letting the grief consume her, she channeled it into positive energy, knowing her grandma would be proud. Every campaign event, every late-night meeting, every social media post became a testament to the woman her grandma had helped to raise.
Sloan's work with Josh Stein's gubernatorial campaign and her role as Students for Stein chair wasn't as simple as helping Stein to win the election against republican candidate Mark Robinson. She sacrificed social events, study time, even LSAT preparation. The documentary captures more than just Sloan's political journey. It explores Sloan's role as an affluent, white, female activist and what it means to use those roles of privilege to speak out for minority communities. "All She Could" is more than a title, it's a promise Sloan has made to the world around her. A commitment to doing everything possible. Her story is still being written. A future N.C. governor? The White House? Who's to say. But for now, she's focused on the work in front of her: one campaign, one vote, one conversation at a time. And she knows, just as the students of 2008 knew, that change starts with believing you can make a difference.
