Hi John,
When I moved to Houston last year, I had a long to-do list—new routines, new community, a new sense of home. But the very first thing I knew I needed to do was register to vote in my new county.
That simple decision changed everything.
During my weekly walking group here in Houston, I met Aimee—a Volunteer Deputy Registrar (VDR) with Powered by People (PxP). Right there, in a space I already felt comfortable, she helped me update my voter registration. I remember thinking how powerful that was: voter engagement meeting people exactly where they are.
But it didn’t stop there.
Aimee followed up to let me know when my voter registration certificate arrived. She reminded me about upcoming election dates. And when I asked how I could get more involved, she generously shared how to become a VDR myself. Because of her and Beto’s Powered by People, I became a VDR for the first time last year. Today, I’m registered in multiple counties and serve the greater Houston area.
My curiosity and passion for the voting process kept growing. With the information and encouragement I received through PxP, I also became an Election Worker and worked my very first election last year.
Soon after, Aimee invited me to volunteer at a Powered by People event at the University of Houston. I joined more than 20 volunteers—college students, working adults, and retired Texans—all showing up with the same goal: to increase voter engagement and remind people that their voice matters.
At that event, PxP organizers and volunteers trained me on how to connect with students, help them check and update their voter information, register new voters, and stay in touch to remind them about upcoming elections while also answering questions. I heard stories from students and staff who were excited and relieved to have someone walk them through the process. That sense of connection and empowerment was unforgettable.
Hope is the word I keep coming back to.
Powered by People is full of people who lead with hope—hope that first-time voters will feel confident, hope that communities long left out of political conversations will be heard, and hope that Texas can and will do better. Powered by People’s full-time organizers work behind the scenes to analyze data, maintain accurate voter information, and build partnerships with universities and community spaces so volunteers like me can show up informed, prepared, and effective.
Today, I’m a regular volunteer with Powered by People, and this year, I’ll even be hosting events for the first time.
I used to wonder: What more can I do beyond casting my vote and going about my day?
Now I know the answer.
I can help register voters.
I can help people navigate the voting process.
I can remind Texans that their voice matters because everything is political, and Texas deserves better.
Together, we can keep showing up with hope and turning it into action.
With gratitude and determination,
Asha
Volunteer, Powered by People
