WEBVTT 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:17.000 NLIHC – Our Homes, Our Votes: 2024 Webinar Series – June 17, 2024 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:19.000 Live captioning by AI-Media 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:21.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Welcome, everyone. 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:26.000 Feel free to introduce yourself in the chat, we will get started 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:41.000 in two minutes, when everyone is in from the waiting room. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:45.000 I see Jimmy from Colorado, Megan from Wisconsin, hi, Megan, 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:48.000 Pam from Florida, Kelsey from Colorado, Jessica from DC, 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:50.000 Nancy from Virginia, Jesse from Tennessee, 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:56.000 Gerard from Texas, 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:58.000 Mick from Detroit, Haley from Alabama. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:03.000 April 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:06.000 and Vivian, now they are coming into fast, high, 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:15.000 everyone. 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.000 MARY McGOVERN: They are in from all over, fantastic. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:21.000 A good coast-to-coast crew here. 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:24.000 Still she 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.000 -- Still seeing a big inflow 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:31.000 of people from the waiting room, so we will make 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:41.000 sure to wait a minute or so before we get started. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:44.000 MARY McGOVERN: Anchorage, Alaska. Hi. 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:48.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: It is 2:33 PM Eastern, 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:55.000 I think we can jump right into things. I want to make sure we get 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:59.000 as much time as possible for this conversation. Feel free to continue 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:04.000 introducing yourself in the chat as you are coming in. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:08.000 Welcome, everyone, I am Courtney Kuperman, I used she/her programs and 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:13.000 the project manager of NLIHC Our Homes, Our Votes campaign. Thank you for 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:17.000 joining the fifth webinar in the series called 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:21.000 Tenant Organizing and Elections: Getting out the Renter Vote 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:22.000 today's 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:25.000 organized around the idea that resident leaders are the most trusted 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:30.000 and effective way 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:34.000 to be messengers through the communities, to recognize the need to 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:38.000 vote and overcome skepticism they may have about participating in the 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:41.000 democratic process. During the webinar we have the 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.000 privilege of hearing directly from five resident leaders 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:47.000 from the Minneapolis high-rise Representative Council. Who have really 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:51.000 robust experience in nonpartisan voter registration, education, and get out 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:57.000 the vote activities. 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:00.000 Minneapolis high-rise Representative Council is Minneapolis city was 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:04.000 Association of 42 public housing high-rises representing more than 5000 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:05.000 residents. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.000 You will hear more about their work from the panelists today. 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:10.000 Next slide, please. 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:17.000 I am really honored to welcome five incredible leaders 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:20.000 from this group. Shirley Brown, Gloria Coles, Mattie 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:23.000 Henderson, Mary McGovern, and Tamir Mohamud. 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:27.000 This webinar, unlike other webinars were already have a series of 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:32.000 presentations, followed by Q&A, this will look a little bit different. We 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:36.000 will have a roundtable conversation. I will start by asking a few questions, 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:41.000 and then we will turn it over to audience questions. Please, continue to 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:44.000 submit questions in the Q&A box throughout the webinar. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:48.000 Before we get started with the conversation, I have a few housekeeping 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:51.000 items. First, this webinar is being recorded. 00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:53.000 As always, 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:58.000 we will distribute the recording and the links as well as the saved chat and 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:02.000 transcript in our Friday email newsletter called the Connection, and 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:04.000 we will have the recording posted on the 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:09.000 NLIHC website at the end of the week. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:13.000 We have closed captioning enabled, thank you to the captioner for being 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:17.000 here today. I mentioned this already but please ask 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:20.000 questions using the Q&A feature throughout the webinar. With Sony 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:25.000 people attending, it can be a little bit more challenging to catch the 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:31.000 questions in the chat, so we are likely to get to the question if you ask it 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:35.000 in the Q&A box. In the chat, we ask everyone engage 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:37.000 thoughtfully and respectfully in the chat 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:43.000 and live by the platinum rule, which is to treat others the way they want to 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:48.000 be treated even if that is different from the way you want to be treated. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:54.000 I want to leave everyone to remind her that Our Homes, Our Votes is 100% 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.000 nonpartisan, meeting we do not endorse or favor specific 00:04:57.000 --> 00:05:01.000 political parties. Our goal is to build the voting power 00:05:01.000 --> 00:05:05.000 of low income renters so we can hold all elected officials 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:09.000 of every party accountable to prioritizing housing justice. 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:13.000 With that, I will turn it over to our panelists, to briefly introduce 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:15.000 themselves and their role within MHRC 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:23.000 and to kick us off. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:29.000 I will turn it over, I have this alphabetical so I will turn it to 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:32.000 Shirley to get us started. SHIRLEY BROWN: Thanks, Courtney. My 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:36.000 name is Shirley Brown I'm a Minneapolis housing public housing resident of 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:40.000 Northeast Minneapolis. I serve on executive committee of the 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:42.000 Minneapolis high-rise Representative Council, citywide high-rise public 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:45.000 housing tenant organization. I also serve on 00:05:45.000 --> 00:05:49.000 the project committee, active living advisory committee, and I am the 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:53.000 president of our visited counsel in my building. 00:05:53.000 --> 00:05:58.000 I'm so happy to be here. I'm going to pass it on to Gloria. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:01.000 GLORIA COLES: Hello, everyone, my name is Gloria Coles. 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:04.000 I am on the active living committee 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:06.000 in Minneapolis. I am also president 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:09.000 of our building here at 314 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:11.000 , 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:13.000 known as the atrium building. 00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:16.000 I am also a community health worker 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:17.000 . 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:22.000 It is a pleasure and a privilege to be here with you today. 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:24.000 I am also 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:29.000 on the citywide elective 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:34.000 delegate committee, so again, it's a pleasure to be with you today 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:38.000 and I look forward to learning more about the organization and 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:44.000 it is a pleasure to be here with you. I will turn it over now to 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:47.000 Mattie Henderson. MATTIE HENDERSON: My name is Mattie 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:49.000 Henderson, I am a resident at 17 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:50.000 7-- 17 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:51.000 7 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:52.000 -- 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:53.000 1 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:54.000 71 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:55.000 0 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.000 (unknown name) 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:01.000 Avenue. I serve 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:02.000 on the 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:03.000 MM 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:07.000 M 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:13.000 committee, building modernization. I am a member of the 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:16.000 council, resident Council, 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.000 and I serve as 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:20.000 an executive board member and 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:23.000 a board member. 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:27.000 It is an honor to be part of this today, 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:30.000 I'm sorry I missed the first one. 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:34.000 But I plan to be 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:40.000 – I'm going through a lot, but I'm here today and I will pass it 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:44.000 to Mary. MARY McGOVERN: 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.000 Hello, everybody, I am Mary McGovern, I'm president of the Minneapolis 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.000 high-rise representative 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:53.000 consult, I'm also on the committee which is a resident advisory board 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:56.000 committee that we do policy and procedures, 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:57.000 we go through 00:07:57.000 --> 00:07:59.000 approval with Minneapolis Public Housing 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:02.000 . 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:04.000 We advocate for 42 high-rises in Minneapolis. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:05.000 Over 5000 residents. 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:07.000 They are all 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:12.000 informed 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:15.000 completely the procedures of voting and how to get 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:18.000 there residents to vote and everything. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:23.000 We have been doing this for years, so it's almost like 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:30.000 clockwork for us. Thank you for having me in this meeting. 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:33.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks, Mary, I will pass it to T 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:41.000 amir. 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:43.000 Do you want to give 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:44.000 ... 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:46.000 TAMIR MOHAMUD: Can you hear me now? 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.000 I'm sorry. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:50.000 My name is Tamir Mohamud, 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:52.000 thank you for having me today. 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:54.000 I very excited 00:08:54.000 --> 00:08:57.000 to join this meeting. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:02.000 My name is Tamir Mohamud, again, 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:04.000 vice person for Minneapolis 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:08.000 high-rise 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:11.000 residents accountable, I'm working on the executive committee 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:12.000 . 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:20.000 As Mary said, 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:26.000 we educate how to vote, and voting is very important to us. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:29.000 We are here, we want to help and we organize 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:31.000 boats and people there, to go 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:35.000 outside and vote 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:41.000 , 00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:45.000 on affordable housing and security. Thank you, again, pretty much. 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:48.000 I want to learn something about you guys. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:50.000 That is why I hear. Thank you. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:53.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thank you so much, 00:09:53.000 --> 00:10:02.000 everyone. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:07.000 So much leadership on the panel. We are here to talk about our homes, 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:11.000 our votes, nonpartisan voter engagement and what sorts of nonpartisan engagement 00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:16.000 activities you have done in past years, and what are you planning to do 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:19.000 this year? What are the steps for planning 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:23.000 activities and ensuring they are successful? Whoever would like to start 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:28.000 can go first. SHIRLEY BROWN: I can start. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:33.000 In past years I have served as an election judge as my neighborhood 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:37.000 polling place and I've also shared voting information, register residents 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:41.000 to vote in assisted residents in applying for absentee ballots. In my 00:10:41.000 --> 00:10:46.000 building and in several other buildings in the neighborhood. This year I plan 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:50.000 on doing some of the same things, same activities. I will be registering 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:54.000 registers in my activities building and other nearby high-rises. 00:10:54.000 --> 00:10:58.000 Steps for planning the activities are posting dates and times for setting up 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:03.000 a table, to assist residents in my building and other buildings, and also 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:07.000 posting information, explaining what information is required of residents to 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:09.000 have with them when applying. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:14.000 In my building I would serve light refreshments 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:18.000 and coffee and cookies. In handout I will vote stickers. In 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:23.000 other buildings I would reach out to the property manager, or tenant 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:26.000 leader of the building and ask for their assistance 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:31.000 or advice for planning the activity so they are successful. I will pass it on. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:35.000 MATTIE HENDERSON: This is Mattie. Wow, 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:40.000 Shirley sounds like myself. Everything she said is what I do, as 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:43.000 well. In my building at 1710, 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:49.000 we have a lot of new residents, so I have a big plan to do 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:51.000 two or three day registration. 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:57.000 I know I'm going to have a lot of feedback, but this is what I do 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.000 , and I think I do very well. 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:03.000 I also am an election judge for the last six years. 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:05.000 I have a lot 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:07.000 of voice, to the people, 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:09.000 to encourage them to vote. 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:17.000 This is what I do. 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:20.000 Courtney Mack thinks, 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:22.000 M 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:23.000 Tha 00:12:23.000 --> 00:12:24.000 nks, 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.000 Mar 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:26.000 r 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:27.000 -- 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:28.000 Ma 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:29.000 tt 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:30.000 ie. 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:33.000 Mary, do you want to jump in? MARY McGOVERN: 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:39.000 When it's voting years, we have a date where we are going to do something at 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.000 the high-rise, 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:47.000 we bring it to the Council meeting and we say that it is voting year, let's 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:53.000 get ready, we have coffee hours and talk to our social workers to have them 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:58.000 help us with the immigrants, so that they know it is voting time, especially 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:03.000 the ones that become citizens of the United States. We go to our negative 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:08.000 -- neighborhood organizations and she was going on there. That's a great 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:11.000 place for information there. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:16.000 We keep informed with the new residents that move into our high-rises 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.000 so that we can get them 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:23.000 and have them registered, since they have moved. Also, on the same note, 00:13:23.000 --> 00:13:26.000 if somebody has moved to another apartment or whatever, 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:38.000 we need them to register again so we try to keep on top of all of that. 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:42.000 We even bring up a voting in our food shop. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:47.000 Are you getting ready to vote? Have you registered? Do you want to 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:51.000 come to coffee hour? Do you want to help us out? We have 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:54.000 project lookup, part of our security, voting registration there. 00:13:54.000 --> 00:14:03.000 So many different ways we can address this to our residents. 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:05.000 That's it. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks, Mary, I 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:09.000 will turn it over to Gloria. GLORIA COLES: 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:14.000 Yes, in my building we have done at the very same thing said one of the 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:20.000 things we have also done is actually done tabling events where we set out a 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.000 table in front of the lobby, and we actually encourage people to register 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:27.000 to vote. Many times, in some buildings as some 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:32.000 of the other panelists have said, there are a lot of new residents. 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:38.000 A lot of people have not registered at their new address, so letting them know 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:42.000 that it is a convenient and easy process to complete. If a person is 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:46.000 having a problem, we can help them step-by-step, through the process. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:49.000 Another thing that we have done also, too, 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:53.000 we have also actually helped 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:56.000 people with voting, because it is very important 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:01.000 in regard to helping people 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:06.000 – we are in a very unique situation, in my building. We are across 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:11.000 the street from our polling place, so even letting people know, 00:15:11.000 --> 00:15:15.000 even if they have not had an opportunity to register to vote, 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:21.000 even on the day of the election, one of the things we will do is go and 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:26.000 walk with the person and go over to the polling place, so they can 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:32.000 be able to cast their vote. That is some of the things we have done. 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:38.000 Some of the things we have done to try to make sure that this is successful is 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:42.000 to plan events beforehand. To let people know that we are going to 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:48.000 have a registration, to let people know that this is not a process that 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.000 they have to worry about. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:55.000 You don't have to go someplace, the fact that you live here, we try to make 00:15:55.000 --> 00:16:00.000 it as easy and seamless as possible for them so it helps them tremendously. 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:03.000 That's it for me. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks, Gloria. 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.000 Tamir, 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:08.000 do you want to chime in? TAMIR MOHAMUD: Yes, thank you. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:10.000 I am doing what they say 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.000 , 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.000 Mary and Shirley. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:17.000 And Gloria. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:24.000 The same thing that we are educating and doing on. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:29.000 In our building, for example, I was doing my best, and I was working as an 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:35.000 election judge from 2000... 2002 to 2020 00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:41.000 , 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:46.000 before that, we were not doing nothing but I'm working as an election judge. 00:16:46.000 --> 00:16:48.000 Educating and organizing residents, who are seniors, 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.000 to make a decision vote, to tell them 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:52.000 as Mary said, 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:57.000 those who are new to the building, we communicate with social workers in 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:59.000 order to know if they are 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:02.000 (indiscernible) and we tell them that we have 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.000 coffee after every Sunday 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:07.000 in a gathering. 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:12.000 We organize a lot of people, that is what we want to do this year and 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:16.000 in November for election. The main thing 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:21.000 is to reach the people to tell them to vote, that is our main function. 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:30.000 Voting counsel is very important, because we can 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:36.000 vote and tell people whether they can join the resident's council, 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:40.000 for voting, and registration and everything is very important. Thank you. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:43.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thank you, hearing from everything the 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:50.000 emphasis 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:54.000 on getting the residence registered, because a lot of new residents may not 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:59.000 know they have to update their voter registration, and moving is busy and 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:04.000 stressful and it may not be something on their mind so having your neighbors 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:09.000 remind you to register to vote and making that accessible can be key to 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:12.000 overcoming the obstacles. Appreciate you raising that point and 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.000 under sharing all of the great work you are doing. 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:19.000 There's logistical obstacles and there's reasons why people are 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:21.000 skeptical or hesitant to vote 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:25.000 and many residents of public and subsidized housing are doubtful that 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:26.000 voting 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:30.000 will make a difference in their communities, because they have seen 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:33.000 politicians fail to keep their promises 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:37.000 year after year. What would you say to a neighbor that 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:42.000 is skeptical of participating in the political process? How do you plan to 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:44.000 build enthusiasm about voting this year? 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:48.000 SHIRLEY BROWN: Go ahead, Mattie. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:53.000 MATTIE HENDERSON: That question is so interesting to me because 00:18:53.000 --> 00:19:00.000 what I tell people is 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:06.000 – do a little research. We get a lot of men 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:09.000 who read it, and for the 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:11.000 best part, we have to go 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:13.000 on our own instinct. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:16.000 We don't know. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.000 As a matter of fact, 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:22.000 I have experienced 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:24.000 the downfalls of some of that, 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.000 but then I have to live with that, 00:19:27.000 --> 00:19:30.000 and let it go. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:35.000 But you have to be active in this. You have to do something. 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:37.000 Doing nothing is not OK. Nobody knows. 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:40.000 That is something, I think, 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.000 that an individual have to live with 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:44.000 within themselves, and 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:48.000 I think sometimes 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.000 they get in, they think they can do 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:57.000 – but there's a whole lot of red tape getting into it. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:00.000 So some of them may not be able to 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:02.000 do what 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:05.000 other people thought you have to go through, 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:09.000 they are not 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:15.000 dependent on themselves, they have a whole lot of people to go through. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:18.000 We have got to open our hearts, 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:21.000 and go with the flow, win or lose. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:24.000 And I am passionate. 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:27.000 SHIRLEY BROWN: I was going to say from my end, 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:31.000 I would say to them, 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:37.000 voting is your right, and some of our ancestors died for the right to vote. 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:41.000 By voting and choosing candidates that is aligned with your values, 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:46.000 and have your best interest at heart, your choosing people that will make the 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:53.000 decisions, affect your committee 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:57.000 -- community, state and nation. Voting enables you to take an active 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:00.000 role in deciding issues regarding Social Security, healthcare, voting 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:03.000 rights, neighborhood safety, and so much more. 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:08.000 I would give them examples of good things that are happening, right now in 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.000 our building, 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:13.000 as an example, in our neighborhood. For example, two female Senators Anna 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:21.000 Congresswoman from our state advocated 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:25.000 to install nonexistent sprinklers in the high-rise buildings, and several 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.000 buildings in the neighborhood, also. 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:32.000 We are in the middle of this work right now, and in fact, I 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:37.000 just got my apartment finish last Friday. 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:42.000 Also the mayor and city Council we elected this past year, approved $5 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:46.000 million per year to improve the much needed infrastructure in our public 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:49.000 housing buildings. So, I just think that giving them 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:52.000 examples of something that is happening right now, within 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:54.000 – that they can see, 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:57.000 and they can realize, will make a difference. 00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:00.000 I will pass it on. 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.000 MARY McGOVERN: This is Mary. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:07.000 We are in low income housing. 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:11.000 So, I tell everybody that is 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:14.000 weary about voting, I say, number one, 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:17.000 you voted to have housing. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:20.000 They vote to have a root 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:24.000 -- roof over your head. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:32.000 You vote for accountability or the people that you are trying to vote for. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:37.000 You vote to have medical, Medicare, you vote to have sidewalks fixed. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:43.000 You vote to have buses running on time. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:48.000 You vote to have snow shovels, since we're in Minnesota, here, so you can 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:53.000 catch the bus. There is so many things that is on the 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:59.000 list to vote for. We try our best to get people out there. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:07.000 And have a big smile on your face when you say, "Go out and vote." 00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:10.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks, Mary. 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:14.000 GLORIA COLES: I will go next. One of the things I stress 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:16.000 , 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:20.000 and many panels of stress previously, is housing. Number one, 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.000 we live in public housing. Public housing is funded 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:27.000 through various governments, 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:32.000 federal, state and local governments. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:36.000 All of our elected officials are just that – elected officials. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.000 It is important 00:23:37.000 --> 00:23:41.000 your vote is your voice. 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:46.000 It is so very important that you get out and express your voice. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.000 Some people may be very skeptical 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.000 . 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:53.000 .. 00:23:53.000 --> 00:24:01.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Gloria, you are muted. 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:06.000 LORI GERHARD: I don't know what is going on. One of the things, again, 00:24:06.000 --> 00:24:08.000 that is so important is that 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:10.000 we let of elected officials know 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.000 that it's important to us 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:16.000 , 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:21.000 as one of the other panelists assume, because of the fact that we do live in 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:29.000 funded housing, 00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:35.000 we vote, and the vote helps keep a roof over your head, as the other 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:38.000 panelist said. Again, when you talk to people, to 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:40.000 build enthusiasm – it's so important 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:43.000 about the process, because depending on who you are 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:46.000 speaking to, 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:51.000 the vote in this country has gone through 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:55.000 a lot of different changes. There is a certain period of time when 00:24:55.000 --> 00:25:00.000 African Americans could not vote so, again, this is part of your history. 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:05.000 Many people shed blood and have actually job 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:10.000 -- died for the right to vote. It's important to get out and express 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:14.000 your vote, your choice, not just this year, but every year. 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:16.000 Sometime, with that kind of lead in, 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:18.000 people are like, "Wow, 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:21.000 I did not think about it like that. 00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.000 " 00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:28.000 That's what you can do to help break that down and to help to encourage 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.000 people 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:34.000 and just to let them know, because, to me, the number one thing is awareness. 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:39.000 Letting people know 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:46.000 how important it is to vote. Your housing is dependent upon this. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:51.000 Housing is a basic human right, and for so many people, as it was stated 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:54.000 previously, housing, people receive 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:59.000 Social Security, disability, all of these things that 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:01.000 are voted on. Your participation is mandatory. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:05.000 That is one of the things I always share with people 00:26:05.000 --> 00:26:07.000 . 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:10.000 Getting your benefits, important to you, 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:13.000 whether it's important that you vote. 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:18.000 And that is it. Your choice, your vote. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:21.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks, Gloria. 00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:33.000 That is a really powerful way to put it. 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:34.000 T 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:37.000 amir, 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:42.000 do you want to chime in on this? TAMIR MOHAMUD: 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:46.000 I don't know what to say, Mary, said what we are doing. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:51.000 I have one thing about, like what Gloria said, 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:56.000 you have to meet people in person to explain why they are voting because 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:58.000 you have to know people they confuse 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:02.000 , in my experience, when I was 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:07.000 volunteering to know the people, they asked me why did I vote, and they 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:10.000 wanted to explain why you voted. 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:16.000 For the housing issue, for security issue, for health issue, 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:19.000 all the things. If you experience them, then they can 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:22.000 vote. Other people, there is a language 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:26.000 barrier, they don't know how to follow the forms. We have experience 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:28.000 a lot of them, and 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:31.000 as Mary knows, we have been advocating, people 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:33.000 to vote because some people are doing 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:37.000 an exception because 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:44.000 they don't have – they have a language barrier or something, 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:49.000 and the only thing that you can explain, you have to get the time, to 00:27:49.000 --> 00:27:54.000 sit down with them. That is where we are creating a lot of 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:55.000 the Saturday 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:59.000 or Sunday coffee times, or teetimes, or cookies time, to sit down and 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:02.000 experience. -- explained. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:04.000 We have to explain the form. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:08.000 And tell them how to fill it out 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:12.000 because most of them, they do not know how to 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:17.000 write. 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:22.000 We have seen a lot of forms that are translated in somatic language, thanks 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:27.000 to the city, they make so many translations, but is not simple to fill 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:30.000 out. All of that issue is very important. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:34.000 Tools that we need. Preach to the people, sit down in 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:38.000 person, because there is no (indiscernible) so sit down with person 00:28:38.000 --> 00:28:39.000 and explain why they vote. 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:41.000 For affordable housing, or security issue, 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:43.000 including the neighborhood. 00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:44.000 The neighborhood 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:49.000 is very important, so 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:54.000 you get a lot of tools, that is my thoughts. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks, 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:55.000 Tamir. 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:59.000 Sometimes there's nothing that compares you sitting down and having 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:02.000 the in person face-to-face interaction with somebody. For sure. 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:10.000 Shirley alluded to this 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:15.000 in her comment about the sprinklers, and I want to share that Shirley and 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:20.000 Mary both participated in our Capitol Hill day this year, and followed up, 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.000 and really pressed their elected officials on the progress in their 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:29.000 communities, and thanks them for the work they have done. That is a good 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:33.000 segue into my next question. After the election, how do you hold 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:37.000 elected officials accountable to keeping the promises they made during 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:40.000 their campaigns? SHIRLEY BROWN: Courtney, I am glad you 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:43.000 asked that. Like you said, Mary and I at the 00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:45.000 conference 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:50.000 definitely stressed the issue. 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:54.000 After election, first of all, attending public meetings that your 00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:58.000 elected officials will be speaking at, and ask questions. Remind them 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.000 promises made, 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:04.000 while running for offices, and also remind them that you and others 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:09.000 who voted for them because of the statements and promises they made. 00:30:09.000 --> 00:30:14.000 I would invite them to our resident Council meeting so they can share with 00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:20.000 residents firsthand their goals and aims for making our lives better and 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:25.000 improving our quality of life. That is what I have to say about that. 00:30:25.000 --> 00:30:28.000 I will pass it on. MARY McGOVERN: This is Mary. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:31.000 What I have to say about it is 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:36.000 it is our responsibility to say what we need 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:41.000 before they were elected, after they get elected. With the 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:48.000 -- What we need and what we don't need. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.000 I am so proud of the residence in Minneapolis and the 42 high-rises, 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:56.000 they have such strong voices. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:31:03.000 They don't mince with anybody. If there is something going 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:08.000 wrong with an elected official or somebody get elected, they are right up 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:13.000 there and they are saying, open court hey, you said this, you're going to do 00:31:13.000 --> 00:31:18.000 this for us and you're not doing it. What's going on with this?" 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:21.000 This is why am so proud of 00:31:21.000 --> 00:31:27.000 the residence in Minneapolis, and I bow myself to you guys. I am so proud 00:31:27.000 --> 00:31:29.000 of you guys. MATTIE HENDERSON: I totally agree. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:32.000 You know, we have to take 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:34.000 the bitter with the sweet. 00:31:34.000 --> 00:31:39.000 But, as far as myself, I am not a very quiet person 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.000 . 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:45.000 When you told me that you were going to do something, and you did not do 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:50.000 that, you are going to hear from Mattie. Like it or not. 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:54.000 We just have to push, keep going, don't give up. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:57.000 I will pass it on. MARY McGOVERN: (Laughs) (claps) 00:31:57.000 --> 00:31:59.000 TAMIR MOHAMUD: That's good. 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:06.000 Mattie. 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.000 MARY McGOVERN: Go ahead, Tamir. 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:09.000 TAMIR MOHAMUD: 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:12.000 This is the only thing we did 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:15.000 for advocating, 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:18.000 we did a lot of things, advocating for fixing 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:20.000 elevating 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:22.000 -- elevators in the building, advocating 00:32:22.000 --> 00:32:24.000 for fixing a lot of things. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:26.000 Mary and Shirley 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.000 a 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.000 nd Ma 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:29.000 ttie 00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:31.000 , 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:36.000 are champions, and they know how to advocate. 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:42.000 I appreciate that. That is who we are. Thank you. 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:46.000 GLORIA COLES: Thank you. This is Gloria. One of the things I 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:51.000 would like to say is that it is important that you contact 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:54.000 your elected officials after they have been elected. 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:58.000 So many times, we don't reach out, so 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:01.000 thanking them, and thanking them for the work they are doing, 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:04.000 and also letting them know 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:08.000 that if they are not doing the work that they promised to do, 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:11.000 to hold them accountable for that. 00:33:11.000 --> 00:33:13.000 What happened so many times is that 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:16.000 people say what they think you want to hear. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:21.000 And they really have no intention of doing it. 00:33:21.000 --> 00:33:24.000 And so, 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:27.000 that is where accountability comes into play. 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:30.000 You want candidates 00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:33.000 who are accountable, and you want candidates 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:36.000 who are ethical. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:41.000 You just don't want to be saying something because you are at this point, 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:47.000 because you have seen in an 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:51.000 news, they flip-flop, with this audience they say this, and with this 00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:55.000 audience they say that. It's about accountability, and if you 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:57.000 have a candidate doing something of that caliber, 00:33:57.000 --> 00:34:02.000 that candidate is letting you know, because how can you flip-flop, 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:05.000 which side are you really treat you? Are you going to? 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:08.000 Are you not going to be accountable? 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:11.000 Sometimes it's a matter of paying attention, and listening 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:15.000 to your candidate. In making an informed choice. 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:19.000 So many times, people do not do their research. 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:22.000 People do not reach out to their elected officials. 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:24.000 Call them. Email them. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:26.000 If you can, text them. 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:29.000 Let them know your needs and concerns. 00:34:29.000 --> 00:34:33.000 Show up at community meetings. Show up 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:37.000 at town hall meetings. It is so important that you be seen 00:34:37.000 --> 00:34:39.000 in your voice heard. 00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:43.000 So many times, when these types of events occur, 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:44.000 when nobody is showing up, 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:48.000 it says 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:50.000 , "You really don't care. 00:34:50.000 --> 00:34:52.000 " 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:57.000 The elected official for the same way, if it's not important to you, 00:34:57.000 --> 00:34:59.000 it's no longer important to me. 00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:02.000 Having your presence, your vote, all of these things, 00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:04.000 have to do with 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:10.000 elected officials accountability. 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:14.000 SHIRLEY BROWN: Here, here. I agree with you totally, all of you. 00:35:14.000 --> 00:35:17.000 MARY McGOVERN: Courtney, let me tell you a 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:20.000 story real quick. We have been talking to 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:24.000 an elected official, 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:30.000 so we have been seeing him come in the room, so I got him and we are talking 00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:35.000 to him, and we asked a few questions, whatever. He got elected. 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:39.000 Anyways, it happened that we had a meeting with the elected person now, 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:44.000 and so we are sitting around a table, in that persons office, 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:50.000 and I said, open court the way, do you remember that we talk to you before you 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:52.000 got elected 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:55.000 , 00:35:55.000 --> 00:35:59.000 and you said you would support such and such entity. 00:35:59.000 --> 00:36:01.000 " His head went down like that. 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:06.000 My thing is, don't be afraid 00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:11.000 to confront unaffected 00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:14.000 -- unofficial, unofficial they get elected, do not 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:24.000 be afraid 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:30.000 to confront them, this is how we get things done. Plain and simple. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:33.000 GLORIA COLES: So true, 00:36:33.000 --> 00:36:39.000 one thing I want to add to that, we kind of had the opposite happen here. 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:43.000 We had a candidate for him here for -- candidate forum 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:47.000 here for city Council elected official. 00:36:47.000 --> 00:36:51.000 We invited all three candidates out and one particular candidate said 00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:53.000 , 00:36:53.000 --> 00:36:57.000 what is one of the things you would do 00:36:57.000 --> 00:37:02.000 if you are elected and he said, "Cut the buses off of your street." 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:06.000 We have so many people who are in walkers, 00:37:06.000 --> 00:37:09.000 disabled, and he was saying that 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:10.000 cutting the buses 00:37:10.000 --> 00:37:12.000 off of 00:37:12.000 --> 00:37:15.000 (unknown name) 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:22.000 and Nicholas, people would have to walk three or four walked 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:28.000 two blocks to catch the bus, and right now the buses pretty much right here on 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:31.000 the street in which we live in. 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:36.000 Or you can cut through the library, we have a unique situation in my location. 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:41.000 You can literally walk across the street and cut through the library and 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:47.000 not even be exposed to the elements. And then catch the bus a block away. 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:52.000 The candidate said they would cut the buses off, I'm like, "That lets your 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:55.000 audience know that this particular candidate had not done his research. 00:37:55.000 --> 00:37:59.000 For this audience. He just showed up." Letting people know 00:37:59.000 --> 00:38:02.000 , again, your voice is your choice. 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:08.000 Letting them know, do you want to walk 00:38:08.000 --> 00:38:13.000 an additional three blocks to catch the bus? When right now, you are less 00:38:13.000 --> 00:38:14.000 than 100 feet 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:19.000 away from the bus stop? If you're on a motorized scooter or in 00:38:19.000 --> 00:38:24.000 a wheelchair, you want to be rolling three blocks down the street to catch 00:38:24.000 --> 00:38:27.000 the bus? Here in Minnesota, gets extreme the 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:29.000 cold. These are the sorts of issues that, 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:32.000 again, your vote is your choice 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:37.000 . 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:42.000 If it's not important to you, it will not be important your elected 00:38:42.000 --> 00:38:45.000 officials. It's important to let them know you're 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:50.000 standing, and where you are, before the phone and after the vote. The vote in 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:51.000 our work -- ward, 00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:57.000 only one of two cohorts took until the next day to decide who was the winner 00:38:57.000 --> 00:39:03.000 because double was close. Voting matters. 00:39:03.000 --> 00:39:10.000 TAMIR MOHAMUD: Another thing I remember, 00:39:10.000 --> 00:39:15.000 asked the question, how do think the answer the question, if people ask you, 00:39:15.000 --> 00:39:18.000 I do not think my vote was counted. 00:39:18.000 --> 00:39:20.000 That is the main thing. 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:27.000 to answer. Most of the people, they believe 00:39:27.000 --> 00:39:32.000 the vote wasn't counted, they don't trust. How do we answer this? 00:39:32.000 --> 00:39:36.000 If you have that answer, let me think. MARY McGOVERN: Tamir, 00:39:36.000 --> 00:39:38.000 you're talking about Somali people? 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:41.000 TAMIR MOHAMUD: Yes. 00:39:41.000 --> 00:39:47.000 (Multiple speakers) 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:51.000 SHIRLEY BROWN: Go ahead, Mary. MARY McGOVERN: All we can do is 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:53.000 reassure them because 00:39:53.000 --> 00:39:56.000 – that's all we can do is reassure 00:39:56.000 --> 00:40:01.000 them that the votes are getting counted. 00:40:01.000 --> 00:40:04.000 I mean, we have had mishaps in 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:10.000 the past, I know that, but 00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:14.000 someone else, chipping here, I'm at a loss for words. 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:17.000 SHIRLEY BROWN: 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:22.000 You can go to on the Secretary of State website and there's actually a 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:31.000 place where you can track if your boat was counted and if they got your vote. 00:40:31.000 --> 00:40:34.000 On the website. I have done before. MARY McGOVERN: Oh, 00:40:34.000 --> 00:40:37.000 really? SHIRLEY BROWN: They will let you know 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:42.000 that they received your vote. When I used to work at one of the 00:40:42.000 --> 00:40:47.000 polling places it was not within my precinct, so I would always vote 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:52.000 absentee, because I was voting that day and I would come home and whatever, 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:58.000 and check 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:04.000 after I got done with work, to check to see if my boat was in, and there is 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:07.000 a way of finding that out. 00:41:07.000 --> 00:41:11.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thank you. I want to make sure we get to audience 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:13.000 questions. I'm going to ask 00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:18.000 one more question we can do quick answers and we will move to audience 00:41:18.000 --> 00:41:22.000 questions. What is one piece of advice that you 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:26.000 would give to a tenant leader, perhaps someone in another community, 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:30.000 who is starting to do nonpartisan election work for the first time this 00:41:30.000 --> 00:41:33.000 election cycle? SHIRLEY BROWN: Can I speak up? One 00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:37.000 piece of advice that I would give is, 00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:40.000 a tenant leader who is planning nonpartisan election activities, 00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:42.000 remember to be nonpartisan. 00:41:42.000 --> 00:41:45.000 When talking with individuals, and assisting them. With their voting 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:51.000 materials or whatever. You cannot cash 00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:58.000 -- you cannot seem to take sides on political spectrum, be nonpartisan. 00:41:58.000 --> 00:42:02.000 That is advice I have. I will pass it on. MARY McGOVERN: 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:05.000 Excellent. Excellent. My advice is, for a new 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:11.000 person coming in, give 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:15.000 all the information you have on voting, giving them the experience you 00:42:15.000 --> 00:42:17.000 have had, 00:42:17.000 --> 00:42:22.000 what you have done every year, how you go about doing it, having coffee hours, 00:42:22.000 --> 00:42:23.000 having forums 00:42:23.000 --> 00:42:27.000 and individuals coming to the Council meetings, that elected officials, 00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:31.000 and give a rundown. Sit down and talk with that person 00:42:31.000 --> 00:42:33.000 and say, " -- 00:42:33.000 --> 00:42:37.000 get them really interested in voting, plain and simple. 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:40.000 That's it. MATTIE HENDERSON: 00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:42.000 Sit in the lobby. Talk. 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:45.000 Be specific. 00:42:45.000 --> 00:42:50.000 Just rake up conversation. 00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:52.000 -- Just strike up conversation. 00:42:52.000 --> 00:42:59.000 Some of the things we have said before in the meeting 00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:03.000 that people have lost their life for the right to vote. 00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:05.000 We want that rate. 00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:12.000 Let's exercise the right, in voting. 00:43:12.000 --> 00:43:18.000 You cannot have a closed note in this line of work. You got to be open. 00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:20.000 Thank you. 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:24.000 I will pass. MARY McGOVERN: 00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:29.000 Someone just said on there about sample ballots, and redo the 00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:36.000 samples ballots, we post them in all the high-rises. 00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:40.000 In the voting section, that is part of everything. Definitely. 00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:44.000 We have so much voting info, 00:43:44.000 --> 00:43:52.000 information, and voting ballots, and you name it, we have it. 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:55.000 MATTIE HENDERSON: Thanks to our high-rise Representative Council, we 00:43:55.000 --> 00:43:57.000 have it all. MARY McGOVERN: yep-a-doodle. 00:43:57.000 --> 00:44:02.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Gloria, do you want to 00:44:02.000 --> 00:44:05.000 chime in? GLORIA COLES: One piece of advice I 00:44:05.000 --> 00:44:09.000 would give a resident leader is, do not be afraid. 00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:14.000 In some buildings, they do not have a resident Council, so that is so 00:44:14.000 --> 00:44:15.000 important. 00:44:15.000 --> 00:44:19.000 Voting, whether you have a resident Council or not, it is so important that 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:24.000 you get the vote out. Get the vote out, let people know, 00:44:24.000 --> 00:44:27.000 speak up, speak out. Your voice is your choice. 00:44:27.000 --> 00:44:31.000 When you do not vote, you are saying 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:36.000 , "It doesn't matter to me. If it's not important to you. It will 00:44:36.000 --> 00:44:39.000 not be important to an elected official. 00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:43.000 Let your voice, let it be known, let it be counted. 00:44:43.000 --> 00:44:46.000 Also, to another thing that is important that is 00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:48.000 on the first time, 00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:57.000 if you need help, a lot of people don't want to reach out for help. 00:44:57.000 --> 00:45:02.000 The question was, first time. The first time leader, a lot of times 00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:08.000 people do not want to ask for help. Ask for help. That is the reason why we 00:45:08.000 --> 00:45:10.000 have – we have the MHRC, 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:14.000 Minneapolis High-Risk Resident Council, to assist you, to help you 00:45:14.000 --> 00:45:18.000 with the materials you need, 00:45:18.000 --> 00:45:22.000 to help you organize events. Some people stated earlier but Resident 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:26.000 Council, food shops, any activities that you may have 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:29.000 in the building that can draw people 00:45:29.000 --> 00:45:32.000 out to help make sure. It is your right, 00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:35.000 it is your choice. 00:45:35.000 --> 00:45:41.000 I will pass it. MARY McGOVERN: Glory, 00:45:41.000 --> 00:45:46.000 -- Gloria, I think you brought it up the other day, and I'm surprised you 00:45:46.000 --> 00:45:51.000 did not mention it, when people go to vote, if they don't have 00:45:51.000 --> 00:45:53.000 ID. I'm sure you brought this up. 00:45:53.000 --> 00:45:58.000 We need to step in there. 00:45:58.000 --> 00:46:03.000 I will vouch for you, that you are a person that lives here. 00:46:03.000 --> 00:46:07.000 I will be there for you to vote. Plain and simple. 00:46:07.000 --> 00:46:09.000 That's another way of extending yourself 00:46:09.000 --> 00:46:14.000 to help people vote. 00:46:14.000 --> 00:46:22.000 GLORIA COLES: 00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:26.000 That may not be the first time, boater, or the first time, but 00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:30.000 Minnesota is a unique state. That is important because the question 00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:34.000 was directed at tenant leaders, the tenant leaders is so important 00:46:34.000 --> 00:46:39.000 that you lead by example. As Mary just stated, 00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:48.000 in Minnesota, we have a system where you can vouch for someone else. 00:46:48.000 --> 00:46:53.000 But the thing of it is, you still, some people, if you have not even 00:46:53.000 --> 00:46:58.000 registered to vote here in Minnesota, if you go to your polling place, and 00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:02.000 someone will vouch for you, but that doesn't happen in every state. 00:47:02.000 --> 00:47:07.000 That is the reason why you have to really understand what is happening in 00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:12.000 your state and what the procedures are. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: That is great 00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:14.000 advice. GLORIA COLES: Be informed. COURTNEY 00:47:14.000 --> 00:47:17.000 COOPERMAN: Tamir, 00:47:17.000 --> 00:47:22.000 do you want to chime in on this, one piece of advice? TAMIR MOHAMUD: No, 00:47:22.000 --> 00:47:25.000 thank you. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Everyone has had it 00:47:25.000 --> 00:47:27.000 all. I'm going to dive into 00:47:27.000 --> 00:47:30.000 audience questions. Renée asked, what is electric 00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:31.000 -- 00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:32.000 election judge? Great question. 00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:35.000 MATTIE HENDERSON: And election judges someone who 00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:36.000 will register people in 00:47:36.000 --> 00:47:37.000 . 00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:40.000 We have tables where 00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:45.000 – first of all, 00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:51.000 we have an agreement we work on, if you are in the right polling place, 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:54.000 then you will go in, and 00:47:54.000 --> 00:47:58.000 they would give you a number, and he register, 00:47:58.000 --> 00:48:06.000 and if you are in the right polling place, you go around. 00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:10.000 You get your ballot, and you go and vote. Some people 00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:14.000 are so private, they will give you a folder for your vote. 00:48:14.000 --> 00:48:17.000 Then you come around, and I'm always 00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:18.000 at the slide where 00:48:18.000 --> 00:48:21.000 the ballot goes in. 00:48:21.000 --> 00:48:26.000 And then it will kick it out, if it is not filled out 00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:28.000 OK. Then we switch out. 00:48:28.000 --> 00:48:30.000 Then we would give 00:48:30.000 --> 00:48:34.000 the ballot, some people would give the ballots, 00:48:34.000 --> 00:48:37.000 it's an interesting process we have here in Minnesota. 00:48:37.000 --> 00:48:39.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks, Mattie 00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:42.000 . 00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:46.000 Viviana asked a great question, you actively recruit and 00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:48.000 train bilingual transits to help encourage 00:48:48.000 --> 00:48:49.000 voter turnout? 00:48:49.000 --> 00:48:52.000 What have you done to secure this? 00:48:52.000 --> 00:48:53.000 Ta 00:48:53.000 --> 00:48:57.000 mir, 00:48:57.000 --> 00:49:02.000 do you want to take this one? I know you have done a lot of 00:49:02.000 --> 00:49:05.000 translation in bringing bilingual communities. TAMIR MOHAMUD: Sure, thank 00:49:05.000 --> 00:49:07.000 you. This is very important 00:49:07.000 --> 00:49:09.000 because when I was 00:49:09.000 --> 00:49:11.000 election judge, a lot of 00:49:11.000 --> 00:49:17.000 immigrants, 00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:22.000 non-English people, they came and we explained them 00:49:22.000 --> 00:49:25.000 – they are seniors, and how they train 00:49:25.000 --> 00:49:26.000 me. 00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:30.000 Some of them, 00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:33.000 I stayed as a witness, and asking them questions 00:49:33.000 --> 00:49:34.000 like their name, 00:49:34.000 --> 00:49:37.000 filling out all their forms, & 00:49:37.000 --> 00:49:38.000 a 00:49:38.000 --> 00:49:39.000 nd sig 00:49:39.000 --> 00:49:40.000 n 00:49:40.000 --> 00:49:44.000 as a witness. 00:49:44.000 --> 00:49:53.000 Election judge is important like me. I was doing this for three years, 00:49:53.000 --> 00:49:58.000 for immigrant people who become citizenship, need to vote, it is very 00:49:58.000 --> 00:50:00.000 important. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Next, Tamir. Chris 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:09.000 asked a question, is the vote tracker 00:50:09.000 --> 00:50:14.000 statewide 00:50:14.000 --> 00:50:17.000 or federal? Looking at your state website is the 00:50:17.000 --> 00:50:22.000 best way to figure out what the process looks like and tracking that within 00:50:22.000 --> 00:50:23.000 your state. 00:50:23.000 --> 00:50:27.000 I also had a question from 00:50:27.000 --> 00:50:34.000 Jayda, what advice do you have for engaging people 00:50:34.000 --> 00:50:38.000 in scattered site houses, or residents that may be more difficult to get a 00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:40.000 hold of? 00:50:40.000 --> 00:50:44.000 GLORIA COLES: I would say, make yourself visible. 00:50:44.000 --> 00:50:50.000 Because actually by having a tabling event, 00:50:50.000 --> 00:50:54.000 sometimes people are not very social, they may not come to resident Council, 00:50:54.000 --> 00:50:59.000 they may not utilize the food shelf, for people come through the front door. 00:50:59.000 --> 00:51:04.000 Even if they come through the back door, 00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:09.000 if you position yourself in a certain area, that's central, people will have 00:51:09.000 --> 00:51:13.000 to, they will see you. Visibility is so important. 00:51:13.000 --> 00:51:18.000 A lot of time people will just see you in there like, "What are you doing? 00:51:18.000 --> 00:51:24.000 " That is where you can begin to explain to them what you're doing. And 00:51:24.000 --> 00:51:27.000 take it from there. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: 00:51:27.000 --> 00:51:30.000 (unknown name)*question, what about urging new, young voters to register 00:51:30.000 --> 00:51:40.000 and vote? 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:43.000 MARY McGOVERN: In most of the high-rises, Courtney, 00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:46.000 there is not young people. (Laughs) 00:51:46.000 --> 00:51:50.000 that is sort of a hard one for us, but 00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:52.000 I would answer the same thing, 00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:55.000 like I do with any other kind of 00:51:55.000 --> 00:52:00.000 voter, is engage with them. 00:52:00.000 --> 00:52:03.000 Get data, tell them, explain to them about voting, 00:52:03.000 --> 00:52:07.000 and everything. 00:52:07.000 --> 00:52:14.000 We do the same thing with young people we would do with our own residence. 00:52:14.000 --> 00:52:21.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Cathy had a good question in the UNA 00:52:21.000 --> 00:52:26.000 -- Q&A of the league of voters that have volunteers that do tabling, maybe 00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:30.000 in high school cafeterias, and other places like that. I think that's the 00:52:30.000 --> 00:52:35.000 same principle of meeting people where they are, whether that's a resident in 00:52:35.000 --> 00:52:40.000 a high-rise, or a student in their high school. Great point. What other 00:52:40.000 --> 00:52:41.000 questions do we have? 00:52:41.000 --> 00:52:45.000 Another question from Vivian, do you part with other organizations in the 00:52:45.000 --> 00:52:49.000 community to do outreach? Agencies like Catholic charities, as an 00:52:49.000 --> 00:52:50.000 example. 00:52:50.000 --> 00:52:52.000 MARY McGOVERN: We 00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:59.000 reach out to 00:52:59.000 --> 00:53:03.000 our neighborhood associations, that's number one, that's a great one. 00:53:03.000 --> 00:53:05.000 Tamir, 00:53:05.000 --> 00:53:10.000 I think most of us on the panel here, go to our neighborhood associations. 00:53:10.000 --> 00:53:15.000 And our park board. 00:53:15.000 --> 00:53:20.000 We go there, that is where they have voting, wherever we have meetings, once 00:53:20.000 --> 00:53:24.000 a month or whatever. We get a lot of info from them. 00:53:24.000 --> 00:53:28.000 Also, another entity would be our social workers within our high-rises. 00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:31.000 They help us with other residents 00:53:31.000 --> 00:53:34.000 , 00:53:34.000 --> 00:53:38.000 immigrants, they are really good at this and telling them, "Hey, 00:53:38.000 --> 00:53:42.000 this is time to vote." 00:53:42.000 --> 00:53:47.000 And if they have questions, the social work was sit down and talk with them 00:53:47.000 --> 00:53:55.000 and explain what upvoting is about and whatever. Trying to think. 00:53:55.000 --> 00:54:01.000 I think we had some thing to do at St. Catherine's, add-on point, but I'm not 00:54:01.000 --> 00:54:06.000 sure, my memory is not serving me too well right now. We have different 00:54:06.000 --> 00:54:10.000 entities we get involved with. Courtney met we have two logistical 00:54:10.000 --> 00:54:21.000 questions about 00:54:21.000 --> 00:54:26.000 the nature of the building. He is each of the speakers or resident 00:54:26.000 --> 00:54:30.000 of the community housing they are referencing? Pam asked, are these all 00:54:30.000 --> 00:54:35.000 public housing building or a mixture of public and private? Jimmy asked, are 00:54:35.000 --> 00:54:39.000 these organizations operating in the buildings, or are they available to 00:54:39.000 --> 00:54:43.000 renters more broadly in the city, county, and state? I will throw all 00:54:43.000 --> 00:54:48.000 three of you at once. SHIRLEY BROWN: To answer as far as our 00:54:48.000 --> 00:54:51.000 building, the high-rise buildings are in Minneapolis public housing 00:54:51.000 --> 00:54:55.000 buildings, and they are under the umbrella of Minneapolis High-rise 00:54:55.000 --> 00:54:58.000 Counsel. I am a resident of the building that I 00:54:58.000 --> 00:55:04.000 serve 00:55:04.000 --> 00:55:09.000 in several of the high-rise buildings that I do voter registration in that do 00:55:09.000 --> 00:55:14.000 not have a resident Council, per se, they are still, like I said, they are 00:55:14.000 --> 00:55:17.000 part of public housing. MATTIE HENDERSON: This is Mattie. 00:55:17.000 --> 00:55:20.000 I would like to add to that, 00:55:20.000 --> 00:55:25.000 a lot of votes come out of high-rises. A lot of votes. 00:55:25.000 --> 00:55:30.000 People come here in Minnesota, 00:55:30.000 --> 00:55:42.000 would offer people rights, handicap or not, rides to the polls. 00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:48.000 A lot of people vote absentee. Try to find out that a lot of boats 00:55:48.000 --> 00:55:51.000 -- votes, they come out of the high-rise. 00:55:51.000 --> 00:55:58.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: 00:55:58.000 --> 00:56:03.000 That's a great point, when elected officials see a lot of votes come out 00:56:03.000 --> 00:56:05.000 of the high-rises are incentivized to care about 00:56:05.000 --> 00:56:11.000 the challenges you are facing in the priorities you all have been where you 00:56:11.000 --> 00:56:15.000 see results, like what Shirley was talking about. When you have the 00:56:15.000 --> 00:56:19.000 follow-up, when you follow-up with advocacy. I want to take another 00:56:19.000 --> 00:56:22.000 treatment is at the end to share some announcements, 00:56:22.000 --> 00:56:24.000 an opportunity so you know the 00:56:24.000 --> 00:56:29.000 next steps of getting involved. Give a huge round of applause to the 00:56:29.000 --> 00:56:31.000 panel for the 00:56:31.000 --> 00:56:36.000 wisdom they share today and also for this hard, this work to take so much 00:56:36.000 --> 00:56:39.000 persistence in your communities. It's truly inspirational 00:56:39.000 --> 00:56:40.000 , 00:56:40.000 --> 00:56:43.000 and this is what it takes to close the Boner turn up 00:56:43.000 --> 00:56:45.000 -- voter turn ou 00:56:45.000 --> 00:56:49.000 t ca gap. 00:56:49.000 --> 00:56:54.000 One more 00:56:54.000 --> 00:57:03.000 question, Peter asked if NLIHC 00:57:03.000 --> 00:57:06.000 would do a similar webinar for people experiencing chronic homelessness. Our 00:57:06.000 --> 00:57:10.000 next webinar on July 1 will be 00:57:10.000 --> 00:57:13.000 about voting and experiencing homelessness, so there will be some 00:57:13.000 --> 00:57:17.000 advice really geared towards that community. Thanks for asking that 00:57:17.000 --> 00:57:19.000 question. We will transition into some 00:57:19.000 --> 00:57:22.000 announcements. Something that will be of interest 00:57:22.000 --> 00:57:28.000 to a lot of you here, and actually one of our attendees on our last webinar 00:57:28.000 --> 00:57:30.000 had share this opportunity with me 00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:35.000 what have I know some of you are already involved. An upcoming event, 00:57:35.000 --> 00:57:39.000 the Poor People's Campaign 00:57:39.000 --> 00:57:47.000 March on Washington, on Saturday, 00:57:47.000 --> 00:57:51.000 March on Washington, on Saturday, June 29, in Washington, DC photo it will 00:57:51.000 --> 00:57:55.000 also be livestream. There's a policy platform that includes 00:57:55.000 --> 00:57:59.000 abolishing poverty as the fourth leading cause of death in the US, 00:57:59.000 --> 00:58:01.000 enacting a live-in minimum wage 00:58:01.000 --> 00:58:04.000 , 00:58:04.000 --> 00:58:13.000 an end to voter suppression. 00:58:13.000 --> 00:58:17.000 This March will launch a four-month effort to reach 50 million poor and 00:58:17.000 --> 00:58:20.000 low-wage voters. Definitely recommend checking that out, 00:58:20.000 --> 00:58:25.000 and we drop the link in the chat. There's also going to be a virtual pep 00:58:25.000 --> 00:58:30.000 rally for that tonight. I believe you can find that on the Poor 00:58:30.000 --> 00:58:34.000 People's Campaign Instagram or twitter, they are at !unitethepo 00:58:34.000 --> 00:58:35.000 or 00:58:35.000 --> 00:58:37.000 , 00:58:37.000 --> 00:58:40.000 you can check that out tonight. 00:58:40.000 --> 00:58:43.000 We can go to the next slide. 00:58:43.000 --> 00:58:47.000 I'm seeing some enthusiasm in the chat. 00:58:47.000 --> 00:58:53.000 If you have not done so already, I encourage you all to join the 00:58:53.000 --> 00:58:56.000 affiliate network. This is open to all nonpartisan 00:58:56.000 --> 00:58:59.000 organizations 00:58:59.000 --> 00:59:04.000 that share the goals of the Our Homes, Our Votes campaign. There's a lot of 00:59:04.000 --> 00:59:07.000 ongoing ways to engage, we have office hours, 00:59:07.000 --> 00:59:11.000 and email list, and we have a postelection virtual gathering. There 00:59:11.000 --> 00:59:16.000 is some enhanced access to Our Homes, Our Votes tools and resources for 00:59:16.000 --> 00:59:21.000 affiliates and one of the best reasons to come an affiliate is that 00:59:21.000 --> 00:59:24.000 Minneapolis high-rise Representative Council is one of them, one of nearly 00:59:24.000 --> 00:59:28.000 100 affiliates. If you want to get to know 00:59:28.000 --> 00:59:32.000 organizations like theirs, the affiliates network is a great way to do 00:59:32.000 --> 00:59:35.000 so. Next slide, please. I have shared about 00:59:35.000 --> 00:59:39.000 this on a some past webinars, but for those of you attending 00:59:39.000 --> 00:59:44.000 for the first time, check out Turbo Boat, the online voter registration and 00:59:44.000 --> 00:59:47.000 information platform. This is a great way to 00:59:47.000 --> 00:59:53.000 ensure you are registered at your address, and turn on election 00:59:53.000 --> 00:59:58.000 reminders so you never miss an election. You can scan the QR code, or 00:59:58.000 --> 01:00:03.000 check out the link in the chat. Next slide, please. We also have 01:00:03.000 --> 01:00:07.000 a very comprehensive online resource library, full of templates and tools 01:00:07.000 --> 01:00:12.000 you can use to get started. Some of these resources can help you 01:00:12.000 --> 01:00:15.000 launch a campaign, like the work that MHRC 01:00:15.000 --> 01:00:18.000 is doing, or can give you some inspiration to get started, 01:00:18.000 --> 01:00:24.000 and you can check that out in the link in the chat. Next slide, please. 01:00:24.000 --> 01:00:28.000 I also will continue to plug national voter registration day, 01:00:28.000 --> 01:00:32.000 on September 17, it's a really great opportunity to join a nationwide 01:00:32.000 --> 01:00:34.000 movement around voter registration. 01:00:34.000 --> 01:00:38.000 You will get swag, including some posters and stickers. There is online 01:00:38.000 --> 01:00:41.000 assets you can use to promote the event. 01:00:41.000 --> 01:00:47.000 You can sign up to become a partner. It is totally free at the link 01:00:47.000 --> 01:00:55.000 that Hillary just shared in the chat. Next slide, please. 01:00:55.000 --> 01:01:00.000 I have alluded to this already but our next webinar is all about voting while 01:01:00.000 --> 01:01:03.000 experiencing homelessness. We get a lot of questions about this 01:01:03.000 --> 01:01:08.000 topic and there's a lot of unique considerations, so we will have some 01:01:08.000 --> 01:01:12.000 real experts joining us. Dr. Kaitlyn Krenn, actually (unknown 01:01:12.000 --> 01:01:13.000 name) 01:01:13.000 --> 01:01:16.000 Ashley (unknown name) who has been traversing the states getting 01:01:16.000 --> 01:01:20.000 voters registered, and Ken will soon 01:01:20.000 --> 01:01:23.000 -- William soon, from the National Alliance to End Homelessness. 01:01:23.000 --> 01:01:29.000 Next slide, this is a preview, 01:01:29.000 --> 01:01:35.000 we have 10 additional webinars 01:01:35.000 --> 01:01:39.000 this year. There's a lot going on. A lot more 01:01:39.000 --> 01:01:44.000 knowledge to be gained and you can find those agendas at our forms -- 01:01:44.000 --> 01:01:47.000 the link dropped in the chat. 01:01:47.000 --> 01:01:52.000 We archived webinar recordings there. If you miss the webinar or you want to 01:01:52.000 --> 01:01:55.000 find a link to the webinar you attended, 01:01:55.000 --> 01:02:01.000 you can go onto the page and you can find a recap of each of the past 01:02:01.000 --> 01:02:02.000 webinars. Next slide. 01:02:02.000 --> 01:02:08.000 That will bring us to the end. Thank you, huge thank you to all of our 01:02:08.000 --> 01:02:12.000 panelists. Thank you all for being here and asking 01:02:12.000 --> 01:02:16.000 such thoughtful questions and we hope to see you at the next webinar. 01:02:16.000 --> 01:02:20.000 Thank you so much. MARY McGOVERN: Thanks everyone. Thanks, 01:02:20.000 --> 01:02:21.000 Courtney. 01:02:21.000 --> 01:02:26.000 Good one, Courtney! 01:02:26.000 --> 01:02:30.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: You made it a good one. 01:02:30.000 --> 01:02:35.000 MARY McGOVERN: Hope you all 01:02:35.000 --> 01:02:36.000 have a good week. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: YouTube. Good to