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John,
Our vote is one of our most powerful tools for change, and right now, our voting rights are under attack.
State legislatures are targeting voting rights in an effort to silence young people and people of color. And major legislation to expand voting access at the federal level is being blocked by racist and outdated processes like the filibuster, while Democrats are not taking this threat to our democracy seriously. In this country, no matter our background or zip code, we value our freedom - including our freedom to vote. Our elected leaders must ensure we can safely and freely cast our ballots, have our voices heard, and elect leaders who deliver on our priorities. When our people cannot vote, our voices are silenced and we cannot elect representatives who reflect our values. Our vote is our power.
Youth-led organizations in the Alliance Network are fighting back to defend our democracy, but we need everyone in this fight.
4 WAYS YOU CAN PROTECT OUR FREEDOM TO VOTE
1. Tell the Senate to end the filibuster
The filibuster is a ‘Jim Crow relic’ that Congress members are weaponizing to keep our democracy rigged. Senate Republicans have already used it to block critical legislation and have promised to use it to prevent landmark voting legislation like the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act from passing. In order to pass the legislation to protect democracy, we must get rid of the filibuster.
2. Tell the Senate to pass the For the People Act
The For the People Act is one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation to expand our democracy by ending gerrymandering, getting big money out of politics, and combating voter suppression. Its passage would be a monumental step in the right direction of building a democracy that works for all. Call your Senators and tell them to pass the For the People Act.
3. Tell the Senate to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
Republicans are attacking voting rights across the country largely affecting communities of color. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore critical provisions of the Voting Rights Act and protect our freedom to vote. Call your Senators and tell them we must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
4. Donate to local youth-led organizations fighting for voting rights
Youth-led organizations like MOVE Texas, Loud Light, Forward Montana, and more are fighting to protect the right to vote and expand voting access. Donate and support these organizations in the network so we can continue to protect our democracy.
ALL EYES ON TEXAS
Earlier this month, the Governor of Texas called for a Special Session dedicated to passing anti-voter legislation that didn’t pass in the regular legislative session (largely thanks to the work of our network organization MOVE Texas and their allies in the state). The two bills in the Special Session included banning 24-hour voting and drive-through voting, both of which were used to reach more young voters and voters of color in the 2020 election.
MOVE Texas, once again, fought back in the Special Session testifying through the night and standing up for the rights of Texas voters. Now, Texas Democrats have left the state, preventing these voter suppression bills from moving forward. These pro-voter lawmakers have the hundreds of young people to thank, like the youth organizers at MOVE Texas, for making this possible through their advocacy. Meanwhile, MOVE Texas continues to mobilize young people and make national headlines as they fight back against Republican’s attack on voting rights.
Learn more about how Alliance Network organizations fought for voting rights in their legislative sessions in our latest blog post. Then, stay up to date with the latest fights for voting rights in the Alliance Network by following us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
UPDATES FROM THE ALLIANCE
Meet the newest addition to the Alliance Team
Say hello to our new Development and Grants Manager — Whitney Celestin! Whitney joins us from The DC Mayor's Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships - Serve DC where she supported and engaged with District nonprofits as a Grants Management Specialist. As the newest addition to our stellar Development Team, Whitney will write grant reports and proposals, bolster fundraising efforts, and build power with other development staff in the Alliance Network. Welcome to the team, Whitney!
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We're Hiring!
Executive Director
There is still time to apply to become the Alliance’s next Executive Director! This person will have the opportunity to build on our success of convening, supporting, and scaling a national network of youth-led, locally rooted organizations growing civic engagement and social justice coast to coast while bringing new ideas and energy to the organization. Help us spread the word!
Fiscal Sponsorship Associate
We are hiring a Fiscal Sponsorship Associate to join the Operations team and support our fiscally sponsored projects by assisting with the invoicing and expense reimbursement process, so these progressive youth-led organizations are able to throw down in their respective states in 2021 and beyond. *This is a temporary, part-time position expected to work a maximum of 20 hours per week through March 31, 2022.
Senior Data Director
Lead our growing Data Team! We’re looking for an organized and driven individual to create and strengthen data systems for the Alliance Network, provide training and 1:1 support for network staff, and provide reports and data visualization to illustrate the work of the network.
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Get Involved with the Civic Holidays
While we fight for voting rights, we must continue registering, educating, and mobilizing people to vote. This year, we are participating in Civic Holidays like National Voter Registration Day, Voter Education Week, Vote Early Day, and more.
If you are working on a college campus, sign up to partner with Campus Takeover for toolkits, webinars, and mini-grants to run Civic Holiday events at your school.
ICYMI
- What would our world look like if every youth-led organization was fully resourced and funded year-round, every year? Short answer: so much better. Check out this latest op-ed in The Fulcrum on why we need grant makers to fund the big dreams of the youth movement.
- On the 50th anniversary of the 26th Amendment, youth organizers are leading local fights across the country against voter suppression while also fighting to expand access to the ballot for restoring voting rights to incarcerated citizens. These efforts go hand-in-hand with national efforts to pass legislation like the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Learn more about how Alliance organizations are doing this work across the country on the Laura Coates Show and on Signal Boost with Zerlina Maxwell and Jess McIntosh.
Youth organizers have been putting in the work to welcome people into our democracy and ensure their freedom to vote despite years of legislation making it harder to vote. Now, we need the President and Congress to be as bold as organizers on the ground because there is too much at stake. It is time to end the filibuster so legislation like the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act can pass. The future of our democracy hangs in the balance.
To protecting our freedom to vote,
Sarah Audelo
Executive Director
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