• Register at least 10,000 new voters per state in low-income communities and communities of color in California and other western states. Because these communities lack widespread internet access, direct, face-to-face contact is required to register voters
• Expand the capacity of community-based non-profit organizations to recruit, train, and hire high school interns to engage in highly effective, on the ground, grassroots voter registration and outreach
• Create high quality paid internships for youth that develop important career skills and help foster the next generation of community leaders
• Develop voter registration plans specific to each state that utilize the ability of community organizations and youth workers to target unregistered vote

Effective Voter Registration Effort with Long Term Community Benefit

New Voters are Rising is part of an overall vision for a multi-state network aimed at creating jobs and opportunities for civic engagement for youth while increasing voter registration in under-represented, underserved communities in California, Oregon and other western states.

Working with local youth and local organizations will allow the project to maximize community credibility, and help insure that funds invested in the project create long-term community benefits that last beyond the time of the registration drive.

The non-partisan voter registration project will provide funded internships to help young people acquire some of the basic tools they need to more effectively participate in our nation¹s democracy. The project will give its young participants a chance to develop communication and leadership skills, grassroots organizing techniques, and provide training and on-the-job experience. Just as important, these young interns will be better prepared to address future public policy issues that impact their communities and provide them with important career skills, helping them move toward becoming the next generation of community leaders.

New Voters are Rising will work with local community organizations to hire a Voter Registration Project Director to manage the project, recruit youth and high school students to fill the paid internship positions, provide ongoing training and educational development to the interns, motivate and supervise the interns and run the logistical operations of the voter registration drive. New Voters are Rising will provide strategic and logistical support and training to the organization, the director and the interns throughout the project.

NEW VOTERS ARE RISING PARTNERS

Project Developed by Experienced Political Grassroots Organizer
The proposed project has been developed by Political Movers & Shakers, a consulting firm specializing in grassroots organizing and campaign field strategies. The firm's principal consultant, Scott Adams, will be the lead consultant on the project. Before moving to California, Mr. Adams served as Senator Wellstone¹s Political Director from 1989-1996. He has run innovative community based voter registration efforts employing & training high school students.

Project Overseen by Non-Profit with Grassroots Grants Program Experience
The project will be overseen by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, which will act as fiscal agent and coordinate regranting of funds. The Rose Foundation has more than a decade of experience as a community grantmaker and coalition partner. Jill Ratner, who staffs the project for the Rose Foundation, is a lawyer and organizer who has helped build and maintain grassroots coalitions that have been active in a number western states

California Community Partner: Downs Memorial United Methodist Church
In Oakland, California, Downs Memorial United Methodist Church will be the lead organization on the ground, housing and operating "New Voters are Rising: East Bay." Downs Memorial is located in the San Pablo/Golden Gate corridor, a low-income neighborhood in the northwest corner of Oakland, where it is well positioned to reach out to the surrounding community. Last fall, Downs Memorial, with a small grant from the San Francisco Foundation, provided short-term stipends to high school students to conduct an emergency voter registration drive in response to Proposition 54. Downs' pastor, Reverend Kelvin Sauls, has a deep commitment to civic engagement, growing out of his own experience as a young person in South Africa. He is very enthusiastic about increasing the reach and effectiveness of the voter registration effort with a longer-term project incorporating systematic training and technical support.