Election Day is fast approaching, and our advocacy team has been working hard to engage our communities and nonprofit partners about the upcoming election.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Greater Twin Cities United Way is fully empowered to promote voter registration, education and other forms of nonpartisan engagement. This is one of the ways United Way invests in long-term change.
Making a plan to vote, researching the candidates, submitting a ballot and getting a red “I Voted” sticker are all experiences that deepen our investment and sense of belonging in our community. And even for those of us who aren’t eligible to vote, researching the issues and understanding the process can be powerful steps to feel connected with our neighbors. All of us have a role to play.
As Election Day nears, I’d like to share with you how United Way is investing in this important area of community engagement – and why it matters.
To ensure that everyone can participate in our election process, we need strong community partners to help with engaging and mobilizing our neighbors. We can’t do this work alone.
To achieve this goal, we provide grants and free consulting for community organizations whose work brings us closer to our vision of a thriving Twin Cities. This year, five of our advocacy partners are using United Way funds to promote voter registration and engagement efforts:
This is nonpartisan, community-driven work in communities that are historically under-represented in the process. For the important offices and policy questions that are on the ballot this year – and every year – it is critical that all of the voices in our community are heard.
As a long-standing, trusted community partner, Greater Twin Cities United Way has a role to play in voter engagement. This year, we’ve deepened our commitment to use our platforms and reach to share accurate, timely voter information under the #UnitedWeVote hashtag.
Starting in August, followers of our social media channels and email newsletters received a steady feed of voter engagement content – sharing vetted information about when, and how, they can take part in the election process.
Our team continues to produce easy-to-share graphics in both English and Spanish, helping voters understand the process and feel empowered to vote in whatever manner feels safe and convenient.
Earlier this fall, our communications team hosted a video shoot with United Way staff, giving them the opportunity to tell us about what voting means to them. You may have already seen clips on your social media feeds. We’ll be continuing to drop new #UnitedWeVote videos until election day.
All of these efforts help contribute to a more positive media ecosystem – ensuring that our communities are receiving trustworthy information throughout this process.
From United Way’s point of view, I’ve given a few good reasons why it’s so important for us to be doing this work now. But what I’ve found in my conversations with colleagues is that this is an effort that we all find personally meaningful, too.
I’ll speak for myself in this. As a Black woman, I am acutely aware of the struggles that previous generations waged for my right to vote. For me, voting honors the sacrifices made by my ancestors.
This is an obligation I take very seriously, because the fight for equal rights and equal representation is not just part of our history; it is a reality that I, and many others who look like me, still experience every day. And if I can help a voter exercise their rights for the first time, then I’m proud to continue the work of those who came before me.
Our personal stories make this work meaningful for us in different ways. For Ivette Izea-Martinez, United Way’s senior program officer for advocacy, her belief in the significance of voting was underscored by her experiences immigrating to the United States from Venezuela. Ivette came to this country as a minor; when she became a U.S. citizen in 2007, that was also the first time she was able to vote in an election. “For me, voting is both a civic duty and a moral responsibility. It’s how I make my voice as a woman and an immigrant heard to shape the future of my community.”
My colleague Jackson Gunvalson, United Way’s senior advocacy specialist, pointed to his participation in Scouting from an early age, which instilled in him a strong personal commitment to civic engagement and community involvement. “It taught me that voting in every election – and taking the time to complete my entire ballot – can make a difference at every level of government, from my local city council to the future of our country.”
You likely have your own reasons for why you, and your family, choose to vote. Greater Twin Cities United Way has an important role to play in helping more of our neighbors see themselves – and their own stories – in this process.
And while our stories may differ in some respects, they point to a shared truth: Voting is one of the most powerful ways we can make our voices heard, influence the decisions that affect our communities and help build the future we want to see.
This year, united we vote.
