Some have called the 2020 election the most consequential democratic opportunity in recent history. At the Dayton Equity Center, we were honored to build civic engagement in our community alongside our partner churches and agencies. Petee Talley is a renowned leader across Ohio, building the largest Black, non-partisan voter coalition in the state. In August we opened the Dayton chapter at the DEC and began to make some phone calls. 11 organizations across West Dayton, Trotwood, and Jefferson Township installed Red Boxes with Absentee Ballot Applications inside. The pastors and leaders of these churches offered their support and encouragement through interviews plastered on social media.
This was followed by an outpouring of support by the community to register voters and promote accessibility for all in our community. The most exciting nights were on Wednesdays for Vote and Live, a weekly series where community spokespersons, faith leaders, and public servants gathered to inform and inspire people to exercise their rights and their voice. With guests such as Senate Minority Whip Jim Clyburn and Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke, the space created on social media reached tens of thousands. However, the most impactful part of this journey was joining our community leaders.
Thanks to the Ohio Unity Coalition, we were able to hire over 40 persons from the Miami Valley at $15 an hour to drop literature in over 60 precincts across the county. They wore out the soles of their shoes, distributing nearly 24,000 pieces of educational materials to ensure the soul of the nation would continue to be more than a turn of phrase. These people were the true heroes of the previous election because they chose to enact what Fredrick Douglass said in his autobiography “I prayed for freedom for twenty years, but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.” Ultimately, our neighborhoods, cities, and nation are only strong if we all bring our whole self to participate in their formation.
On election day, we joined with Election Protection to provide support and security at the polls. This included a celebration van that brought music, refreshment, and a spirit of celebration to numerous voting locations. Our intention is to continue this work in the upcoming year in a number of forms with new partners. Just because there are no presidential candidates on the ballot does not mean this coming election is less important. Despite the highest voter turnout since 1900, when over half of the country did not have the right to vote, the 2020 election only involved roughly two-thirds of those eligible to participate (1). But civic engagement is much more than voting; it involves ensuring that any person can imagine running for office and has access to information and community forums so their voices can be heard. The Dayton Equity Center continues to envision what secure neighborhoods look like, and we cannot imagine that without the full participation of all of our neighbors.
