Transforming Democracy and Investing in Multiracial Voter Mobilization in the Deep South

In 2020, the Southern Poverty Law Center partnered with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to launch Vote Your Voice, a $30 million investment in voter registration and mobilization in five Deep South states intended to engage voters of color to exercise their right to vote, with a focus on communities less likely to participate or facing historic and legal barriers to participation. Registration targeted citizens of color who moved in-state and needed to update registration; high school and college students; returning citizens (with a prior felony convictions); and infrequent voters.

This session by Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, including Q&A, will feature inspiring changemakers on the impact made by Vote Your Voice locally and nationally, focused on three questions:

1. Why focus on people of color in the Deep South?

2. What does it take for a funder to support multiracial democracy work?

3. What have we learned/gained from this work so far?

Speakers will include Margaret Huang, CEO, Southern Poverty Law Center; Frank Fernandez, President, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, and a nonprofit leader.

You’ll leave with understanding, tangible examples, tools, and examples to support voter mobilization in your community by investing in multiracial democracy work, and gain greater appreciation for the challenges and opportunities faced by communities of color in the Deep South seeking to participate in democracy.

Speakers:

Ayana Gabriel, Community Impact at The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

Margaret Huang, Southern Poverty Law Center

Frank Fernandez, Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

Aliya Bhatia, Vot-ER