YWCA Northern New Jersey Encourages Women to Activate Their Networks in Support of Voter Registration and Turnout to Drive Policy Change
Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way joined YWCANNJ CEO Helen Archontou and other community leaders at Ballot Brunch to share resources
(Bloomfield, N.J.) – YWCA Northern New Jersey (YWCANNJ) is taking action to empower and mobilize women voters ahead of the November elections. In support of this work, YWCANNJ hosted a Get Out The Vote Ballot Brunch on October 2nd at Casa De Flora in Bloomfield, NJ, focused on empowering women leaders to engage in conversations about voting with anyone and everyone in their social networks. Notable community leaders, including keynote speaker Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, Esq., Bloomfield Councilwoman and Mayoral Candidate Jenny Mundell, and CEO of Project Ready and Executive Director of Be Ready, Shennell McCloud, shared actionable advice for sparking those conversations, as well as resources for voter registration.
“We can do this, because in 2020, we made history with the highest voter turnout in New Jersey history, and we led the nation in youth voter turnout,” said Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, Esq. “So when you are at your children's activities or getting glamorized at a salon, remember to get your elections talk on!”
This initiative aims to amplify YWCA National’s ‘YWomen Vote’ voter education campaign, which encourages civic engagement by equipping women with useful tools and resources to learn about national and local elections, the issues that matter most to women voters, and ways to mobilize voters in their communities. The national campaign showcases results from YWCA’s 6th National Survey of Women in the U.S., finding that the most important issues for women across generations, race and ethnicity include the economy, healthcare, gun violence, abortion access, and domestic and sexual violence. To augment these efforts, YWCANNJ has hosted several speaking engagements, voter registration drives, and created a voter education toolkit which can be accessed here.
“The only way to see your values in action is if you cast your vote.” said YWCANNJ CEO Helen Archontou. “You need to be checking out the candidates and seeing who aligns with what you believe in, so that you can ensure you are casting your vote for the one who will set your values in motion. Vote your voice, vote your values, and that's how we are going to create change.”
Shennell McCloud, CEO Project Ready and Executive Director of Be Ready added, “Someone once said to me that if we get more people to vote in Newark, they will not vote the way we want them to. That is when I knew I was in the wrong room, with the wrong people. We need to mobilize voting in our communities.”
YWCANNJ encourages you to visit vote.gov/register/new-jersey to check your voter registration status or register to vote by the October 15th deadline.
About YWCA Northern New Jersey
For over a century, YWCA Northern New Jersey has improved the lives of thousands of women, girls, and families and is on the forefront of the fight against gender and racial discrimination. We work to build more just and inclusive communities through programs for women and girls, and racism training, and policy advocacy. We operate healingSPACE, Bergen County’s only Sexual Violence Resource Center (hotline number: 201-487-2227) and provide year-round child care, and senior wellness programs. YWCA Northern New Jersey serves Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Passaic counties. To learn more, visit ywcannj.org and follow @ywcannj on social media.