Community Conversations Kick-Off!

Community Conversations Kick-Off!

We’re excited to announce the launch of Community Conversations! Also known as Relational Organizing, Community Conversations is a key component to our get out the vote strategy for 2020. Research shows that when voters hear from a friend, neighbor or co-worker they’re much more likely to go to the polls. (Voting actually increases by 6%-10%!) Relational Organizing is particularly effective in connecting with people who aren’t on traditional lists — younger voters, voters of color, lower-income voters, and those whose phone number and address may be unlisted.

Thirty-five folks showed up on January 22nd at the North Asheville Library to learn more from Katie Russell about our Community Conversations implementation plan for Buncombe County. We learned about the Empower App which uses our own social networks to help get started with contacting people. Once you go through the training on how to best use the app, you’ll automatically receive prompts, scripts, reminders, and other important information from us. The next training is February 18 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm.

We heard from Judy Mattox of The Sierra Club who explained that many people only cast votes for President and have no idea who to vote for other offices. Sierra Club endorsement cards can help steer voters towards candidates with positions supporting renewable energy, carbon reduction, and other climate and environmental initiatives. Find out more at https://www.sierraclub.org/north-carolina/wenoca/our-issues. They’re looking for volunteers to help hand out cards at the early voting and primary election day polling sites on March 3rd. 

Zaria Abdulkarim of DemocracyNC also reminded us that the 2020 elections are about so much more than voting for President. Because we have an early primary, we need to be armed with solid information that will engage and motivate fellow North Carolinians to vote all the way down the ballot, including state and local offices. Visit https://democracync.org/take-action/whats-on-the-ballot/ to learn more about their hour-long training.