October 2024 | Message from Our Executive Director
| We Can’t Tell People HOW to Vote – But We Can Do A Lot to Encourage Them to Vote: A couple highlights from our local partners doing the work in their communities Here in Pennsylvania, we have an outsized impact on the national political landscape and local organizations with help through our voter engagement initiative are engaging people who are often members of groups with lower voting participation rates. We have been supporting, training, and providing tools for organizations across the state to engage the people they serve in the electoral process in a non-partisan way. We know that this work is not only important – it works to increase voter registration and participation.  Let’s take a look at just a few things some of our 40 incredible partners have been doing for the last 5 months: Sharon from Berks County, one of our very own community advocates, has helped register and secure voting pledges from over 125 people, meeting with many during local food pantry days at Friends, Inc. Community Services. Sharon has also arranged rides to the polls, helped people find their polling location, and talked to kids about the importance of voting when they are old enough. Center for Independent Living of South Central PA has been very busy touching base with 115 folks (…and counting) to check registration status, locate polling places, find rides and discuss how to get good information about candidates and issues. Westmoreland County Housing Authority has been buzzing with multiple events at their various building locations aimed at voter registration, mail-in-ballot education, and the importance of voting no matter what your political party is. They even had a former Judge of Elections assist with facilitating these conversations. HDC MidAtlantic has been actively canvassing in support of Get Out the Vote efforts, ensuring that people get to the polls!  The deadline to register to vote is past BUT now we’re in the critical phase of Getting Out the Vote. This is where efforts can make a serious difference in whether or not people vote! All of our partners’ hard work and commitment to voter outreach have been remarkable, and we anticipate a big impact once again. Every election cycle, it is said that this is the most important election of our lifetimes. And it’s said every year because it’s true every year. We cannot tell people HOW to vote. But all of us can help them understand the importance of voting and help them make a plan to vote on Election Day or via mail-in ballot. Check out our recent report on our past efforts to find out how effective they are. All of our partners’ hard work and commitment to voter outreach have been remarkable, and we anticipate a big impact once again. Thanks to This Month’s Guest Writer – Jen Thomas, Community Engagement Manager, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. In partnerships,  Phyllis ChamberlainExecutive Director |