Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.640
You're listening to the Nonprofit Power Podcast.
00:00:03.029 --> 00:00:04.139
In today's episode.
00:00:04.410 --> 00:00:09.929
We share how to help the people you serve make their voice heard at the ballot box.
00:00:10.169 --> 00:00:11.580
So stay tuned.
00:00:17.300 --> 00:00:26.250
If you want to have real and powerful influence over the money and policy decisions that impact your organization and the people you serve, then you're in the right place.
00:00:26.829 --> 00:00:39.810
I'm Kath Patrick and I've helped dozens of progressive nonprofit leaders take their organizations to new and higher levels of impact and success by building powerful influence with the decision makers that matter.
00:00:40.439 --> 00:00:48.829
It is possible to get a critical mass of the money and policy decision makers in your world to be as invested in your success as you are.
00:00:49.140 --> 00:00:51.659
To have them seeking you out as an equal partner.
00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:55.820
And to have them Bringing opportunities and resources to you.
00:00:56.429 --> 00:00:58.560
This podcast will help you do just that.
00:00:59.030 --> 00:01:01.859
Welcome to the Nonprofit Power Podcast.
00:01:07.515 --> 00:01:08.295
Hey there folks.
00:01:08.325 --> 00:01:11.534
Welcome to another episode of the Nonprofit Power Podcast.
00:01:11.864 --> 00:01:12.704
I'm your host, Kath.
00:01:12.704 --> 00:01:13.185
Patrick.
00:01:13.635 --> 00:01:15.674
I'm so glad you're here for today's episode.
00:01:16.375 --> 00:01:20.034
On this 4th of July week, it's a good time to pause and reflect.
00:01:20.545 --> 00:01:26.155
Democracy has always been messy, always imperfect and always a work in progress.
00:01:26.784 --> 00:01:30.775
If we're paying attention, we know that democracy is an ongoing project.
00:01:31.525 --> 00:01:38.995
What's easy to overlook is that the success of that ongoing project requires the active participation of every one of us.
00:01:39.625 --> 00:01:48.415
And when that participation wanes is when opportunities arise for those who would undermine democracy or bend it to their own self-interested purposes.
00:01:49.045 --> 00:01:51.234
We are in such a time right now.
00:01:52.075 --> 00:01:59.515
If ever there were an all hands on deck moment to protect and defend and expand the promise of democracy, this is it.
00:02:00.474 --> 00:02:10.375
And nonprofit leaders are in an extraordinary position to help expand that participation for those who stand to lose the most, if democracy is subverted any further.
00:02:12.090 --> 00:02:16.830
The most fundamental, most basic method of participation in democracy is voting.
00:02:17.343 --> 00:02:24.843
It's also one of the most powerful, especially for folks who don't have ready access to a lot of other avenues of power and influence.
00:02:25.544 --> 00:02:33.014
Voting is the primary way that people with few resources and little power in the grand scheme I can have a voice and make change.
00:02:33.599 --> 00:02:36.900
The one place we are all equal is at the ballot box.
00:02:37.509 --> 00:02:47.949
The vote cast by the poorest, most marginalized citizen has the exact same weight and power as the vote of the richest, most powerful person you can imagine.
00:02:48.669 --> 00:02:54.099
They are wildly unequal in their access to power and influence in every other aspect of life.
00:02:54.490 --> 00:02:57.460
But at the ballot box they have equal power.
00:02:57.909 --> 00:03:08.229
And when large numbers of people who have otherwise been marginalized decide to take the step to make their voice heard through the ballot box, they can wield immense power.
00:03:08.830 --> 00:03:11.889
They have the power to choose the direction of the country.
00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:16.330
They have the power to choose what the guiding philosophy of the government will be.
00:03:16.840 --> 00:03:27.039
They have the power to choose whether the government will serve just a select few or whether it will focus on lifting up all members of the community so that all can thrive.
00:03:27.926 --> 00:03:33.507
The November, 2024 elections are shaping up to be perhaps the most consequential in our lifetime.
00:03:34.137 --> 00:03:36.176
Democracy itself may be on the line.
00:03:37.046 --> 00:03:40.706
And what is surely on the line is a host of individual rights.
00:03:40.977 --> 00:03:49.076
From women's access to basic health care and reproductive freedom to marriage equality, voting rights, civil rights, and more.
00:03:50.037 --> 00:03:53.877
And not insignificantly the role of government itself.
00:03:54.447 --> 00:04:01.106
And the future of safety net programs, including the services nonprofits provide using government funding.
00:04:01.933 --> 00:04:03.223
So we have a situation.
00:04:03.949 --> 00:04:08.509
Yes, we, as non-profit leaders are stressed out and overwhelmed much of the time.
00:04:09.289 --> 00:04:18.230
But another thing is also true, which is that we are in a position of relative privilege and power, and we need to use that privilege and power right now.
00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:23.269
The folks that we serve have a lot more challenges going on than we do.
00:04:23.569 --> 00:04:29.589
And are seldom in the position to devote the bandwidth and attention to extensive activism and advocacy.
00:04:30.300 --> 00:04:37.139
We have an obligation to facilitate participation and advocacy at whatever level folks have the bandwidth for right now.
00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:50.189
And one of the things that we can do that is incredibly valuable and that we are in a unique position to do, is to facilitate participation in the most basic, fundamental right of democracy, which is voting.
00:04:51.089 --> 00:04:56.040
And that includes helping folks understand exactly what is at stake in this election.
00:04:56.699 --> 00:05:01.889
That virtually every service we provide, and the tax dollars that support it, are on the line.
00:05:02.550 --> 00:05:07.529
Plus a whole lot of other things that directly impact folks' individual freedoms and rights.
00:05:08.214 --> 00:05:11.937
But the reality is, despite everything that's at stake.
00:05:12.305 --> 00:05:15.154
And despite the enormous potential power in voting.
00:05:15.785 --> 00:05:16.954
Many people don't vote.
00:05:17.608 --> 00:05:19.437
They don't vote for a number of reasons.
00:05:19.971 --> 00:05:21.802
Maybe they don't believe their vote matters.
00:05:22.281 --> 00:05:23.901
Maybe they don't feel it's safe to vote.
00:05:24.401 --> 00:05:26.562
Maybe they don't believe that it's easy to vote.
00:05:26.882 --> 00:05:28.502
Maybe it's actually not easy to vote.
00:05:29.141 --> 00:05:30.971
Maybe they don't feel well enough informed.
00:05:31.504 --> 00:05:36.785
And maybe they think that all politicians are the same and so nothing will change no matter who wins.
00:05:37.541 --> 00:05:42.762
As a nonprofit leader, you have a powerful role to play in helping to change that dynamic.
00:05:43.447 --> 00:05:45.757
And now is a really good time to start.
00:05:46.267 --> 00:05:48.548
We're about four months out from this election.
00:05:48.817 --> 00:05:51.788
And it's time to begin this conversation with the people we serve.
00:05:52.718 --> 00:05:54.997
And before I go any further, let me be very clear.
00:05:55.447 --> 00:06:08.348
As a 5 0 1 C3 nonprofit, you absolutely are permitted to encourage voting, to help clients become more informed about the issues in the election and about candidates positions on those issues.
00:06:08.947 --> 00:06:13.148
What you cannot do is endorse a particular candidate or party.
00:06:13.598 --> 00:06:18.187
Nor can you encourage clients to vote for a particular candidate or party.
00:06:19.267 --> 00:06:20.557
So, what can you do?
00:06:21.307 --> 00:06:21.908
A lot.
00:06:22.598 --> 00:06:34.538
And there are things you can do directly with your team and your clients, and things you can do to leverage existing resources in your community and from national organizations that are set up to help with voting access and participation.
00:06:35.245 --> 00:06:37.944
So let's reverse the reasons people don't vote.
00:06:38.274 --> 00:06:46.345
And think about them instead in terms of a set of ingredients that have to be present in order for people to reliably show up and vote.
00:06:47.105 --> 00:06:49.805
They have to believe that there's a compelling reason to vote.
00:06:50.271 --> 00:06:53.305
Something important to them is on the line.
00:06:53.904 --> 00:06:59.535
There's a clear enough choice between who will help and who will hurt whatever those things are that they care about.
00:07:00.151 --> 00:07:04.021
They have to believe that their vote matters, that it will count, that it has power.
00:07:04.774 --> 00:07:08.675
They have to believe that it's safe to vote, which is a real and legitimate concern.
00:07:09.601 --> 00:07:18.302
And the voting process needs to be as frictionless as possible from registration to actually casting your ballot and having it be properly counted.
00:07:19.081 --> 00:07:21.827
We can address each of these things in different ways.
00:07:22.127 --> 00:07:23.538
And I'll be honest with you.
00:07:23.538 --> 00:07:31.367
Some of the things we can do are low effort and low risk, and others are going to require a more intensive effort and may feel a little bit scarier.
00:07:31.995 --> 00:07:36.331
Ultimately you will have to decide how much effort you're willing to commit to this.
00:07:36.812 --> 00:07:40.862
But what we can't afford to do is sit back and do nothing and hope for the best.
00:07:41.341 --> 00:07:43.651
The stakes are simply too high.
00:07:44.701 --> 00:07:52.951
Now as a nonprofit leader who is also an active advocate, your hair may very well already be on fire about this upcoming election.
00:07:53.281 --> 00:07:54.242
As well it should be.
00:07:54.867 --> 00:07:58.918
But that does not mean that your client's hair is on fire about the election.
00:07:59.432 --> 00:08:01.112
They may not even be thinking about it.
00:08:01.802 --> 00:08:06.812
Or they may be just as worried and stressed out about it as you are, or somewhere in between.
00:08:07.475 --> 00:08:16.384
But where we get in trouble is if we make assumptions about where our clients are at with respect to voting in general, and with respect to voting in this election in particular.
00:08:16.908 --> 00:08:20.567
So number one, we absolutely have to meet folks where they are.
00:08:20.987 --> 00:08:23.507
And we can't do that if we don't know where they are.
00:08:24.168 --> 00:08:26.387
So the first thing we need to do is ask them.
00:08:26.658 --> 00:08:30.887
And recognize that the answer is going to be as individual as the person.
00:08:31.577 --> 00:08:34.158
What's true for one is not going to be true for all.
00:08:34.607 --> 00:08:41.388
There will be a variety of circumstances, of a variety of concerns and a variety of levels of enthusiasm.
00:08:42.347 --> 00:08:46.855
And we want to be able to meet people wherever they are on all those fronts.
00:08:47.707 --> 00:08:48.817
And there are two goals.
00:08:49.248 --> 00:08:51.798
Increase interest and remove friction.
00:08:52.548 --> 00:08:55.488
Obviously increasing interest is vital.
00:08:56.307 --> 00:09:00.927
If someone doesn't think that their vote matters, if they don't think their vote counts.
00:09:01.408 --> 00:09:04.677
Then making it easier for them to vote won't solve the problem.
00:09:05.388 --> 00:09:14.662
They have to get why it is that not only does their vote matter, but it is deeply consequential this year, perhaps more than it has ever been.
00:09:15.298 --> 00:09:18.158
But we have to help folks see why that is so.
00:09:18.788 --> 00:09:20.467
And we can't do it through lecturing.
00:09:20.498 --> 00:09:22.628
We can't do it through one way communication.
00:09:23.197 --> 00:09:26.378
This has to be conversation and exploring.
00:09:27.528 --> 00:09:29.868
The good news is there's time to do that.
00:09:30.565 --> 00:09:35.424
The four month window that we are currently in is kind of the sweet spot for beginning this work.
00:09:35.995 --> 00:09:40.014
Much earlier than this, and it just feels too far away and not relevant.
00:09:40.434 --> 00:09:46.465
But if you don't start till September or October, then there's a limit to what you can do because there's so little time.
00:09:47.125 --> 00:09:49.315
So this is the perfect time to get started.
00:09:50.018 --> 00:09:53.677
And the place you start is to talk with your team first.
00:09:54.288 --> 00:10:08.105
Facilitate a conversation with them about how they're feeling about the upcoming election, how much they see the connection between the work that you do, your ability to continue to do that work, your ability to have the kind of impact that you want to have.
00:10:08.735 --> 00:10:12.875
Serving people at the highest possible level, achieving the greatest possible outcomes.
00:10:13.235 --> 00:10:18.215
Helping people move toward a place where every single member of the community is thriving.
00:10:18.884 --> 00:10:20.835
Seeing the connection between all of that.
00:10:21.187 --> 00:10:24.325
And decisions being made by elected policy makers.
00:10:24.788 --> 00:10:27.782
Decisions they've already made, decisions they could make in the future.
00:10:28.488 --> 00:10:29.447
And let's be clear.
00:10:29.717 --> 00:10:37.278
We have one faction of candidates and political forces that wants to get rid of social safety net programs funded by the government altogether.
00:10:37.908 --> 00:10:39.018
That's the ultimate goal.
00:10:39.018 --> 00:10:40.368
To make those be gone.
00:10:40.878 --> 00:10:44.028
Because they don't believe it's a legitimate use of government funds.
00:10:44.778 --> 00:10:52.245
So a very simple question to pose to your team is, what would happen if all of our government funding went away?
00:10:53.235 --> 00:10:55.544
Because that's effectively, what's on the line here.
00:10:56.054 --> 00:11:00.794
That's the longterm project of one of the two major parties in its current configuration.
00:11:01.317 --> 00:11:05.726
The Republican party has been taken over by a faction that believes this whole heartedly.
00:11:06.326 --> 00:11:09.110
And we cannot hide our heads in the sand about that.
00:11:09.690 --> 00:11:12.840
Now in local races that may or may not manifest itself.
00:11:13.049 --> 00:11:16.259
You could have individual Republican candidates who don't believe that at all.
00:11:16.590 --> 00:11:19.840
Who believe something much more closely aligned with what you believe.
00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:24.980
And obviously as a nonprofit leader, you can't talk about one party versus another.
00:11:25.070 --> 00:11:29.000
But you can talk about individual candidates' positions.
00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:34.370
Now as a business owner who serves nonprofit leaders, I'm not restricted by this.
00:11:34.700 --> 00:11:38.629
I can be real with you and I can have this conversation in very frank terms.
00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:40.460
So I'm going to tell it like it is.
00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:52.470
We have one party that believes that an important role of government is to lift up the least advantaged and to try to use the power of policy and funding to create a more equitable and inclusive society.
00:11:53.429 --> 00:11:55.049
That's the goal of one of the parties.
00:11:55.649 --> 00:12:08.312
And the goal of the other party is to not only banish any sort of diversity, equity and inclusion activities or initiatives, but they also want to ultimately dismantle any sort of government funded safety net.
00:12:08.972 --> 00:12:12.962
In their view, that should be the province of philanthropy and not government.
00:12:13.567 --> 00:12:21.006
And you know how disastrous that would be for your ability to make an impact and do your work, if you had to rely only on philanthropic dollars.
00:12:21.817 --> 00:12:24.397
So the stakes are very real for you and your team.
00:12:24.817 --> 00:12:27.606
And they're also very real for your clients.
00:12:28.350 --> 00:12:33.330
But you can'tembark on the process of engaging your clients to vote until your team is on board.
00:12:33.682 --> 00:12:35.123
And they're all planning to vote.
00:12:35.482 --> 00:12:44.092
And each of them sees the connection between policy made by elected officials and the work of the organization and their individual ability to do that work.
00:12:44.363 --> 00:12:50.363
And to keep their jobs and keep getting paid, which is, you know, not an insignificant consideration by itself.
00:12:51.072 --> 00:12:54.523
So start having that conversation with your team now.
00:12:55.003 --> 00:13:04.273
Because the next thing is going to be to talk together with your team about, so how can we help our clients make sure their voices are heard at the ballot box, too?
00:13:05.123 --> 00:13:05.543
Okay.
00:13:06.143 --> 00:13:07.462
So your team is on board.
00:13:07.732 --> 00:13:10.942
Now you can get to work on helping engage your clients.
00:13:11.625 --> 00:13:14.217
Now, one of the things you can do almost immediately.
00:13:14.551 --> 00:13:17.850
Is to just start to create awareness and begin to provoke some thinking.
00:13:18.465 --> 00:13:25.302
And put some general messaging about the fact of the election happening and, Plan your vote.
00:13:26.011 --> 00:13:28.841
You can put up posters, flyers, what have you.
00:13:29.111 --> 00:13:31.798
With the election date prominently displayed.
00:13:32.488 --> 00:13:33.567
And a reminder to vote.
00:13:34.138 --> 00:13:39.796
And put those in whatever the high visibility areas are in your shop, where clients are going to see them.
00:13:40.855 --> 00:13:51.386
Any time you're in a group of clients, or at an event that involves clients, be sure that you're including an announcement about remembering to vote, and about the date of the election.
00:13:51.996 --> 00:13:56.206
And then a really useful thing you can do that does not take much work.
00:13:56.506 --> 00:14:00.706
Is to add a question about interest in voting to your intake process.
00:14:01.230 --> 00:14:03.600
Just at least begin to start that conversation.
00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:04.919
Ask the question.
00:14:05.517 --> 00:14:11.067
And we can talk more in a bit about what you can do with that information, but just start by asking the question.
00:14:11.813 --> 00:14:19.024
Just those basics will help tee up the idea of, basically, Hey, there's an election coming and voting matters.
00:14:19.793 --> 00:14:21.126
Awareness helps.
00:14:21.616 --> 00:14:25.336
But then we have to get into tackling all of the reasons people don't vote.
00:14:26.157 --> 00:14:30.807
And we can separate those into three basic categories of stuff that's in the way.
00:14:31.614 --> 00:14:38.693
There's information gaps, like not knowing how to register or where to vote or whether or not early voting as possible.
00:14:38.693 --> 00:14:40.433
And if it is, how do I do that?
00:14:41.274 --> 00:14:48.653
There can also be information gaps in terms of feeling like they don't know enough about the issues or the candidates to cast an informed ballot.
00:14:49.703 --> 00:14:52.344
There's practical logistical stuff that's in the way.
00:14:52.374 --> 00:15:01.413
Like inconvenient polling places, difficulties with transportation or childcare, polling hours not lining up with when people are available to vote, et cetera.
00:15:01.923 --> 00:15:04.504
There might be concerns about safety of voting.
00:15:04.833 --> 00:15:14.073
If you're in a state where armed poll watchers are staking out the polling place to intimidate voters, that is a very real and legitimate concern and needs to be dealt with.
00:15:15.024 --> 00:15:16.283
And then there are beliefs.
00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:19.269
Beliefs that my vote won't matter.
00:15:19.870 --> 00:15:21.159
That it won't affect the outcome.
00:15:21.746 --> 00:15:27.964
That I don't really have a stake in the outcome, or an opportunity to benefit, because the candidates are all the same.
00:15:27.964 --> 00:15:30.543
And anyway, they don't care about people like me.
00:15:31.313 --> 00:15:36.557
So ideally we want to address all three categories of these things in the way.
00:15:37.246 --> 00:15:43.486
Because if those barriers aren't cleared out, it becomes much easier to just stay home and not go to the trouble of voting.
00:15:44.297 --> 00:15:46.126
So we want to tackle each of these.
00:15:46.769 --> 00:15:49.320
The good news is a lot of them can be tackled together.
00:15:49.830 --> 00:15:53.639
I broke them out individually to help you see all the things that can be in the way.
00:15:54.090 --> 00:15:58.836
But the process of helping clear out some of that stuff is not as complicated as it sounds.
00:15:59.527 --> 00:16:00.876
And you don't have to do it alone.
00:16:01.596 --> 00:16:11.677
One of the most valuable things you can do is find out who else in your community or state is working to help increase voter participation and ballot access, and partner with them.
00:16:12.797 --> 00:16:18.336
Now the information gaps and logistical issues are fairly concrete and are relatively easy to address.
00:16:18.937 --> 00:16:22.206
Addressing belief related barriers is a more complex project.
00:16:22.687 --> 00:16:26.917
But with all of them, you begin by asking some questions to start the engagement process.
00:16:27.397 --> 00:16:30.216
And to make sure you don't operate from assumptions.
00:16:30.937 --> 00:16:34.506
A few simple questions can give you a place to start the conversation.
00:16:34.956 --> 00:16:36.606
Meeting folks wherever they are.
00:16:37.063 --> 00:16:40.559
So really basic questions, like how do you feel about voting?
00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.480
Are you a regular voter?
00:16:43.206 --> 00:16:45.230
If they answer yes to that, Why?
00:16:45.509 --> 00:16:46.590
What motivates you to vote?
00:16:47.429 --> 00:16:48.450
If they answer no.
00:16:48.990 --> 00:16:49.860
Well, why not?
00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:50.879
What's in the way?
00:16:51.950 --> 00:16:57.259
Now if they're already a regular voter and feel pretty strongly about that, then your task is a lot easier.
00:16:57.590 --> 00:17:09.834
You simply need to help make sure that they have a viable plan for voting this election cycle, and you can focus on helping to reduce any friction coming from either information gaps or logistical issues.
00:17:10.686 --> 00:17:18.569
If they're not a regular voter and they're citing a lot of those belief concerns, then you're going to have more work to do, obviously.
00:17:19.309 --> 00:17:24.950
But let's start by looking at the information gaps around the voting process and the logistical barriers to voting.
00:17:25.713 --> 00:17:29.656
The key questions and concerns here are basically four things.
00:17:30.196 --> 00:17:31.366
Am I eligible to vote?
00:17:32.027 --> 00:17:33.047
How to register.
00:17:33.406 --> 00:17:37.906
Including what documents are required and the deadline for registering, very important.
00:17:38.866 --> 00:17:40.636
Is early voting possible?
00:17:41.007 --> 00:17:42.326
And if so, how do I do it?
00:17:43.027 --> 00:17:45.426
And when and where to vote on election day.
00:17:46.196 --> 00:17:52.243
Now you can very easily put together a simple one pager that answers these four questions.
00:17:52.829 --> 00:17:56.730
Simply do an internet search for voter registration in your state.
00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:03.750
Typically there will be one official state run website where all voting related information is provided.
00:18:04.436 --> 00:18:10.317
So you search on the registration because that's going to be sort of a universal terminology that will always give you that website.
00:18:10.916 --> 00:18:15.596
And then you can get all the other information that I outlined in that same place, with a few more clicks.
00:18:16.324 --> 00:18:22.000
Do that investigation and create that one pager before the end of July.
00:18:22.690 --> 00:18:25.569
And then share that one pager with all of your clients.
00:18:26.170 --> 00:18:27.069
Repeatedly.
00:18:27.700 --> 00:18:30.549
Don't assume that because you gave it to them once that you are done.
00:18:31.170 --> 00:18:32.069
Nothing works that way.
00:18:32.069 --> 00:18:34.259
So they're going to need to see this multiple times.
00:18:34.686 --> 00:18:37.446
But if you've created it, then it's much easier to hand it out.
00:18:37.717 --> 00:18:38.106
Right.
00:18:38.884 --> 00:18:41.599
Now as you know, registration is key.
00:18:42.190 --> 00:18:44.529
You can't vote if you're not registered.
00:18:45.099 --> 00:18:51.700
And you have to be registered in advance of the election, sometimes by a considerable amount of time, depending on the state you're in.
00:18:52.443 --> 00:19:01.173
So it is far more valuable if you can go one step further and offer assistance with voting registration as part of your routine client interaction.
00:19:02.163 --> 00:19:05.284
43 states offer online voter registration.
00:19:05.794 --> 00:19:12.544
So it's very likely that you can sit with the client and help them through as they fill out their own online application.
00:19:13.263 --> 00:19:15.243
And just help them if they run into any bumps.
00:19:15.923 --> 00:19:26.124
Once they've registered, it's a good idea to help the client go back to that state website a couple of weeks later, to make sure that the registration has been properly recorded.
00:19:26.753 --> 00:19:27.144
That way.
00:19:27.144 --> 00:19:29.784
If there are any problems, there's plenty of time to fix it.
00:19:30.023 --> 00:19:35.253
And there's not going to be an issue of them showing up to vote and being told, oh no, we don't have you the list.
00:19:36.057 --> 00:19:38.938
Once, you know when early voting begins in your state.
00:19:38.938 --> 00:19:42.057
And again, this information is readily available on that state website.
00:19:42.673 --> 00:19:45.943
And all but a handful of states offer some form of early voting.
00:19:46.544 --> 00:19:54.044
Publicize that early voting window with clients at every opportunity and be sure to include the deadline.
00:19:54.763 --> 00:19:58.740
Part of your messaging should include a reminder to make a plan to vote.
00:19:59.621 --> 00:20:01.570
Now the logistical barriers are another matter.
00:20:01.570 --> 00:20:04.810
And these are the ones where you'll probably want to partner with some other groups.
00:20:05.498 --> 00:20:15.730
Particularly if there are safety issues around polling places or ballot drop-off locations, there will likely be one or more local progressive organizations that are addressing this.
00:20:16.438 --> 00:20:21.077
So connect with them and get advice for how your clients can be safe when voting.
00:20:21.594 --> 00:20:23.574
Voter intimidation is illegal.
00:20:24.173 --> 00:20:32.064
And many groups locally and nationally are working to ensure that polling places are safe and free of intimidation or harassment of voters.
00:20:32.544 --> 00:20:34.884
But that doesn't mean it never happens.
00:20:35.273 --> 00:20:42.258
And so you want to be alert to that and make sure that you're doing everything you can to shield your clients from experiencing that.
00:20:43.151 --> 00:20:47.260
Most of the other logistical barriers are greatly reduced when early voting is an option.
00:20:47.770 --> 00:20:50.230
Still, transportation can be an issue.
00:20:50.760 --> 00:21:01.361
In communities where polling places or drop off sites have been located away from public transportation, there will often be one or more local groups that are helping with getting voters a ride.
00:21:01.913 --> 00:21:03.683
So connect with those organizations.
00:21:03.683 --> 00:21:06.084
Find out how your clients can get a ride if they need one.
00:21:06.844 --> 00:21:09.003
And listen to client feedback.
00:21:09.064 --> 00:21:16.354
If they raise a logistical issue that you weren't aware of, do some research and find out which groups are offering assistance with that thing.
00:21:16.988 --> 00:21:20.137
Or figure out if there's something that your organization can do to help.
00:21:21.428 --> 00:21:26.798
Now let's return to the more complex project of engaging clients around beliefs.
00:21:27.817 --> 00:21:33.607
One of the most valuable roles you and your team can play is as the asker of questions.
00:21:34.117 --> 00:21:41.804
And the answers you got from your initial queries about how folks feel about voting and if they're not a regular voter, what's in the way.
00:21:42.253 --> 00:21:45.223
Those will help you know what followup questions to ask.
00:21:45.941 --> 00:21:52.391
The main thing is to understand that these will be ongoing conversations that will happen over a period of weeks or months.
00:21:52.961 --> 00:21:56.260
And there are lots of ways to have those conversations.
00:21:56.830 --> 00:21:59.590
You can facilitate group discussions with clients.
00:21:59.740 --> 00:22:07.090
You can build some of these questions into your regular work with them, depending on what service you provide and how you normally interact with your clients.
00:22:07.874 --> 00:22:13.663
Obviously the questions of does it matter to me and is it even worth doing have to be addressed.
00:22:13.933 --> 00:22:17.084
And that is likely to be a series of conversations.
00:22:17.683 --> 00:22:24.763
Depending on the work that you do, you may be able to approach those conversations as part of your regular work and engagement with clients in the first place.
00:22:25.381 --> 00:22:34.070
If at all possible, it's really helpful to create some relaxed space for some longer conversations to happen among clients and team members.
00:22:34.820 --> 00:22:37.131
A semi-social gathering with a little food.
00:22:37.520 --> 00:22:45.854
Hey, who'd like to come and talk a little bit about, and then name a topic that has surfaced as an area of concern for clients when you've been talking with them.
00:22:46.394 --> 00:22:51.448
Part of the goal here is we're connecting voting back to something they care about, that matters to them.
00:22:52.181 --> 00:22:55.580
Or you can say, we're going to talk about a bunch of these things, a list of topics, whatever it is.
00:22:55.980 --> 00:23:07.201
The goal is to help facilitate the process of clients making connections between the stuff they're struggling with, the services they're getting from you, and the policy and funding that are connected to that.
00:23:08.040 --> 00:23:12.750
And the reality that who's in those elected funding and policy decision roles really matters.
00:23:12.901 --> 00:23:20.550
Because they're making policy decisions every single day that affects clients' lives and affect your ability to provide the services that you do.
00:23:21.324 --> 00:23:25.223
Now it might or might not be a big revelation for your clients to discover that.
00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:30.040
But it's not something probably that they're going around thinking about every day.
00:23:30.250 --> 00:23:31.480
They got a lot on their mind.
00:23:32.111 --> 00:23:36.550
So to create a little relaxed social space for an hour, no more than that.
00:23:36.701 --> 00:23:43.330
Just get people together for breakfast and coffee or lunch, or after work snacks or whatever works for your group.
00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:51.080
Now, if you don't have regular personal interaction with your clients, you'll need to think about how you can engage them in some other ways.
00:23:51.861 --> 00:23:55.971
And part of that will depend on what communication avenues you already have with them.
00:23:56.570 --> 00:24:09.290
If it's typical for you to engage or communicate with your clients electronically via email, text, an app, on social media, then you've got plenty of opportunity to engage them through those avenues.
00:24:10.101 --> 00:24:11.480
Particularly social media.
00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:15.201
Cause honestly, that's the thing folks are most likely to see and engage with.
00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:19.611
Texts are probably next best, email is least best.
00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:22.280
But even with email, you can be creative.
00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:24.740
What you don't do is send a long email.
00:24:25.431 --> 00:24:29.000
Send a short, punchy email that raises a question or two.
00:24:29.901 --> 00:24:31.070
What do you think about this?
00:24:31.070 --> 00:24:32.780
Or did you know about that?
00:24:33.478 --> 00:24:34.798
And then provide a link.
00:24:34.857 --> 00:24:37.948
Click here to check this out, click here, to see.
00:24:38.248 --> 00:24:40.948
And then the link can be to a short video.
00:24:41.851 --> 00:24:44.607
And don't be intimidated when I say a short video.
00:24:44.907 --> 00:24:47.518
I'm not talking high production values here.
00:24:47.817 --> 00:24:50.907
You shoot a quick video on your phone that's a minute or two long.
00:24:51.538 --> 00:24:55.718
And your model here is something that would work well on Tik Tok or as a reel.
00:24:56.300 --> 00:24:58.851
Short, entertaining, engaging.
00:24:59.290 --> 00:25:03.010
If it can be a video of one or more clients talking even better.
00:25:03.698 --> 00:25:07.057
Now there's a couple of ways to come up with some video of clients.
00:25:07.631 --> 00:25:14.273
One way would be if you were in one of these discussion groups where you're hanging out and talking about topics that they care about.
00:25:14.574 --> 00:25:18.963
You could be partway into one of those and say, wow you guys.
00:25:18.963 --> 00:25:22.384
You know, the stuff you're talking about is so important.
00:25:22.683 --> 00:25:25.084
I wish all of our other clients could hear this.
00:25:25.713 --> 00:25:29.314
How would you feel if we recorded the rest of this conversation?
00:25:30.034 --> 00:25:31.653
And if they say no, then you don't do it.
00:25:32.523 --> 00:25:36.183
But if they're open to it, be very transparent about why you want to do that.
00:25:36.753 --> 00:25:41.314
To say, you know, we invited a lot of people and a lot of folks couldn't come for one reason or another.
00:25:41.644 --> 00:25:44.763
But boy, are they missing out by not hearing this conversation.
00:25:45.064 --> 00:25:48.844
I wish everybody could see it and hear it too, because it's just so valuable.
00:25:49.921 --> 00:25:53.340
And it might be that like some folks will say, yeah, I'd be okay with that.
00:25:53.340 --> 00:25:54.330
And others will say no.
00:25:55.048 --> 00:25:55.407
Okay.
00:25:55.407 --> 00:25:56.877
So then in the moment you don't do that.
00:25:57.548 --> 00:26:05.258
But then after the conversation wraps up, go right away and follow up individually with the ones who said they would have been okay with it.
00:26:05.978 --> 00:26:08.948
And say, thanks so much for raising your hand for that.
00:26:09.337 --> 00:26:16.045
Would you be willing to come back and talk about this more and have it be recorded so that it can be shared with other folks?
00:26:16.795 --> 00:26:19.045
And then you do everything you can to make that happen.
00:26:19.704 --> 00:26:22.944
And it might be that folks come back and twos and threes for 20 minutes.
00:26:23.065 --> 00:26:25.397
Or as a group for half an hour or whatever.
00:26:25.805 --> 00:26:27.615
Be flexible, be accommodating.
00:26:27.644 --> 00:26:29.595
Don't make them come back for a whole other hour.
00:26:30.174 --> 00:26:32.765
But just like the parts that were really compelling.
00:26:33.005 --> 00:26:37.907
You can get going on those same topics and get folks to talk about that some more.
00:26:38.510 --> 00:26:40.901
And you can ask follow up questions.
00:26:41.337 --> 00:26:44.938
And get to the next layer of questions that keep the conversation going even deeper.
00:26:45.730 --> 00:26:47.951
A couple of things are gonna happen when you do that.
00:26:48.371 --> 00:26:51.730
One, you're going to get great material for video snippets.
00:26:52.211 --> 00:26:57.911
And two, the people who come back for more conversation are going to get more and more invested in this.
00:26:58.270 --> 00:27:04.020
And they're going to start to become excited about getting other clients interested in being more involved.
00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:05.371
And making sure they vote.
00:27:06.151 --> 00:27:07.681
This stuff is contagious.
00:27:08.010 --> 00:27:11.221
Once people feel heard and feel like, yeah, you know what?
00:27:11.221 --> 00:27:12.871
It really matters what I think.
00:27:13.260 --> 00:27:14.971
And somebody ought to be listening.
00:27:15.431 --> 00:27:17.891
And one of the ways I can make myself heard is to vote.
00:27:18.250 --> 00:27:21.307
But maybe I'd like to make myself heard in some other way, too.
00:27:21.337 --> 00:27:28.480
We ought to be having a town hall here! If you ask what folks need, and what's in their way, and how they'd like to see it fixed.
00:27:29.030 --> 00:27:30.681
You're going to have a hard time shutting them up.
00:27:31.268 --> 00:27:32.738
Because they do know that.
00:27:33.038 --> 00:27:35.107
And they think about it all the time.
00:27:35.617 --> 00:27:37.657
But most of the time nobody asks.
00:27:37.958 --> 00:27:41.077
Most of the time they get the impression nobody cares.
00:27:41.718 --> 00:27:43.157
No one wants to hear their voice.
00:27:43.907 --> 00:27:54.377
And so when you're saying, oh, on the contrary, not only do we want to hear your voice, we want to make sure your voice is heard loud and clear by candidates and elected officials.
00:27:54.738 --> 00:28:01.847
We want to make sure that the candidates running for office know that they need to be responding to you right now.
00:28:01.968 --> 00:28:05.268
That they need to be including your concerns in their campaign.
00:28:05.958 --> 00:28:09.917
Obviously that's more realistic with local campaigns than national ones.
00:28:10.157 --> 00:28:18.587
But still, the point is that telling people their voice matters is very different than showing them how their voice matters.
00:28:19.307 --> 00:28:23.538
And one of the ways you show people that their voice matters is you actually listen to them.
00:28:24.857 --> 00:28:29.597
And then as they're laying out the things that they're struggling with, that they're finding to be the biggest challenges.
00:28:30.468 --> 00:28:33.617
Then you can add a little bit of new information to the conversation.
00:28:34.698 --> 00:28:39.198
It's so interesting you raised that, because here's a piece of information you might not be aware of.
00:28:39.857 --> 00:28:46.157
There's actually a policy that the city, the county, the state, the feds recently made that says X, Y, Z.
00:28:46.218 --> 00:28:48.317
And that's part of why you're having that problem.
00:28:48.647 --> 00:28:53.268
Because a bunch of elected officials got together and decided that was how things were going to be.
00:28:54.048 --> 00:28:54.978
Are you okay with that?
00:28:55.788 --> 00:28:58.248
Would you like them to know that that's not working for you?
00:28:58.788 --> 00:29:00.407
And how the policy should change.
00:29:01.127 --> 00:29:02.238
You see how this goes.
00:29:02.268 --> 00:29:03.528
You start with the personal.
00:29:03.647 --> 00:29:06.768
You start with what challenges people are currently experiencing.
00:29:07.188 --> 00:29:13.907
And then you help raise questions that make connections between those challenges and policy decisions.
00:29:14.837 --> 00:29:20.867
And then get into the conversation about, well then how do we change how those policy decisions are made?
00:29:21.678 --> 00:29:23.958
And elections and voting are one way.
00:29:24.740 --> 00:29:30.317
Now pretty much you're going to have three basic categories of elected officials.
00:29:30.884 --> 00:29:34.095
There's the ones who simply don't care and they're not going to.
00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:37.050
They're focused on other interests and not those of your clients.
00:29:37.738 --> 00:29:46.921
There's the ones who do care or could care, but don't understand how particular policies connect to the challenges your clients are experiencing.
00:29:47.605 --> 00:29:51.505
And then there's the ones who do care and do get the connection.
00:29:51.924 --> 00:29:55.194
And they want to make policy that helps you thrive.
00:29:55.914 --> 00:29:56.904
The first question.
00:29:57.295 --> 00:30:01.404
Which of these three categories would you want more of in elected office?
00:30:02.125 --> 00:30:02.664
Well, duh.
00:30:03.734 --> 00:30:07.515
But if you can't have that third category, which is obviously the best one.
00:30:08.085 --> 00:30:10.335
Of the other two, which would you rather have?
00:30:11.265 --> 00:30:12.015
Well, okay then.
00:30:12.674 --> 00:30:16.305
So let's start thinking about we've got elections coming up right now.
00:30:17.204 --> 00:30:24.075
Would you be interested in finding out, of all the people that are going to be on the ballot this fall, which category they're in?
00:30:25.174 --> 00:30:27.154
Once you get a yes to that question.
00:30:27.994 --> 00:30:28.055
And.
00:30:28.055 --> 00:30:30.994
Then it's just a matter of, well, how shall we do that then?
00:30:32.025 --> 00:30:34.634
And then you can support clients as they do that research.
00:30:35.325 --> 00:30:38.265
Help them identify the key questions they want the answers to.
00:30:38.775 --> 00:30:40.904
And point them to where they can find those answers.
00:30:41.565 --> 00:30:45.224
And then you bring them back together to share what they've learned and discuss it further.
00:30:45.758 --> 00:30:50.198
And when they have assembled a sketch of candidate positions on the things that they care about.
00:30:50.577 --> 00:30:55.678
They have just removed the three key barriers of not having enough information.
00:30:56.188 --> 00:30:58.978
Not knowing whether there's anything at stake for them in this selection.
00:30:59.548 --> 00:31:02.968
And not knowing whether there's a meaningful difference among the candidates.
00:31:04.228 --> 00:31:06.778
Now not every client will go down this entire road.
00:31:06.778 --> 00:31:07.528
That's okay.
00:31:08.248 --> 00:31:15.298
Even if they only engage in a little bit of this type of conversation, they're still engaging in the process of discovery.
00:31:15.657 --> 00:31:24.394
Of why and how these elections might matter to them enough to make sure that they make the effort to get registered and cast their vote.
00:31:25.127 --> 00:31:29.778
And in the process, they will have stepped a little further into their own power.
00:31:30.167 --> 00:31:31.637
And that alone is huge.
00:31:32.268 --> 00:31:34.607
And it just might help save democracy.
00:31:35.478 --> 00:31:36.407
Thanks for listening.
00:31:36.587 --> 00:31:40.428
And I'll see you in the next episode right here on the Nonprofit Power Podcast.
