Paint The Polls Black Launches Voter Education Series for Election Day Success – Essence

As the country approaches one of the vital essential elections in recent history, Sundial Group of Companies—including ESSENCE, Global Black Economic Forum, Girls United, AfroPunk, BeautyCon, Refinery29, and New Voices Foundation—has announced an ambitious schedule of virtual events over the subsequent two months as a part of its Paint the Polls Black voter education series, an initiative designed to tell, mobilize, and protect the voting rights of Black communities across the country within the crucial weeks leading as much as Election Day on November 5.

“We believe our brands have a responsibility to thoroughly educate our audiences because exercising our power at the ballot box is one of our most precious rights. We don’t assume what level of awareness people have on local, regional, and national issues; we meet people where they are,” said Alphonso David, President and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum.

Starting from September twelfth “Paint the polls black” will host a series of virtual town halls, each designed to deal with specific problems with highest importance to the community and ensure voters understand key policy issues, how they impact on a regular basis life, and find out how to address disenfranchisement tactics. The events will feature voting and elections experts, public officials, and artists to debate issues that directly impact our communities and supply voters with the resources they need. These events will probably be streamed live to tell the tale multiple platforms, including Streamyard, the Global Black Economic Forum YouTube and social media accounts and ESSENCE YouTube.

The first edition of Paint the Polls 2024, held on August 2, attracted over 200,000 people and provided voters with useful information to assist them of their elections.

With issues like reproductive justice, gun violence, voter suppression, and the anti-diversity movement on the forefront, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Paint the Polls Black initiative goals to make sure black voters have the ability to guard their rights and shape their future.

The significance of this initiative is further underscored by the success of its 2024 inaugural event, which took place on August 2 and drew over 200,000 attendees. The event featured a gaggle of influential figures, including renowned DJ D-Nice, congresswomen Jasmine Crockett and Shontel Brown, political commentator Bakari Sellers, media personality Van Lathan, and NAACP-nominated content creator Lynae Vanee. Together, they provided invaluable insights on issues starting from access to healthcare for Black women to political attacks on Black women within the media, voter engagement strategies for Black men, and community mobilization efforts.

With lower than 70 days to go until Election Day, the Paint the Polls Black initiative will provide voters with essential resources and data to assist them navigate the customarily complex and intimidating election process. The goal just isn’t only to encourage people to vote, but in addition to empower them to make informed decisions.

You can find the total list of programs below.

• September 12 – Analysis of political issues that directly concern you. Did you watch the conventions? Did you absorb all of the political issues? Well, we did, and we would like to share our thoughts with you. Join us as we discuss how the political issues on this election will directly impact you—from the economy to housing, health care to public safety.

• September sixteenth – Youth Empowerment City Meeting. Young people aren’t only our future, but in addition they have a say in elections. Young voters from the Millennial and Gen Z generations have gotten the demographic power center in American politics. Join us for a town meeting to listen to from young people concerning the key issues that matter most to them, the solutions to those problems, and the way these elections and voting affect the longer term.

• September 30 — Battleground States. We often hear that the election will probably be decided by key states, often 4 or 5 states. We go to those key states to listen to from our community how we’re mobilizing to guard the rights of marginalized people.

• October seventh – Group Chat. Registering to vote is significant, after all, but what in the event you also committed to getting a minimum of five people you understand to do the identical? This is an extension of our community to take back our power. Join us in a campaign to encourage everyone you understand to register to vote. And there could be a surprise in it for you.

• October 14th – Early voting. Forty-seven states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands offer in-person early voting for all voters. We’ll be hosting a town hall on what you must find out about early voting and the advantages of early voting.

• October twenty first – Election Protection. If you show up on the polls and find you’re not registered or encounter other obstacles to voting, what are you able to do? This town hall will walk you thru the means of reporting irregularities, find out how to find all of the resources to aid you protect your right to vote, and find out how to turn into an election observer.

• November 4th — get out and vote. In the lead-as much as Election Day, we are going to host a series of virtual events to supply voters with information and resources and listen to their feedback on their voting plans.

More information concerning the initiative could be found at https://www.essence.com/paintthepollsblack/ and www.gbef.com.