Our Mission
The Community Voters Project is a non-partisan voter registration organization working to register thousands of new minority voters nationwide. Since the start of the project, the Community Voters Project has helped to register almost 500,000 new minority voters.
Minorities and other historically underrepresented communities are consistently kept at an economic disadvantage in our society due to their lack of political power. Since candidates do not often attempt to address their needs, many in these communities lose interest in the political process and eventually fail to participate, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of mutual neglect.
Plans for 2010
The Community Voters Project has just begun its work around the 2010 election cycle, focusing on seven cities in five states, beginning with Denver, Colorado, and Columbus, Ohio. Our goal is to work with volunteers and community organizations to help register 61,000 minority voters. We’re doing that solely through volunteer efforts.
What Others are Saying
“Helping marginalized members of our community register and become voters is critical to our democracy. We’re happy to have the Community Voters Project on the job here in Colorado.”
-- Lauren Martens, SEIU CO State Council Director
Partner with Us
In 2010 the Community Voters Project is looking to partner up with local churches, community organizations and schools to host weekend voter registration events. Events typically 4 ½ hours and include voter registration training, materials, sites, snacks and a small stipend for the group. If you are a church, community organization or school in Denver, CO or Columbus, OH that is interested in partnering with us please contact Meshawn Ayala by email mayala@fundstaff.org or by calling 312-291-0349 ext. 206.
Volunteer with Us
We are looking for volunteers to help us register voters in Denver, CO and Columbus, OH. Volunteering with the Community Voters Project is a great way to get more involved in a civic engagement activity that is crucial to our democracy. We offer training, materials and support to all volunteers.
If you are interested in volunteering with us please contact Meshawn Ayala by email mayala@fundstaff.org or by calling 312-291-0349 ext. 206.
Our Track Record
In 2008 The Community Voters Project focused solely on voter registration, and by registration deadlines, we had registered more than 307,000 new minority voters in ten states. In addition, we contacted a few local groups directly to encourage them to reach out the voters we had helped register.
Efficient Voter Registration
We rely on site-based, street canvassing to identify and help register new voters. We seek out places such as public transportation hubs, grocery stores, cultural events, social services offices, and busy pedestrian thoroughfares.
Recruitment, Hiring, Training and Supervision of Staff
In 2008, Community Voters Project canvass offices were located within the communities we strove to serve, making recruitment of staff from within the local population highly effective. This, no doubt, was helpful in reaching our registration goals and strengthening the political power of these communities.
Once hired, a new staff member was trained both in the field and in skills workshops by an experienced canvasser or a director. Throughout the registration drive, we implemented rigorous standards to ensure the utmost integrity of the registrations we submitted, which included directors checking each form before submitting stacks of them to local registrars.
This same level of training and management is being applied to our volunteers in 2010.
About the Progressive Future Education Fund and the Center for Public Interest Research
Progressive Future Education Fund promotes progressive values through independent research, effective educational campaigns and grassroots outreach. We are a non-profit, non-partisan organization advocating for core progressive principles such as community, fairness, security and liberty. Progressive Future Education Fund is the charitable arm of Progressive Future, a federal qualified non-profit. You can learn more about Progressive Future at www.progressivefuture.org.
The Center for Public Interest Research is a national non-partisan 501(c)(3) organization that supports civic engagement at the local, state, regional, and national levels. From 2004 through 2008, voter registration projects sponsored through the Center helped register more than 1,000,000 voters in 23 states.
Contact Us
For more information about the Community Voters Project please contact Meshawn Ayala by email mayala@fundstaff.org or by calling 312-291-0349 ext. 206.
