WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.000 Is 2:30 PM. Clicking start. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:13.000 Welcome everyone. 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:16.000 Welcome, welcome. Feel free to introduce yourselves in 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:17.000 the chat 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:22.000 with your name and where you are calling from, as we wait for people 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:24.000 to trickle in from the waiting room. 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:27.000 We will get started in about 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:31.000 1 to 2 minutes, feel free to 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:39.000 introduce yourself in the chat as you are coming in. 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:41.000 Billy from Wisconsin. 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:44.000 Giovanna from Los Angeles. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:46.000 Sharon from Texas. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:49.000 Breanna from 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:50.000 M 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:51.000 at 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:52.000 - 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:53.000 Su. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:01:00.000 Melissa from Indianapolis. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.000 Bailey, Doug, Andrew, Abigail, Tiffany, 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:19.000 now they are coming into faster keep up with. Welcome, everyone. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:23.000 We will start in about 30 seconds. Feel free to keep introducing 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:32.000 yourselves. 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:37.000 The flow in from the waiting room has slowed down, so I will go ahead and 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.000 jump right into things. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:43.000 Welcome, everybody, my name is Courtney Cooperman, are you she/her 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:54.000 pronouns and the project manager of NLIHC Our Homes, Our Votes campaign. 00:01:54.000 --> 00:01:59.000 This is the eighth webinar in our series, that means we are at the 00:01:59.000 --> 00:02:03.000 halfway point in the series, and restarted back in April. Time really 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:09.000 does fly and if you are tuning in for the first time today, I encourage you 00:02:09.000 --> 00:02:14.000 to check out the archive of our past webinars on our website. We will drop 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:22.000 the link in the chat for you, as well. I will note it is just under 100 days 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:26.000 until the election, so now is really the time to take all of the knowledge 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:31.000 we are talking about on the webinars and put it into practice in your 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:36.000 communities, and I know that our panelists today will have a lot of 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:41.000 wisdom as you can bring back to your communities to get out and vote. Feel 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:45.000 free to keep introducing yourselves in the chat. Today's topic is Housing 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:49.000 Providers and Voter Engagement. Affordable housing providers are in a 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:53.000 strong position to register, educate and mobilize their residents to vote. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:58.000 To hear about this work, we have on the webinar two staff members from members 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:02.000 of our housing providers counsel that are playing creative strategies to 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:07.000 engage cynically, and get out to vote. We will hear from Bernadette Martin, 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:16.000 Bernadine Martin, from 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.000 Eden Housing, and Cydni Polk Blocker, senior director of the community life 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.000 for Chicago in the middle Atlantic region, the community builder. 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.000 We will hear from Katie West, director of strategic initiatives and Harrison 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:38.000 total, and a jar of advocacy and civic engagement,. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:42.000 This webinar is being recorded. We will distribute the recording and 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:49.000 links and the saved transcript and chat to the 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:54.000 Friday newsletter, the Connection, and will post the 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:58.000 recording on the NLIHC YouTube channel by the end of the week. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:00.000 We have closed captioning available, 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:05.000 thank you ~captioner for being here. 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:09.000 Please use the CUNY future threat webinar. Was only people attending it 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:21.000 can be difficult 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:26.000 to keep up with the chat. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:31.000 Please use the platinum rule, please treat others the way they want to be 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:41.000 treated, even though it is a way you may not want to be treated. 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:46.000 This is 100% nonpartisan, our goal is to build the voting power of low-income 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:50.000 renters so we can hold all elected officials accountable to prioritize 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:54.000 housing justice. With that, I will hand it over to 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:57.000 Bernadine to get us started. BERNADINE MARTIN: Thank you, Courtney. 00:04:57.000 --> 00:05:02.000 Hello, everybody, I am excited and pleased to talk to you today about 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:05.000 community advocacy and voter engagement. Next slide, please. In 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:09.000 housing 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:13.000 -- Eden Housing creates and sustains high quality housing communities that 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:16.000 advance equity and opportunity for all. Next slide, please. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:17.000 For 55 years, 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:21.000 Eden Housing has existed to address the affordable housing 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:25.000 in California, serving more than 100,000 people. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:28.000 Eden works in partnership with cities and local communities 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:30.000 to develop new housing communities 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:34.000 . 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:37.000 By 2025 Eden has committed to acquiring more than 10,000 00:05:37.000 --> 00:05:40.000 homes and communities throughout California 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.000 and serve a diverse population of 25,000 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:44.000 low income 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:47.000 seniors, families, 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:48.000 and people with special needs. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:54.000 Next slide, please. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:56.000 We believe that home is just the beginning. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:59.000 Quality, affordable housing is a foundational 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:04.000 social determinants of health 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:08.000 and can serve as a platform to increase access to opportunity 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:11.000 and promote the independence and dignity of residents. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:16.000 In order to realize the full benefits of housing as a platform 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.000 to create healthier and more equitable communities, 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:21.000 housing and services must be 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:25.000 connected in a way that not only provides resources to residents, 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:28.000 but also recognizes 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:33.000 and supports the agency of residents and gives them a real voice 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:35.000 and shared power in shaping the design, 00:06:35.000 --> 00:06:37.000 culture and the operations 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:40.000 of their community. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:47.000 This is a quote from stewards of affordable housing for the future. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:50.000 We consider ourselves one of the stewards. Next slide. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:53.000 Eden's 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:58.000 Board of Directors develop a five-year plan in the commitment of changing the 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:00.000 world, one corner at the time. 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:05.000 Part of what is embedded in that a strategic plan is a commitment 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:07.000 to racial, social, and economic justice 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:11.000 in all the work we do. Next slide, please. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:13.000 Why is community advocacy 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:16.000 and voter engagement important? 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:21.000 First, it's to educate and engage 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:25.000 residents in the civic process. Building sustainable housing 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:29.000 justice movement. Engaging residents in the process 00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:34.000 of electing city, county, state and national officials. 00:07:34.000 --> 00:07:38.000 Most importantly, their vote is their voice. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:42.000 Next slide. 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:45.000 Eden Housing defines advocacy as 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:49.000 a way to create the political will to build, 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:52.000 preserve and to support low income Californians 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:54.000 through housing entitlement process, 00:07:54.000 --> 00:07:56.000 city Council meetings, 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:58.000 planning commission, 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:00.000 elected officials, 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:04.000 . 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:07.000 Secondly, regulatory, state and federal government. Public policy 00:08:07.000 --> 00:08:10.000 through bills and laws, and individual outreach 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:11.000 and access to services. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:14.000 Next slide, please. 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:16.000 In 2020, Eden Housing 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:17.000 , 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:20.000 through a collaborative effort 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.000 with other nonprofit housing providers, 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:26.000 Eden was able to 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:29.000 outreach to 43,000 affordable housing residents 00:08:29.000 --> 00:08:33.000 that turned out to vote. 00:08:33.000 --> 00:08:36.000 Almost 70% turnout rate of the register population. 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:39.000 Affordable 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:41.000 housing property saw an increase of 00:08:41.000 --> 00:08:44.000 18,233 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:49.000 new voter registrations 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:53.000 and in 2020, Eden Housing conducted our own resident survey 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:56.000 and revealed that 71% of our residents 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:57.000 were registered to vote. 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:01.000 Next slide, please. 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:04.000 Our focus for registration 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.000 is to collaborate with other nonprofits 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:08.000 such as 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:14.000 housing provider counsel, 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:19.000 to educate and train both our staff and residents, and also assist us in 00:09:19.000 --> 00:09:21.000 messaging to residents for best practices 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:24.000 and also for voter registration materials. 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:28.000 Next slide, please. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:30.000 Also, our focus in 2024 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:32.000 is the right to vote, 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:37.000 access to vote, 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:40.000 participate in the political process, and we called this 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:43.000 RAP. The importance of voting in 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:45.000 civic participation 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:49.000 is to know your history. 00:09:49.000 --> 00:09:51.000 and not have preconceived ideas of 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:57.000 notions of your eye 00:09:57.000 --> 00:10:00.000 -- right to vote. In 1776, only people who owned land 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.000 could vote. Most of whom 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:04.000 were white male Protestants. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.000 over the age of 21. 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:12.000 Since that time, there is no federal voting standard. As a result, 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:15.000 of no national standard for voting rights. 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:17.000 States have enormous power 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:19.000 to pass laws and regulate their own 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:21.000 voting laws. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:24.000 Currently, there are over 200 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.000 either past or being developed 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:27.000 that is geared toward 00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:33.000 voter suppression. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:38.000 Voting rights have been a slow struggle to be inclusive for citizens, 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:40.000 that include People of Color, 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:46.000 starting with slaves, even when it granted citizenship, 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:50.000 rights were denied and others such as women, Native Americans, Chinese 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.000 ancestry, 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:56.000 barriers back to 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:02.000 1856 in North Carolina that property ownership was a requirement to vote 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:07.000 or the special tax to vote, to be denied for failure to pay 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:08.000 any tax. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.000 Today, much has not changed. It is important to educate 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:14.000 staff and residents 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:18.000 to be more empowered to be part of the social justice system 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:22.000 to ensure every citizen has the right to vote, 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:25.000 without intimidation or fear. Next slide, please. 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:28.000 Some changes have occurred 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:30.000 over the decades. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:33.000 1975, 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:36.000 amendments to voters rights act, voting materials 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.000 in various languages, 00:11:39.000 --> 00:11:42.000 1993, national voter registration act passed, 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:46.000 voter registration 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:49.000 available at DMV, public assistance and disability agencies. 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:51.000 California continues to provide 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:54.000 a safe and secure election process, 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.000 and please note, 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.000 requirements for voting are different 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:00.000 in every state. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:04.000 Next slide, please. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:07.000 As 00:12:07.000 --> 00:12:11.000 it relates to voter engagement, 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:14.000 and leading up to the upcoming election, 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:20.000 our focus will be to assist our residents with voter registration 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.000 , information in a nonpartisan, best practice approach 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:30.000 and include voter registration at a national night out on August 6, 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:33.000 integrate voter registration on our new resident portal, 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:35.000 and also reminders of the upcoming 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:37.000 national voter registration day 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:40.000 in September. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:49.000 That concludes my presentation. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:53.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thank you so much, Bernadine. The statistics for the voter 00:12:53.000 --> 00:13:02.000 registration rates from the properties following your efforts 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:07.000 are incredible and a testament to the impact the working have. Please 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:11.000 continue to ask questions for Bernadine in the Q&A. We will circle back to 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:17.000 those at the end of the webinar, with the full panel. With that, I will hand 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:21.000 it over to Cydni. SANDY MARKWOOD: Good afternoon -- CYDNI 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:25.000 POLK BLOCKER: Good afternoon, I am excited to be here. 00:13:25.000 --> 00:13:30.000 On behalf of Community Builders I serve as senior director of community 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:33.000 life for Chicago and mid Atlantic region. Next slide, please. Civic 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:39.000 engagement has 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:44.000 been a priority of the work we do at The Community Builders since I have 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:48.000 been there. I am approaching 13 years. As much as 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:51.000 we discussed community engagement, we prioritize civic engagement within our 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:56.000 residents and in all of our properties. Next slide, please. One of the 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:00.000 questions I was asked is, why is it nonpartisan? That is something that 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:06.000 often comes up, many times, when we are engaging with residents and when we 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:09.000 have candidates and other interested parties that may want to 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:13.000 engage with our presidents. We are a nonprofit organization, so we 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:17.000 have a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status so we are 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:22.000 unable to endorse or oppose any candidates in the work that we do with 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:23.000 civic engagement. 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:28.000 This is necessary for our legal compliance and the last thing we would 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:33.000 want is for anything to impede us from working with the residents that we work 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:38.000 with every day to do that, and as Tiffany put in the chat, it is 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:43.000 definitely better to be unbiased. Building the public trust, we serve the 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:47.000 public good, maintaining a nonpartisan stance helps us to do that. We are 00:14:47.000 --> 00:14:52.000 there to empower the residents to make their own decisions, not to make those 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.000 decisions for them. We are mission focused. Our mission at 00:14:56.000 --> 00:15:00.000 The Community Builders is to build and sustain communities where all people 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:03.000 can thrive. Regardless of your political views, you 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:07.000 have a place within our community. Next slide, please. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:10.000 We have 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:13.000 hundreds of properties that participate in civic engagement across 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:14.000 our portfolio, 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:18.000 I have over 10 properties in my portfolio, in Chicago 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:20.000 . 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:24.000 Tony (unknown name), one of our representatives in the community is one 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:27.000 of the largest in our portfolio. 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:31.000 In doing community life process, we have a lot of ways 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:33.000 we are able to actualize civic engagement. 00:15:33.000 --> 00:15:36.000 One of the first ways is definitely register 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.000 our registration. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:47.000 Nonprofit 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:52.000 organizations and others are able to return to our county clerk and request 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:56.000 to sponsor that the registrar who are then able to register their neighbors 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:00.000 and peers. That is one of the first steps that we 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:04.000 take every time there is an election, midterms or presidential, increase our 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:08.000 number of deputy registrars. The deputy registrar, it's like an 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:12.000 antiquated process where individuals are walking up with you, with paper, 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:15.000 and I have opportunity to register online, debit 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:20.000 -- Deputy register provides a vessel for those that are mere burst in the 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:23.000 political process to have the conversation with neighbors. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:26.000 It's an easy process, it's a 10 minute course 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:28.000 to complete online after you received up 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:30.000 d the sponsored supply other 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:31.000 -- 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.000 sponsorship level 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:36.000 , 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:41.000 and you can have on-site voter registration, and after we do that we 00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:43.000 are able to dispatch 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:48.000 the deputy registrars to our events that we have planned on the site. Youth 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:53.000 events, or family oriented or senior events, we are able to have a table set 00:16:53.000 --> 00:17:02.000 up where residents can come in engage and register to vote, 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:06.000 right there on the property. Targeting 17-year-olds is a tradition 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:09.000 of art. If you are eating by the time of the 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:15.000 election, 00:17:15.000 --> 00:17:21.000 -- 18 by the time of election, you are able to vote. We are reaching out to 00:17:21.000 --> 00:17:24.000 the residence and trying to make it fun. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:30.000 We have an Oakwood center at the site, maybe they come to the center to have 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:35.000 pizza and we register them to vote and talk about the political process and be 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:41.000 intentional about reaching out to the students that live on our side that are 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:44.000 approaching the age. Activating polling places. Many of our 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.000 sites have 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:49.000 polling places that are in walking distance. Those times, we have set up 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:53.000 at the polling place with table and snacks and treats, 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:59.000 just to encourage our residents who may be in line, or those who made a 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:02.000 little bit more motivation. There have been elections where there 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:07.000 are longer lines than others, we have had chairs and things to make them more 00:18:07.000 --> 00:18:12.000 comfortable in the process and support them along the way. You then resident 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.000 leadership support, we do believe in resident leadership. In The Community 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:21.000 Builders we say our goal is to eventually work ourselves out of jobs, 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:26.000 so we always have resident leaders in the wings supporting the work we are 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:30.000 doing and oftentimes leading the initiatives. Those resident leaders are 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:34.000 dispatched across communities to go out and identify those residents who may 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:38.000 need more information about the election that is coming up or being 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:42.000 able to register to vote. Incentives and events. We all like to 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:48.000 get free things, so sometimes it is as simple as, coming by Oakwood center or 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:51.000 another committed the space within the community after he received the "I 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:54.000 Voted" stickers enough to get people to vote. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:19:01.000 Similar to the statistics that Bernadine commented on, when we 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:04.000 completed a questionnaire, civic engagement was part of the 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.000 questionnaire. How many individuals are registered to 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.000 vote? Our initial 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:11.000 goal at the beginning of the strategic goal was having 80% of residents 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:15.000 registered to vote. We came right out hot, we had 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:19.000 that percentage that was registered, but how do we now know that those 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:26.000 residents who are registered or actually voting? 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:29.000 Shifting the priorities from having a high level registration, to making 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:33.000 today are mobilized, 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:36.000 and making sure they know how elections impact daily life has been 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:39.000 our priority. We talk about partnership, with 00:19:39.000 --> 00:19:43.000 city and local institutions, we often bring in individuals, again, to break 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.000 down the ballots, and help them, 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:50.000 and make sure they are equipped when they go into the voting booth. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.000 Candidate forums. We are nonpartisan and as long as we 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:57.000 open it up to anybody, we can host one. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:20:03.000 Individuals do not come, that is up to them but as long as we have, for 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:06.000 instance, we have 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:11.000 mirror race, if we send outreach every button, we are able to host on-site. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:15.000 Neighborhood polling places, many sites, you don't have to travel far to 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:17.000 vote 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:22.000 . 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:27.000 Civic engagement, like I said, I have been with the organization over a 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:32.000 decade and has been a priority and remains a priority that goes across 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:33.000 departments. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:38.000 Yes, I am in the community like department and we are the ones that 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:40.000 hosted the resident leadership opportunities and engagement 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.000 opportunities but it's a priority from 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:46.000 development, property management and asset management and as an 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:48.000 communications. It consistently is communicated 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:51.000 internally and externally to our residents. Next slide, please. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:57.000 These are a couple flyers 00:20:57.000 --> 00:21:01.000 to the right, that our organizations on the East Coast have distributed to 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:05.000 residents 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:09.000 at times of elections. The biggest thing we talk about, and I 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:14.000 see individuals talking about in the chat, voting is the opportunity for us 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:18.000 to empower our residents, and we always say, we just work 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:20.000 there, and we know 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:24.000 amazing work is difficult and challenging and impactful work. It is 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:28.000 their community. For them to know that they have an 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:32.000 opportunity to have a vested interest in create some sustainable impact and 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:38.000 voting is a way to do that, we want to make sure we prioritize that. 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:42.000 Civic engagement empowers residents to advocate for their specific needs, and 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:44.000 interests. Access to resources, active civic 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:47.000 participation, can help residents gain 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:51.000 access to essential resources, and services, that they need. 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:57.000 When I initially came to one community we did not have a grocery store in the 00:21:57.000 --> 00:21:58.000 community. 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:02.000 Engaging those residents and helping them mobilize around going to those 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:06.000 meetings, and having their voice heard, it was very 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:10.000 powerful and impactful on us dismantling what was a food desert, 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:13.000 helping them have improved access to healthcare, education, public safety 00:22:13.000 --> 00:22:15.000 and social services. 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:19.000 Again, community empowerment. It is their community. We know that we 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:20.000 are often dealing with, 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:25.000 most of the time the work we're doing with affordable housing, we are dealing 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:30.000 with the residual impact of systems that have been set up to disenfranchise 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:35.000 certain individuals in certain people so the work that we do every day 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:38.000 dismantles that. We work to increase equity and voting 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:44.000 is a way for them to feel empowered and for them to know that them collectively 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:49.000 working together can move the needle. Policy influence. We have, 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:55.000 sometimes it has to be change of the policy, it's above us and giving us the 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:59.000 skills that we did and partnering with organizations who are experts in the 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:02.000 field, to help that. Representation, improve quality of 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:06.000 life. Again, we are in Chicago, we deal with 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:13.000 our own challenges every day. Empowering residents with what they need 00:23:13.000 --> 00:23:19.000 to be able to make a positive impact on that, in making them feel, assisting 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:24.000 them in the confidence they need and the tools they need to be equipped to 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:27.000 have those conversations, address authority, when necessary, it's 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:32.000 something that we work every day to do and we do that through educational 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:34.000 awareness. Again, building networks like I said, 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:39.000 resident leadership is a priority of ours. Every table that we are at we 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:43.000 feel resident should be sitting thereto, because they know much better 00:23:43.000 --> 00:23:48.000 than us what is necessary for their community to thrive. Next slide, please. 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:50.000 This is another quick snapshot 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:53.000 of some data. I apologize for being small, but some 00:23:53.000 --> 00:23:55.000 data around what was collected 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:59.000 in our annual community life questionnaire. It was around voter 00:23:59.000 --> 00:24:04.000 registration. Like I said, now we see that there are 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:10.000 a lot of amount of registers that deaf residents that are registered, we want 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.000 to make sure they are mobilized 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:16.000 and feel confident in making decisions around elected officials 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:21.000 moving forward. Next slide, please. 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:25.000 That concludes my part of the presentation. If you have any questions 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:26.000 or concerns, 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:37.000 please do not hesitate to reach out to me, to my email there. 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:42.000 There is my phone number. I look forward to working with you in 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:45.000 the future. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thank you so much, 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:48.000 fantastic work. There's a lot of great questions for 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:53.000 you coming in that we will circle back to at the end. Congratulations on all 00:24:53.000 --> 00:24:56.000 this work. Especially what you said about resident 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:00.000 leadership, and working yourself out of a job by empowering residents, it 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:05.000 really resonated with me and will resonate with a lot of others on the 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:09.000 call as well. I'm going to pass it to Katie inherited 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:14.000 from Housing Network of Rhode Island to speak from the perspective of 00:25:14.000 --> 00:25:17.000 state-level advocates and how they partner with their community. KATIE 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:18.000 WEST: Thanks, 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:23.000 it's great to be here with a great group of folks involved in civic 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:27.000 engagement initiatives across different states. Next slide, please. I will get 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:29.000 started. You can skip. 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:31.000 We work for the Housing Network 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.000 . 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:36.000 We are membership organization of 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:39.000 19 nonprofit community developers based in Rhode Island. 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:41.000 We are the backbone for homes 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:43.000 RI, 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:47.000 a multisector statewide coalition of advocates working to 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:50.000 increase the supply of affordable housing. We used to 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:53.000 Homes RI umbrella and 00:25:53.000 --> 00:25:54.000 coalition to uplift 00:25:54.000 --> 00:26:00.000 advocacy 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:04.000 and voter engagement. Next slide, please. 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:10.000 Wanted to offer a perspective from 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:14.000 the other side of how we build partnership with housing providers. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:17.000 Obviously, we had a built in membership 00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:20.000 who served as natural partners 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:26.000 and we are in our third 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:30.000 cycle of participating in the Our Homes, Our Votes initiatives in 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.000 partnership with NLIHC, 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:36.000 which we are appreciative of because it has allowed us to really start to 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:39.000 build a culture of civic engagement and 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:42.000 we are doing this and getting our members on board. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:45.000 We initially narrowed it down to five cities 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:46.000 for voter engagement, 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:51.000 where this is a pilot, and we are doing 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:56.000 things we have not done before with our funding. We hosted an orientation 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:58.000 in April for our members to just 00:26:58.000 --> 00:27:03.000 talk about what our plans look like, get their input and feedback 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:07.000 in almost all of the members who attended that 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:12.000 orientation wanted to participate in our Our Homes, Our Votes efforts. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:16.000 One consideration that we had, we wanted to make it easy for 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:19.000 our members to say, "Yes." 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:24.000 And feel like we are doing a service for them and their residence. One we 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:27.000 want the staff to be engaged in this effort, 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:30.000 trying to make it as easy as possible, 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:35.000 and Harrison can talk about ways we have done that with our canvassing 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:36.000 efforts. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:39.000 In different stages of implementing plans for members, including 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:41.000 doorknocking, 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:45.000 in person canvassing, and also tabling a different outreach events. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:50.000 , trainings and workshops with staff 00:27:50.000 --> 00:27:55.000 and general voter education campaigns. Next slide, please. 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:58.000 We wanted to collaborate with housing providers 00:27:58.000 --> 00:28:00.000 . 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:03.000 For many, it is the same reasons that Cydni 00:28:03.000 --> 00:28:05.000 said, 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:09.000 their organization is invested in this. We want to reach people 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:13.000 . We want to reach tenants. 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:19.000 Rhode Island is a state where 40% of the population are renters 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:24.000 and our members provide a way to reach folks, particularly in the targeted 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:28.000 communities that we decided to target, based on 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:33.000 the high percentage of renters in those communities, lower voter turnout, 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:37.000 and a strong member presence. 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:41.000 Building a culture of civic engagement, and Our Homes, Our Votes 00:28:41.000 --> 00:28:44.000 supports goals that housing providers might have around 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:49.000 general resident engagement. And the policy 00:28:49.000 --> 00:28:52.000 connectivity and advocacy connectivity, so doing this helps 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:59.000 build a base by providing an access point and an entry for folks 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:06.000 to get more information about housing policy, get involved 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:10.000 and is typically engaged. I will turn it over to Harrison now to 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:14.000 talk about how we do that. HARRISON TUTTLE: Thank you so much, 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:17.000 Katie. Next slide. Part of our engagement with 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.000 renters is canvassing. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:26.000 We want to make sure that 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:31.000 what our target locations are, and the voters that are there both unregistered 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:36.000 and registered to vote, are one in which we are making an impact that we 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:40.000 can track. What we started off by doing is created 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:45.000 a list of all the membership rental units in the target cities, and we made 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:50.000 sure that we verified their physical addresses, and so we got a general idea 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:55.000 as to how many units were in each development. It is important to note 00:29:55.000 --> 00:30:00.000 that for an example, like West Elmwood, housing provider here, in Rhode Island 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:02.000 on the south side of Providence, 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:06.000 they have multiple developments. Not only are we looking at one 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:08.000 development, we are looking at multiple, 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:12.000 some range within an apartment complex, some range are multifamily. 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:15.000 Just try to understand as to what is ahead 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:17.000 really helped us put together 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:23.000 a plan around canvassing. Another example 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:29.000 of the process that we took is having access to the voter files. What we did 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:34.000 is reached out to the department, the Secretary of State in Rhode Island, to 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:40.000 find out, like I said, which people are registered to vote versus who are ready 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:44.000 -- are not, based on the developments we selected. 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:47.000 From there, understanding the population have an developing canvas 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:49.000 scripts 00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:55.000 to be able to address those goals, and one of the things that we did is we 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:59.000 made sure that we guide people throughout the election process. What 00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:02.000 does that mean? That means being able to say, "OK, 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:03.000 here's the get 00:31:03.000 --> 00:31:08.000 -- deadline on August 10, for example, this is the deadline for road 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:11.000 -- voter registration in Rhode Island primary in September. 00:31:11.000 --> 00:31:14.000 " 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:19.000 Making sure people are aware of the deadline, whether it is a mail-in 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:24.000 ballot, or early voting, as the months come to follow, it's going to be really 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:28.000 important for us and how we determined to develop arc scripts. 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:32.000 We know that not everybody is good to be home 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.000 , 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:39.000 so we want to make sure that we are still touching them in a way in which 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:42.000 they can see the flyer 00:31:42.000 --> 00:31:47.000 that is on the right-hand side. We wanted to make sure that we provided 00:31:47.000 --> 00:31:51.000 as much information as we could as to providing information to voters. 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:55.000 , while utilizing the tools that were given to us 00:31:55.000 --> 00:32:00.000 by our homes or votes, such as turbo vote, which is an election reminder 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:02.000 tool that we have used 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:06.000 make sure that people are getting text messages or emails 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:08.000 as to when I look 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:12.000 -- upcoming things are coming up. Next slide, please. 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:16.000 This comes into 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:19.000 our little bit of what Katie was mentioning around 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:20.000 site prep. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:27.000 Having established on prep 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:32.000 -- contacts, for individuals that are in proximity to residents can be 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:35.000 helpful, especially around canvassing efforts that result in us needing 00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:39.000 access to buildings. When thinking about the developments in 00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:40.000 which 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:49.000 you would want to knock, he would want to knock individuals and 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:54.000 that you can have access to, and making sure that if there is different 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:58.000 languages, that are spoken within the development, said we are being 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:03.000 mindful of the fact that not everybody speaks English. 00:33:03.000 --> 00:33:08.000 How do we get around that by having different people in the community or 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:12.000 different staff members at the development that is able to speak 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:18.000 the languages of the people of the doors. 00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:22.000 One important part of this plan is how we use technology, 00:33:22.000 --> 00:33:23.000 and how we used 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:24.000 VA 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:29.000 N 00:33:29.000 --> 00:33:33.000 during the technology. Having the voter file is essential, and 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:34.000 as I've mentioned previously, 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:37.000 who are we knocking? If we are 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:43.000 unsure, we don't know how to help them. 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:49.000 We have a tablet and smart phones that will cut down on paper and make sure 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:53.000 the end of the day that we are moving efficiently through the developments. 00:33:53.000 --> 00:33:58.000 Next slide, please. Just be flexible. At the end of the day 00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.000 we are dealing with people. 00:33:59.000 --> 00:34:04.000 When we are dealing with people of different parts of their lives, with 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:08.000 different beliefs, and we are also dealing with staff at housing 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:09.000 developments 00:34:09.000 --> 00:34:13.000 that are also at capacity. Just because you have a plan, don't 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:18.000 become stuck in the plan. Make sure that you are flexible so that 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:22.000 you can meet the interests of those individuals, the renters you are 00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:23.000 talking to. 00:34:23.000 --> 00:34:28.000 I think, based on some of the people that spoke today, it is no secret 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:30.000 that food is 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:34.000 a unifier among all people, and so when you're holding educational 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:38.000 workshops, where you're trying to bring out people, making sure that you're 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:41.000 providing what we see is something that 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:44.000 – or people can see is not as impactful, 00:34:44.000 --> 00:34:48.000 but as providing a basic necessity in which people can use. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:59.000 Being able to estimate staff time for canvassing 00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:03.000 are sometimes needed, based on the amount of doors, based on weather. 00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:07.000 There's a lot of different things that go into it, and having good 00:35:07.000 --> 00:35:11.000 communication with the housing provider is incredibly important. For anybody 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:15.000 who has canvassed for a candidate before, in different areas, you may 00:35:15.000 --> 00:35:21.000 know that contact rate may not be as high. We know that there are historical 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:24.000 reasons for that. Don't be discouraged by the low contact 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:28.000 rate. To everything that you can to try to 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:33.000 connect with people at the developments and if you do not contact them, 00:35:33.000 --> 00:35:38.000 as I mentioned in the previous slide, leave a piece of literature so they 00:35:38.000 --> 00:35:43.000 know that you are there, and the next time that you can possibly be there, 00:35:43.000 --> 00:35:48.000 they will know who you are. Canvassing, as I mentioned, is one of 00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:52.000 the methods of outreach and engagement. There is educational workshops that are 00:35:52.000 --> 00:35:56.000 helpful, specifically for folks that are either elderly or dealing with 00:35:56.000 --> 00:36:01.000 disabilities, making sure that the information at the end of the day is 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:04.000 accessible to them is something that we really value 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:09.000 whether that is tabling at a community event or doing workshops with community 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:12.000 housing providers. We love the input that everyone here 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:13.000 provides. 00:36:13.000 --> 00:36:18.000 We want to be able to use some of the best practices 00:36:18.000 --> 00:36:21.000 that have been talked about today, alone, and implemented 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:25.000 in our programs. 00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:30.000 Right now we talk about flexible he, being able to be open to different 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:39.000 ideas. If you want to contact myself or Katie, 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:43.000 the contact information is here. I appreciate the opportunity to speak 00:36:43.000 --> 00:36:44.000 today. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:50.000 Thank you so much Harrison and Katie. It is such a joy working with you all 00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:55.000 through Our Homes, Our Votes, and it has been really great to see all of 00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:59.000 these canvases and other events and how you can 00:36:59.000 --> 00:37:03.000 hit the ground running with them. I appreciate you sharing the wisdom 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:08.000 from those experiences with this call. Before we move into the Q&A from the 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:13.000 audience, we have a bunch of great questions here, I'm going to give a 00:37:13.000 --> 00:37:16.000 little bit of context and information regarding nonpartisanship and 00:37:16.000 --> 00:37:21.000 permissibility of this work for HUD funded agencies because you get a lot 00:37:21.000 --> 00:37:26.000 of questions about this. I figured I would share the information 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:31.000 instead of answering the questions individually. Next slide, please. 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:36.000 We often get questions about whether this work is permissible for public 00:37:36.000 --> 00:37:39.000 housing agencies or HUD multifamily 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:43.000 properties, basically anybody that is receiving federal funding. We often get 00:37:43.000 --> 00:37:47.000 that question. I am here to emphasize that 00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:50.000 public housing agencies and other HUD-subsidized providers absolutely can 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:51.000 and should 00:37:51.000 --> 00:38:00.000 do nonpartisan voter engagement. 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:05.000 It has always been the case that HUD funded agencies have been able to do 00:38:05.000 --> 00:38:10.000 this work, and the Biden Administration reiterated this in its executive order 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:14.000 on promoting access to order -- voting in 2021 which calls upon 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:18.000 agencies and their subsidiaries to do everything in their existing legal 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:21.000 power to increase voter registration and turnout. 00:38:21.000 --> 00:38:25.000 Complying with this executive order, HUD send out messages to public housing 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:30.000 directors and owners of HUD multifamily housing reminding them of their ability 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:34.000 to do nonpartisan voter engagement, and outlining some of the activities 00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:38.000 that they are not only permitted, but actively encouraged to do. 00:38:38.000 --> 00:38:41.000 I put snapshots of them on this slide, 00:38:41.000 --> 00:38:47.000 and we will put the link in the chat where you can find all of the 00:38:47.000 --> 00:38:51.000 announcements on the website, which came directly from HUD. We also 00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:56.000 summarize them into a do's and don'ts fact sheet, which we will drop in the 00:38:56.000 --> 00:39:00.000 chat as well. I'm happy to set up a time to talk 00:39:00.000 --> 00:39:04.000 about some of the specifics coming from HUD. Next slide, please. 00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:08.000 I know that all of our speakers reference the hosting provider's 00:39:08.000 --> 00:39:11.000 counsel. -- council I realize this is not 00:39:11.000 --> 00:39:16.000 familiar to everybody. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:20.000 It is part of the Our Homes, Our Votes campaign, it is 00:39:20.000 --> 00:39:26.000 committee committed to doing what we are all doing 00:39:26.000 --> 00:39:30.000 today, boosting voter turnout among residents. They meet every other month 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:34.000 to share best practices and nonpartisan 00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:38.000 resident voter engagement, and to do deeper dive into some of the activities 00:39:38.000 --> 00:39:44.000 that we have talked about on the call. We will drop the link for you to learn 00:39:44.000 --> 00:39:47.000 more about the housing providers council. 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:51.000 I will note this group is geared specifically towards subsidized housing 00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:54.000 providers and property managers and resident services staff. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:58.000 For other organizations that do not fall within this category, we do have 00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:04.000 the affiliates network, which also is a way that you can identify with and be 00:40:04.000 --> 00:40:09.000 formally part of the campaign. I will stop talking now. We have a lot 00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:12.000 of great questions. I invite all of our panelists to come 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:18.000 back on screen, and I think we can take down the slides so we can see 00:40:18.000 --> 00:40:21.000 everybody's faces. Awesome. Let's get started with 00:40:21.000 --> 00:40:23.000 questions. A really great question from Shawna, 00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:28.000 can you give some tips on how to engage people without the person 00:40:28.000 --> 00:40:33.000 feeling like they are being lectured? What are some tips for having these 00:40:33.000 --> 00:40:36.000 conversations without 00:40:36.000 --> 00:40:41.000 talking at somebody or talking down to them? Harrison, do you want to take 00:40:41.000 --> 00:40:43.000 this? HARRISON TUTTLE: Sure. The most 00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:48.000 important thing is understanding that you have a goal that you want to 00:40:48.000 --> 00:40:52.000 accomplish, but at the end of the day, the goal will not be accomplished 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:57.000 unless that person actively chooses that. One of the big things that I 00:40:57.000 --> 00:41:00.000 think was talked about today, in different forms, just meeting people 00:41:00.000 --> 00:41:04.000 where they are at. Making sure you're not looking at them 00:41:04.000 --> 00:41:09.000 as a data point, but as a human being., as somebody that could potentially grow 00:41:09.000 --> 00:41:13.000 into a position that they are no longer – not taking, or reluctant 00:41:13.000 --> 00:41:17.000 -- or would like them to take moving forward. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thinks, 00:41:17.000 --> 00:41:20.000 Harrison. Is anybody else want to chime in on 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:24.000 that one? 00:41:24.000 --> 00:41:29.000 We can go on to another question. I have a question for Cydni from 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:32.000 Steven, Deputy registrar, is that the specific to Illinois? 00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:39.000 Go ahead. CYDNI POLK BLOCKER: It is not. 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:43.000 Maybe possibly the name is different, but being able to contact your county 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:46.000 agency, board of elections and seeing what your specific 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:50.000 deputy registrar processes this is open to everyone nationally. COURTNEY 00:41:50.000 --> 00:42:00.000 COOPERMAN: Tanks, Cydni photo different places have all different 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:04.000 requirements, so check in with the city office to see what the 00:42:04.000 --> 00:42:08.000 requirements look like and what sorts of trainings are available. Another 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:11.000 question that we got for Cydni from Gina, 00:42:11.000 --> 00:42:16.000 Gina would love to hear more about the candidate 4M's. What are they like? How 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:24.000 do you typically run them? Do you have tips for successful 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:27.000 forums? An webinar will be in civic engagement. 00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:32.000 We will dive into that more. 00:42:32.000 --> 00:42:39.000 CYDNI POLK BLOCKER: 00:42:39.000 --> 00:42:43.000 First is starting with the letter, letting go the Fordham is nonpartisan 00:42:43.000 --> 00:42:48.000 and open to everyone and getting the letters out as soon as possible. 00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:50.000 The gatekeeper 00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:53.000 , 00:42:53.000 --> 00:43:05.000 and getting people to commit to being there. 00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:10.000 In the events we don't allow just a discussion the whole time, we do cool 00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:14.000 things like him. We typically do something like look at 00:43:14.000 --> 00:43:19.000 the ballot, how do you read the ballot? The paper ballot versus the electricity 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:23.000 -- electronic ballot, and understanding what certain bills may be on the 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:28.000 specific ballot that is coming and doing things around that and making it 00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:30.000 fun. Using the service, something like 00:43:30.000 --> 00:43:35.000 Kahoot, a game that is engaging, that they can use with their phones. 00:43:35.000 --> 00:43:40.000 And then have a part that is similar to this, where initially we will have 00:43:40.000 --> 00:43:45.000 the residence of that the questions, so the questions are not anything that is 00:43:45.000 --> 00:43:50.000 or the staff will know the specifically generated from the community, and will 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:54.000 pass the microphone around, and give everyone two minutes apiece to discuss 00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:56.000 it. Also providing some guidelines, for 00:43:56.000 --> 00:43:59.000 those candidates. This opportunity is for everybody to 00:43:59.000 --> 00:44:04.000 hear generally where they stand on specific issues and concerns for this 00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:09.000 community, it is not a space to campaign, but it's a space to engage 00:44:09.000 --> 00:44:13.000 and for us to have some mutual understanding of the impact you intend 00:44:13.000 --> 00:44:16.000 on making. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thank you. I love 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:19.000 that. It is not just a one-way street of 00:44:19.000 --> 00:44:23.000 candidates sharing their views, but something that is very interactive and 00:44:23.000 --> 00:44:26.000 inclusive. We have a great question from Danielle, 00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:30.000 Howdy involve people with lived experience in leading civic engagement 00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:31.000 work? 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:35.000 Harrison, go for it. HARRISON TUTTLE: The main thing is just 00:44:35.000 --> 00:44:40.000 making sure that their voices and what they want is included in the plan 00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:44.000 itself. A lot of times we have tried to search 00:44:44.000 --> 00:44:48.000 for answers and solutions that we come up with that we think is 00:44:48.000 --> 00:44:53.000 best for a population, when the population is going to tell you exactly 00:44:53.000 --> 00:44:56.000 what they need. Understanding that there are people that 00:44:56.000 --> 00:45:02.000 may be put off by elections, but that does not mean that they do not want to 00:45:02.000 --> 00:45:07.000 help the community. It is also 00:45:07.000 --> 00:45:12.000 important to know the people that are directly impacted have reasons why they 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:16.000 do not want to participate. In any given thing. Making sure that, 00:45:16.000 --> 00:45:22.000 again, you are meeting them where they are that -- at, see and get them to a 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:26.000 place where they feel comfortable taking their own initiative to vote. 00:45:26.000 --> 00:45:32.000 At the end of the day, that person, we are relying on that person in making 00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:36.000 that decision for themselves. We are guiding them and assisting them 00:45:36.000 --> 00:45:40.000 in those plans, and everything we are doing. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks, 00:45:40.000 --> 00:45:43.000 Harrison. Does anybody else want to chime in on 00:45:43.000 --> 00:45:44.000 that question? 00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:54.000 If not, I see a question from Sean, are you able to have something people 00:45:54.000 --> 00:45:59.000 can win, such as a gift card, to encourage people to get registered? I 00:45:59.000 --> 00:46:05.000 will chime in on this one it that it's really important to be careful for 00:46:05.000 --> 00:46:08.000 nonpartisan organizations around offering any sort of incentive around 00:46:08.000 --> 00:46:12.000 voting. What you could do is, let's say you are 00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:15.000 tabling and offering voter registration, you can have stickers or 00:46:15.000 --> 00:46:20.000 small prizes that are available to everyone, but you cannot really offer 00:46:20.000 --> 00:46:23.000 an incentive specifically for registration or voting. You can 00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:27.000 celebrate that act of registering and make something available to everybody, 00:46:27.000 --> 00:46:32.000 but incentivizing a specific activity, I would steer away from that. I am 00:46:32.000 --> 00:46:36.000 seeing some nods, so it seems like there is a consensus on that. 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:41.000 CYDNI POLK BLOCKER: Similar to what you said, increasing energy around the 00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:42.000 day, 00:46:42.000 --> 00:46:46.000 cannot give you anything specific for voting, but if you something like a 00:46:46.000 --> 00:46:47.000 voting ticket, 00:46:47.000 --> 00:46:51.000 we may have pizza, told watch the election results or watch the debate 00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:56.000 together or something like that, to boost momentum and incentivize in that 00:46:56.000 --> 00:47:01.000 way, it works well. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: For sure. 00:47:01.000 --> 00:47:05.000 I'm seeing a question about transportation noting that one of the 00:47:05.000 --> 00:47:08.000 biggest barriers for voters is transportation. 00:47:08.000 --> 00:47:11.000 Are your organization doing anything to address transportation barriers? 00:47:11.000 --> 00:47:16.000 How do you respond to residents if they are facing obstacles to getting to 00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:24.000 the polls? 00:47:24.000 --> 00:47:29.000 CYDNI POLK BLOCKER: I can say that, because, one of our polling places can 00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:35.000 be a couple of blocks away but that is a very long distance for somebody with 00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:39.000 limited mobility, even it's a block or two. There have been times 00:47:39.000 --> 00:47:43.000 where we have had may be advantage transport people. This time, 00:47:43.000 --> 00:47:46.000 specifically, depends on the amount of people, 00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:50.000 because buses are so expensive for us, honestly. $500. Price just expenses as 00:47:50.000 --> 00:47:55.000 gas has increased. 00:47:55.000 --> 00:47:59.000 If there are 30 or 40 individuals registered that need transportation, we 00:47:59.000 --> 00:48:04.000 would definitely provide transportation for them to be able to get to the 00:48:04.000 --> 00:48:06.000 polls. Absolutely. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Great. 00:48:06.000 --> 00:48:10.000 From the HUD announcements I shared, one of the announcements talked 00:48:10.000 --> 00:48:12.000 specifically about resident councils, 00:48:12.000 --> 00:48:16.000 and how they can use resident Council funds for transportation to the polls, 00:48:16.000 --> 00:48:20.000 as a resident service. If you're with a resident Council, I 00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:24.000 recommend looking into that as an option to facilitate transportation to 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:27.000 the polls. BERNADINE MARTIN: Also, Courtney, one 00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:31.000 of the things we do is identify the nearest polling places, that our 00:48:31.000 --> 00:48:34.000 proximity of the properties, as well. 00:48:34.000 --> 00:48:36.000 Sometimes people don't always get the notice 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:42.000 they are unaware of it. 00:48:42.000 --> 00:48:46.000 CYDNI POLK BLOCKER: One other thing, Courtney, too, we advocated by a boat 00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:50.000 by mail when it became available in Illinois. 00:48:50.000 --> 00:48:54.000 = 00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:58.000 Residents with limited mobility, making sure they fill out the paperwork 00:48:58.000 --> 00:48:59.000 accurately to receipt of valid, 00:48:59.000 --> 00:49:05.000 -- ballot via mail, and pick it up, for them, so that processes help over 00:49:05.000 --> 00:49:07.000 the last couple of years. 00:49:07.000 --> 00:49:13.000 BERNADINE MARTIN: To add to that, most people are 00:49:13.000 --> 00:49:17.000 highly educated about voting by mail now. The great thing about voting my 00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:18.000 mail, 00:49:18.000 --> 00:49:23.000 once you do that, there is a lot of tracking and follow-up to that. 00:49:23.000 --> 00:49:26.000 The person is a verified that they --thei 00:49:26.000 --> 00:49:27.000 r 00:49:27.000 --> 00:49:34.000 ballot has been received and you get a notice about that 00:49:34.000 --> 00:49:38.000 and using technology through email, you get alerts about verification of 00:49:38.000 --> 00:49:39.000 your ballot. 00:49:39.000 --> 00:49:44.000 All of those things are great for people who cannot get out to vote. 00:49:44.000 --> 00:49:45.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: For sure. 00:49:45.000 --> 00:49:47.000 KATIE WEST: 00:49:47.000 --> 00:49:51.000 To quickly add, in thinking about multiple 00:49:51.000 --> 00:49:54.000 solutions or strategies in Rhode Island, we are fortunate 00:49:54.000 --> 00:50:01.000 to have early voting, 00:50:01.000 --> 00:50:06.000 so conversing with people to may be getting a ride on election day or 00:50:06.000 --> 00:50:08.000 transportation on the day is difficult, 00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:12.000 but educating people about the early voting period, and where they're able 00:50:12.000 --> 00:50:15.000 to vote. Also, as Harrison said, 00:50:15.000 --> 00:50:19.000 we have been encouraging people, also, to vote 00:50:19.000 --> 00:50:24.000 by mail if that's the best option for them. Multiple strategies that we have. 00:50:24.000 --> 00:50:27.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks, Katie. 00:50:27.000 --> 00:50:31.000 I will add is a long-term consideration, you may want to advocate 00:50:31.000 --> 00:50:36.000 with your 00:50:36.000 --> 00:50:41.000 election office to have a polling place added closer to your community or 00:50:41.000 --> 00:50:46.000 maybe to have a ballot dropbox added, if your state has ballot drop boxes. 00:50:46.000 --> 00:50:51.000 At this point, it takes a little while to get those polling places approved, 00:50:51.000 --> 00:50:57.000 so it may not be feasible for 2024, but it's never too early to start for 2025 00:50:57.000 --> 00:51:01.000 and beyond, if you feel that your polling places are not accessible. 00:51:01.000 --> 00:51:07.000 Advocate to get one that is closer to your community. I am seeing a few 00:51:07.000 --> 00:51:11.000 questions that I will combine together on apathy. in getting people that do 00:51:11.000 --> 00:51:15.000 not care to vote. Do you have any suggestions regarding 00:51:15.000 --> 00:51:19.000 how to overcome that sort of apathy that you may encounter? Specifically, 00:51:19.000 --> 00:51:22.000 how empowering tenant leadership can assist with data? 00:51:22.000 --> 00:51:23.000 -- that? 00:51:23.000 --> 00:51:31.000 Harrison? 00:51:31.000 --> 00:51:34.000 HARRISON TUTTLE: There's a national conference hosted by this organization 00:51:34.000 --> 00:51:40.000 not too long ago where one of the speakers said that people who do not 00:51:40.000 --> 00:51:43.000 vote are allowing people to make a decision for them. 00:51:43.000 --> 00:51:46.000 So, that is really all you need to say. 00:51:46.000 --> 00:51:50.000 At least, in my experience, when talking to people 00:51:50.000 --> 00:51:52.000 who wish to not participate 00:51:52.000 --> 00:51:57.000 in what they deem to be a system that does not work for them, 00:51:57.000 --> 00:51:59.000 it is not countering an argument 00:51:59.000 --> 00:52:04.000 that says, "Well, it does," 00:52:04.000 --> 00:52:09.000 because it clearly doesn't, it is saying that you're putting the power 00:52:09.000 --> 00:52:13.000 back into people's hands by saying, "Argue--Are you choosing to allow it to 00:52:13.000 --> 00:52:17.000 continue this way?" That is what I do this 00:52:17.000 --> 00:52:22.000 -- say to this. 00:52:22.000 --> 00:52:26.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Great point, we point to the fact that elections can be 00:52:26.000 --> 00:52:32.000 very close, and your vote may make the difference. It may not seem like it. 00:52:32.000 --> 00:52:37.000 But it's possible, in state and local elections where there are fewer voters. 00:52:37.000 --> 00:52:43.000 We point to the fact that the right to vote is really a hard one right, 00:52:43.000 --> 00:52:46.000 and it's important to exercise it. People weren't 00:52:46.000 --> 00:52:51.000 wouldn't be trying to take it away if it didn't matter. Lots of strategies, 00:52:51.000 --> 00:52:52.000 depends on what 00:52:52.000 --> 00:52:57.000 community are in and who you're speaking with, but Harrison raised a 00:52:57.000 --> 00:53:00.000 lot of really good points. Let's see – 00:53:00.000 --> 00:53:09.000 a few other questions. 00:53:09.000 --> 00:53:13.000 Someone asked a question for Cydni about providing transportation. Does 00:53:13.000 --> 00:53:16.000 your organization have any liability concerns when you provide 00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:23.000 transportation.? If so?, 00:53:23.000 --> 00:53:28.000 how do you work around that? CYDNI POLK BLOCKER: If we use 00:53:28.000 --> 00:53:33.000 transportation and would through our partners to set up as a vendor so they 00:53:33.000 --> 00:53:37.000 would be responsible for insurance. It would have been approved, the 00:53:37.000 --> 00:53:42.000 liability would have fallen on them. I will say, that is reason why don't 00:53:42.000 --> 00:53:46.000 allow staff to take them. to the polling place. Our staff are 00:53:46.000 --> 00:53:51.000 committed and in a second would take their cars full of voters to the 00:53:51.000 --> 00:53:56.000 places, but because of liability 00:53:56.000 --> 00:54:00.000 they do not. We can walk them a couple blocks for 00:54:00.000 --> 00:54:05.000 those who have needed support but the thing that has worked best for us, 00:54:05.000 --> 00:54:09.000 echoing Katie and Bernadine, is taking advantage of the early polling times 00:54:09.000 --> 00:54:13.000 and vote by mail. Those are the best. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: 00:54:13.000 --> 00:54:16.000 Thanks, Cydni. The more voting options people have, 00:54:16.000 --> 00:54:20.000 the likelier they will overcome the obstacles. CYDNI POLK BLOCKER: I want 00:54:20.000 --> 00:54:25.000 to echo Harrison, what works best to me is to apply directly to someone's life, 00:54:25.000 --> 00:54:30.000 because we always think about the name B complex, not in my backyard, 00:54:30.000 --> 00:54:35.000 and it's easy to be apathetic. If you take a survey of the land, 00:54:35.000 --> 00:54:39.000 specific surveys 00:54:39.000 --> 00:54:43.000 -- circumstances have not improved over generations. When you can talk 00:54:43.000 --> 00:54:47.000 specifically about certain schools receive certain funding, or by certain 00:54:47.000 --> 00:54:50.000 neighborhoods have certain resources like grocery stores are policing, we 00:54:50.000 --> 00:54:56.000 can directly tie it to a vote – that has been most impactful for me, working 00:54:56.000 --> 00:54:58.000 with residents, specifically, younger residents. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: 00:54:58.000 --> 00:55:03.000 HARRISON TUTTLE: Absolutely, and to add to that, 00:55:03.000 --> 00:55:08.000 one of the things in which we are working with our members is obviously, 00:55:08.000 --> 00:55:11.000 affordable housing, so it is subsidized. 00:55:11.000 --> 00:55:15.000 Drawing that connection with the fact that, for example, we have a housing 00:55:15.000 --> 00:55:18.000 bond in November, to increase housing production interstate 00:55:18.000 --> 00:55:23.000 that is desperately needed, making note of the fact that you are living in 00:55:23.000 --> 00:55:29.000 this unit, 00:55:29.000 --> 00:55:33.000 in general, is a byproduct of people voting for affordable housing. Wouldn't 00:55:33.000 --> 00:55:39.000 be something that you should take action for other people to get, as well? 00:55:39.000 --> 00:55:42.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Great plan. Elected officials are setting the 00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:46.000 budgets for programs that are determining if repairs can get Native 00:55:46.000 --> 00:55:50.000 peoples housing, that is really direct action there. 00:55:50.000 --> 00:55:54.000 BERNADINE MARTIN: We have an initiative coming up on the ballot in 00:55:54.000 --> 00:55:55.000 November. 00:55:55.000 --> 00:55:58.000 We are really trying to educate our residents about that. 00:55:58.000 --> 00:56:01.000 They have housing, affordable housing, and how they can 00:56:01.000 --> 00:56:03.000 provide opportunities for others 00:56:03.000 --> 00:56:06.000 to have affordable housing, by voting. 00:56:06.000 --> 00:56:14.000 COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thank you. 00:56:14.000 --> 00:56:19.000 We got a question from Rosa about coordination with churches. Are any of 00:56:19.000 --> 00:56:23.000 your organization coordinated with churches or other houses of worship in 00:56:23.000 --> 00:56:24.000 these efforts? 00:56:24.000 --> 00:56:26.000 CYDNI POLK BLOCKER: We have our neighboring 00:56:26.000 --> 00:56:27.000 churches around us. 00:56:27.000 --> 00:56:34.000 We partner on many 00:56:34.000 --> 00:56:38.000 programs, organizations, so definitely. Getting out to engage in 00:56:38.000 --> 00:56:39.000 partnering, all civic 00:56:39.000 --> 00:56:44.000 engagement opportunities for that, as well. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Thanks. 00:56:44.000 --> 00:56:48.000 I think we have time for one more question. Someone asked if anybody 00:56:48.000 --> 00:56:52.000 touched upon providers using tenant leadership? I know that was touched 00:56:52.000 --> 00:56:54.000 upon, 00:56:54.000 --> 00:56:59.000 I know Cydni spoke about working yourselves out of a job with tenant 00:56:59.000 --> 00:57:01.000 leadership. 00:57:01.000 --> 00:57:05.000 If anybody wants to elaborate more about tenant leadership, and 00:57:05.000 --> 00:57:11.000 specifically what that engagement can look like, that could be really helpful. 00:57:11.000 --> 00:57:16.000 CYDNI POLK BLOCKER: I think every capacity outside of things that affect 00:57:16.000 --> 00:57:20.000 confidentiality, you should have a resident next to you or community 00:57:20.000 --> 00:57:21.000 member learning would 00:57:21.000 --> 00:57:25.000 what you know. When I started years ago, that is the 00:57:25.000 --> 00:57:29.000 goal. Everything I am able to do, the goal is 00:57:29.000 --> 00:57:34.000 for residents to be able to do it, and ensure that the work is sustainable. 00:57:34.000 --> 00:57:38.000 We have help champion set a focus on health initiatives, and residents 00:57:38.000 --> 00:57:42.000 focusing on this kind of civic engagement initiative, but I think 00:57:42.000 --> 00:57:47.000 whatever you can equip them, whatever their specific goals are, and what they 00:57:47.000 --> 00:57:52.000 are excited about, and they have much broader ability and access than we 00:57:52.000 --> 00:57:54.000 have. with their neighbors and their peers. I 00:57:54.000 --> 00:57:58.000 think they are our visit -- biggest access 00:57:58.000 --> 00:58:02.000 -- biggest asset. Chord think you. I have a comment on 00:58:02.000 --> 00:58:06.000 churches being nonprofit and having to be careful, it's the same rules apply 00:58:06.000 --> 00:58:11.000 with nonpartisanship. 00:58:11.000 --> 00:58:16.000 Do not endorse candidates, they have to be nonpartisan with other nonprofits. 00:58:16.000 --> 00:58:22.000 I want to give a few close reminders and announcements. To make sure that 00:58:22.000 --> 00:58:27.000 you know how to stay involved beyond the webinar series. We can pull the 00:58:27.000 --> 00:58:31.000 slides back up just for the last few minutes. 00:58:31.000 --> 00:58:36.000 Thank you so much to our panelists for being here. For sharing all of your 00:58:36.000 --> 00:58:39.000 wisdom and for engaging in such a fantastic conversation. 00:58:39.000 --> 00:58:44.000 Just to quickly render a few of the ways to get involved beyond continuing 00:58:44.000 --> 00:58:48.000 to attend webinars. We have our affiliate network. This is 00:58:48.000 --> 00:58:52.000 open to all nonpartisan organizations that share the goals of the campaign. 00:58:52.000 --> 00:58:54.000 We have regular office hours, 00:58:54.000 --> 00:58:58.000 for affiliates, we have an email listserv where we will share out 00:58:58.000 --> 00:59:02.000 opportunities and exchange ideas, and will have a postelection gathering that 00:59:02.000 --> 00:59:05.000 is inclusive to the affiliates. Our next office hours 00:59:05.000 --> 00:59:10.000 – I did not update the slide – they will be this Friday, from 00:59:10.000 --> 00:59:15.000 1 PM to 3 PM. We will drop the link in the chat where 00:59:15.000 --> 00:59:19.000 you can sign up for that. Next slide, please. 00:59:19.000 --> 00:59:24.000 We also, I believe we alluded to this earlier, we have turbo boat, our 00:59:24.000 --> 00:59:28.000 one-stop shop where voters can register, 00:59:28.000 --> 00:59:30.000 check motor status, sign up for 00:59:30.000 --> 00:59:31.000 election of 00:59:31.000 --> 00:59:37.000 reminders. 00:59:37.000 --> 00:59:45.000 You can go to Our Homes, Our Votes, turbo, 00:59:45.000 --> 00:59:58.000 and think about ways to incorporate that into a rich. Next slide, please. 00:59:58.000 --> 01:00:01.000 We have our educational resources, at Our Homes, Our Votes.org/resources. 01:00:01.000 --> 01:00:08.000 I also have said this on every call and will continue to do so until 01:00:08.000 --> 01:00:16.000 the end of the series, I encourage you to sign up to become a community partner 01:00:16.000 --> 01:00:20.000 for National Voter Registration Day, a nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to 01:00:20.000 --> 01:00:21.000 celebrating and 01:00:21.000 --> 01:00:24.000 encouraging voter registration. There's a lot of swag for community 01:00:24.000 --> 01:00:29.000 partners, a lot of online resources and guidance. You can register at that link 01:00:29.000 --> 01:00:38.000 and will also get that shared in the chat. Next slide, please. 01:00:38.000 --> 01:00:42.000 I alluded to this also, earlier when Cydni was talking about candidate 01:00:42.000 --> 01:00:45.000 engagement. Our next webinar will take place on 01:00:45.000 --> 01:00:50.000 August 19, and will be on the topic of getting candidates on the record about 01:00:50.000 --> 01:00:52.000 housing and homelessness, which I know 01:00:52.000 --> 01:00:58.000 is a theme that comes up a lot. We talk about not just voting for the 01:00:58.000 --> 01:01:03.000 sake of voting, but voting so we can hold candidates accountable. We will 01:01:03.000 --> 01:01:07.000 dive into that a little bit more next time. Next slide, please. 01:01:07.000 --> 01:01:12.000 Here's a quick preview of the remaining eight webinars. A lot of good 01:01:12.000 --> 01:01:15.000 content we have gone through and a lot of 01:01:15.000 --> 01:01:19.000 good content coming up. Hope to continue seeing you on the 01:01:19.000 --> 01:01:22.000 calls. Of course, you can check out our 01:01:22.000 --> 01:01:25.000 website for the archives of past calls and recordings of them. 01:01:25.000 --> 01:01:32.000 I think that brings us to the end. Thank you all so much for being here. 01:01:32.000 --> 01:01:37.000 I think some of the links may have gone just to hosts and panelists. 01:01:37.000 --> 01:01:41.000 Hillary, can you drop those in the chat to everyone? 01:01:41.000 --> 01:01:46.000 HILLARY POUDEU TCHOKOTHE: Looks like I'll have the option to send it to host 01:01:46.000 --> 01:01:49.000 and panelists. COURTNEY COOPERMAN: Sorry about that. I 01:01:49.000 --> 01:02:11.000 can try to drop some of those in there. Sorry about that setting. 01:02:11.000 --> 01:02:15.000 Alright, my links are not pasting 01:02:15.000 --> 01:02:17.000 to the chapter some reason. We will have them on the website and in