In partnership with SpiritHouse-NC, Franklinton Center at Bricks has amplified its relationship with the Innovation Zone of Edgecomebe County Public Schools to engage first time voters!
No, we don’t help them figure out who to vote for. Rather, we help them to get excited about being socially active, civically engaged members of our community (Rural- Eastern North Carolina).
Some of these students are part of our Civic Engagement and Social Action Course. This course provides students with the opportunity to develop critical skills that prepare them to recognize and address 21st Century Issues. Using the empathy-based human centered design model, students identify and solve existing issues in their communities. Students learn how to effectively design solutions “with” people, rather than “for” people.
And while our Learning Pod Students are too young to vote, they are beginning to get excited about what it means to be active members of their community! In the future, they too will be able to cast their vote.
Election Day 2020 will go down in history – – we are in the midst of a Global Pandemic and wearing masks and social distancing has become necessary. We wish that we could hug on you and tell you how proud of you we are for coming out to vote, but alas COVID-19 has created new social norms.
Your first vote will not have a picture with your “I VOTED!” sticker (we are sorry)… instead be sure to save your commemorative pens. They are the proof that you voted. Edgecombe County is one of the few counties in NC that has opted to issue a pen per voter rather than risk cross contamination at the polls.
We prepared these Poll Watch Party Packs for first time voters, knowing that you are unlikely to be able to join in community watch parties as many of us have done in the past. Listening to the news together and finding out whether you would be making noise for JOY (because your chosen people won) or out of frustration (because they did not) IS STILL POSSIBLE – just not without major planning.
Your pack includes:
- Hershey’s Hugs & Kisses: we wish we could hug on you!
- Dove chocolates: they each have a hopeful message!
- Lemon Drops: without bitter lemons we cannot make scrumptious lemonade.
- Hand Sanitizer & Masks: to the best of our ability we want you to be safe & protected.
- Crunchy Cheetos: because we need to eat!
- Sparkling Apple Cider with Champagne Flutes: because we are worth the effort of a celebration!
If you are a student and need a conversation partner post election, please feel free to reach out to Franklinton Center at Bricks. We would love to hear from you.
Our siblings at SpirtHouse have a tradition of inviting people into community with music and song. We invite you to listen to this playlist and share it wide!
Election Day Watch Parties: ABC CBS NBC
Films, Movies:
Angel Has Fallen (2019) Black Panther (2018)
Deep Impact (1998) Election (1999)
Head of State (2003) Idiocracy (2006)
Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013) London Has Fallen (2016)
Malcolm X (1992) Marshall (2017)
Milk (2008) Napoleaon Dynamite (2004)
Olympus Has Fallen (2013) On the Basis of Sex (2018)
Selma (2014) The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)
Books, Comic Books, Graphic Novels:
Give us the Ballot by Ari Berman
March 1-3 (About Congressman John Lewis)
Understanding Elections by Torrey Maloof
Future Activism Opportunities
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO JOIN & ATTEND SMA 9
FRIDAY, November 6th, 6-8:30pm EST
SATURDAY, November 7th, 10am-5pm EST
The Southern Movement Assembly (SMA) is an organizing strategy for community and movement governance based on the political commitment spoken by Southern Freedom Fighter Fannie Lou Hamer: ‘Nobody is Free until Everybody is Free.’
The Southern Movement Assembly is made up of a broad base of Southern-based leaders and communities who live and fight on many frontlines. We believe that we are stronger together, and we participate in grassroots democracy to exercise political power at the community, city, state, and regional levels.
Just days after the national elections, Southern organizers, community members, and frontline leaders will gather to determine the strategy for a coordinated People’s First 100 Days of 2021.
No matter what happens during the elections, we will connect, coordinate, and grow our movement to build the world that works for all of us.
REGISTER TODAY: bit.ly/SMA9-Nov2020