Common Cause – PHENND

Stories of Democracy: How to Share Your Story Training – Oct 11

hillarya — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 20:32:35 +0000

Stories of Democracy is a national media and journalism initiative that provides young people of color with an opportunity to communicate their unique experiences with America’s political system.

We aim to become a megaphone for youth leaders across the country and are looking for writers. Interested?

Young people across the United States, ages 14-25, who have a passion for writing or creating content on the importance of an equitable democracy are eligible to participate.

Stories of Democracy will provide an opportunity for young people to voice their frustrations with and solutions for today’s pressing political and social issues, locally and nationally.

From now through January 2023, selected participants will create media focused on one of four core nonpartisan themes – Voting Rights, Youth Engagement, Social Justice, and Down Ballot Races – while concentrating on their unique relation to democracy. You will be paid a stipend and will have your work published on Common Cause’s digital and social platforms and those of its media partners.

The ultimate goal of this initiative is to give voice to youth power, we hope to open up our public discourse and democracy so that it authentically includes the voices of tomorrow’s leaders.

Want to learn more? Visit our website for more information and to learn how to submit writing. If you’re interested but would like to learn more and receive training on how to tell your story, sign up for one of our upcoming trainings:

Tuesday, October 11, 7 PM ET
Wednesday, October 19, 1 PM ET
Thursday, November 15, 7 Pm ET

Virtual Event: Student Election Protection Convening – Apr 7-8

hillarya — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 21:28:16 +0000

We have launched our application for the upcoming Election Protection Youth Engagement Workshop, which we’re officially calling: “Democracy Justice League: Training the Next Generation of Voting Rights Heroes.” This conference is focused on states with May and early June primaries so the focus area is Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Workshop Description:

Join the national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and Common Cause for Democracy Justice League: Training the Next Generation of Voting Rights Heroes on April 7-8, 2022 from 11 am – 4 pm ET. This 2-day virtual workshop is designed for emerging civic engagement leaders to learn valuable skills in non-partisan voting rights advocacy and voter protection. This is a paid opportunity for young folks ages 18-26 who will be in either Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, or Mississippi for 2022 primary or general election days. The conference is designed to equip young people with valuable tools to continue to be change agents in their community. Registration includes a $200 attendance stipend (paid in two parts), UberEats Vouchers for 2 days, and an official Election Protection Swag.

Questions? Contact Alyssa L. Canty at ACanty@commoncause.org.

Here is the application link.

One-Pager w/additional promo graphics

My Voice, My Art, Our Cause Artivism Contest: Visit the Voting Booth – Nov 8

hillarya — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:07:06 +0000

This summer, the My Voice, My Art, Our Cause Artivism Contest encouraged young artivists to raise their voices on democracy issues through their creativity. We received over 20 qualifying submissions and voting is now open! Each piece of art was submitted by a young artivist and reflects their perspective of the changes needed for them to live in a country that reflects their values. The contest is divided into three age categories and you may vote once per day in each age group. All of the art submissions are focused on one of the following democracy issues areas or themes:

Access to Voting, Media Reform, Campaign Finance Reform, Fair and Equitable Courts, Fighting Against Gerrymandering, Free Speech and Freedom to Protest, Criminal Justice Reform, 50th Anniversary of Common Cause, 50th Anniversary of the 26th Amendment (Voting Age)

How To Vote

Voting is open now until 11:59 PM PT on November 8, 2021. Winners will be announced on November 12, 2021. Again, you may vote one time per day, per age category for the duration of the voting period.

You can vote for your favorite pieces of art by visiting the Artivism Voting Booth.

Please feel free to share any of the graphics on your social media accounts and use our contest caption and hashtags to increase voter participation in the contest:

The My Voice, My Art, Our Cause Artivism Contest encouraged young artivists to raise their voices on democracy issues through their creativity. Now it’s time to vote! Visit our Artivism Voting Booth to vote for your favorite pieces daily! #voteforart #democracyartivism #myart #ourcause

My Voice, My Art, Our Cause-Artivism Contest – Sep 30

hillarya — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 15:01:05 +0000

Common Cause is a 51 year old non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization that works to strengthen public participation in our democracy and ensure that public officials and public institutions are accountable and responsive to citizens. Through a powerful combination of coalition building, lobbying and litigation, grassroots organizing, policy development, research, and public education, we spotlight local, state, and national issues that affect every person. The Common Cause Student Action Alliance was launched 15 years ago by the NC HBCU Democracy Fellows. Since then the Student Action Alliance is a fellowship program that provides professional development and civic education to inspire young people to be lifelong participants in our democracy.

This year we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 26th Amendment, propelling youth voices in democracy by lowering the voting age to 18 nationwide. Common Cause and the Common Cause Student Action Alliance is celebrating this anniversary and encouraging young people to engage in local politics with “My Voice, My Art, Our Cause”, an artivism contest uplifting youth voices and perspectives on democracy issues through their creativity. There will be first, second, and third place winners for each age category and each will win a cash prize.

Please share information about the contest to your members and community. You can find social media graphics and a full page flyer with contest details here. The contest is open to young artivists ages 14-28 and submissions will be accepted through September 30, 2021.

More information on contest rules, submissions, and voting.