Dear John,

My name is Neil Park-McClintick and I’m a community organizer from the Silicon Valley with Working Partnerships USA (WPUSA). Many people associate "Silicon Valley" with sprawling tech campuses, affluent white-collar workers, and exclusive suburbs. Yet the tech boom has come with heightened racial disparities, rising costs of living, and increasingly unaffordable housing, as wealthy corporations leave the Silicon Valley's working Black, Latinx, and Southeast Asian communities out of the conversations about the region's future.

At WPUSA, we have a team of bilingual organizers working hard to turn out voters in San Jose, CA that don’t often have their voices heard. We’re mobilizing them around a shared vision of our city where everyone has a home, good paying and dignified work, affordable health and child care, and a voice in their government. 

As a grassroots organizer, I know that elections are not the only solution. But voting is a key opportunity to make our voices heard. Being a voter helps me feel like a part of my city and my state–when society can sometimes feel isolating. It’s how many people (myself included) first become involved in deeper on-the-ground-work. It’s the first step in working towards this long-term vision for a California for all.

Caption: Me at a rally for Measure B – a voting rights measure in San Jose which successfully passed in the June 2022 primary. I ran the ballot measure campaign and this is one of the rare photos that I am actually in!

Image description: Neil is wearing a black suit and standing in front of a campaign banner that reads “Yes on Measure B.” He is looking into the distance with his arm extended. A white, yellow, and orange column of balloons is to his right.

Talking to families, people often share that they are busy, have multiple jobs, and need to take care of their families so civic engagement isn’t always a top priority. Sometimes they face language barriers and lack of information. But we are doing all we can to help community members plan ahead to cast their ballots before or by November 8th.

1. Decide how and when you will vote.
   
   
   • Vote-by-Mail is a safe and convenient way to cast your vote on your own schedule. You can either mail your ballot through USPS or drop it off in a secure drop box. Find your nearest drop off location.
   • You can also vote early in-person. Find your nearest vote center.
     
     
2. Sign-up for automatic, email, text, or voice call notifications to know exactly when your ballot is received and counted.

Everyday Californians win when we come together to ensure that our government prioritizes the needs of our communities over the needs of wealthy corporations. By voting early, we can make sure our communities are not left behind. 

Follow We Are California for more voting resources!

In Solidarity,

Neil

(He/Him/His | They/Them)

P.S. If you aren’t sure about your voter registration status, check it here. Remember, you can still register to vote in person until Election Day, November 8.