Girls Inc. She Votes 2012: Future voters, future leaders

A partner of Nonprofit VOTE, Girls Inc. is a national affiliate-based organization "inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold."

In 2012, 56 local Girls Inc. affiliates around the country participated in She Votes, enabling 4,424 girls to cast ballots in a mock election. Through She Votes, girls get hands-on experience with voting, and learn about voter registration, the importance of women in politics, who represents them at various levels of office, and how to run campaigns. In addition to the mock election, many affiliates hosted speakers and developed additional programming:

• In Sarasota, FL, girls ran for Mayor, Vice Mayor, Historian, Secretary, and Treasurer, complete with speeches. In order to strengthen girls' understanding of office, these newly elected officials will serve one-year terms and then face reelection. For this project, Girls Inc. of Sarasota partnered with the local county supervisor of elections and a local judge, who swore the girls into office. 
•  Girls Inc. of Kingsport, TN had two girls "stand-in" as candidates for a presidential debate, fielding questions from girls in the audience. 
• U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Gubernatorial candidate Maggie Hassan (D-NH) also spoke to Girls Inc. affiliates last fall, along with an array of county clerks, mayors, and other officials and candidates. 
• Girls Inc. of Southwestern Connecticut met the mayor and toured City Hall. 

In 2012, Girls Inc. also added a parent outreach component to She Votes. Staff created a "take-home card" that informs parents about the program and has a space for girls to track their age during each election until they finally turn 18 and are eligible to vote in a real election. The take-home card also reminds parents to be good civic role models by voting themselves and taking their daughter with them to the polls.

Read the report about Girls Inc. She Votes 2012 to learn more. 

Girls Inc. She Votes is a nonpartisan educational initiative that gives girls the skills and confidence to envision themselves as both future voters and future candidates. Started in 2004, this biennial project helps girls understand the American political system and prepares them for a life as engaged citizens.

Four Reasons to Host a Candidate Forum

Although it is a valuable piece of nonprofit voter engagement, candidate engagement if often overlooked. But whether your organization is well-versed in voter participation or is just getting started, engaging candidates can benefit both your organization and your constituents.

Hosting a candidate forum can take your efforts to the next level by:

1. Making your issue a campaign issue. Hosting a candidate forum puts a spotlight on your organization and your issues.
2. Raising the profile of your voters. The community you serve is worth noticing--make sure candidates know who they are! 
3. Building partnerships and cultivating collaborations. Candidate forums are a great way to team up with other organizations and build fruitful relationships.
4. Encouraging civic habits. A forum mobilizes and educates your constituents by connecting them with the candidates; it can also encourage other types of participation!

Get started by targeting your race, finding partners, and building interest! For more, download our Guide to Hosting a Candidate forum or register for our May 24th webinar. Don't want to organize a candidate forum but still want to engage candidates? Browse all of our resources on candidate engagement for other ideas on how to get involved this election cycle!

Recent Trends in Youth Civic Engagement

A new CIRCLE study, "Understanding a Diverse Generation: Youth Civic Engagement in the United States," provides an in-depth analysis of recent youth civic engagement trends. The findings challenge many common myths about the ways in which young people (ages 18-29) are involved in our political system.

The study found that at least three quarters of youth were somehow engaged in their community or in politics in both 2008 and 2010--but in very different ways. Six distinct patterns of engagement emerged in 2010:

• The Broadly Engaged (21% of youth) fill many different leadership roles.
• The Political Specialists (18%) are focused on voting and other forms of political activism.
• The Donors (11%) give money but do little else.
• The Under-Mobilized (14%) were registered to vote in 2010 but did not actually vote or participate actively.
• The Talkers (13%) report discussing political issues and are avid communicators online, but do not take action otherwise.
• The Civically Alienated (23%) hardly engage at all.

See a visual representation of these numbers.

Although this data contradicts the bleak and homogenous picture often painted by the media, it is still clear that many young people are not fully engaged. Other research suggests that some of them could be persuaded to vote if they were directly asked to participate or if voting seemed more accessible--something nonprofits can address. Learn more about nonprofit voter engagement and how your organization can increase participation rates in your community.

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Mobile Technology and Civic Engagement

A new report from The Hispanic Institute found that Hispanics are the leading users of mobile phones and social media in the U.S.

The study, "Connected Hispanics and Civic Engagement," highlights the three areas Hispanics have used technology to affect change--immigration, education, and voter registration.

Gus West of The Hispanic Institute said, "Latinos depend on mobile technology to engage with their fellow citizens – and the political process."

Almost nine out of every ten Hispanics owns a mobile phone, compared to just eight in ten non-Hispanic whites. 53% of Hispanics use mobile devices to access the internet, while only 33% of non-Hispanic whites do the same.

Technology is transforming the way that individuals connect with their communities and is effectively reducing information barriers for mobile populations. Nevertheless, nonprofits must continue to work with their clients and constituents to close turnout gaps and ensure full participation in elections.

Read the full report.

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Nonprofit Advocacy Impacts Southern States

A new study by the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy found that advocacy by nonprofit organizations in four Southern states brought more than $4.7 billion in benefits to low-wage workers, families, and other underserved populations. The study analyzed the impact of 20 advocacy and community organizing groups in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi between 2005 and 2009.

The study found that for every dollar invested in the policy and civic engagement of the organizations, there was a return of $114 in benefits to local communities. Yes, you read that correctly--$114 for every $1. So in case you were wondering if your hard work on advocacy campaigns and voter engagement outreach was paying off, the answer is a resounding "Yes!"

Congratulations to our state and national partners working in those areas--like the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) and the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits--as well as all the local nonprofits for their contributions to the region!

Read the full study "Strengthening Democracy, Increasing Opportunities: Impacts of Advocacy, Organizing and Civic Engagement in the Gulf/Midsouth Region."

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Volunteers of America

With the holiday season upon us, many nonprofits are looking for volunteers to help staff special programs and services, as well as continuing to recruit folks to help with day-to-day activities. Thus, December is the perfect time to talk about this particular aspect of civic engagement.

People volunteer for a variety of reasons: it makes them feel good, they believe in a cause, they like spending time with other volunteers or clients, and they want to give back in some way. However, many might not consider what they're doing to be civic engagement. Nevertheless, volunteering is an effective way to promote quality of life in our communities, and is a core component of civic engagement.

In 2009, 63.4 million Americans volunteered, 26.8% of the U.S. population. Check out this map to see what percentage of your state volunteered compared to the rest of the country.

If you’ve been thinking about volunteering, there’s no better time to get started. Places like your local school, food pantry, animal shelter, and more are always looking for help. The possibilities are virtually limitless, especially because many organizations also recruit volunteers that can work remotely, often on technology-based projects, such as website design and social media. The best thing about volunteering, is that there's something for everyone. For volunteer opportunities in your area, check out VolunteerMatch, Idealist, or your local newspaper.

For those of you that already volunteer, what are your motivations? Do you think your actions contribute to the civic health of your community?

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Harry Potter in Our World

This past weekend, you probably saw long lines of avid Harry Potter fans waiting (perhaps in costume) to see the first installment of the seventh film. And while you and your children might know all about muggles, he-who-must-not-be-named, the Weasley family, and Dumbledore’s Army, you may not have heard of the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA).

The Harry Potter Alliance is a 501c3 nonprofit that promotes civic engagement "by using parallels from the Harry Potter books to educate and mobilize young people across the world toward issues of literacy, equality, and human rights." The organization encourages youth to follow in the footsteps of their fictional heroes and work for a better world.

And while the organization is inspired by a fictional world, it is achieving real-world success. The HPA has raised $123,000 for supplies in Haiti, donated more than 55,000 books, and registered over 900 first time voters through the Wizard Rock the Vote campaign.

J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, said herself, "We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better."

The Harry Potter Alliance is another example of an innovative movement designed--and inspired by--young people, with a focus on civic engagement. While some may ignore the youth vote (or lament lackluster turnout), movements like this serve as a reminder not to underestimate the potential of today's youth, in the voting booth and beyond.

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